By Today’s guest editorial is by professional far-goer and recreational Jigsaw David Goggins.
When I got the call to help Tony Ferguson train for his upcoming bout with Paddy Pimblett, I knew I had to accept, because if anything was going to help a 39-year-old man snap a six fight mixed martial arts losing streak it would be doing several miles of walking lunges. Now, I’m not blind and I’ve seen all the keyboard warriors who think that breaking down a man’s mind and body to the point of self-described torture a month out from a fight is not the best course of action at a time when many of the elite athletes of the sport have publicly spoken about moving away from more strenuous training and the positive effects it has had on their careers. I’ve seen the claims that I’m just another huckster preying on one of MMA’s known eccentrics to line my pockets at the expense of their career and wellbeing in the cage. But to the haters I ask, have you ever completed an ultramarathon? I think not.
The psyche- and sinew-shredding work I’ve put Tony through this week is designed to help him unlock the mental toughness he needs to compete in the UFC, and anyone who knows Tony Ferguson knows if there’s one thing he’s been famous for until now it’s not having the fortitude to hack it in the UFC. While it’s true that nightmarish endurance training won’t help Tony develop new skills and techniques to succeed in the cage, no longer will fans tune in and see a man that everyone expects to absolutely break at the first possible opportunity as I assume was the case because, honestly, why would he have even reached out to me otherwise? Sure, Tony may struggle to execute as well in the first few rounds as he would have had he undergone some more traditional training, but how is Pimblett going to respond when Tony drags him into the deep waters of the 34th and 35th rounds? He’s going to crumble, and the rest of the division will follow. Islam Makhachev is not ready for what Tony is prepared to give in the ultrachampionship rounds.
Besides, we all know this is infinitely more normal than what he’d have been doing without me.
