FIGHTING WORDS: TOMMY TOE HOLD

If Mickey Mouse had been born in the YouTube era, he still wouldn’t be as popular as MMA’s biggest rising star, Tommy Toe Hold. With a show that mixes a razor sharp wit with nonstop pop culture references, Tommy has become wildly popular in the world of Mixed Martial Arts by poking fun at every MMA athlete on the planet.

A supporter of Invicta FC from its inception, Tommy gave us all the time he could spare between rounds of GTA V and smashing his animating equipment in a sleep deprived rage. After you finish reading, grab a couple episodes of the show over on YouTube, and then let Tommy know how much he let you down on Twitter or Facebook @TommyToeHold.

Corey Smith: For those few people on the planet who haven’t seen the show, mainly a few World War II prisoners in Siberia, how would you describe The Tommy Toe Hold show?

Tommy Toe Hold: My show is two parts Mark Sanchez butt fumble and three parts iPhone 5S. So basically, it’s massive disappointment, but it’s a complex disappointment. There’s a lot of shittiness going on here. You have to really watch it closely to appreciate how much of a dumpster fire that the show really is.

CS: When you first started producing the show, where did you think it would go? Were you just trying to become more popular on the Underground?

TTH: I thought that maybe my mom would watch the show once. I had no idea that people would even bother to catch it, I’m assuming out of pity and/or the same reason that people can’t stop watching Bob Sapp fight. It’s fascinating. Like string theory fascinating. You don’t really understand what the appeal is, but you just can’t stop.

CS: How much work goes into each episode? Is your show a day late each time because Nick Diaz is your animator?

TTH: Ha! I wish I had some extra help with the animation, even if it was Nick baked out of his mind munching on a veggie pizza. I would say every episode takes about 12 to 24 hours of actual work time to create and roughly six months off my life, so I’d say a few more episodes and I’ll have some type of break with reality, and then the show is going to start getting really good!

CS: With the injury bug striking at will, and carpal tunnel a very real threat, how do you safeguard against injury before each show, but still put out the best product possible?

TTH: I’ll tell you, it’s not easy. Carpal tunnel has crept up on me a few times already. Shooting pain and numb pointer fingers are something I try to ignore by remembering that the joy my show creates will ultimately make a difference in the world, and if that means I can’t use my hands in ten years, then that’s just something I’ll have to deal with.

TTH: I haven’t checked yet, but I’m almost positive YouTube cartoon creators have incredible health insurance. The key for me will be increasing the amount of time between when I say the show is going to be released and when I actual release the show. So for instance, I say the show is Wednesday’s now and they usually come out on Thursdays, so I’d say if I can get them to Monday afternoon I’ll be in a place where the numbness in my hands will be manageable.

CS: Most MMA athletes have some type of routine or superstitions they must perform before their fight. Do you have any before each show? Do you chug a Jolt cola before starting?

TTH: Before each show I like to sleep for about 12 hours and then wake up in a panic because the show was supposed to be released 14 hours previous. Then I have a panic induced breakdown, I break some type of important equipment that I’ll immediately regret only a few hours later, and then I’m finally ready to get the show started! It’s just what I like to do to get things started off right, you know?

CS: Have you ever considered revealing your secret identity? Or is your real voice similar to Mike Tyson’s? Are you in fact Iron Mike?

TTH: Okay, now I’m sad that I’m not Mike Tyson because that would be hilarious if it was revealed that he was the guy behind all of this. I always think it would be fun to have some really important person in MMA claim to be me and take the credit for the show because when people finally find out who I am, they are going to be so disappointed. I’m the least interesting man in the world. I can’t even purchase a bottle of Dos Equis that’s how uninteresting I am. I’m not sure that I’ll ever reveal it because it would be like finding out that Batman was Ben Affleck or something. It would be just too much.

CS: You have been a fan of Invicta FC from its inception. What makes you a fan of female MMA?

TTH: Female MMA is the Wild West right now. Because of Invicta and because of where the sport is, any of these ladies could end up being a megastar like Ronda Rousey tomorrow. One day you’re fighting on the prelim and the next day you’re starring in Fast & Furious 12. It’s all right there and all these women know it, so every single fight is heightened in importance and it’s like home run derby for 15 minutes. I love it. The sense of urgency is incredible.

TTH: The other thing that’s hooked me about WMMA is how much fun everyone is having. That macho bullshit that you get from men’s fighting goes out the window and the event feels more like a party. Everybody is still kicking the shit out each other, but you get the sense that everyone is having a good time.

CS: Past Invicta cards have enjoyed deep lineups, what are a few matchups you would like to see on Invicta FC 7?

TTH: Things I would love to see: Felice Herrig make her debut against Joanne Calderwood; Cyborg Santos versus a tank, literally; Jessica Penne in a rematch with Michelle Waterson; Bec Hyatt fighting anyone on the planet because she is pure awesome inside and outside of the cage; and of course you gotta have Thug Rose. She’s pure excitement and having Pat Barry going insane outside the cage the entire fight is just too much fun.

CS: Invicta FC and TTTHS have used social media greatly to their advantage. What does a successful social media campaign entail? How often are you in Twitter jail? Are you starting to feel like a convict who gets let out only on the weekends?

TTH: I’ll tell you what, if I end up in twitter jail a few more times, I’m not going to be able to adjust to normal society again. They tell me to come back and tweet like I used to tweet, but prison changes you. It changes everything. What were we talking about? Oh yeah, social media campaigns. The key for me is being available to everybody. So it might take me six hours to respond to everybody’s tweets that day, but it makes people feel like I care and they get to know me a little bit. I’m their buddy. Being interactive with people is HUGE. Social media isn’t a bullhorn. It’s not a place where you just leave content for people and call it a day. The people following you want more out of the experience then knowing your latest excuse for why the video is late.

TTH: That is what Invicta has done so well and Shannon too. Very interactive and fun. I feel like I know Shannon and we’ve never met. That is how you do social media and that is what I try to do. I can’t say enough good things about Shannon Knapp. She just gets it. She’s the smartest person working in MMA right now.

CS: If Shannon was able to sign her, who would win between Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino and the female Terminator from Terminator 3?

TTH: Here’s the thing about the chick from Terminator 3: she was a hybrid between liquid metal like T-1000 and the regular metal like Arnold. How is that an upgrade? Liquid metal is pretty much the end all there. It was perfect besides weakness to extreme heat, so that lady has already got some flaws, but I don’t care if she was liquid metal or liquid awesome Cyborg would absolutely decimate her. I’ve never seen someone beat people up like Cyborg. She fights like a Rocky movie. It’s like watching Clubber Lang’s montage in Rocky III where he is just pummeling people but in real life.

CS: Which Invicta FC athlete most reminds you of the Ultimate Warrior?

TTH: Joanne Calderwood. She embodies all things that the Warrior embodies. She’s unstoppable. She has the coolest haircut in the history of the planet. She has a flair for the theatrical, and her wardrobe consists of varying levels of pure 80s like tiger tights. Warrior would wear tiger tights.

CS: If Shannon Knapp ever pulled a Ray Sefo, who would you like to see her step into the Invicta FC cage with and how would that bout go?

TTH: If Shannon was going to pull a Sefo, I would want to watch her fight another boss and I’d want the ratings to be high so I think she should fight Oprah, and I’d put all my savings on Shannon because she’s so smart no matter who the opponent is she would find a way to win the fight. Shannon in the second round via flying heel-hook.

CS: Would you ever consider an Invicta FC athlete for a co-host of TTTHS? Who do you think would most naturally fit that role?

TTH: Bec Hyatt. She is perfect for the show. She’s perfect for any show! She’s adorable, she’s got a great sense of humor, and her accent immediately makes her twelve times cooler than any other athlete that might want to be my co-host.

CS: Lastly, most Invicta FC athletes depend on a team of supporters, coaches and sponsors to help them be successful. Have you ever considered doing the same to become successful? Who would you like to thank?

TTH: Most definitely! I would be nowhere right now without the help from a BUNCH of people. First and foremost: Stephie Daniels from MMA Sentinel. I wouldn’t even have a show right now if it wasn’t for her. I’d be teaching English somewhere. Bruce Buffer has been a tremendous help. Amy Barton, Chael Sonnen, Dana White, Ronda Rousey, Joe Rogan, Bec Hyatt, all the people that have been posting my shows to their blogs and their twitter feeds.

TTH: Gamma Labs. Ariel Helwani for getting me on the MMA Hour, and last but certainly not least, Shannon, Janet, and everyone at Invicta FC. Shannon has been so supportive of the show for so long now and it’s just been incredible. I can’t thank her enough for putting my logo on the weigh-ins and the website on the cage guard. And thank you Janet for rocking a TTTHS shirt! That was so awesome. It’s been an incredible run so far, and I hope I’m just getting started. Thank you for the interview and sorry it took so long to get back to you!