>> GREG JACKSON'S STATUS
AMONG MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
FANS AND FIGHTERS IS NEAR
LEGENDARY.
HE'S ONE OF THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL COACHES IN THE
SPORT'S HISTORY.
HE'S ALSO A NATIVE BURQUEÑO.
CORRESPONDENT RUSS CONTRERAS
WENT ONE-ON-ONE WITH JACKSON
IN OUR STUDIO THIS WEEK
ABOUT THE RISE OF MMA, WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO COACH ATHLETES
IN AND OUT OF THE OCTAGON,
AND RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU, GREG, FOR
JOINING US.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> SO THE SPORT OF MMA,
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS AS WE
KNOW IT, IS RELATIVELY NEW,
BUT IT'S CAUGHT ON.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT MMA THAT'S
THRIVING IN POPULARITY?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A VERY
REAL AND HONEST SPORT.
I THINK THAT WHEN YOU WATCH
IT, YOU KNOW IT'S NOT GOING
TO BE LIKE PROFESSIONAL
WRESTLING.
THE TWO COMPETITORS ARE
GETTING IN THERE AND THEY'RE
REALLY GOING TO FIGHT,
THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO DO
THEIR ART, AND ONE PERSON IS
GOING TO WIN.
AND THE DRAMA OF THAT, I
THINK, DRAWS PEOPLE, THE
HONESTY OF IT, THE REALITY
OF IT.
LIKE, THIS IS AN ACTUAL REAL
SPORT, IT'S A REAL FIGHT.
SO PEOPLE GET PULLED INTO
THAT.
SOMEBODY ONCE SAID THAT IF A
FIGHT BREAKS OUT ON A SOCCER
FIELD, EVERYBODY WILL STOP
PLAYING SOCCER AND THE CROWD
WILL JUST WATCH THE FIGHT,
RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE
THE REAL DRAMA IS.
SO I THINK THAT THE HONESTY
OF WHAT WE DO PULLS PEOPLE
IN, THEY REALLY WANT TO
WATCH IT.
>> WHAT GOT YOU INTO MMA?
IT'S TAKEN OFF HERE IN
NEW MEXICO.
BOXING HAD THAT STATUS NOT
TOO LONG AGO.
BUT WHAT IS IT ABOUT COMBAT
SPORTS THAT RESONATES WITH
NEW MEXICANS?
>> I THINK IN NEW MEXICO
HERE, WE HAVE A VERY
MACHISMO CULTURE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
LIKE IT'S A VERY HISPANIC
COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S ALSO KIND OF A VERY
PULL-YOURSELF-UP-BY-YOUR-
BOOTSTRAPS COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU FEEL LIKE AS A NEW
MEXICAN, YOU WANT TO EARN
WHAT YOU GET, AND I THINK
THAT THE COMBAT SPORTS SPEAK
TO THAT KIND OF A PERSON,
THE MACHISMO CULTURE.
AND THEN WE'RE PRETTY GOOD
AT IT HERE IN NEW MEXICO, SO
I THINK THAT THAT ALSO HAS
HAD A BIG KIND OF INFLUENCE
ON IT, RIGHT, BECAUSE IF YOU
ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD AT
SOMETHING AND YOU'RE FROM
NEW MEXICO, WELL, IF YOU'RE
A NEW MEXICAN, YOU MIGHT
WANT TO WATCH IT.
SO I THINK THE COMBAT SPORTS
I THINK SPEAK TO US
CULTURALLY LITTLE BIT, BUT
I THINK WHAT REALLY HAS
DRIVEN IT IS OUR SUCCESS IN
THE COMPETITION.
>> WHAT BROUGHT YOU INTO MMA
AND COACHING MMA?
>> WELL, I GOT TALKED INTO
THE WHOLE THING.
I ACTUALLY NEVER WANTED TO
BE A COACH OR ANYTHING.
I WAS RAISED IN THE SOUTH
VALLEY OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW
MEXICO, AND I WANTED TO
LEARN HOW TO DEFEND MYSELF.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE WHOLE
IMPETUS STARTED.
LIKE, I WANTED TO BE AS
EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE AT
DEFENDING MYSELF THAT I
COULD.
AND THEN MY STUDENTS CAME TO
ME AND SAID, HEY, CAN WE DO
THESE COMPETITIONS?
AT THE TIME, IT WAS VERY --
IFFY IS THE WORD, RIGHT?
IT WAS BARE KNUCKLES, THE
RULES WERE DIFFERENT
EVERYWHERE.
THIS IS BEFORE WE GOT
REGULATED.
AND SO WE STARTED.
THEY JUST TALKED ME INTO IT.
WE STARTED DOING THAT, AND
WE STARTED TRAVELING ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY AND THE
WORLD.
I THOUGHT MAYBE, YOU KNOW,
IT MIGHT WORK OUT, MAYBE
NOT, WE'LL GO BACK TO WHAT
I REALLY CARE ABOUT, WHICH
IS THE MARTIAL ARTS, BUT NO,
WE STARTED WINNING
EVERYTHING, AND HERE I AM 27
YEARS LATER.
>> SO NEARLY THREE DECADES?
>> IT'S ALMOST BEEN 30 YEARS
I'VE BEEN TRAINING FIGHTERS,
YEAH.
>> OVER THE YEARS, YOU AND
MIKE WINKELJOHN HAVE CREATED
A WORLD-CLASS GYM IN
ALBUQUERQUE THAT HAVE SEEN
THE LIKES OF BONES JONES,
HOLLY HOLM, AND RASHAD
EVANS.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE GYM
THAT MAKES IT SO SUCCESSFUL
AND DIFFERENT?
>> THAT'S A VERY COMPLICATED
QUESTION.
I THINK THAT AT ITS HEART,
WHAT IS A MARTIAL ARTS
INSTRUCTOR OR COACH, LIKE
ME, IS A PROBLEM-SOLVER.
SO I THINK THAT WE'RE VERY
EFFECTIVE AT SOLVING
PROBLEMS.
THE PROBLEM CAN BE, HOW DO
YOU BEAT THIS OPPONENT, THE
PROBLEM CAN BE, HOW DO I SET
UP A STRUCTURE WHEREIN WE
CAN ENSURE SUCCESS OF OUR
FIGHTERS.
SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A
STRUCTURAL KIND OF BASE THAT
ALLOWS YOU TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEMS OF COMBAT SPORTS.
THAT'S THE BIG ONE.
AND PART OF THAT IS SETTING
A GOOD CULTURE, PART OF THAT
IS ALWAYS INNOVATING, ALWAYS
LOOKING HOW TO DO THINGS
BETTER, AND PART OF IT IS
THE PERSONALITIES OF THE
COACHES AND FIGHTERS AROUND
TO KIND OF DRIVE THAT MODEL.
SO I THINK THAT THE SUCCESS
ISN'T JUST ONE THING, RIGHT,
IT'S THIS KIND OF BASE THAT
WE'VE SET WITH THIS CULTURE
THAT WE'VE MADE, AND THEN
ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT
COME FROM THAT JUST KEEP
FEEDING INTO OUR SUCCESS.
>> AND OF COURSE, YOU TRAIN
FIGHTERS, AND SOME OF THESE
FIGHTERS ADMITTEDLY WILL
SAY, OPENLY, THEY'RE
FIGHTING DEMONS OF THEIR
OWN.
HOW DO YOU, AS A COACH, TRY
TO REFOCUS SOME OF THESE
FIGHTERS AND THINK ABOUT
THEIR LONG-TERM GOALS?
>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES I HAVE AS A COACH
IS GUIDING THESE PEOPLE ONTO
THE PATH THAT'S GOING TO BE
A POSITIVE PATH.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SOME OF
THEM WILL GET PULLED OFF
THAT PATH.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE TOO YOUNG
FOR SUCCESS AND ALL OF THIS
COMES AT THEM AND THEY MAKE
TERRIBLE DECISIONS, AND YOU
KIND OF HAVE TO TRY TO BUILD
THEM BACK UP AND SAY,
LISTEN, WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG,
YOU CAN DO SOME CRAZY STUFF,
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO COME BACK
TO THIS POSITIVE PATH.
SO A GOOD PORTION OF MY
CAREER IS TRYING TO GET
PEOPLE TO STAY OUT OF
TROUBLE AND STAY KIND OF ON
THIS POSITIVE MOVING FORWARD
PATH SO THAT NOT ONLY THEIR
LIFE IS POSITIVE, BUT THE
GYM LIFE IS POSITIVE, AS
WELL, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT
TO BE THE JERK IN THE GYM
THAT NOBODY WANTS TO TRAIN
WITH, NOBODY WANTS TO HANG
AROUND WITH, AND GETTING ON
THAT NEGATIVE KIND OF TRAIN,
THAT NEGATIVE PATHWAY CAN DO
THAT TO YOU.
SO, YEAH, A GOOD PORTION IS,
THESE GUYS AND THESE GALS
HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES
SOMETIMES.
THEY WORK REALLY HARD TO
STAY ON THE STRAIGHT AND
NARROW, BUT IT'S NOT EASY
FOR THEM.
SO TO HELP THEM STAY ON THAT
PATH IS ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I ENJOY THE MOST.
>> I THINK OF BONES JONES,
OF COURSE, YOU LOOK AT HIM
AND HE'S ONE OF THE BEST
EVER.
HOW CAN YOU GRAB HIS
PERSONALITY AND SAY, LOOK,
YOU CAN DO WAY EVEN MORE,
AND YOU'VE GOT YOUNG KIDS
LOOKING AT YOU?
>> RIGHT, EXACTLY.
WITH JOHN, YOU KNOW, JUST
KEEPING IN MIND THAT HE HAD
A LOT OF SUCCESS REALLY
YOUNG, AND HE DIDN'T MAKE
THE BEST DECISIONS AT THAT
TIME.
BUT SEEING HOW HE'S
DEVELOPING NOW, HOW HE'S
REALLY TRYING TO STAY ON THE
STRAIGHT AND NARROW, AND HOW
HE'S TRYING TO PUSH HIS
CAREER INTO THAT NEXT LEVEL,
AS WELL, I'M VERY PROUD
THAT.
I WISH THAT HE WOULD HAVE
MADE DIFFERENT DECISIONS
EARLIER ON, BUT I'M PROUD TO
SEE HIM COME OUT OF THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S EASY TO
JUDGE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE,
BUT THOSE OF US THAT HAVE
THE DEMONS OR THE PROBLEMS,
AND YOU MAKE IT OUT OF THAT
AND YOU TURN THAT NEGATIVE
AROUND AND MAKE IT A
POSITIVE, I THINK THAT'S
SUPER IMPORTANT.
SO TO WATCH HIM DO THAT, I'M
VERY PROUD OF HIM.
>> NOW RECENTLY, YOU SHOWED
SOME INTEREST OUTSIDE OF MMA
IN PROMOTING NEW MEXICO,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO
ABROAD.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT THIS
INITIATIVE THAT HAS HIT YOUR
CORNER?
>> WELL, THE NEW MEXICO
EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING THAT
I STARTED, AND WHAT IT IS IS
BASICALLY, IT'S A
METHODOLOGY TO PROMOTE LOCAL
BUSINESSES.
BY LOCAL, I MEAN ALL
THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW
MEXICO.
SO BECAUSE I HAVE ACCESS TO
ALL OF THIS INTERNATIONAL
MEDIA AND HANG OUT WITH
CELEBRITIES SOMETIMES, I
DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WANT TO
HANG OUT WITH ME, BUT THEY
DO, SOMETIMES, AND I HAVE
ACCESS TO ALL THESE
RESOURCES KIND OF AROUND THE
WORLD, I WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR OUR
STATE.
I FEEL LIKE OUR ECONOMY IS
NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE, AND
I WANTED TO START DOING MY
PART TO PUSH IT TO A BETTER
PLACE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY ARIZONA,
COLORADO, AND TEXAS HAVE
THESE GREAT ECONOMIES AND
WE'RE NOT IN THAT MIX,
RIGHT.
LIKE, NEW MEXICO IS WAY
BETTER THAN ALL THOSE
PLACES.
SO JUST SEEING THOSE
PROBLEMS AND SAYING, LISTEN,
HOW CAN I HELP OUT, HOW CAN
I DO SOMETHING TO MAYBE HELP
GUIDE OUR ECONOMY THAT WAY.
SO I TAKE LOCAL BUSINESSES,
AND THEN I JUST PROMOTE
WHEREVER I AM.
I'LL TALK TO THE
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, I'LL
TALK TO ANYBODY THAT I CAN
ON A KIND OF A GRAND SCALE
AND TRY TO GET -- YOU KNOW,
JUST SHOW PEOPLE NEW
MEXICO'S GREAT.
TELL PEOPLE, HEY, TAKE YOUR
VACATIONS HERE, COME SPEND
YOUR MONEY, COME CHECK IT
OUT, BECAUSE YOU'LL GET
HOOKED.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET
A LOT OF GREAT EDUCATED
PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, THEY
WANT TO MOVE HERE, BECAUSE
NEW MEXICO GETS IN YOUR
BLOOD.
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.
SO I'M REALLY AN OPTIMIST
WITH IT, AND I REALLY WANT
TO HELP MY STATE.
THIS IS MY HOME, THIS IS
WHERE I LIVE, AND I WANT TO
HELP IT OUT, AND SO I THINK
THIS IS ONE METHODOLOGY THAT
I CAN DO TO DO THAT.
>> WHY DID YOU STAY IN
NEW MEXICO?
>> I LOVE IT HERE.
WHEN ALBUQUERQUE AND WHEN
NEW MEXICO GETS IN YOUR
BLOOD, IT NEVER LEAVES.
AND I LOVE IT HERE.
IT'S MY HOME.
IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
PLACE.
WE HAVE BETTER SUNSETS, THE
PEOPLE ARE SO INTERESTING.
WE HAVE THE CULTURE HERE AND
ALL THE DIFFERENT -- WE HAVE
NATIVE AMERICAN, WE HAVE
ANGLO, WE HAVE HISPANIC.
WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT
CULTURES ALL REALLY MELTING
TOGETHER, YOU KNOW WHAT I
MEAN?
WE'RE NOT SEGREGATED, WE'RE
ALL IN IT TOGETHER.
YOU HAVE SO MANY TRADITIONS
FROM SO MANY PARTS OF THE
WORLD HERE, IT'S A
FASCINATING PLACE TO BE.
AND IT'S SO INTERESTING AND
SO EXCITING ALL THE TIME
THAT YOU LOVE IT.
AND MAN, I'VE GOT MOUNTAINS
RIGHT HERE, I CAN GO INTO A
RIVER IF I WANT, I CAN GO
SWIMMING.
THIS STATE HAS IT ALL, FROM
THE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL
FORESTS ALL THE WAY DOWN
SOUTH TO THESE BARREN
DESERTS THAT ARE GORGEOUS.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE
ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> NOW, AFTER SOME OF THE
EVENTS THAT YOU'VE HELD
OVERSEAS, I'VE SEEN ON
SOCIAL MEDIA THERE'S SOME
BUZZ AROUND YOU SAYING THAT
POSSIBLY GREG COULD DO
SOMETHING ELSE BESIDES MMA.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN
PUBLIC SERVICE OR POLITICAL
OFFICE?
>> I DO.
RIGHT NOW, I'M TRYING TO
ASSESS, I'M LOOKING AT WHAT
POLITICAL OFFICE I WOULD
LIKE TO GO FOR.
I'M TRYING TO ASSESS, WHERE
WOULD MY SKILL SET MAKE THE
MOST SENSE.
SO WHAT I DO IS, I KIND OF
COME WITH A SET OF SKILLS.
ON THE EDUCATION SIDE, I'M
AN EDUCATOR, I'M A COACH,
I TEACH PEOPLE.
NOT ONLY DO I TEACH MARTIAL
ARTISTS, BUT I ALSO TEACH
LAW ENFORCEMENT, FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, STATE LAW
ENFORCEMENT, LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT, AND NOT JUST IN
NEW MEXICO, BUT PRIMARILY IN
NEW MEXICO.
SO I TEACH CONSTANTLY.
I TEACH MINDFULNESS CLASSES,
I TEACH MARTIAL ARTS
CLASSES, DEFENSIVE TACTICS,
HOW TO KIND OF BRING THE
VIOLENCE OUT OF DEFENSIVE
TACTICS.
SO TEACHING POLICE OFFICERS
TO CONTROL PEOPLE MORE
INSTEAD OF STRIKING THEM AND
HITTING THEM.
ON OUR USE OF FORCE KIND OF
FORCE ARRAY, WHERE OF COURSE
WE'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE
FIRST, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO GO
HANDS ON, YOU WANT TO
MINIMIZE THE TRAUMA.
SO HOW YOU TAKE THE VIOLENCE
OUT OF DEFENSIVE TACTICS,
THAT KIND OF STUFF.
THAT'S PART OF MY EXPERTISE,
RIGHT, I REALLY WORK WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY.
I'M A BUSINESS OWNER, I HAVE
A BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN
ALBUQUERQUE, I HAVE A
BUSINESS IN THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND
PLACES THAT OTHER PEOPLE
MIGHT THINK, WELL, THAT'S A
LITTLE TOO CHALLENGING.
SO I HAVE BUSINESSES THERE.
SO I'M A BUSINESSMAN, TOO,
SO I CAN KIND OF USE THAT
KNOWLEDGE.
WITH THE EDUCATION, WITH THE
PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH THE
BUSINESS STUFF, I'D LIKE TO
SEE WHERE I CAN TAKE THAT,
THOSE PROBLEM-SOLVING
ABILITIES, AND PLUG THEM IN
TO HELP THE CITY OF
ALBUQUERQUE AND THE STATE OF
NEW MEXICO.
WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE
RELEVANT?
WHERE CAN I GIVE BACK?
I WAS RAISED BY QUAKERS, OF
ALL THINGS, IF YOU CAN
BELIEVE THAT, AND MY PARENTS
WERE BOTH INTO PUBLIC
SERVICE.
MY DAD RAN DISABILITY RIGHTS
NEW MEXICO FOREVER.
SO THEY REALLY INSTILLED
INTO ME THIS IDEA THAT
HAPPINESS COMES FROM HELPING
PEOPLE.
LIKE, THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE
YOURSELF HAPPY.
IT WAS A VERY KIND OF QUAKER
PHILOSOPHY, AND IT RUBBED
OFF ON ME A LOT.
SO I THINK THAT I'M JUST
KIND OF COMING FULL CIRCLE
NOW TRYING TO GIVE BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVENTS
AROUND OUR COUNTRY AND THE
STATUS OF THIS STATE, WHAT
BOTHERS YOU?
WHAT REALLY KEEPS YOU UP AT
NIGHT?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A
LOT THAT BOTHERS ME.
I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
OUR CRIME RATE.
I'M CONCERNED THAT YOU CAN'T
HAVE A GOOD ECONOMY IF
PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE.
SO I WOULD LIKE US ALL TO
MAKE MORE MONEY.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE
MOVE TO NEW MEXICO.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOT BE
CONSIDERED THE DOUGHNUT
HOLE, RIGHT, OF TEXAS,
COLORADO AND ARIZONA.
I WOULD LIKE US TO BE
SOMEPLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT
TO COME AND MOVE TO.
SO THE CRIME RATE, THE
EDUCATION.
LIKE, REALLY, I VALUE
EDUCATION SO MUCH.
NOT ONLY WAS I RAISED IN THE
SOUTH VALLEY, I REALLY SAW
THAT, LISTEN, EDUCATION IS
THE TICKET OUT OF HERE,
RIGHT, LIKE IT REALLY IS.
IT'S A TICKET TO MAKE THE
SOUTH VALLEY BETTER.
SO IT REALLY GIVES YOU ALL
OF THESE AMAZING
OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT ALSO, IF YOU'RE A POLICE
OFFICER AND YOU DON'T HAVE
THE RIGHT EDUCATION, YOU
CAN'T MAKE THE RIGHT
DECISIONS, AND THAT'S HOW
LIFE IS, TOO.
SO EDUCATION IS HUGE TO ME.
LIKE, I REALLY WANT TO PUSH
THAT.
AND SO IF YOU HAVE GOOD
EDUCATION AND YOU HAVE
PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, KIND OF
IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO BE,
YOUR ECONOMY IS GOING TO
GROW.
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO HAVE
GOOD INITIATIVES AND STUFF
THAT WE DO ON THE BUSINESS
SIDE, AS WELL, BUT HAVING
THOSE THREE POINTS, I THINK,
REALLY CAN -- I SEE THAT'S
WHERE WE'RE LACKING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
SO THOSE ARE THE THREE REAL
THINGS THAT I'M LIKE, MAN,
I'D LIKE TO -- THE
GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION
INITIATIVE, I THINK THAT'S
AMAZING.
ISN'T THAT COOL?
EVERYBODY GETS TO GO TO
COLLEGE FOR FREE.
LIKE THE STUFF THAT SHE'S
DOING, I'M A HUGE FAN OF.
I ENDORSED HER FOR HER
CANDIDACY, AND NOW SHE'S
KNOCKING IT OUT OF PARK.
I REALLY LIKE THAT A LOT.
THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE THE
THINGS THAT KEEP ME UP AT
NIGHT, THAT MAKE ME SAY, AH,
YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH IT WAS
SAFER HERE, I WISH I DIDN'T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LOCKING
MY CAR ALL THE TIME, YOU
KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU STILL HAVE
TO, BUT THAT KIND OF
THINKING WHERE I WOULD LIKE
IT TO BE SAFER.
I WOULD LIKE OUR EDUCATION
TO BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
AND I'D LIKE OUR ECONOMY TO
JUST BOOM.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE MORE MONEY
THAN WE KNOW WHAT TO DO
WITH.
>> WHAT ABOUT POVERTY?
MANY OF YOUR FIGHTERS HAVE
BEEN VERY UPFRONT ABOUT
COMING FROM POOR
BACKGROUNDS.
THIS STATE IS ONE OF THE
POOREST.
HOW ABOUT POVERTY?
HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT?
>> I THINK POVERTY IS WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT,
BECAUSE ALL OF THESE CAUSES,
OR ALL OF THESE THINGS,
CONTRIBUTE TO POVERTY.
SO I CERTAINLY GREW UP IN
THE SOUTH VALLEY OF
ALBUQUERQUE, WHICH, AGAIN IS
ONE OF THE POOREST PLACES IN
THE POOREST CITIES -- I'M
SORRY, IN THE POOREST STATE.
SO I GREW UP SURROUNDED BY
POVERTY.
MOST OF MY FIGHTERS COME
FROM, NOT JUST IN
ALBUQUERQUE, BUT FROM AROUND
THE WORLD POVERTY, AND
I THINK THAT IS KIND OF THE
BIG OBSTACLE THAT A LOT OF
US HAVE.
WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO
RESOURCES, WE DON'T HAVE A
LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES,
BECAUSE POVERTY IS A WEIRD
THING, IT TAKES AWAY SO MUCH
FROM YOU.
IT TAKES AWAY HOPE FROM YOU,
IT TAKES AWAY SO MANY
THINGS.
SO WORKING TO GET OURSELVES
OUT OF POVERTY USING THOSE
THINGS, RIGHT, MAKING IT A
LITTLE SAFER, SO OUR
ECONOMY, EVERYBODY, CAN WIN.
EVERYBODY CAN RISE TOGETHER.
MAKING SURE THAT WE REALLY
PUT EDUCATION IN THERE.
I THINK THOSE ARE THE TOOLS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO
FIGHT OUT OF IT.
BUT LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE,
WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF A
LOT OF VERY BAD LISTS IN
NEW MEXICO.
IT'S MY HOME, I LOVE IT, AND
ONLY I CAN SAY THOSE THINGS,
RIGHT.
IF SOMEBODY ELSE SAID THEM,
I'D BE LIKE, HEY, HOLD ON,
NEW MEXICO IS THE GREATEST
PLACE IN THE WORLD, AND I
BELIEVE IT IS.
BUT TO FIGHT OUT OF THAT
POVERTY, I REALLY FEEL LIKE
WE NEED SOME ACTUAL TOOLS
WITH AN ACTUAL PLAN, NOT
JUST, WELL, LET'S THROW THIS
AT IT AND SEE IF IT WORKS.
WE NEED A STEP-BY-STEP.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
ARTICULATE WHY YOU'RE DOING
EACH STEP OF YOUR PLAN FROM
ZERO ALL THE WAY TO 100 TO
GET US OUT OF THIS.
>> AND, OF COURSE, YOU WORK
ON TIME-LINES AND SCHEDULES.
>> ALL THE TIME.
>> DO YOU HAVE A TIME-LINE
WHEN YOU MAY DECIDE WHAT
OFFICE TO RUN FOR?
>> I DON'T AT THE MOMENT,
BECAUSE, AGAIN, I'M STILL IN
MY GATHERING.
I DON'T WANT TO RUSH THINGS,
I WANT TO DO THINGS
CORRECTLY AND SMART AND WITH
PURPOSE.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST JUMP IN
AND GO, I'M GOING TO GO DO
THIS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I TAKE
MY TIME AND BRING SOMETHING
TO OFFER THE POSITION.
SO WHATEVER POSITION
I DECIDE TO GO FOR, I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT I BRING
VALUE.
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT AS A
VANITY PROJECT.
I DON'T NEED A VANITY
PROJECT.
I'M ALREADY WELL-KNOWN IN A
SMALL CIRCLE, SO I DON'T
NEED MONEY AND I DON'T
REALLY NEED FAME.
WHAT I DO NEED IS TO BRING
VALUE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
I NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO
ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE.
SO MY REAL GOAL IS THAT, TO
TRY TO CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING
BACK TO THE STATE THAT I
LOVE SO MUCH.
>> GREG, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME,
RUSS, APPRECIATE IT.
