Fight!

I have no idea if there is some higher being in the world. It’s a comforting thought though, what I do know is no one does my fighting for me but me. So I choose to put my faith there, in myself. There is no magic pill, no nothing, just me and my aim is to create havoc with these two hands. May they take me as far as possible, my future is mine to create, all I know is I’ll be clawing my way till the very end with them. Trying to reach the highest of summits, but I hate the word, “try”, because there is defeat in the word, “try”. So I will not try to do anything, I will do it!!

I imagine a mountain and at the top of this mountain there is the silhouette of a man laughing. Laughing at my every stumble, every misstep, but his laughing drives me, eats away at me to my very core. I will continue to climb because the thought of reaching that mountain top and coming face to face with this man, is all I can think of. It permeates my every thought. I would very much like to reach this mountain top, so I may have the pleasure of slapping the snot out of this shadow’s face. I do not need any other motivation. That’s more than enough.

Thanks to everyone, those who support me day in and day out and also the trials that help mold me. With every single pain, there is a lesson. I come with everything! Every single victory, every single failure. I forget nothing and it’s always do or die for me!

Popularity: 6% [?]

A reason to fight! A reason to live!

Just a random blog for the night. I was told the other day, I don’t give off the image of a fighter, and they can’t believe I fight, I guess I’m too nice or some junk. I’ve been told that many times actually, but I don’t think it’s really a question about being nice or mean or whatever. In fact, I think the average citizen still thinks MMA fighters are cavemen or something. That we get together in secret meetings just to bash each other’s heads in, ha. ….actually that does sound a little like practice….regardless! ha.

It’s competition and I like to win like anyone else, love it and will do everything in my absolute power to win. Cause the alternative to winning really sucks big time if you ask me, ha! I’d rather pull my own eye out from it’s socket than suffer that…well that’s exagerrating a tad but regardless it truly does bite the big one!

Machismo is probably part of it too. In a match I’m all for trying to separate my opponents head from his shoulders, and I’m sure he has every bit the same intention. But that rush is something else, and by the time I walk out to ring I’ve already made my peace with the world and everyone in it. I am ready to give everything and If it is my day to fall, it is my day to fall. But the one thing I usually pray for before a match, is to make sure I fight hard till the very end. If I should find myself in a bind I pray to let me figure a way out, so I can fight till there’s nothing left of me. Let me give the crowd something to remember. Give everything, leave nothing for yourself, because regret is a shitty thing!

Here’s to fighting soon again and kicking ass!

Steve Magdaleno

Popularity: 19% [?]

Humpty Dumpty

A week pretty much on hiatus for me. Wanted a week to just relax the engines before I make another go at it. What does someone like myself do with a week off you ask?

Not much actually, haha! Well, not anything too productive anyway. Just the normal routine minus the training, among reflecting a bit naturally. Also taught a little, and just caught up on a little tv. I finally found out what the huge fuss was about over “Dexter”, the tv show as I spent this week watching the first season on dvd. My verdict??? Utterly awesome!! Now I have a bunch of other seasons to watch now. It will probably be a little while before I watch the other seasons, so no spoilers please! Ha!

This week back in training. I learned quite a bit, I think and am back at the task of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. Don’t want to preach because actions speak louder than words I feel. But I do not forget things, especially important lessons, let them guide me well from here on forth.

The pic was before the weight cut the day before weigh ins. Gorging myself I guess was the other part of my week off, so those abs you see in the pic might not be there currently:). Now back to eating like a saint. Completely completely changed my diet to make 145 and it sucked, ha!! But the cut was actually easier than expected. Physically I felt well with the cut. Next time you see me in the ring, 145 will be it. Anyway, I start training again this week. Help the friends with their respected fights, and get ready for a fight myself hopefully soon.

This time around, I’m refashioning Humpty Dumpty with a bazooka, and whatever other artillery I can muster! You give up a lot, getting ready for a fight, go through a lot, but the reason behind it is important. I’d do it a hundred times over in a heartbeat. I put my heart on the line each and everytime. All the more reason to train like no tomorrow. Working to make Humpty Dumpty unbreakable.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Another day in the life…

About time now. It’s been over year, and can’t wait to get back into the ring. I’ve prepared well, and have a great bunch of peeps around me, helping me all the way. Life kicks your ass sometimes, but you just have to get back up and kick back. Can’t wait for this!

Steve “The Dream” Magdaleno

Popularity: 5% [?]

…And on the seventh day there was Steve:)

Alright, so plenty going on in the life of your friendly neighborhood spider…errr I mean myself! Match is coming up as I make my first foray into 145lb territory. Training’s been awesome. Feel faster, stronger, and my rugged good looks are still intact!

I’m going into my last week of hard training, and after this match is over I will be so very ready to grub! But first things first, prepare like no other and come away with the “W”. Pictured above is us training at VMAT this past weekend. Feel really good. Next to me is my teammate, Mr. Jared Hamman. He fights CB. Dollaway August 14th at the UFC on Versus card in a match, that’s sure to be a barn burner! Can’t wait!! Go Jared!!

Other than…business as usual. Lose the rest of the weight, practice hard, and fight the fight!

Steve “More Handsome Than Ever” Magdaleno

Popularity: 5% [?]

Weight Cutting & Anime;)

So the big drop. I haven’t competed at 145 since high school, so this is pretty crazy. But I’m going about it the right way, just eating super clean. When you dedicate yourself so much to something, missing a few cheeseburgers isn’t so bad. It sucks the first week or so, ha, but other than that, cool beans. Just taking a little time out, leave pretty soon to train. I’m hoping for great training, and I’m really getting it everytime. Being pushed everytime I train which is awesome!

On a completely different side note, I’m a bit of an anime geek, and there’s this boxing manga called “hajime no ippo”, I think it translates to “the first step” or something. In it, there’s this character called Date san, who’s kind of like an old veteran champ. He comes up quick as a young fighter, challenges for the world belt and gets utterly demolished. Demoralized he leaves boxing, only to come back later to try his hand at it again. He wins the Japan title again, and eventually fights the same guy for the world belt who crushed him so many years before. The 2nd time he still loses on the grand stage, but he fights like no other. He takes such a beating but he keeps going and actually makes it a fight the second time. He goes out on his shield and in doing so, regains a bit of what he lost all those years before. Regains himself. He’s not the main character in the book, but that paticular story hits a spot. That sort of attitude, he comes back more determined than ever and really becomes something to aspire to. It’s a pretty noble story I feel. It’s the getting back up that makes a man, it’s the going out on your shield part that I admire.

This match is the first step.

Steve “The Dream”

Popularity: 10% [?]

Suplex of Chaos!!!

Like the title?? Hey, last minute, sue me. Ha!! Another day, yo! As for the pic above I believe it was from a Best of the West grappling competition here in socal, a long long time back. This was the semifinal match. You can see by the score we’re tied 2-2 at this point. I was probably 22 or 21 years old at this point. But regardless I remember I was really really amped for this match. Me and my opponent really went at it, like two dogs fighting over a bone, and the crowd was really into it too. It was a brazilian guy, and now a good black belt at that. But I had a lot of peeps cheering for me, and he had a lot of peeps cheering for him. I just remember having that feeling, that feeling that tells you won’t be denied! No matter what, whatever the cost you’re winning this match. I was irate, or determined or whatever you want to call it. Anyway in overtime I took him down, wasn’t awarded the points at first but when he got up and I delivered this really beautiful Suple, the ref couldn’t deny me those points and I won the match. It was a great great feeling. Can’t describe it, just a feeling of bliss really.

I was also happy, because I knew I got to go against Javier Vazquez in the finals. I remember smiling at him after this match and him smiling back. I would later lose to Javier Vasquez in the finals, haha!! But the semifinal match was awesome! haha! Anyway, ready for my next match! Amped!!

I have a feeling of freedom, a feeling of purpose.

Steve “The Dream”

Popularity: 6% [?]

Truth

Another productive day for yours truly at VMAT MMA Gym in El Segundo, CA. Around me everyone is getting ready matches right now, so I have very good training. Focused, is really all I can say about myself at this present time. It’s been too long a wait for me, so this time just want to go for broke!

Spent the morning like I said, having my head beat in at VMAT, thanks guys! And then proceeded to partake in much deserved food:). I also caught “Centurion” on netflix which is actually a pretty good film. Surprised by how graphic the death scenes were, but all in all a pretty good guy flick!

That’s it for me today. As you can see from the pic, I’m as handsome as ever and going to start cutting some more weight gradually over the next couple weeks. Cutting weight sucks, but whatever, there are more important things in life than gorging myself in pizza and cake, lol. Just ready to fight. Looking forward to the challenge, enjoying training everyday. The mats become my sanctuary of sorts, and good timing too. Let’s do this thing!

Steve “The Dream”

Popularity: 11% [?]

Whatever It Takes!

Time to be a little introspective I guess. Don’t usually post songs, but I think this is a special occasion. There are times in life when you kind of think, what happens next will have an everlasting effect. And that’s kind of the position I now find myself in. It’s a big deal, this next match. Of course every match tends to be a big deal at the time being, when you think about it. But I really do feel it this time, really am just so determined and prepared for what happens next. So prepared and really just looking forward to it. You just give yourself up to process of preparing yourself, studying your opponent, studying yourself, coming up with a gameplan, and then finally executing.

I’ve been doing martial arts since I was a little kid. Started with Tae Kwon Do, like many do in the U.S., but when I started my intentions were to be a great martial artist. I’d seen plenty Bruce Lee movies and whatnot, and thought like many others, “damn, that’s cool!!” lol. But with those humble beginnings, all these years practicing it’s turned into so much more. It’s a discovery of self, others might not see it the same way, but in life you need challenges, and this is mine. You need struggle to appreciate the sweeter things. I’ve always loved the challenge, it’s who I am, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

So many peeps to thank:). Everyone has their trials and tribulations, but I have the best support system around me. I have a lot of people that are there for me, plenty of people that want to see me succeed. Plently of people pulling for me, some of them probably believe in me more than I do. So thanks a lot everyone! everyone, everyone! There’s a lot of friends in Japan I haven’t seen in years, but I still consider them all brothers, and for everyone around here too, I promise to give you something to cheer for. I promise to win at all costs! I am a product of those around me, friends, family, and I come from the very best stock possible, I know. So I won’t let anyone down! And guns will be blazing from the opening bell!

To hell and back, loving every minute of it!

Steve “The Dream” Magdaleno

Popularity: 5% [?]

Saturday Pro MMA Training

Another eventful day at VMAT in El Segundo, CA. Really good training today for me, feel strong and just really amped to compete again. Did a lot of wrestling and jiu jitsu today, trained pretty hard and feel good about my progress right now. We got a lot of peeps training for big fights so the atmosphere is really good. I have a bit of extra motivation this time around too. I expect a good fight, a tough fight, but I feel a bit like a man possessed right now, and that’s never a good thing for my opponent!

The Dream

Popularity: 5% [?]