Few days ago in Raju 14 I cornered 4 athletes going 4:0.
Here comes a little personal post after a long silence in this blog. I have been divided between many things in the past year – raising a kid, helping a startup as new stuff. And all the old stuff -teaching in University, counseling, running a gym etc.
However sometimes some things need to be said explicitly:
My careeer as an athlete competing in professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is over.
One has to make tough choices now and then. MMA is not a joke. To take it seriously and possibly accomplish a leap in my skills as well as career it would’ve needed a narrow focus only on my training and my career. If I had made that choice I wouldn’t have been there for my loved ones like I am now.
I definately wouldn’t have been able to work as diversely as I have (I am a psychologist and a lecturer) and my work in my own gym (VÕIMLA SBGi) with my athletes – all that would’ve fallen far down in the priority list.
I did not see a point in fighting tomato cans nor training sub-par and being a journeyman fighter. Therefore this is it 🙂
My last fight – loss at Raju 12.
The Estonian MMA won’t end with me:) Despite being still one of the best Estonian fighters on paper, I am not the only one. Henri Hiiemäe, Ott Tõnissaar, Alik Tseiko ja Denis Smoldarev all have good chances for international success. The next generation is also coming along as strong amateurs show promising growth.
One of my aspirations is to be a part of and Estonian fighter’s journey to the absolute top level MMA in the world. I believe that dream is realistic – I am confident that our training methods are on par with the top camps in the world. We possess analytical minds in every area of the game. The Estonian Federation of MMA has been able to create possibilities for high level consultations in nutrition, physiotherapy and sport psychology.
Of course we don’t yet have ideal training facilities… money is always lacking. But to complain about that would be foolish – you can do things now or wait forever for the “ideal conditions”. I want to stand by the young talented athletes who want to do things now.
Cornering Alar Hutrov at Raju 13.
Maybe one more thought on why I chose to quit now. I never had a real passion for FIGHTING per se. I can’t say I LOVED the adrenaline rush that came with it. Don’t get me wrong – I liked to compete. Every match was like a puzzle for me – can I solve this with my skills right here and now? I liked the challenge and to know where I’m at. Combat sports are a very honest enviroment for testing one’s physical and psychological skills and competition is often more honest than training.
It is easy to aquire a flow-state or come close to it in combat sports and I like that.
The catch – one does not have to be a professional Mixed Martial Artist to still recieve those gains. I think I can still have it all as a coach, a training partner and competing in amateur sports (e.g. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and maybe even wrestling or boxing or something else).
Still – of course I liked the show and attention of the pro-career. I am extremely grateful for all my fans and supporters. I felt your presence and that made the pain that is preparing for a pro-fight a lot easier to bare. My sincerest thank you to every one whose good and comforting words helped to ease and overcome defeat and whose joy for my successes helped to amplify my own.
It’s always nice to come out on top – Raju 11. Win in front of a crowd of 3000.
I hope my career helped to bring Estonians to Mixed Martial Arts and to show that there is something special in combat sports.
Thank you and see you around 🙂 I hope I have more time now to dedicate to other stuff – including this blog and MMA analysis.
MMA - how does it work? 