Tater McSpadden Gonzalez Media TV interview on Freeman rematch

The Tater McSpadden Gonzalez Media TV interview with Jose G centered on McSpadden’s MMA rubber match with Brackett Freeman. McSpadden said Freeman beat him in a 2021 MMA fight before he knocked Freeman out in a 2024 kickboxing match. He expects an early finish in their next meeting and believes his recent improvement could lead to an opportunity with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Professional Fighters League or Scott Coker’s new promotion.

What did Tater McSpadden say about Brackett Freeman and their next fight?

Tater McSpadden said his next fight with Brackett Freeman returns their rivalry to MMA rules, the format in which Freeman won their first meeting. McSpadden won their second bout by kickboxing knockout and expects to finish Freeman early this time. That prediction is McSpadden’s assessment, not a result: the rubber match had yet to take place when they spoke.

The 2021 MMA fight and 2024 kickboxing rematch

McSpadden said he accepted their 2021 MMA fight on a couple of days’ notice and lost by decision. They met again in a 2024 kickboxing match, which McSpadden won by knockout. He could not recall whether the knockout came in the second or third round.

According to McSpadden, years of exchanges between them helped bring about another bout after Freeman’s recent comments prompted the promoter to contact him. Jose G identified the upcoming fight as part of XFN 413 on a Friday, October 9. McSpadden described the return to MMA rules as bringing the matchup back to where it started.

What McSpadden expects under MMA rules

McSpadden expects his striking to decide the fight quickly, while acknowledging that Freeman believes he can take him down and control him. He said fans of his fights can expect varied striking and finishes, and described himself as having 10 years of fighting experience. His confidence also reflects how different he feels from the fighter who met Freeman in 2024.

What did Tater McSpadden say about fighting in Thailand?

Tater McSpadden said he finished an opponent from Bulgaria with a second-round elbow during a fight in Thailand. The trip also gave him time to train alongside teammates and bring his family with him. Rather than choose one of the larger gyms his friends used, he found a small gym where he felt a closer connection with the coach.

Finding a gym away from Tiger

Some of McSpadden’s friends were training at Tiger and other larger gyms. He looked at several places and watched their sessions, but wanted more personal contact with coaches. After noticing a sign near his Airbnb, he walked into a small gym that suited him.

McSpadden said he and the coach connected immediately, and he spoke warmly of the group there. Some teammates stayed in Thailand for roughly two months. He also wanted to get a fight during the trip and said the bout against the Bulgarian opponent worked out well for him.

Why does Tater McSpadden watch older movies on VHS?

Tater McSpadden said he still watches movies on a VCR because some older films look better to him in the format in which he first knew them. The subject came up while his son wanted to watch Monsters, Inc. McSpadden’s point was about the appearance of older effects on screen, not nostalgia alone.

He singled out The Matrix and films from the 1990s and early 2000s. In his view, high-definition versions can make older green-screen work and special effects more conspicuous. He also likes how the blue-tinted look of some movies from that period appears on VHS.

The family moment briefly interrupted the fight discussion: his son wanted the movie played without waiting for the tape to be rewound. McSpadden said he watches movies on the VCR often, making it a regular part of home life rather than a one-off novelty.

Why did Tater McSpadden start fighting, and how has he improved?

Tater McSpadden began with Tae Kwon Do, karate and kickboxing around age 14 or 15, then moved into Muay Thai and had his first Muay Thai fight at 15. He said striking appealed to him as a creative outlet. More than a decade later, he believes his rate of improvement has accelerated rather than leveled off.

From drawing and painting to Muay Thai

McSpadden said he did not consider himself especially good at other school sports. He drew and painted frequently and described his younger self as an “artsy weird kid.” Muay Thai gave him another way to experiment, improve and find new approaches to what he could do in a fight.

He has continued because he enjoys that process of improvement. Despite having more fights than many opponents, McSpadden said he feels he is only now reaching his stride. He pointed particularly to the last couple of years, and to focused work over the past six months, as periods when his skills developed rapidly.

How has Tater McSpadden prepared for Brackett Freeman?

Tater McSpadden said his preparation for Brackett Freeman draws on repeated fights against tall, lean southpaws, a body type he associates with Freeman. Those matchups have helped him test which tactics work and find answers when an approach fails. He also said a more settled life and his team have changed how he trains.

McSpadden estimates that he has fought ten times since his 2024 meeting with Freeman. He said those experiences have shown him where he can be caught and how to adjust against opponents with a similar build. He feels as though he has been preparing for Freeman for two years.

Training at Carson Fighting Fitness

He named Ryan Hoover, Tracy Reader and Johnny Carson among the people around him, identifying Reader as a Professional Fighters League fighter and Carson as his Carson Fighting Fitness coach. He also thanked Carson and Michael Hayes when discussing his coaches, along with the teammates who help him prepare.

McSpadden contrasted his current routine with his life around the first Freeman fight, when he said he was young, moving around and not training consistently. He is now married, has a child and feels more committed to his work. Summing up his belief in that progress, McSpadden said:

“you better fight me now”

What did Tater McSpadden say about his MMA career and the UFC and PFL?

Tater McSpadden said fighting is already his full-time career and that he is a professional fighter. His next ambition is a higher-level opportunity where he can earn more, compete in places he wants to visit and build the kind of highlight reel he has long pursued. He named the UFC, PFL and Scott Coker’s new promotion as possibilities.

McSpadden described his professional MMA record as five wins and two losses at the time of the conversation. He believed a win over Freeman might put him close to another opportunity, perhaps immediately or after one or two more fights. That was his expectation for the future, not an announced agreement with any promotion.

He sees his style and finishes as ways to attract attention, but did not commit to one organization. Before the interview ended, McSpadden thanked his sponsors, people who bought shirts, his family, fans and longtime supporters from his hometown. He said their support helps make his fighting career possible.

Who is Tater McSpadden?

Tater McSpadden is a mixed martial artist from Claremore, Oklahoma. He is focused on developing his skills through disciplined training and competitive experience, with improvement from fight to fight central to his approach.