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The Ultimate Fighter, NCAA Basketball, & You?
October 4th, 2008 · Filed Under: Inspiration · MMA · Motivation · UFC · blog · mixed martial arts
I missed the first couple 2 episodes of the UFC
reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter,” which airs Wednesday
nights ar 10 PM EDT on Spike TV. However, thankfully there was
an Ultimate Fighter marathon on this fine Saturday afternoon, while I
am writing this post.
Now in case you are new to my blog, and you’re not familiar with me,
I am an avid mixed martial arts fan. I love to watch it, as well as practice it. I practice
Muay Thai (thai boxing), boxing, as well as Copeira Angola.
No, I am not a pro fighter, nor do I aspire to be one. I simply love how mixed martial arts keeps you in incredible shape, helps develop great mental clarity, as well as helps develop knowledge of self-defense, during these crazy times. If you are looking to mix your fitness program up a bit, as
I always suggest you should, then you should definitely add some form of mixed martial art
to your program.
As I watched the 32 man tournament on the first episode of this season’s Ultimate
Fighter, it reminded me of NCAA basketball players, as well as what I’ve noticed from various clients
over the years. In fact, you may know someone who fits the following description, as well, including yourself at times.
As far as the 32 man tournament, UFC president Dana White, pairs 32 would-be contestants fight and compete to, not only get a shot to be on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, but also to get a shot at a 6 figure contract with the Ultimate Fighter Championship.
For those who seek to fight and make a living in mixed martial arts professionally, getting on the show is an opportunity of a lifetime. An opportunity in which many will never have a chance. It’s an opportunity to fight in the fastest growing professional sport in the world, possibly get numerous endorsements, as well as possibly securing a financially secure future for the fighter and/or his family.
The reason, I really love the show, is the stories. These young fighters are hungry, due mainly to one
of the opportunities I just mentioned, and go all out to get on the show. It reminds me of how the athletes in NCAA basketball, go out each game, run and gun up and down the court, playing the game as if it is their last. Well, for some, it may be their last, if they are not drafted into the NBA, or other professional leagues.
Thus, they play balls-to-the-wall, to get that once-in-a-lifetime shot to possibly create a better lifestyle than what they were used to. Sound familiar? Sounds like the life of someone who has been overweight for a long time, or have been plagued with unhealthy conditions, but chooses to take control of their life, and begin a proper health and fitness program.
The only thing that bothers me, is what usually happens once these young warriors make it in the UFC, NBA, or begin to lose the weight and become stronger and healthier……they get complacent, satisfied, lazy, or no longer compete or train with the heart they had before the door of opportunity opened and welcomed them in. It seems that once they decide they “made it” they tend to lose that sense of urgency.
The fighter stop training as hard as they did before signing that UFC contract. The basketball player stops working on his free throws, hangs with the wrong crowd and gets caught up in violent situations in their personal life, or worse, let’s the fame of being in the league give him a false sense of being “holier-than-thou.”
Do you know someone like this? Is it you? Have you lost that hunger to get better, stronger, leaner, or healthier? Have you or someone lost that sense of urgency and hunger? One of my favorite quotes of all time is from Thomas Alva Edison which states:
“Show me a satisfied man, and I will show you a failure.”
How do you abstain from failure? What are you doing, daily, in order to avoid being satisfied, complacent in life, business, relationships, your diet and training program, or whatever is important to you? What is it in your life, that keeps you hungry as an ultimate fighter, or running and gunning like an NCAA basketball player?
Share your comments below. You never know, your desire may be infectious, and inspire another reader of this post to be as hungry and focused as you are.
