The Reeducation of Phil Baroni

Originally Posted on MMArated.com

I remember seeing Phil Baroni at the post-fight press conference following his devastating loss to Joey Villasenor at the May 31st EliteXC on CBS show in Newark, NJ, looking like a beaten, deflated man. Without a doubt, "The New York Badass" had been anticipating this homecoming of sorts for quite some time and was disappointed in his performance. In fact, Baroni looked almost embarrassed. Losing in 71 seconds can do that to a man.

I also remember watching Baroni address the media at the press conference with his lips quivering and eyes tearing up. I truly thought he was about to call it quits right then and there. The former UFC and PRIDE FC fighter even pulled out a prepared speech thanking everyone from his parents to his mentor, Mark Coleman. Clearly, I thought, this was the end of the road for the now 10-10 fighter.

But then Baroni surprised us all by stating he had no plans to hang up his gloves anytime soon.

"I got a lot of fight left in me," Baroni said. "I've been down before and I just want an opportunity to prove myself again. I'll do whatever I've got to do."

Fighters often promise to do "whatever I've got to do" following a tough loss, but they usually just return their same old self. Not Phil Baroni. In the last four months, he has actually stayed true to his word and reinvented himself.

Since the Villasenor loss, Baroni has dropped down to welterweight and won three fights in a row - most recently this past Friday night against Olaf Alfonso at Palace Fighting Championship 10. Amazingly, Baroni is scheduled to fight again this Friday night at Strikeforce: "Payback" in Broomfield, CO, versus James Martinez, however, a cut sustained during the Alfonso fight may force him out.

Regardless, Baroni has shown us his true colors. He hated the thought of being labelled a .500 fighter and has quickly worked to move his record to 13-10. Sure, he hasn't faced the toughest opponents out there, but this wasn't the time to test himself against the best. Another loss and Baroni may have been forced to continue his career in local shows with very little pay to show for it.

He has even shown a refreshing amount of humility since the Villasenor loss.

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