The Beginning

So about two weeks ago, I agreed to compete in my first professional (professional meaning only that I get paid a stipend to risk my life for the pleasure of a few hundred bloodthirsty onlookers), Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) cage fight. My eagerness to experience this rite of passage presents several critical problems: 1. I need to lose about 26 lbs. in 6 weeks (the fight is May 6th). 2. Although I am moderately skilled in Jiu Jitsu (ground fighting), I am fairy crappy at stand up fighting, especially the part where you get punched in the face. 3. I like to spend my evenings drinking beer and smoking cigarettes- neither of which practices can be found in many successful fighters' training strategies.

I can already picture D-dayÂ…In what feels like just a few moments from right now, I will walk down an isle flanked by the screams of the crowd, forcing myself to not only keep walking toward the cage but actually be locked inside it with an angry fellow who intends to deliver me from consciousness by any means possible, as quickly, even brutally as possible. The cage, consisting of a bold-stained mat surrounded by a wall of chain link fence just tall enough to prevent escape in the event that I should come to my senses, resembles a medieval torture device more than a sporting ring.

So why would I want to do such a thing? I mean, I am a pretty content, active guy. I have a great job, beautiful girlfriend, adorable 9 year old son, cool apartment, friends, etcÂ…. all of the makings of a complete life... right??? One major factor is support and confidence from Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez- these guys are world champion; complete machines and they tell me I am ready and should fight. I think in the back of my mind I want to be inside the inner circle or warriors that can only be accessed by stepping in the cage. These guys respect me now as I can hold my own in Jiu Jitsu but I don't want to look back and ask myself "what if." For the rest of my life- I am 33 now and it's now or never. The negative consequences of not fighting far outnumber those of stepping into the cage as far as I'm concerned. Another factor is all the hot chicks fighters get. Ok, not really, I have a gorgeous girlfriend that I can't believe I scored. It boils down to the rush one can only experience by doing the complete opposite all of your instincts tell you. I did this when I was younger as Explosive Ordnance Diver in the Navy and it charged my life with a level of confidence and satisfaction that has surely changed me forever. I also understand that the only poor direction a person can take in life is none at all. I see the logical as illogical. The mid-western system of work at the factory, watch reality TV, go to bed, repeat, etc. seems like a slow predictable death. So it's on and it's up to me to get in shape, both physical and mental and become the FletchMonster for one night, a night that will surely change my life but hopefully not my skeletal structure.


My Baseline before deciding to fight last week consisted of 5 days /week Jiu Jitsu and a few nights of mountain. biking- I wasn't in the worst shape. Last week I started "stepping" up the training; I added night workouts and started watching what I ate. However, I still enjoyed a few beers and cigarettes (2-3/night).

I see the light (over there)

I woke up extremely sore, stuck to the clean diet and went to the 11:30 session. I grapple 4 rounds and run into my second lucky break; James Cook, a world champion kickboxer at Fairtex is training in grappling (future MMA plans?) and aggress to train me on Tuesdays/Thursdays in Muay Thai in exchange grappling work. I did 4 warm (shadow boxing) rounds, followed by 4 rounds of pad work. I could immediately tell this guy is an expert as he immediately gears my training to my lanky body and need to learn enough to survive within 6 short weeks. I focus on the basics; stance, keeping my hands up, pivoting etc and leave this intense session with a "light at the end of the tunnel" feeling. I have a long way to go, but at least now I have a road map!

Back at it

Monday. WEIGHT: 227 (right where I started). WEIGHT LOST: O.lbs.. I put the .1 in there for positive reinforcement. Ok, time to get cracking! 6 weeks starts now, no more ramp-up! I started the day with a healthy whole grain cereal and a cup of coffee. I wait until 10:00 and eat a small oatmeal as they say that consuming small meals every 3 hours increases your metabolism. "They" had better be right. I hit the usual 11:30 Jiu Jitsu session and start with 2, 500 meter rowing sprints after a brief warm-up. I average around 1:40 per interval, not bad although I should do 5 sets on Tuesday and Thursdays (easier days), as Mondays and Wednesdays are harder in terms of number and intensity of training sessions. After the Rowing warm-up, I do 3 rounds of light MMA sparring with a smaller (185Lbs) partner. I finished with ground and pound training where I always start in a bad position and have to work my way out. I left tired but feeling good. I ate a carnitas burrito, dehydrated and took some supplements (just a multi, glucosimine, and omega 3's. Also some greens from Trader Joe's. At 5:30 I start the evening Muay Thai with Dan Black at Cesar's place in Pleasant Hill. Oh man, this one sucked. It was "heavy sparring" night. After 3 rounds of jumping rope and 3 rds of bag work (combinations), I get into the ring, all padded up, ready for the inevitable- great strikers exposing my fear and lack of experience and technique in the form of sharp pain and bodily injury. I get dropped 3 times, think I may have a broken jaw but don't want to seem like a "wuss", and my legs hurt so bad from being kicked and kneed that I have to muster all of my focus to pretend to walk out of there like a man. Oh, but only after a hundred jumping squats, pushups and sit-ups…. I talk with Dan and he tells me its all in the mindset. "You'd have to grab that metal pole over there and whack me a few times in the head and maybe I would go down…just tell yourself you aren't goin' down" I feint understanding and leave. I get home and have a glass (or 3) of wine. I know it's bad but I just went through a voluntary ass beating! I know that I have to get through these sessions in order to win the fight. I went through a similar process with Jiu Jitsu and I know that nothing will replace hours in the ring. I also believe that my mindset will change as I become a machine designed to dismantle another human being. But now, I find myself avoiding death 100% of the time. I need to be more aggressive and spar a lot, as much as it SUCKS!

Weekend - Miller Time!

My allocated "cheat day" which was Saturday was extended on both ends to include Friday and Sunday. Pizza. Beer. Wine. Cigarettes. The "Why are you doing this" guy on one shoulder was overruled by the "Dude, you busted ass last week, let's show our body we appreciate the hard work!" guy. I am hoping that each training session strengthens the positive inner voice while muting the other. Hoping.

Day One and Two

On Monday and Tuesday I did the usual 11:30 Jiu Jitsu classes, as I knew Wednesday would be a killer and I knew that the first week had to be a "ramp up" period, as increasing my training by 400% would result in injury or soreness at best. Wednesday was a KILLER! This day was the first of any inevitable "reality checks" that I am sure to endure. I did a daytime (12:30) Muay Thai kickboxing/conditioning session with Dan Black (one of my trainers in Concord at Cesar Gracie's famous GRACIEFIGHTER gym.) This 2-hour session involved several rounds on bag work, pad work and sparring, followed by a grueling conditioning segment that lasted 6 hours (at least in my mind it did). Even the "light sparring" quickly revealed my discomfort in getting hit and reluctance to hit back- is that so wrong??? I left 10 lbs lighter feeling defeated and questioning my motivation and mettle. Ouch. Then to top off the day, I took an hour rain ride to San Francisco and endure an hour of Jiu Jitsu grappling with several very skilled grapplers and fighters. Dead. Done. For Thursday and Friday I backed off a bit and did the 11:30 AM Jiu Jitsu training in SF and some rowing machine sprints. Jake and Gilbert bought a nice rowing machine after training on one with Chuck Liddell and I agree with them it's a bitch! It is a very effective form of conditioning and it simulates fighting as it demands us of both aerobic and anaerobic systems. I did a 500/400/300 interval, 3 in total and logged a decent time. I spent the rest of the session grappling to exhaustion. After The first week, I felt a level of fatigue and soreness I have never experienced. My legs hurt from squats, lunges, rowing, knees and kicks. My neck hurts 24/7. My muscles are sore. My mind says "Dude, miller time!"

Derrr....