I Want It All

I Want It All

 “Am I ready for this?’ “Did I do everything I can?” “Maybe the critics were right, I’m not deserving of this opportunity.” These were the thoughts that ran through the young fighters mind as he entered the biggest fight of his career. In silence, the young challenger sat in the corner of the small locker room, with his mind pacing. The minutes leading up to the fight were always the hardest challenge for him. There was no more preparation to be made, and he dwelled on his whole training camp asking himself if he pushed himself hard enough in the proceeding months. He was in the main event for the first time. He dreamt his whole life of being in the main event of a championship fight, but now that he was here it was nothing like he dreamt. His anxiety increased and he knew he was thinking to much and needed to relax. Still he wished the clock would speed up so he could get out of this tiny room and into the cage. In the locker room he felt as if the walls were closing in. Inside the octagon, he felt at home. 

The fighter knew this negative thinking was bad for him and he shifted his attention elsewhere.  He closed his eyes and focused on all the critics and mixed martial arts “experts” who claimed he was undeserving of this opportunity. They said he was unworthy and not ready to go up against the best fighter to walk the face of the earth. He thought about all the internet fan boys who discredited his every accomplishment throughout his short career. Ever since the fight was announced all the young fighter heard was insults and negative feedback. These thoughts angered him, however, he used this anger as a source of motivation. When he was too tired to get out of bed in the morning to go running, he thought of the critics. When he was banged up during practice, and wanted to go easy he thought of the internet. When he felt he pushed himself to the brink, he thought of all the negativity and pushed himself further. His confidence began to grow. 

Coming into the fight, the young fighter knew he was the underdog. His opponent was the champion and considered to be one of the best fighters of all time. He defended his title on numerous occasions against all comers and challengers. He was a fierce competitor who had been through adversity and overcame all odds. The champion was a hero for the young fighter and he looked up to him very much. The fact he was even going to be locked up inside the same cage as his idol was a great honor. However, the young fighter wanted everything he had. He remembered when he first heard the champion had agreed to face him and ever since then he dedicated his life to making sure it was the worst decision of his heros life. 

Next, the young fighter tried to think of his upbringing. He had a very difficult life growing up in a rough neighborhood. His parents were immigrants and fought hard for everything they had, and were the main source of his inspiration. He never saw two people work so hard for so little. On nights they did not have enough food, he remembered his parents would give up their meals so the young fighter and his little brother were full. The mere thought of this made the young fighter ready to destroy the champion. He knew if he won this fight, his parents would not have to work anymore. Most people their age, were already retired for years, yet his parents were still struggling to pay the bills. He could not let them down, they worked their asses off so that he could achieve his dreams. It was now his turn to give back and he dedicated this fight to them.

Despite the fact, the young fighter wanted to give his parents a better life. He still wanted to do this for himself. His whole life, he struggled to find his place in the world. He knew he was not cut out for a nine to five, suit and tie job. He found his place once he was introduced to mixed martial arts. The young man new immediately he was meant to be a fighter. In times of trouble, he always counted on his martial arts discipline to help see him through. If it was not for martial arts the young fighter believed he would have spent his life in a cemetery or worse behind bars. He hated tight spaces like this locker room, and to him a small cell would have been worse than being dead. Most of his childhood friends ended up on that path and he knew he was the lucky one. His mother always told him that he was blessed and that God was watching over him and the young fighter at that moment realized what she meant. He found his calling and would not disappoint. 

Suddenly his coach, woke the young fighter out of his trance. There were only minutes left and his trainer wanted to make sure he remembered the game plan they drew up. The coach reminded him to keep his composure and work his jab. The young fighter was confident though. He knew the champion was extremely tough but he stayed cool, calm and collected. His entire life was dedicated to this moment, and he was ready. He watched and studied all the tape he could get his hands on and he had some surprises for the champion. There were some chinks in the seemingly invincible armor that the young fighter was ready to expose to the world. The champion had held the gold for too long, that belt was coming to his gym and he could not think of a better thank-you than to give that belt to his coaches and training partners. They were the ones who put their lives on hold, so they could dedicate everything to him. All the knowledge they gained over the years they willingly gave to him. It was more than just one person entering that cage, it was his whole gym behind him. To the young fighter the belt was just a toy, an extra piece of luggage to carry at the airport but he knew it meant domination to his trainers and training partners and he wanted to give them that power. 

Standing at the entrance ramp the young lion was humble as ever, he was given an opportunity to love the life he lived, the thoughts of winning and losing faded from his mind, he was only concerned with doing his best. Victory was already his, he would not be entering that cage alone. His family, friends, trainers and all his supporters, as few as they might be would be with him. How could he lose when it was fifty against one. The champion's reign was over their was a new king of the jungle and the young fighter was about to show the world what he already knew. The time for him to fulfill his destiny was now, his music hit and the words could not be more perfect as Freddie Mercury's voice screamed through the arena over screeching guitars “I Want It All, I Want It All, I Want It All, and I Want It Now.”