Lyman Good: MMA's Best Kept Secret...Revealed (Pt. One)

AA: And in the midst of all that training and evolution into adulthood, was there ever a moment where you felt that this was something that you could do as a living. That competing in martial arts and MMA was a viable option to financially support yourself?

LG: Yeah. The longer I kept doing this the more my path became clear to me. As I started getting better, I felt as though that I was good at it and this was what I had to be doing. Not just because I was good at it but because this was where my heart was at.

And you should always follow what your heart is leading you to. If your heart’s not into something you definitely shouldn’t be doing it.

AA: And when you came to this realization, and maybe even before, who were the guys that you looked up to? I mean as a young man, who were your role models that you saw and said, "That’s who I want to be like."

LG: To be honest, very few people. I’ve had very few role models in my life. It’s been written about me that I’ve had a very rough childhood and as far as role models go, I didn’t have many to look up to. But if there was one source of light that I had at the time, it would always be my mother.

She raised three kids on her own, she busted her ass and worked hard as hell just to make sure that we were fed, for at least that one day, at a time when we were getting tossed around from shelter to shelter.

I mean there was never any question or doubt about it, she always gave herself to us, and for me it was always like damn you know, where did she get that type of strength from?

AA: So with clearly all of the positive changes that your mother and martial arts have given you in your life, I mean what do you say to the parents and people that still look at a sport like MMA as a barbaric bloodsport and as a bad image for kids and society?

LG: I think they’re wrong. Completely. A lot of what goes into a fight, between the people who take part in one professionally, is heart and conditioning and sacrifice. It’s a lot of the things that make a person strong.

All this sport really is, is two people at their best being put against each other. It’s years and months of training for the opportunity to showcase your abilities and reward yourself for your hard work and sacrifices.

I don’t see it as barbaric at all.

AA: And speaking of people’s views on the sport, what do you think of the fans of MMA today? Do you feel that they’re progressing and evolving with the sport and learning what they should about it?

LG: Absolutely. Like I said earlier, I feel that MMA is definitely starting to integrate. It’s definitely more broadcasted, more advertised. People are getting more accustomed to it and they’re starting to learn more about it. Which is important because it helps them learn more about what goes into the fight. So yeah people are definitely learning more about the sport now.

AA: Now I think it’s safe to say that most casual MMA fans are mostly just familiar with the UFC. As they seem to be the flagship for mixed martial arts right now. What’s it like to fight in one of the organizations outside of the giant that is the Ultimate Fighting Championship?

Do you ever feel as though you’re fighting under their shadow?

LG: I wouldn’t say that I feel under their shadow, no. The UFC just has its course and notoriety for how long it’s been around. But fighting for the UFC and fighting outside of the UFC all lead you on the same road. It’s just a different course you’re taking to the end.

I mean in the UFC, you can have a fighter that has that credibility because he’s in that company, and it’s seen by an executive in the back that’s mulling over who is going to fight who and how they’re going to market it. And you have that versus a smaller org where maybe the fans are maybe more connected to the fighters in the bouts. And they know the backgrounds and story and you’re able to have a household name because of that.

I mean take Bellator for example. They’re a company that gives the fighters a lot of control. Then in the UFC, which I have nothing against, but over there I feel that it has more to do with strings being pulled, and who’s more famous and all that stuff. Compared to who really deserves it. You know, who really deserves that title shot.

AA: And with Bellator in mind, seeing organizations like Bellator, Affliction, Dream, StrikeForce, and whatever have you, seeing those organizations open up shop and put on big events, do you feel as though more MMA fans are starting to open their eyes to more MMA outside of the UFC?

LG: Yeah I do. I mean with all the new organizations opening up, you know if anything it creates great adversity between the fighters. And per organization with great fights and notoriety because of them, it singles out who is the best. Or at least the best in that organization. Which can create a household name.

And to the fans credit, they are doing a great job of getting to know more about the fighters and where they’re fighting in and who they’ve fought. So that knowledge can lead to more overall depth in talent and spawn more household names. Which is always good for business.

AA: And with that in mind, and speaking of household names, you yourself are at the cusp of possibly being one in the very near future. Certainly an organization like the UFC can help with that process. Tell me, what are your thoughts on possibly fighting for the UFC one day?

LG: I’m still thinking about that. It’s an ongoing thought process in my head as far as that being a possibility in my career. Right now I’m just taking it one step at a time.

To tie this in with one of the things I’ve said before, I’ll never be complacent. I’ll always put myself at the bottom because it makes me work that much harder to get to the top. So if the UFC is the pinnacle then I feel like I have time to achieve it. Like there’s always going to be time further down my career. For now I need to improve, and get better.

But when the time is right, it will definitely happen.


... (to be continued in Pt. two)

 

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