Lessons Learned from Fighters

I’ve been working on Unlocking the Cage for three years, largely in part to having a toddler, but I’m glad it’s taken me this long to write the book. I’ve had time to re-watch nearly 400 interviews, allowing me to break down the martial artists’ reasons for fighting, and to learn more about who these individuals really are.  The extra time has also given me the opportunity to follow fighters through their ups and downs, see who’s succeeding in the cage, and more importantly, in life. Three of these athletes fought Saturday night on UFC on Fox 15. Each of them had left me with some great lessons by sharing their stories, and I was thrilled that they were all victorious.

First up was Diego Brandao who I talked with at Jackson-Winkeljohn’s back in August ’13. Diego didn’t have an easy upbringing in Brazil, going to work at 13 to provide for his family when his father died. This created an anger inside him that drove him to fighting. He moved to the US with very little money, determined to be successful so he could buy his mother a house. Through hard work and great coaching he won “The Ultimate Fighter 14” and achieved his dream. On Saturday it was good to see him bounce back from his last two losses. You can watch Diego’s interview here.

Diego Brandao:

Believe in yourself. Set goals. Sacrifice. Hard work.

Next up was Beneil Dariush whom I met back in August ’12 when he was 3-0 as a pro. That morning I watched him teach a BJJ gi class, hit the mitts for forty minutes, then train with the rest of the pros. After practice he talked about growing up in Iran, and how wrestling led him to jiu jitsu. He reflected on his pride at achieving his black belt and his serious struggle to decide whether he should focus on BJJ or MMA. He wanted to be the best at both sports but understood that he had to choose one. With last night’s incredible performance against Jim Miller, one of the toughest opponents out there, Benny won 8 out of his next 9 fights (5-1 UFC) since making that decision.

There are several reasons I’m glad to see Benny succeed. Since that first day, I’ve had multiple chances to watch Benny train and coach others at Kings. Besides the fact that he’s a likeable, I appreciate his take on MMA. Training changed Benny from someone with a bit of a temper to a calm, confident, and humble man who doesn’t believe in violence. He fights to improve his technique and display his skills as a martial artist. It’s obvious that he does what he loves, and he has said that he’s happiest when he’s fighting and training.

I also appreciate how Benny is using his voice to fight for an even bigger purpose. Take a moment to read his article on faith and the plight of Assyrian Christians that are being persecuted in the Middle East today. You can watch Benny’s video here.

Beneil Dariush:

Do what makes you happy. Prioritize. Be grateful. Stand up for your beliefs.

Paige and Nico Lozada

I was anxious about the next fight, wanting to see Paige VanZant do well to quiet her critics. It’d been a year since I spoke with Paige at Team Alpha Male not long after she signed with the UFC. Out of all the fighters that I’ve talked with, Paige takes the cake for being the most excited, happy, and full of life, even after a grueling practice.

Paige’s father was a wrestler who roughhoused with Paige and her brother, but it wasn’t until she was jumped by a group of older and bigger girls that she began training MMA. This boosted her confidence and gave her skills; she started fighting because it was fun, an outlet for her boundless energy.

This young woman made a great point of MMA being simply a sport, and acknowledged that she had had more injuries resulting from cheerleading than from MMA. Paige talked about how fighting is one of her passions, and she’ll continue to do it as long as it stays that way. As a father, I appreciated Paige talking about her parents who instilled in her the belief that she could do anything she wanted. They continually gave her the opportunity to try different activities, with the agreement that she would commit to a whole season if she signed up. In this way, they encouraged her to find what makes her happy and feel successful.

Paige VanZant:

Finish what you start. Don’t let yourself be bullied. Pursue your passion.

Thanks to Paige, Benny, and Diego for sharing their stories.