While training most the time you don't know who you'll be fighting next, so I've always pictured some Brock Lesnar looking motherfucking monster to push myself. The constant thought of them being bigger, stronger, faster than myself forcing me to be smarter and more technical in my approach. So far in my career, I've always been the smaller competitor, in boxing, in jiujitsu, and mma, I'm naturally a 185er, but I've always chose to fight at heavyweight. For the first time I'm going into this fight as the larger competitor against another guy who is probably a 185er in the current system.
This opponent has talked endless shit online, calling out pass and present teammates of mine, many of whom oddly enough helped train him for his last fight and I haven't replied at all, so I was looking forward to seeing if he would say something at the weigh-ins and as expected not a chance v_v kind of disappointing lol. I weighed in at 241 fully dressed in a sweater, room was freezing so wasn't gonna strip down and walk around for pictures, fuck that noise. Super uneventful weigh-ins and face off, then him and his team wanted to be all friendly and chat/joke around, I don't got time for that crap so my people and I just left to grab some food. Now back at home playing some League of Legends and Hex TCG relaxing.
As always for more updates and pictures of my puppies you can follow me at:
Next Saturday, November the 18th, I will be stepping into the cage to fight Jessie Arter at Rogue Fight's "Fight Night 37" in WinRiver Casino Redding, Ca.
This has been a very different experience for me compared to prior fights. Aside from being out with injuries from the majority of the last two years, the coaching team of Carlos Zapata (BJJ) and Josh Hernandez (Muay Thai) that I've been with for over 8 years, split from the Gracie banner and each opened their own gyms focusing on their fields of martial arts. Which has lead to former fight teammates choosing to pick one or the other. In a sense dissolving the MMA team that has been by far the most dominant in the area for the last 10 years.
Resulting in rather large changes to my training schedule due to conflicting times and a 20-30min drive between the two. No more 3-4hours, 5-6nights a week of classes/sparring with 1-2hours of cardio on my own like I did for my last fight. Instead been on more of a 90m-2hours of solo cardio with 90m-2hours 7days a week of classes.
As always for more updates and pictures of my puppies you can follow me at:
After over two years of back to back to back injuries and heavy depression as a result, I'm finally making my return to the cage. Nov 18th at WinRiver Casino in Redding, Ca, If you're from the area come on down. For those further away I'll get the videos posted asap.
For more updates or to look back at my progress you can find more at:
Been awhile since an update, so little history, was stupid as hell and started training again too soon after injuring my MCL, and really fucked it up side lining my ass for an extra 3+ months. Feels strong now but been babying it just to make sure.
Heading down with the team to Fresno this weekend for the Grappling X jiujitsu tournament. Any TL-grapplers in the area should come check it out, either to compete or just watch. http://grapplingx.org/ is the site if you want the address and times or to sign up.
I'll be competing in the Adult Male 200+ Purple Belt class and the Absolute. Haven't been able to really test myself in probably 6months so itching to get rolling.
Rar, haven't updated lately. Just been swamped with work and life. Went out to the casino to watch the fights last night to support some teammates and friends in the local scene. Was so frustrating being on the outside looking in, just wanted to climb in there so bad. Seriously I would have taken an a last second offer from anyone in the building to get in that cage. It was a very fast pace night, everyone so hungry to make a good impression, out of the 11 or 12 fights I believe only 2 went to the judges, most finishing in the first round.
Was too focused on enjoying myself to take a ton of pictures or videos but my fiancee did manage to record my teammate Chris "The Phantom Lord" Hetzel's fight. Posted on https://www.facebook.com/SpeedMMA Keep an eye out for this kid, only his 2nd camp and he's a beast, super hard worker in the gym.
Last month I had to pull out of a fight due to messing up my MCL. It was heartbreaking, I've been training so hard for this and I wanted to make up for my poor performance in my last fight. Honestly not even sure how it happened, I left the gym that night a little sore and tired but nothing more so than any other night, came home did my normal routine and a short nap before work, woke up unable to walk on my left leg. Tried to deny there was anything wrong to myself and play it off like I was fine hoping it would just go away if I ignored it, I kept training only making it worse and probably ended up keeping myself sidelined for even longer because of it. Very stupid idea, really got to learn to listen to your body and not try to be a badass, but it's hard to admit to being hurt and kind of feel like a pussy taking the time off. However when it's finally broke down to you that it's either take the time off an let it recover or surgery and possibly never fighting again you really don't have much of a choice.
Going to skip how depressing the time off really was simply because I don't even want to think about it right now. My MCL is feeling better and I'm easing back into training with a reignited passion. Tons of jiujitsu tournaments and fights coming up, so stay tuned!
TLDR: MCL injuried, out 6weeks, fight canceled, depressed, easing back into training, refocused!
Fight day was finally here, was a little too excited to sleep, would doze off for an hour or so before waking up to check the clocking wishing it would move faster. Ended up just giving up on the notion of sleep around 6am, decided to have a little green tea with Vegeta to power up before some light cardio and stretching.
After my morning routine I took my two biggest fans (Mother and Grandma) out to breakfast at the Ihop. Had me a nice T-bone steak and eggs with strawberry crepes. Got to get those crabs in for energy ^ ^ Got both their blessings and exchanged our good byes.
Didn't have to head to the casino for medical checks and rules meeting til 4pm so went home to relax and get my mind right while watching some Magic The Gathering on twitch (SCG Open Columbus). Going through music choices for my entrance, I found myself going back to an old favorite of mine.
Following a short nap my fiancée returned home from work with her girlfriend to give me a ride to the Winriver Casino event center. Standard medical check, rule meeting before going over fight orders and placements then it was back to hurry up and wait. At the start of the show they had all fighters enter the ring for face offs. The event center was completely sold out and the crowd was loud as hell, it was kind of unnerving for a moment. Once my name was announced the place went fucking insane, surprisingly I could still pick out quite a few individual voices from the otherwise incoherent roar of cheers. Once all face offs were done and some other announcements were made we all headed back up to the staging room to get our wraps signed off and start warming up.
Hands wrapped and signed off, did some light pad work and drills to warm up. As the second fight of the night I didn't have to wait long before it was time to put all those early mornings and late nights training into action, finally stepping into the cage. My music blasts over the speakers as the announcer calls my name the place erupts as I walk down the hall way and out to the arena. I take my time and soak it in while trying to clear my mind and focus on the task at hand, not the most successfully. Nerves started hitting me hard and before I even climbed those steps I felt myself growing heavy and tired but the words of the great Taylor Swift rang out in my head and it was time to get down to business.
Full fight break down and official fight videos to be released within the week. For more pictures and videos from the fights check out my
Used to traveling for tournaments it gives you the mentality of a conqueror going out and challenging the world, it's aggressive in a sense. This time however it's taking place in my home town. The enemy is at the gate and I ready myself to charge out and meet him in combat. I'll admit I'm a bit nervous to have so many friends, family, co-workers, teammates with all eyes on me, but at the same time I'm fucking excited. Lets do this! Feel The RAR!
Just got back from the weigh-ins, rather uneventful everyone made weight, like 1-2people had to drop a pound, nothing big. Other than that just kind of a big meet and greet with other fighters and teams which is always fun. My opponent was roughly an hour late due to getting stuck in traffic so that was mildly annoying but I had tons of awesome people to keep me company while waiting. It's official, tomorrow night, January 30th we step into the cage.
It can't get here soon enough, been working so hard during this training camp to get ready, now I want my reward of going out there and getting to fight in my home town in front of dozens of family, friends, co-workers, teammates, maybe even a few fans. One week from tonight on January 30th I will be stepping into the cage at Winriver Casino in Redding, Ca. Papers are signed, blood work is cleared and the fight card is posted.
