Full-Time Fighter: Finding solace in defeat

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

I'm not real sure how to start this new column. Obviously, I am writing about my recent trip to Las Vegas and my loss to Josh Haynes at A Night of Combat II, but it was not all bad. In fact, I am very happy about everything except the result of the fight. Here is the rundown.

If I remember right, in my last column I talked about how this fight came about and my reasoning behind taking it, so I'll skip ahead.

I landed in Las Vegas early afternoon on Thursday and was picked up by our host hotel, Hooters. I have been to Las Vegas close twice a year for the past 10 years and have never stayed at the Hooters hotel. I did get a good laugh out of being picked up by a bright orange Cadillac Escalade with the Hooters logo across it.

So I walked through the doors at Hooters, walked up to the check in and got to meet Kim Couture for the first time. I will say right now with absolutely no uncertainty that she is the friendliest and most driven promoter in the game. Kim is the type of promoter that when she tells you to ask her for anything you need, she really means it.

So anyway, I got there too early to check in, and Kim said that I could come up to their suite and do all my interviews for HDNet, which was televising the event. I believe that I am like most fighters in that I prefer to get everything out of the way as soon as possible and have as much time to myself as possible. There is always a couple of pounds to lose and nerves to deal with, and I prefer to handle that on my own time.

Anyway, I did all the interviews, which I really enjoy. I still think it is really cool to do interviews and stuff for TV, and it is always awesome to fight in Las Vegas. Everyone seems to know who you are and wants to talk, take pictures or get autographs, and I love it. I don't know how those things can get old to anyone in this game.

So, I did an easy run Thursday night just to keep my metabolism going. I woke up Friday morning and was less than four pounds over my contracted catch weight of 190. I did an easy jog, light fight workout, and about 10 minutes in the sauna, and I was a pound under. I waited around for weigh-ins and was surprised at how many people were there to watch, including the amazing Tracy Lee from www.combatlifestyle.com.

Weigh-ins were very uneventful. I think everyone made weight on the first try, so I got to hang out with Hector Ramirez (who's quickly becoming a good friend and a guy who earned a huge win over Rick Roufus) and everyone from my agency (MMAagents.com).

After weigh-ins I got a chance to talk to two very old friends of mine, Mike Confliti (one of the oldest true friends I have) and Gray Maynard. If you know Gray, ask him his biggest highlight of spending two weeks at the Salmon household in high school while training for nationals (and remind him it takes place at a waterpark).

The morning of the fight, everything felt great. I got a good night's sleep, a good breakfast and an easy workout with my training partner Marc Cofer and corner Nate Brodnax (one of MMAAgents.com top guys). Kim had arranged for the biggest Hummer limo I have ever seen to take us to the Thomas & Mack Center, which was a very nice gesture.

We arrived at the arena, and I got to speak with an old acquaintance: Ron Kruck from HDNet Fights. He is one of my favorite people to run into at fights. His enthusiasm for the sport actually rivals the fighters. A very good guy, I must say.

Anyway, I got a great warm up and my head (sometimes my greatest obstacle) was in the right place to win this fight.

After the hard-fought loss, I was extremely disappointed in the result, but I had so much fun competing. It was actually hard to be too disappointed. Losing always sucks when you put as much into it as fighters (or any athletes) do. However, after being off for so long, coming off a win three weeks earlier, being in there and trading and eating some nasty punches (and giving a couple back), it was awesome to be in Las Vegas competing. I actually watched the fight for the first time last week, and I am more disappointed than I was the night of the fight, but it was a good fight to watch.

This sport is about taking advantage of the opportunities presented to you. I talked this one out with the people closest to me, and we decided it was a good risk. I lost and it hurts, but I am going to continue to learn and move forward, or I am going to quit. I chose moving forward. Less than three years into this sport, I am pleased but not content with where my career is. So we're going to keep working.

I took two weeks off to rest my body, heal some small injuries, and get myself back to normal mentally. I resumed training last week, but I have nothing in the works for a next fight as of right now.