Combat Fitness & Home of Team Phoenix

Awesome weekend , everyone had success and took away lessons that will serve them well in the future.

Whether it was a win or a loss I'm extremely proud of how each team member handled themselves and look forward to the next

Another successful MMA debut this weekend , this time for The Baby Brandon Cabrera

Another great fight and amazing support from the team. Excited for all that the future holds for Brandon and all those upcoming athletes we have.

made his mma debut and passed with flying colors, even though it was not the result we wanted his upside is huge and can't wait to see the progress and future he has.

11 competed this past weekend (not all shown)

7 gold
3 silver
3 bronze

6 of who had never competed before, proud of everyone that competed and the team mates that helped support and coach.

Always in the lab, lots of students competing in the upcoming months

Happy Christmas 🎄

We started a "Christmas Gi" a few weeks ago and collected things for those less fortunate than ourselves. I am proud of my team mates and how much they collected and will be happy to drop it off today!

This is the time of year set aside to reflect on our lives and recognize all that we have to be grateful for. For my part, that list is long.
Family, friends, health, the opportunity to do what I love on a world class stage, a fulfilling life...countless moments to cherish.

Turns out, I get to be extra thankful as I get to step back in la jaula for right after Thanksgiving! Tune in on Paramount+ for some holiday violence on December 2nd. See you from the cage ;)

Sometimes the goal is gold, sometimes it is something else and not medal relate. Happy that all students accomplished the goals we set for them before the competition.

MS Rachel competed at IBJJF this past weekend and ran the gambit on the podium earning gold silver and bronze.

MS or as most of you know it Multiple Schlerosis is a debilitating disease and Rachel has worked hard on not allowing it to be an excuse or a restriction and as a result has pretty much killed all symptoms.

The fights most of us go through are far away from competing and often unseen. Proud of each and everyone of my students that challenge themselves daily to be better not just at competition.

Super excited to be part of uncg neuroscience study into mma training and how it impacts brain health and concussions.

Thankful for uncg and my Coach for setting this up for us and excited for the results and once again to be ahead of the rest

Si vis pacem, para bellum

Fighting is my peace, the cage is my freedom, and is a great promotion to fight for when what you want is to fight!

Next Saturday, August 19th I’ll be back in la jaula where I belong; catch me on Paramount+ or head to Combate’s website to see about tickets if you plan to be in Miami.

Be ready for war.

GAMMA South Carolina this past weekend and were fortunate to come home with 2 gold medals against some tough competition. Excited at the future for these 2 athletes.

I would like to start with thanks. Thanks to those who reached out to be before and after the fight; I am deeply humbled by your love and grateful to have such amazing people in my life. Thanks to for the opportunity and everyone who makes these fights possible. Thanks to my sponsors, for not only your support but your belief in me. Thanks to my role models…many of you are in my life on a regular basis and it is because of the consistency of your character that I admire you so highly.Thanks to my family, my teammates, and my Coach; without whom my fight career would be nonexistent and my life would be so much poorer. Sharing my life with you wonderful people enriches every aspect of it and I cannot express my gratitude to be so blessed.

I move forward with acknowledgement. Wins and losses are a part of any competitive sport and not a bad thing of themselves. What is bitter is the manner in which I failed myself and everyone who believes in me this weekend. I allowed a good first round to let me think ‘oh this is going to be easier than I thought’. And then when it wasn’t, as it was never going to be, I ran into that wall of fatigue, doubt and fear that plays so well in movies; where the hero has a low point, and then realizations that fills them with the drive that they need to push through adversity to win the day in a swell of triumphant music…only I didn’t. I had the chance to overcome myself and I didn’t. I didn’t wave off the fight but I did quit on the idea of winning. It became about survival, about maybe snatching victory from the jaws of defeat instead of dominating. I have to own that. It is not enough to fight to survive.

I will end with accountability. I am not discouraged; I will be back at training immediately. I am filled with an energy to put this lesson to bed for the final time. Apologizing is a waste of energy; sorry isn’t going to fix my performance or correct my failure. But resolve to never lose sight of why I am doing what I do can and will shape my future.

Thank you for being there for me, for being a part of this journey. I will honor you, and myself, by seeing it through to its highest point.

Onward and upward.

Today I am grateful for the philosophy of my Coach as a martial artist; because of this, training and fighting are a lifestyle, not a thing I only focus on when I have a fight coming up.

Which is doubly great when it positions me well to accept last-minute opportunities!

July 8th I'll be back in sunny Miami in la jaula of ready to bring violence! As always, tune in to Paramount+ or if you find yourself in the area and want to watch some awesome fights, you can get tickets by calling (305) 889-9976

Thank you so much to all the amazing people in my life who make so much of it possible; I can never thank you enough.

Let's go!

If you enjoy Mucho Más Acción (much more action!) then I have great news for both of us: I am excited to share that I've signed an extensive contract extension with and can't wait for my next opportunity in la jaula! Looking forward to building on what we've already started and taking this all the way to the top

Thank you to everyone in my life whose support I could never over-estimate; you are amazing!

NAGA this past Saturday, proud of all who stepped up to challenge themselves. Everyone that competed were first time competitors or competing in a division for the first time. Proud of everyone, and also for those that give up their day to support their team mates.

What a week. From potential opponent change, to opponent missing weight (6lbs) it was a week that would have tested the most seasoned of fighters.

As fighters will know it is the fight before the fight that can trip you and make you stumble.

Forever proud of how Katie carried herself all week, pre fight, during the fight and post fight.

Some are fighters others are martial artists.

Another fight week, another whirlwind of chaos. As always there’s plenty to learn from this experience; mistakes to be corrected, elements to evolve and I am excited to dive back into training and get right to work.

As always, endless people to thank for the incredible support on this journey. It looks like only one person in the cage, but in reality a vast community of people come together to make these fights possible. On a personal level my Coach, Team Phoenix, my family and dear friends, the many people who inspire, encourage, and challenge me to be better, you are my heroes. On a professional level my amazing sponsors, everyone at the amazing production team that makes it all happen, the fans who make the sport possible, the list goes on and on. Truly, thank you all.

I love everything about this life so excruciatingly much, even the stuff you’ve kinda got to hate. Clarity of purpose is a rare and wonderful thing, and something I know I went too long in this life without. To anyone who feels like they’re floundering in life, anyone who feels lost, directionless, hopeless…there is always a way forward. Onward. Upward. Whatever walk of life you tread, the answer is always to fight; fight your vices, fight apathy, fight the world trying to grind you to dust. Fight for you.

I cannot wait to be back. Within the cage, everything is simple and clear. Within that violence and the chaos there is peace. Within the cage there is freedom, and I eagerly await the next call.

I’ll be ready.

#

Opponent missed weight
Rules change at the rules meeting
However we still went out and competed. Wins happen inside and outside of the cage and couldn't be more proud of Rachel for her performance this past weekend.

At this point, anyone who knows me knows that fighting is the core around which my life revolves. Eating, sleeping, training, recovery; everything is channeled through preparing to fight…

Which makes it that much more exciting when the time comes to announce that I have a fight date! Honored as always to enter La Jaula for , I’ll be making that walk again May 13th and I couldn’t be more stoked!!

A whole month feels forever far away when the thing you want the most is at the other end of it but it’s going to be well worth the wait, and rest assured I’ll not be waiting idly.

Make sure you tune in to Paramount+ and treat yourself to action-packed fight nights every week, and keep an eye out for your friendly neighborhood atomweight because it’s almost time

It was subway not a chicken dinner after his fight however .brandon went to Cleveland this past weekend to compete in the Gamma youth tournament.

Couldn't be more proud yes of the performance but more how he conducted himself all weekend. Bright things are in store and excited for the future

Just 1 to compete this past weekend, and Santana made such improvements from his past grappling tournament that his hard work was shown through the whole tournament