What kind of lifestyle do the current champions of cage fighting possess? The current flyweight UFC champion is Demetrious Johnson. Demetrious Johnson has twenty-one wins, two losses, and one draw. His nickname is “Mickey Mouse”. Demetrious Johnson is from Madisonville, Kentucky, and is twenty-eight. He is known for his amazing speed and technique. Demetrious Johnson had worked in a recycling tube plant warehouse before he started fighting. He started training to fight in late 2005. His favorite technique is his footwork. Demetrious Johnson trains daily, and when he is training for a fight he treats every fighter as if they are the best fighter in the world. His goal is to be the perfect mixed martial artist and fighter in the world.

The current UFC Heavyweight Champion is Cain Velasques. Cain Velasques has thirteen wins and one loss. He is known for his power, strength, and takedowns. Cain is a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion. Cain trains at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and is trained by Dave Camarillo. Cain Velasquez made his Mixed Martial Arts debut on October 7, 2006 where he fought against Jesse Fujarcyk. He won the fight in the first round with a TKO. Cain made his UFC debut where he fought against Brad Morris where he won the fight by a TKO in the first round.

Cain Velasques earned the honors of the Knockout of the Night when he defeated Brock Lesnar in the first round with a TKO. Cain Velasques received the MMA Fighter of the Year Bazzie Award in 2010. Cain was married to Michelle on May 28, 2011. They had a daughter on May 6, 2009. Cain Velasques trains daily. His training schedule is intensive and grueling. He is known for having a strict, healthy diet, and intense workout.

The lifestyles of champion cage fighters are far from normal. Their lifestyles consist of training and working out consistently. All of the cage fighter champions can work out as much as forty hours a week or more. This is their full-time job. If the cage fighter champion is married, then their spouse must adjust to the strenuous workout that these fighters endure. Training is essential to prevent injuries while fighting. Mixed Martial Arts plays a big role in cage fighting, and cage fighters have to train in this area as well.

The lifestyle pace is steady and long for anyone wanting to become a cage fighter. You have to be dedicated to living a strict and dedicated lifestyle. The diet is not for enjoyment, but for fuel and energy for the body. There is very little leisurely time for a cage fighter, because of the strict training and workout that comes with this profession.

http://www.ufc.com/fighter

Anthony Pettis’s Girlfriend – Alexandra Cartagena

Anthony Pettis is ranked as the top, number one fighter for pound for pound rankings. Anthony Pettis’s nickname is “Showtime”. Anthony grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He started training in taekwondo and boxing when he was five. His first job before he started fighting professionally was a P.O.C. Fire Fighter, and he was also a Martial Arts Instructor.Anthony Pettis wen to the Dominican High School in Milwaukee. His girlfriend Alexandra Cartagena went to the rival high school of Grandview High School in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. The two met and started dating. They continued to date, and Alexandra gave birth to Anthony’s first child in 2011, a daughter, which they named Aria. The couple still lives in Milwaukee.

They own a sports bar together called the “Showtime Sports Bar”, which is named after Anthony’s nickname. Anthony also owns a barbershop in Milwaukee called ASP Barbershop.Anthony Pettis is the first UFC fighter to ever appear on the cover of General Mills Wheaties box. The couple stay busy with their businesses, daughter, and training. They enjoy quiet nights at home just relaxing and watching a good movie.

Demetrious Johnson is rated as the third top fighter for pound for pound rakings. He has twenty-two wins, two losses, and one draw. His nickname is “Mighty Mouse”. Demetrious Johnson hasn’t always had fame and fortune. Demetrious had to work hard to get where he is today. He started working at the age of fifteen in fast food restaurants.

While in high school, Demetrious started working at Red Lobster, and this is where he met his wife, Destiny Bartels. She was a server, and he worked in the kitchen. The two became friends instantly. The two would sing silly songs to one another. Demetrious was about to fight his second amateur fight, and from that day the two were officially a couple.

Demetrious and Destiny married on May 11, 2012 in Hawaii. Their honeymoon was also training for Demetrious as he was training for his rematch with Ian McCall. Demetrious had a hard life growing up, and he said this about his wife Destiny, “The main thing that has helped me move away from my past is my wife. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and without her, life would be incomplete.”

Destiny is very protective of her husband. At the UFC 152 fight, an aggressive fan took ahold of Demetrious, and Destiny got the fan off of her husband. Every morning Destiny asks her husband the same question, which is, “Do you feel like a champ?” The couple had their first child on July 19th, 2013, which was a son. Demetrious’s family is his one priority. He said he would never put his family on hold for any fight.

What does the couple like to do in their spare time? Demetrious and Destiny like to visit the Ram Brewery and Restaurant near their home. They enjoy sitting outside on the patio and enjoy a nice, cold drink. Demetrious loves playing video games, and spending time with his son and wife. Destiny is a stay at home mom, and does a wonderful job doing that.

Frankie Edgar is rated as the second top fighter for pound for pound rankings. Frankie Edgar has eighteen wins, four losses, and one draw. Frankie’s nickname is “The Answer”. He is from Summit, New Jersey. Frankie started wrestling at Toms River High School East in Toms River, New Jersey. Frankie started working with his father at his plumbing business while he was training to fight.

Frankie and Renee have known each other since they were five years old. Frankie married Renee ten days after he competed in the UFC Fight Night 13. In 2009, their first son Francesco was born, then in 2010 their second son, Santino James was born. In June of 2014, they had their first daughter, Valentina.

Frankie dedicates Sunday’s with his wife and children. They eat breakfast together, then they go to the beach or park. Frankie Edgar has a net worth of over two million dollars. He wants to continue to fight as long as he can, and Renee will be there to support her husband.

Michelle contacted Jacob “Stitch” Duran, who is a legendary cut man. She took his advice and started watching cut men at UFC fights. To get experience, Michelle volunteered at a gym in Idaho. She volunteered five days a week wrapping hands and tending to fighters. She drove round trip 120 miles each day just to gain experience. Michelle decided in 2010 to move to Washington where she could work with MMA shows, so she packed up her two kids, Landon, and Kason and moved.

A year later Michelle was invited to the Knock out Cancer event in Las Vegas. Cut man, Adrian “Tenacity” Rosenbusch worked with Michelle to wrap fighter’s hands. After the event, she asked him if he could train her as a cut woman. Michelle now works in the UFC and has been wrapping hands of many UFC fighters, which include Yushin Okami, Chael Sonnen, Brian Stann, and John Fitch.

Many people don’t understand what it takes to be a cut man. The goal for a cut man is to stop bleeding, reduce swelling, and keep the fighter safe. A cut man has to obtain a license with the Athletic Commission in each state, because to carry Epinephrine or be in the cage with the fighter you have to be licensed. Many people think you just wrap hands, but it is more detailed than that.

What does Michelle “Swayze” Valentine do when she isn’t wrapping fighters? She just loves being a mother and spending time with her two boys. Michelle and her boys have located to Las Vegas now, because that is where there are more fights. We can be sure that we will see more of this cut woman in the future. Michelle “Swayze” Valentine is a determined woman who doesn’t stop until she succeeds.

Mixed martial arts training will build confidence within you. You will receive discipline when you train, because being a mixed martial art fighter requires discipline with your body and mind. You will be disciplined with eating, training, sleeping, and fighting.

Mixed Martial Arts mean you have trained in every area that is needed to be a cage fighter. A cage fighter uses the techniques that are required from the training of mixed martial arts. Experience in mixed martial arts is the first step for being a cage fighter. Here are a few of the qualifications that are needed to become a Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighters:

Mental Resilience: You need to have heart to be a successful Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighter. You also need to possess the motivation, drive, and dedication. You have to withstand physical punishment and pain. Physical exhaustion comes with this sport, and you have to have the mental resilience to overcome it.

Physical Ability: A Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighter has to be physically tough, and have physical ability to take abuse. Muscles, ligaments, joints, and the skin take a tremendous amount of abuse. The extreme training can take start to take control over your body, and you have to be able to know the symptoms of exhaustion and over-training, so you don’t get injured.

Discipline: A Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighter has to possess discipline. There will be sacrifices that come with this sport. Most of your days and nights are spent training in the gym, and most cage fighters aren’t financially successful for the first few years with this sport. There will be no leisure time. A cage fighter has to have discipline to stay focused on the sport.

Background in Martial Arts: A cage fighter has to have some background in martial arts. Mixed Martial Arts training allows a cage fighter to have skills that include kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, and different training styles. It is essential to have a background in Mixed Martial Arts to have a successful career as a cage fighter.

Cage fighting is not a barbaric blood sport that many in the media has labeled it. Cage fighting takes training, strength, and dedication. The cage that is around the ring actually keeps the fighters safe. The fighters don’t have to worry about falling out of the ring, and added risks of injuries. The cage protects the fighters from this. Just because there is a cage, doesn’t mean the cage fighters are animals.

Cage fighters know that Mixed Martial Arts is a very important component that is needed to be a successful cage fighter. It is very much a part of this sport.

http://boldanddetermined.com/2011/11/21/10-reasons-to-study-and-train-mixed-martial-arts-mma-and-how-to-start-your-own-fight-club/

http://www.quora.com/What-does-it-take-to-become-a-professional-MMA-fighter

There are many gyms that claim they teach Mixed Martial Arts, but they are teaching Tae Kwon Do, which isn’t Mixed Martial Arts. A gym that teaches Mixed Martial Arts has to be regulated by the government, so make sure the gym you are looking at is regulated.

Cage fighters train up to forty hours and more each week, which makes it just like working a full-time job. A cage fighter has to have a training gym that has several coaches along with sparring partners. The training will consist of intensity fighting, repetitive punching, and all forms of Mixed Martial Arts.

Best Training Gym for Cage Fighters
To become a cage fighter you want to select the best training gym. Here is what to look for when you are selecting a training gym:

A gym that offers actual Mixed Martial Arts Training is essential.
The gym should be an experienced gym. This means it has been in business for a while.
The trainers should be experienced.
The gym should be open at all hours, so you can train when you need to.

To be a cage fighter doesn’t mean you have to pay big money at high costs gyms. You can find a small gym that has experienced trainers that specialize in Mixed Martial Arts training. The training gym should have trainers who have a background and experience in Mixed Martial Arts, so you are getting the correct training that you will need to be a cage fighter. The Fight Source is a website that can assist you in finding a school and training gym in your area. The Fight Source helps new cage fighters get started in their career, and their website is www.FightResourse.com.

Once you have had the appropriate training, then your trainer can assist you in finding a cage fight at a local event. You want to make sure that it is an Amateur Mixed Martial Arts fight, because Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighting is run exactly like Pro Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fighting. Make sure your first cage fight is against another newcomer. This will give you the same standing and experience, and you won’t be going against a fighter that has been fighting for a while, has fans, and just looking for an easy win, due to your inexperience as a cage fighter.
Finding a training gym for cage fighting doesn’t have to be costly and hard. Just do some research, and you will find the right training gym.

http://www.fightresource.com/

http://www.ufc.com/discover/fighter/what-it-takes

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest promotional company in the world that promotes Mixed Martial Artists who are the top ranking fighters in the industry. Dana White is the president of the UFC, and Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta are brothers who own the Zuffa Corporation. The UFC has nine different weight divisions which include:
Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Welterweight
Lightweight
Featherweight
Bantamweight
Flyweight
Strawweight

An eight-man tournament that was a single elimination was called, “War of the Worlds” was inspired by a video series that featured jiu-jitsu students fighting against Mixed Martial Arts Masters. The eight-man tournament would allow each Mixed Martial Artist to fight against their opponent in a no-holds-bar fight. Art Davie drafted a plan, then got twenty-eight investors to start the WOW Promotions, which led to the first start of cage fighting.

WOW Promotions designed the octagon, which is a signature piece that was made for this form of fighting. This is how the octagon came into existence, and this occurred in 1993. The first fight was in Denver, Colorado, and to promote the fight the show asked sports fan this question, “Can a wrestler beat a boxer?” The first fight and pay per view show was a success with over 85,000 subscribers.

The promoters didn’t intend for the fighting show to be a series. This was going to a one-time event, but it did so well on pay per view, Dana White decided to do another, which led to another, and the rest is history.

The Cage
The UFC cage is an eight-sided enclosure that is officially called, “The Octagon”. The UFC cage’s walls are metal chain-link fencing. The fencing is coated with black vinyl. The fence is 5 foot 6 inches tall, and it sits on a four foot platform. There is foam padding around the top of the fence, and between each eight sections of the fence.

Rules of the Cage Fighting
When the first UFC debuted, the UFC used the tagline, “There are no rules”! There are indeed rules. The rules of cage fighting with the UFC include:

No Biting
No Eye-Gouging
No Steroids

The UFC said there was no head-butting, groin strikes, and fish hooking, but it is allowed, only frowned upon. The fighter will not be disqualified if he does a head butt or a fish hook to their opponent.

In the late 1990’s, cage fighting was deemed as a violent nature sport, and Senator John McCain called it, “Human cockfighting”, and tried to ban cage fighting. The UFC redesigned the rules, because of the negativity and criticism, and banned any head kicks and strikes to the back of the head and neck.

The UFC continued to grow with fans. In 2010, over 1.25 million pays per view viewers tuned in to watch Shane Carwin and Brock Lesnar fight. The UFC purchased the World Extreme Cagefighting organization in 2006, and merged the two. UFC is continuing to grow. Each week more and more fans are tuning in to watch UFC fighting. Despite the negativity that this sport has, it isn’t going anywhere.