I flew out to Las Vegas Saturday with my girlfriend to attend the wedding of Ethan and Liz Benda. Ethan is my jits coach, training partner, personal trainer and friend. We have worked together for over three years. He used to own a gym on the Plaza in Kansas City where he taught jiu-jitsu classes.
After becoming intrigued by attending a WEC fight in 2005, I started taking some of his classes. Two years later I walked into the gym at 7 a.m. When he asked what I was doing there so early, I told him that I was training for my first professional fight. His reaction still warms my cockles to this day.
Working for ten percent of a middle-level cage fighter’s winnings is no way to pay your bills.
I can only conclude that he has helped me all this time because he is a self-less man and feels reward from sharing his knowledge.. It could be that he can’t resist my hillbilly charm, but I’m sure it has more to do with his soul.
I have served witness to a lot of soul since becoming involved in the sport of mixed martial arts. One wouldn’t assume that crazy men who enjoy beating the tar out of each other can also be great feelers, but that is the truth more often than not.
Men that spend a lot of time testing themselves physically, mentally and spiritually develop toughness in all of those disciplines. It’s not just the muscles that become stronger, but the resilience and faith that grow and endure. Of course there are some bad apples in the bunch, but fighters overall are givers and protectors. I was as proud to attend their wedding as I am to train with and call the Bendas my friends.
This weekend I will travel down the road to Clinton, Missouri. My destination is a pro/am mixed martial arts event, starring none other than Jeb Chiles. Jeb and I have an interesting story of acquaintance. In May of 2009 I made the same journey down the same road to the same town. My intention on the drive that day was to meet Jeb in the cage for my fifth professional MMA contest.
We were the main event in a show that was staged in his dojo, Chiles Martial Arts, in his hometown. Out of the nearly 700 spectators there were maybe 10 that were rooting for me. Jeb finished my night via armbar in the first round that evening and has continued on to an 11-1 record. He recently won via 2nd Round submission at Bellator 26 in Kansas City; yes the same show where I was last defeated via decision.
Following our first acquaintance I have been back to Clinton on several occasions to serve as cornerman for training partners and pitchman for Hillbilly Fight Wear. My guys fight his guys in the same cage where he and I fought. Sometimes we win and sometimes they win, but it is never personal.
I am now proud not only to call Jeb my friend, but to sponsor him with Hillbilly Fight Wear. He will wear my brand this weekend in the same cage where he soundly defeated me just over a year ago. Sounds like a love story you say: Nope, it’s just a fight story.
We have been told as children and as adults that fights only end badly, but that is not exactly the truth. All across this great country of ours men and boys are learning that a lot can be learned and gained from fighting.
With the discipline of martial arts a fighter can find his journey a rewarding one. No longer do kids from bad backgrounds have to be set in a room for therapy or anger management. These kids are now finding their way into gyms and studios and classes and sparring sessions with the hopes of one day entertaining their neighbors with a good ole’ fashioned thumpin’!
Some will go on to become household names, but most will simply find the outlet that therapy could never provide. Inside that cage lives reality; and that is the greatest therapy. THUMP A STRANGER!
-Brian Imes
The Human Cockfighter