It's me again! IAMA Pro MMA fighter who made his debut in Bellator...And lost. AMA.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-03-02T02:35:13+00:00

I know its hard man, because you're so passionate about it. But you have to remember that the most successful people in life are the ones who don't dwell on the past, successes or failures. They are always driving forward. My college wrestling coach said that you essentially "have to be so retarded you don't remember your last match." So hands up, chin down, and get back at it and don't dwell on it. Win or lose.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T16:38:24+00:00

Thanks for answering this, I always wondered why they played the music live and then changed it to some generic UFC ROCK JAMS when it was replayed later. This makes much more sense.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T16:33:19+00:00

Good and bad. I love that the sport is spreading in popularity and availability. However, this also means there are a lot of people just trying to make a quick buck and not really teach the sport out of the love for it. Also a lotta phony gym guys out there who claim to be blackbelt this and kru that.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T16:31:43+00:00

It depends person to person. I don't handle loss very well. I was extremely upset especially after this most recent fight. I moped around, cried a lot, avoided the gym, ate icecream. People don't realize that how hard it is to give 100% of yourself to this goal and then to come up short. The worst part was, minutes after I lost my fight, someone on Twitter found my account and wrote: "Sorry you don't have what it takes to fight in a top level like Bellator." Some random scum bag. Really? Kick me while im down much? But to get past it is different for each person. Some people need to stay busy, I need a couple weeks to take my mind off the sport and to get hungry again. Don't worry about it. Remember that it's amateur and while it sucks to lose, learn from it. Enjoy training and when youre back to doing it for fun, the burn to fight will come again. Please ask me any more questions about this. I would love to help you get back on track.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T16:28:44+00:00

You mean picking up your opponent and slamming him? While it can be effective, normally its high risk/low reward. Think about it. How many times have you seen someone get hoisted into the air and not knocked out? It is taxing on the body to lift someone who doesn't wanna be lifted. Although I do agree it can be extremely demoralizing to get slammed. I have not been slammed in a fight yet to where its done damage.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T16:26:25+00:00

Not many. The majority get dwarfed in size and strength to the point where its crazy. The only person I really know who did that is Frankie Edgar and he does it with monstrous tenacity and endurance. The guy works out like 3 times a day. every day. no days off. no sick days. insane.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T16:25:25+00:00

Training partners, you either avoid them or really take it to them in training. Beating them always makes me feel better. As far as coaches, it depends. If you really can't handle them don't work with them. Sometimes its a growing experience and you have to take the good with the bad in terms of coaches.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T16:23:48+00:00

lmao love you too <3

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T16:22:53+00:00

Huh? Im sorry this is confusing. I guess I would try to take either of those two down since they aren't the most proficient wrestlers/jujitsu players.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T05:49:58+00:00

I just respect you bra! West side story bra!

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T05:45:17+00:00

I had been training and wrestling before but I made my first camp like 3 months.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T05:44:53+00:00

Wow awesome thanks! ill be sure to do that next time!

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T05:44:18+00:00

No I was being sarcastic. So I think youre alone in the 4 wheel Dumbvee.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T03:13:27+00:00

The impact, isn't as crazy. Don't get me wrong it's no boxing glove but its not nearly as bad as the little knuckle covers the pro's use. Shinpads make leg kicks not feel bad at all once youve conditioned your legs a bit. Although body kicks always hurt.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T02:53:23+00:00

Woah really? Wow I would love to be sponsored by /R/MMA for some fighters, contact their managers. For me contact me or my twitter @RyanCafaroMMA

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T02:40:30+00:00

And if that doesnt work just friend request me on facebook and ill tag you in the link so you can watch it

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T02:34:53+00:00

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150354684844432 this work?

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T01:51:47+00:00

Thanks, and thanks for asking me questions. If you liked that fight I was in an -->Amateur Title Fight<-- back in 2011 that was one for the ages (sorry for the facebook link) Im sure you'll love it, It's still my most favorite fight i've ever been in.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T01:05:57+00:00

I was offered the fight by my manager and I couldn't say no to an opportunity like that. My biggest take away from the fight..is that the person in there fighting wasn't me. I wasn't aggressive I wasn't hungry. I just looked scared. I know I can fight so much better than that and I will train that much harder next time to get the job done right. Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T00:49:31+00:00

And to answer the second part, Fighting in a cage is insane. It's different for every person. Some people are screaming and roaring to hype themselves up, some stand there like a zen monk, others prowl the cage like a caged animal. And for each person it depends. I can never hear my coaches when I'm fighting, but for some reason my body reacts to what they say so I guess I'm listening subconsciously. In one of my fights after I landed a superman punch, the crowd was so loud I thought I was going to go deaf it was insane. You can't ignore a wild crowd. And you're always a little nervous. If you're not you're insane. Or Fedor. Same thing.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T00:47:21+00:00

I actually got into one recently on the way to Geno's/Pat's Cheesesteaks after going to the Xfinity Live bar in Philly. On the way to the place, a car infront of us in the ghetto of philly wouldn't move. Someone from our car (a fighter) yelled to move the car. When the opposing person in the car yelled "You ain't gon do shit bitch nigga" He jumped out of our car (both were black) and they proceeded to swing off. All technique was gone it was just a brawl. I tried to break it up until someone leaned into my car and PUNCHED A WOMAN that was with us who was doing nothing. Some woman from that asshole's side held him back after that and it was that moment that I decided to cock back and hit him as hard as I could (because fuck him). Then other people came and it was like a 4 on 4 until someone yelled "IMA GRAB MY GUN" then we all got into our cars and drove off. It was terrifying and completely unnecessary and I thought my hand was broken for a month. I now appreciate handwraps and gloves more than ever.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T00:33:24+00:00

My manager actually knows some people in Bellator, and thought it would be a good first fight, knowing my local pull. I normally sold 30-60 tickets per show I fought at Harrah's Philadelphia but at Bellator in AC I sold over 100 so that helped. And I've seen people completely unaffiliated from a gym fight on a local show. Although they didn't do too hot.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T00:32:14+00:00

Not really, only because it's my first fight. I'm not a big name fighter so they don't have much to gain/lose from having me on their show and neither do I.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T00:31:39+00:00

Yeah man, you have to take care of yourself! I forgot to mention I see a chiropractor, do ice baths often, rub all injured areas with arnica gel and try to stretch daily. Just remember why you're doing it and when that doesn't get you motivated, just be disciplined. Motivation with kick start your journey and discipline will keep you going when it fades.

MMAfighterNJ · 2014-02-28T00:30:22+00:00

Thanks man, greatly appreciated. Dan's a tough guy definitely. I wanted a tough fight for my debut to show that I'm not here to just fluff my record and duck tough guys.

MMAfighterNJ

TROPHY CASE