Ep. 019 Ryan Cooper

Professional MMA Fighter Ryan Cooper joins Xavier to break down his career, the ugly side of the fight game, mental health struggles, his Pro debut, stigma of fighting, boxing and MMA comparisons, promotional corruption, training, weight cutting, street fighting, developing your own style, his business ventures, fighting in Thailand, traditional martial arts, fighter pay and much more. 

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:00 – The Chef Lifestyle

00:04:30 – Building a Business from Scratch

00:28:40 – Meditation, Mindfulness and Sport Psychology

00:34:30 – Pro MMA Debut 

00:48:15 – KO in Thailand

00:53:20 – Stigma of Being Undefeated

00:57:00 – Weight Cutting and Water Loading

01:05:00 – Science of Nutrition 

01:11:50 – Amateur vs Professional MMA Fighting

01:23:40 – Fighter Pay and Promotional Corruption 

01:34:45 – International Pro Debut 

01:40:00 – Cross Promotional Fights

01:41:10 – Staying Active and Fighting as much as Possible

01:43:55 – Starting MMA at 23

01:54:20 – Developing a Heavy Wrestling and Grappling Game

01:56:10 – What is the Best Fighting Style to Learn (Role of Traditional Martial Arts in MMA)

02:00:30 – What is the Best Fighting Style for Street Fights

02:06:40 – Knowing How to Fight is a MUST

02:10:30 – Max Holloway, The Decline of Tony Ferguson, and Connor McGregor

02:26:00 – Focusing on the Present

02:27:00 - Conclusion

Disclaimer - episode contains explicit language, mature themes