With the Holidays on us I started doing some thinking. This past year has been pretty crazy for me and I’ve had some times that I will never forget. I figured I would take this time to share the good and the bad with my friends and fans and let you know that no matter what I’m grateful for everything in my life thus far.

It was a little over a year ago, I got the best call of my life. I was sitting behind a desk in a small office working to get by and I thought all my dreams had just passed me by. Months prior to sitting at that desk I had broken my jaw and lost the biggest opportunity in my life, or so I thought. The call I received was from my manager and Ingrained Media President, Jason Genet. He called to let me know that Dana and the UFC wanted to give me another opportunity on the Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale.

Fast Forward to the Finale and I felt unstoppable! I had a great training camp and I was on top of the world. I couldn't wait to step in the cage and win my way back in to the UFC. I ended up dislocating my shoulder in the 1st round but luckily it popped back in during the fight and I was able to keep attacking. In the end I won a hard fought decision and still feel as though that was one of my best UFC performances.

Following the Finale I healed up and went right back into training. At that point in my life I was just trying to rack up fights and build a name for myself. I was asked back for UFC 121, a stacked card with the UFC Heavyweight title fight Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez. Dongi Yang would be my next opponent and step up in competition. He walked in the octagon 9-0 with all first round finishes and walked out 9-1 as I would be the first fighter to beat him. I mark that as one of the top wins on my record to this day. Following my win my team and management headed to our after party in Orange County. That is where I met Mike from HeadRush who would later become a part of my team.

MMA is such a crazy sport but I never thought it would allow me to see the world. Earlier in my career I fought mostly around Colorado and a few trips to Canada but this next time I would be going around the world to Sydney, Australia! Who better to take the trip with than the UFC. Australia has always been on my list of places to see before I die and I was given the ultimate opportunity, a televised fight in Sydney. With all of my friends and family watching I took that opportunity and choked. I learned a lot about myself and traveling to fight on that trip. I will be more prepared next time I’m asked to travel and I guess its always good to take something positive out of such a bad experience. Following my loss I spent a week with my girlfriend and friends in Bondi Beach. I surfed, relaxed, and got my head straight before returning home.

It was after returning home from Australia that I would get one of the worst phone calls. I was being released from the UFC following my terrible performance. I am truly thankful to have such great management, family, and coaches to keep me going. After being cut I was devastated. I was 2-1 with the UFC but there are so many tough guys out there, they can’t afford to keep you if you don’t perform everytime. I was so down on myself and felt like I ruined the chance of a lifetime. Everyone in my life motivated me to keep pushing and prove to the world I’m a better fighter than what showed on Spike TV.

Even at the lowest point my team and my family huddled around me. They kept building my spirits and brand. They found ways to keep me busy and kept telling me that I could get back into the UFC. During the down time my management team does what they do best and they found another new sponsor for the sport. They wanted me to be the head of the brand for MMA. In all honesty as they were saying it I was thinking it was some regional or local sponsor. Come to find out it was none other then Benji Madden and his company DCMA that wanted to support me.

Following my release from the UFC I signed with Shark Fights, a regional promotion with a television deal and they were offering me a main event opportunity. The only catch was, my next fight would be against seasoned veteran Joey Villasenor. Joey has been in the sport for many years and a contender in several big promotions, he was a Pride FC, Strikeforce, and UFC veteran and he lived up to his tough and gritty reputation. We battled for 3 rounds and the fight was originally ruled a draw. The decision was disputed by my opponent’s team and after a long process we found out one of the New Mexico judges counted his score card wrong. That night I was supposed to be awarded the split decision and instead went home with a “draw”. I was frustrated as I knew I needed to finish the fight in his hometown to get the win.
Latter the fight was turned to a win on my record by the New Mexico Athletic Commission and Shark Fights gave me my “win” bonus.

I was lucky to have Benji Madden, DCMA Collective owner, as a Sponsor of mine. He and his band came to see me in Denver after my Shark fight disappointment and they were excited to be working with me. They quickly became friends and a part of my team. MMA can use more people like Benji, DCMA Collective, and Ingrained Media. They are great people and I loved working with them. They are not worried about getting some TV time on a fighter but rather working with the fighter to build their brand and the fighter’s brand.

Now with a record of 15-4 and a recent win over Joey Villasenor, we prepared for our next fight with Shark Fights. Shark was having trouble keeping opponents for me and my management team kept my contract open. They were also in constant contact with the UFC and one day they got the call from UFC Matchmaker Joe Silva. I was in shock when I got the call. How many people get three chances to chase their dream? I was about to.

It was great to get that call. I was going through another very hard time in my life where it seemed like nothing could go right. My girlfriend Sacha kept telling me things were going to get better and then I got the call. She is my rock and I am so thankful to have her along with me on this journey. I was so excited to get back in the octagon at UFC 137 the problems just rolled off me.

I think I put a lot of pressure on myself leading to this fight. I was gun shy, had jitters, and just could not engage or fight my fight. My training was better than ever and I was ready for anything. I had an off night and let myself and my team down. I am a better fighter then I have shown on the big stage. I know that I belong and I have what it takes to compete at the highest levels. I just need to put it all together inside the Octagon. I have had more chances than most dream of, so it is my time to make my dream come true.

Like I said before, there is always something positive to find in everything. Before this fight I met Eric Frohardt, owner of BluCore Shooting Center in Lakewood, Colorado. I love to shoot and BluCore is right by my house. They have become a huge asset to my team and I love those guys! They are Military Veterans and great businessmen. UFC 137 is behind me and I once again have another tough opponent in front of me.

I will be facing Dustin Jacoby January 28th at UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago. I expect nothing but another war and a bonus check at the end of the night. I told myself I would come to fight for bonuses from here on out. Everyone fights to win or to not lose but the true fan favorites and legends fight for the "Of The Night" honors. That’s what people remember.

This is just a small glimpse of my year and I have made some great new friends like Mike (HeadRush), Benji (DCMA/Good Charlotte) and Eric (BluCore) and Ingrained Media has also added some new support to my team in sponsors such as HeadRush Brand, RevGear, BluCore Shooting Center, Daniel Defense, Good4UDrinks, Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, Performance MMA, DCMA Collective, Good Charlotte and many more. I am so honored to be working with the best of the best.

Thank you to my family, Sacha, friends, team and trainers at Factory X, management team and fans. This has been a great year and I hope the new year brings more new friends and opportunities. Happy Holiday’s and a Happy New Year. Be safe and enjoy the time with your loved ones!