Ryder Cane: This is me

Introduction

A champion. The title every fighter dreams of getting. A chance to wear the UFC golden belt in front of billions of people, crowned as the new king. All eyes on you and in that single moment it isn't a game anymore. The taste of money overwhelms your tastebuds, making you crave it over and over. Cheering fans becomes an addictive drug and without it, you are nothing.

The pressure is on to defend your title, one slip up and your fans move to the new champion, sponsors drop you and your coach don't think you are good enough because you are not cashing in big cheques like you used to. The next thing you learn, your coach is coaching the new upcoming fighter. Everyone looks at you and believes your life has always been like this, the looks, the money, and always winning. Nobody knew the truth behind you, not the media, your manager, or even your coach. You left everything behind because, like any other bad past, you want to forget about it and move on.         

          My fans would be shocked to learn that this big, strong man standing in front of them used to struggle with his self-confidence. I had to learn to ignore the voices of my bullies, to ignore the fact that I used to be a tall, skinny guy who competed in professional wrestling before joining UFC. My mom abandoned my father and me, because of her addiction. I competed in wrestling since I was in middle school with the help of my father. I was the underdog because of my size. Tall and scrawny bones. But I turned out to be quite a master in my wrestling career. This skinny man sure showed them a thing or two. My dad was the one who introduced me to the world of MMA. In the last year of high school, I finally started picking weight and my muscles started to develop. My dad helped me out with my diet, helped me gain a few pounds.                

               Throughout college, I trained with him, and in the third year of college, I got my first professional fight in MMA. I was twenty-one years old when I won my first fight. Two weeks later, I received an invitation to a UFC fight. Somehow the president of UFC learned about me and my fights. My dad helped trained me for my UFC fight that was going to be held in Las Vegas. Because of him, I turned out to be a champion. I won my UFC fight and moved up from there until I came face-to-face with Randy, the heavyweight champ of that time. I got my first title fight and it was the day the world learned my name. They started calling me a warrior. Voted me as the sexiest man alive and everyone wanted a piece of me.             

              Paparazzi started to follow me around, my mother who I haven't seen since I was a child suddenly showed up in my life, claiming I am her son. I wanted to give her a chance until I learned who she is. Just another person who wants a piece of my success. She never really cared about me as a person but when she learned who I am, she came running for money to support her addiction. What kind of champion was I? Nobody loved him except for his father who stayed at his side. His own mother who is programmed to love him abandoned him and only wanted him for his money. Girls you used to call me names, suddenly wanted to share my bed with me. Women who I didn't even know wanted to be with me and suddenly the world of fame wasn't anything I was prepared for.