What I Wish I Knew Before My First Fight: Eryxgear Athletes Share Critical Advice
For Aspiring MMA Athletes
After months and months of training hard, learning a whole new craft, and committing to
your dream, there are so many thoughts that can rush through your mind about your
MMA debut.
You’ll see it in your sleep, playing out like a Hollywood blockbuster. Like Rocky Balboa
versus Ivan Drago. Like Conor McGregor versus Jose Aldo. After all, when you make
the walk and the cage door shuts, the array of emotions is unlike anything you’ll have
experienced before.
Luckily, our highly esteemed sponsored athletes here at Eryxgear have been there a
dozen times over. They’ve fought in the biggest promotions against some of the best in
across Europe and the world, and they’ve been willing to share their two cents to make
the first MMA fight a much calmer environment for aspiring athletes.
WHAT ERYXGEAR FIGHTERS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE THEIR MMA DEBUT
“Use That Fear As Fuel” – Ieuan Mackenzie, Cage Warriors rising star
One-to-watch in the professional ranks, Ieuan Mackenzie’s MMA debut came back in
2018. Overall, he took part in 18 amateur fights before taking the time to move to the
upper echelon.
Philosophically, Mackenzie believes the amateur is where mistakes are supposed to be
made. Every fight is a fresh start, and a chance to learn from it all. So, with a plethora of
bouts to his name, it’s clear to see why he’s having so much success in the professional
ranks:
“Be as active as possible as an amateur, compete internationally if you have the
opportunity. Take tough fights, it's how you'll grow as a fighter. Wins are great but you
will learn more from your losses, don't let a loss crush you, use it to build up and come
back better,” Mackenzie said.
“Most importantly, enjoy the process! Fighting can be scary but remember you are there
because you want to be, use that fear as fuel!”
https://youtu.be/BR9o7DrgT4o?si=oorjPiNqfJ6CqI2o
“Do It For You” – Joffie Houlton, PFL Heavyweight Contender
An enigma in his own right, Joffie Houlton doesn’t do anything by halves. Everything he
does has his heart and soul poured into it, especially MMA.
More to the point, the Stoke striker advises novice combatants to block out the outside
noise and to focus purely on themselves. He believes it doesn’t matter how you look to
everyone else, or on social media.
Houlton is a firm believer that it’s you versus you in the ring, and with that in mind, he
wants you to simply enjoy the moment and take it all in.
“Do it. Do it often. Do it because you love it. Do it to test yourself. But, most of all - do it
for you. Your amateur fights are about discovering if you even like fighting, pressure,
testing your skills, and enjoying yourself,” he said.
“They’re not about how many sponsors you have, how many tickets you sold or being a
professional in an amateur environment.“I remember the promoter stressing me on tickets and it being the biggest deal for me
about how well I performed. The reality is that then, much like now, no one cares how I
do. I care, my nearest and dearest care, but the world doesn’t and it’ll keep turning
anyway. So, when it comes down to it, just do it for you.”
https://youtube.com/shorts/U51t-2UhXzE?si=S6oBaYmdanRyRwxQ
“Soak All Of It In” – Summer Onley, rising women’s MMA star
One of the newest professionals under the Eryxgear banner is Summer “Ice Cold”
Onley. A rising star with a boat load of finishes across the amateur and professional
MMA ranks, the Birmingham brawler’s life has become a whirlwind.
Despite the success, Onley is making a point to stop and smell the roses along the way,
to appreciate what she’s done in a short space of time, and she’s keen to encourage
fellow up and comers to do the same.
“I’m going to be really cliche here but it is 100% true, you should enjoy it! When you’re
walking out, enjoy it. Getting your hands wrapped, enjoy it. It’s obviously a really nerve-
wracking experience, but I wish I’d just taken it in a bit more,” she said.
“I was so focused on my fight that I didn’t enjoy the whole day. I’ve started soaking in
the experience more now with every fight and I think it’s making a difference. Also, don’t
just fight, win and then move onto the next thing, try and even enjoy the days after it.
The high after a win is amazing and I think that’s sometimes rushed too.
“So overall, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, soak all of it in, and don’t rush
anything.”
https://youtu.be/AmCKfFhvMHo?si=QSjTWZBXD6VOgU00
“It’s About Consistency” – Nikita Bagley, Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion
For Nikita Bagley, sport is about playing the long game. It’s about remaining committed,
even when times get hard.
From his own experience, the Great Britain Top Team standout is a firm believer in
chipping away at goals and doing what everyone else refuses to do.
Some of these things he’s discovered the hard way through injuries. So he’s quick to
advise youngsters to listen to their bodies and look after their health in order to have a
lengthy, fruitful career in MMA.
“I wish I knew that when it came to training, it wasn’t necessarily about running my body
down as much as possible every day,” he said.
“It’s about consistency, with lower intensity days and a focus on mobility and recovery.
Making it to the fight day and longevity in the sport is key.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ybxR5dMnYk
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