Chapter Six
Jet
Fight night was tonight, and I was determined to keep focused, to make sure my head was in the game. Game only, this was not the time to think about Natalie, or worry about my grades. It was not the time to get angry over my father's lack of enthusiasm when it came to my career choice, or the fact that he was still determined to have me work for the company. It was also not the time to obsess over the pass Brian had made at Natalie, or the fact that there were a million other men out there who were far more deserving of her than I was. No, this day was only meant for me to focus on the fight ahead, and what the game plan was, in order to leave as a champion. Because if I didn't leave as a champion, then my father was going to start having a reason to tell me to give up what he calls my “pipe dreams.” So I had a lot riding on these fights; they were no joke, and I certainly didn't look at them as playtime. This was about the rest of my life, and I planned on going to war tonight, and sending my opponent home, thinking twice about getting in the ring with me again. Killa Killa, it was time to fight.
I started getting things ready to go. Coach always took care of things like Gatorade, first aid kits, ice, tape―all the things I needed in order to stay hydrated and safe. I always brought my lucky gloves, though no one used shin pads or headgear in professional MMA fights. I wouldn't need much else except my fighting outfit, which consisted of shorts and a T-shirt that had the school sponsorship logo on it. I put everything I needed in my gym bag, and set it by the door. Now it was “me” time. Kyle was hanging out with video games, and that wasn't the scene I wanted before heading out for my fight.
I headed back into my bedroom and closed the door. I put some meditation music on my iPod and lay down on my bed. I got in a comfortable position, and placed the earbuds in my ears. I turned on the iPod, and the music found its way into my head. I needed to zone out to experience my win in my head before I ever got into the ring. I needed to be a winner before I ever got out there. My goals would be realized before I even left my apartment; it was all part of how I won―not only in fighting, but in life, as well.
As the music took over, I imagined myself warming up with Coach, getting my head in the game, moving the way I was taught, throwing punches and kicks. Next, I imagined what it would be like to hear my opponent’s name called out in the ring. I imagined what it was like to know he had already lost, and was only going out to meet a good, old-fashioned beating. I then pictured my own name being called, the music that I had handpicked for my walkout playing through the speakers as I broke through the curtains, my team following close behind. I imagined my team, and how hard they, too, had worked to make sure I arrived that night prepared for the fight. To know that I was ready to knock out my opponent. They were there to support me, and would have my back no matter what.
I would walk down the aisle proudly, with my head held high, waiting to destroy. I would not have that natural fight or flight instinct that kicked in when I knew I was about to enter the cage with another man who looked to cause harm. I was now at the octagon door, my team placing Vaseline on my eyebrows, talking to me, preparing me for what lay ahead. I removed my shirt and walked into the ring. I envisioned the bell going off, and I struck my way into a knockout as I pummeled my opponent, never allowing him a chance to break my guard. I landed a sweet head kick that knocked him out, and he never got back up. It was my goal to get him done in the first round, because no one liked working overtime when they didn’t get paid more to do so. The crowd was going nuts around me, and I raised my hands high, knowing I was the victor before the judges called it.
I opened my eyes, and I was already smiling. I turned off the music, took the earbuds out of my ears, and set aside my iPod. I lay there for a few minutes, reveling in the feelings I was experiencing at that moment. I was king of the world, and no one could have taken anything away from me just then. I had never felt more alive, and I couldn't wait to unleash that feeling tonight when the fight was live.
I rolled out of bed and headed back out to the living area. Kyle was predictably, as always, still playing his video games. I hadn't realized I had been meditating for an hour; time flew when I was enjoying a victory.
“Hey, man, are you coming to the fights?”
Kyle looked up briefly from his game. “Not sure yet. I may have plans.”
I almost laughed out loud. Yeah, plans that consisted of drinking beer and playing video games all night.
“Okay, I will see ya later then; I'm heading to the gym.”
“Cool. Good luck tonight, Jet. Make us all proud.”
“Will do,” I waved as I picked up my gym bag and opened the door, heading out.
I grabbed my gym bag out of my car and headed into the gym arena. The fights were taking place at our gym this time, and they had transformed the area into a fighting arena. It looked amazing, and it got me jacked up in anticipation for the fights. I headed to the locker room, where I would find my coach, as well as the rest of my teammates. I was the main card for the evening, but I wasn't the only one of my teammates fighting on a card tonight. There were three other guys preparing for a fight as well.
I walked in, and everyone yelled out hi, or various forms of good wishes. I did the same, and went to go find my coach.
“Hey, Robbie, how's it going?”
“Great, buddy. How are you?”
“I feel great. I can't wait to get in there and destroy that guy.”
“That's just what I like to hear. Make sure you stay hydrated with some water throughout your warmup. Give me a minute, and we will wrap your hands.”
“Sounds good.”
I headed to the cooler, and at that moment wondered what Natalie was doing with her evening. She would probably be bored to tears at an event such as this. I got a couple of bottles of water from the fridge and brought them back to the locker room. I downed one immediately, and saved the other for later. There were a couple of girls hovering around the locker area, and I had to assume they were girlfriends of the other fighters. I wondered what it would be like having a girl standing in my corner, cheering me on. I had never had a long-term girlfriend before, and my conquests were never invited this close to my fights. On occasion, one would be in the audience at the fight, but they were never allowed near the corner, or in the locker room. They were only my prizes after I had won the fight, or my consolation prize, if I lost. The idea that someone would be there to kiss me good luck, and support me like a team member, was interesting. I walked back into the locker room and went to talk to the other two fighters.
“Hey, Craig, are you ready to go to war tonight, or what?”
“Hey, Jet, yeah, are you kidding me. I can't wait. I hope to accumulate the same record you have.”
“Oh, you will. It just takes time. You're a strong fighter, man, you will do just fine.”
“Thanks.”
Joshua was the other fighter going out tonight, and he joined our conversation when he noticed me talking to Craig. “Hey, man, I can't wait to see your fight tonight. I heard your opponent is brutal. He hasn't lost yet, at least.”
“Not yet he hasn't, but he will. I'm ending his clean record tonight.”
They laughed. “That's the spirit, man; it's gonna be a great fight, can't wait.”
“Well good luck, guys, and I will see you out there.”
Before I went to get my hands wrapped, I had to go do my weigh-in to make sure I was on par for the fight. They had a medical table set up around the octagon for the time being, so I headed over there. There weren't many people there, and I didn't see my opponent at all yet. It was my turn to head up, and I went on the scale to get weighed. They marked down that I met my weight for category. They took a picture of me, and I headed back toward the locker room.
When I went inside, Coach waved to me, and I headed over to the back area, where he had set up some chairs to wrap the fighters’ hands.
“So how did the opposing fighters feel about being located in the girls’ locker room?”
Robbie laughed out loud. “Well, hopefully, it fucked with their heads a bit.”
I chuckled along with him. I watched as he finished wrapping Craig’s hands and waved him off. He got up out of the chair, and Joshua sat down. They would be fighting first, so they needed to get ready before I did. I would be the last fight of the night.
“Things are starting to get busy out there. They are ready to go.”
“Good, you can help me start warming up the boys in about 20 minutes, and we will get them ready for their fights.”
“Sounds good.”
He finished wrapping Joshua, and the guy moved on. Robbie was a genius at wrapping; he could do a solid, protective job of wrapping knuckles quickly. He was the best coach I had ever had. I was lucky to have him.
He started weaving the cotton wraps over and over on top of each other, until he made a thick blanket of them. He proceeded to place that tiny blanket over my knuckles. When he was done, he taped them down. After that, he taped until my hand was as secure and safe as it could be inside my glove. I would not be breaking my hands that night. He did the same with the other hand, and I thanked him.
“Okay, Jet, let's get these fighters ready to go.”