Back in the day, I never would have believed I’d be where I am in my life now. With the road I was on, I could be doing time right about now. Thank God, I saw that poster in the store that day advertising a week free MMA training session at my gym. I thought it would help me become a better criminal. Instead, it opened my eyes to a completely different type of life and goals to set for myself. I haven’t turned back since—just firing ahead and becoming the best I possibly can.
After a short drive, I arrive at the gym and park in my usual spot. I walk across the parking lot, and I’m greeted as soon as I step in the door. Most have seen me here for hours at a time while I train, and I see a lot of familiar faces. I’ve made a few friends, and they’re usually the guys I end up sparing with. We talk fighting, training, and sometimes we have lunch together. It’s refreshing to have friends that have the same goals as mine to eat healthy, train, and become successful, instead of plotting our next robbery or other criminal activity to get money.
I place my plain black bag away in the locker room. It has around fifty small lockers, a few showers, bathroom stalls, sinks, mirrors, everything a guy needs when working out.
I love this gym and the fact that it’s strictly MMA training only. It’s not as packed full as the regular gym next door. I do have a membership to go over there also, if I ever feel the need to work out at crazy hours. They stay open twenty-four hours a day. I’ll occasionally pop over to lift weights if I’m having a rough night sleeping or thinking about my family. I prefer to just go for a run close to my apartment if the weather’s not too hot.
I head over to the jump ropes to start on my warm-ups and nod at a couple of the fighters I’m cool with as I head over toward my trainer, Sin.
“What’s up, man?” I fist-bump my buddy and fellow fighter, Jaxson “Adonis” Barker. Damn pretty boy—Even when he loses a fight, his face never seems to get messed up.
“’Sup Jace—good job last night, man.”
Jaxson sounds drained and looks a little worn out. He’s one of the few guys who actually works out as much as I do. He and I have done a lot of the training classes together and when my buddy Gavin isn’t here, Jaxson and I will partner up if we can.
I grab one of the black jump ropes and set the timer for fifteen minutes with fifteen second breaks. I know it’s going to hurt like a motherfucker, jumping with my tender muscles and fucked-up toe, but I’m going to power through it reminding myself that pain is weakness leaving the body.
“Yeah, thanks. Ford was a little cocky so I had to play with him for a few before I hit him with my right.” Not to mention he’s a fucking prick outside the cage, too. I can’t stand fighters who have no honor and morals outside the cage. The fight is inside, and that’s where it should be kept. We’re all giving it our best try—no need to be a dick.
“Well, you did good man; we were all watching. I actually met a little hottie there. I’m about to go meet her for lunch in a few.” I smirk and shake my head at him—fucking Jaxson and his women.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
He nods and heads to the locker room, “I’ll catch you later, man.”
I give him a chin lift and keep jumping rope, “Cool, take it easy.”
That dude lives up to his name “Adonis” with the way chicks flock to his ass. I finish up my fifteen minutes of jump roping and then I really get into my zone, turning up some “Beautiful People” by Marilyn Manson. I start with some light cardio before hitting the heavy bag and before my trainer decides it’s time to put me through an hour or two of hell.
Ballad Playlist
Don’t Stand So Close To Me – The Police
Poison – Rita Ora
Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
The Otherside – Red Sun Rising
Failure – Breaking Benjamin
Footsteps – Pop Evil
Set Me On Fire – Flyleaf
I Will Not Bow – Breaking Benjamin
Lips Of An Angel – Hinder
Acid Rain – Avenged Sevenfold
If You Could Only See – Tonic
All Or Nothing – Theory of a Deadman
You Call Me A Bitch Like It’s A Bad Thing – Halestorm
Heaven Knows – The Pretty Reckless
Run – Collective Soul
Angels Fall – Breaking Benjamin
Don’t Take The Girl – Tim McGraw
Bother – Stone Sour
Lie To Me – 12 Stones
Lit Up – Buckcherry
Dead In The Water – Pop Evil
Darker Side Of Me – The Veer Union
Do Her Wrong – Atom Smash
Save Me – Burn Halo
These Are The Days – The Exies
Tired Of You – The Exies
Wasting My Time – Default
It Only Hurts – Default
These Walls – Trapt
Maybe – Sick Puppies
Alive – Adelitas Way
Talking Body – Tove Lo
Jealous – Nick Jonas
Until The End – Breaking Benjamin
Rise Above This – Seether
By The Way – Theory of a Deadman
Dear Agony – Breaking Benjamin
Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
True Colors – Cyndi Lauper
Bed of Roses – Bon Jovi
You Don’t Belong – Daughtry
What I Meant To Say – Daughtry
Cool – Gwen Stefani
Let The Sparks Fly – Thousand Foot Krutch
She Hates Me – Puddle of Mudd
Love-Hate-Sex-Pain – Godsmack
Broken – Lifehouse
Deal With The Devil – Pop Evil
Use Me – Hinder
A Beautiful Lie – Thirty Seconds To Mars
The Kill – Thirty Seconds To Mars
Hard To Handle – The Black Crowes
Jealous Again – The Black Crowes
Whatever It Takes – Lifehouse
Better Than Me - Hinder
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