July 21, 2008
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Vitor Belfort
So I was watching some MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) on Saturday for the first time in a while. I enjoyed watching my favorite fighter from back in the day, Vitor Belfort, fight again (that clip above is from Saturday's fight). Back when MMA started, around 1993 or so, I was a huge fan. Back then it was called The Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was a no holds barred, anything goes type thing. There were only three rules- no biting, no eye gouging, and no fish hooking. Other than that, anaything was legal. There were no weight classes or time limits, and only three ways to win: submission, knockout or referee stoppage. I lost interest after they changed the rules and format drastically. They added time limits, weight classes, fouls and scorecards...even made them start wearing gloves. What angered me the most was the fact that there was no longer a best fighter in the world...it was the best fighter in the world in his weight class. Oh, wait...I had a point...
Back in the mid 90's Vitor was by far my favorite. His hand speed and power were unparalleled. But what I liked about him was that he had no fear. No caution. He'd get in the ring with huge brawlers who were known to be extremely brutal and he'd go after them. He was only 19 at the time.
Throughout the years he had problems and personal losses, both in and outside the ring. Injuries and hard times and even the kidnapping and subsequent murder of his sister back in Brazil. Now he's back and looks determined to make a name for himself again. Okay, FINALLY, my point:
"Vitor is hungry again!" said an announcer shortly after the fight. Vitor himself said that he was living in a small room with very little money and just training like he was back when he was 19.
And that's it. That's why was he so unafraid, and without caution... he had nothing to lose. He was an unknown. Nobody. He came here with no money and had to feed himself by using his fists...his only talent. Once he became the champion, got money, married a beautiful actress and had success in teaching people MMA...he was no longer "hungry."
Man, do I understand that. Sometimes in life we must lose it all to help us along...to give us that last little push that we need. Wake up call! Get off your ass, Miguel! Life is what you make it.
Thoughts???
***By the way, in case he didn't impress you in the fight above, this is him in his prime, back when I was watching MMA relgiously:
Comments (7)
boxing and mix martial arts are the only sports that i enjoy watching.
We all need a wake up call now and then ,that is not bad ,tragic is when we do not heed it.I love boxing,not a good Mennonite sport!
Yep, those old UFCs were nail-biters.
"I wonder who's gonna win this time!? IS IT GONNA BE- wait no, it's Royce Gracie again."
yup I know I am better off growing up with nothing and having to work for just the essentials than my daughter is who I handed everything too.....BIG mistake.
When your working just to put food on the table you cant have any hidden agenda.....just survival.
the journey is the important part..................not the destination.........keep setting goals so the journey never ends........that's the hard part in my opinion
good post ............ nice to read your stuff again............
You are right... Your life is what you make it. My life is what I make of it and if I don't like it, I need to get off my collective and change it!
By your own reasoning, you won't be able to get up off your ass and change your life unless you lose everything you now have that makes you comfortable.
You often make statements about getting off your ass and doing something with your life, Miguel. What is it exactly that you feel you need to accomplish?
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