The Ultimate Fighter

This past Wednesday the premiere of the Ultimate Fighter finally aired and I got to see my match from the show.  Honestly, it was kind of hard to watch.  Actually, excrutiating might be more the word I had in mind, lol.  Just because, I obviously knew the outcome, and got to see some of the very costly mistakes I made. 

For a fighter, you always analyze your matches, especially losses, and let me tell you, by now I’ve probably gone over it in my head a thousand times, had dreams even.  I won’t list all my mistakes, but I should have been more aware of our surroundings the 2nd round and not let the wall climb happen in the first place.  Secondly, obviously the lateral drop was not the wisest decision in my painfully young life.   I usually hit that move often, but in this instance the conditions for the throw weren’t there and I tried to force it.  Dumb move, yes, I know!  Live and learn, I guess.

One of the few positives was I pushed myself and can’t say I didn’t fight hard.  That’s little to be proud of though.  I went to win and dropped the ball.  That just about sums it up.  Weeks prior preparing beforehand, one of my trainers told me, “God opened a door for you”.  Those words stuck with me throughout.  I wanted to give everything.

Thanks a lot to Spencer Paige for giving me an awesome awesome fight.  It was a war and you’re a tough dude, lol.  Aggressive, good hands, good technique.  If anything it was at least entertaining.  

When I lived in Japan, my good friend and teammate, Eriya Matsuda tried to explain a little of the bushido code to me.  Bear in mind, we were a little drunk at the time when he imparted this wisdom!  Anyway, he mentioned how you should always respect your opponent, because if there was no opponent there would be no match.  Your opponent lets you know either how strong you are or how weak you are, and you should always be grateful for that.   He capped it off by saying, “but you always try to kill the opponent!”   haha!  It was a funny moment, and kind of sums up fighting, at least for me.  Respect your opponent, be grateful for your opponent, while at the same time trying to knock his head off!  …It’s a funny life.

Just to anyone that reads this, know that I’m not done.  I have one solitary dream, and this is pretty much it.  I’ll do it or die trying.  I’m no one special, but I promise you that I will give everything and will see this road through to the end.  Be it salvation or damnation waiting for me, whatever come first.

Thanks to everyone!

Steve Magdaleno

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Bonds

Above is a picture of my team from my time in Japan, Sakaguchi Dojo.  They are wonderful people, all of them, and I consider myself extremely lucky to know them.  

Japan can be a difficult place for someone who goes there, maybe a little arrogantly speaking close to no japanese as was the case with me.  Getting used to the culture, knowing virtually no one, and just trying to get my footing was a trial of sorts.  Odds were pretty stacked against me from the start, but everything changed because I met really great people at Sakaguchi Dojo.  I no  longer felt lost and was happy to belong.   I made great friends and have so many good memories training and just being around everyone there.  I was truly blessed.

I am writing about my team back there in Tokyo today, because the dojo I trained at closed down this week and I really wish I could have been there for the last couple days.  I have a strong bond with everyone there and would have liked to be there at the end.  Training there and just seeing everyone day in and day out my time in Tokyo was one of the happiest times of my life.    Life was busy but there was always good people around so it was a happy existence. 

Things are good though.  There’s a new Sakaguchi gym in Yokohama now with my good friends, Yukio, Eriya, and too many other great friends.  I miss everyone and hope I can catch up with everyone soon.
Steve Magdaleno

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