Ronnie Britt Final Blog

Winner

11 seconds. A lot can happen in 11 seconds. A kick returner can return a kick for a touchdown. One can heat up a slice of pizza. A fighter can finish out a career with a choke. As I look back on this fight, I was saddened that it seemed so anti climatic. I lamented as such to many of those that approached me after the fight to congratulate me. I was assured by most people that they preferred that I win quickly and than endure a prolonged battle. Several fans said they had come to expect quick submissions and that what was expected of me.  I looked at the dejected face of my opponent as I knelt on the cage floor after the fight, and wondered which of us looked sadder.

I must say that I usually don’t feel too much nervousness before a fight.  But this one was different. Maybe it was the attention I was getting, all the media stuff, the newspaper article, the tv show, the radio spots, the photographers. Maybe it was the number of family and friends that were attending, many from far away distances and others that had never been to fights before. Or maybe it was the realization on my part that the end was near. I put a lot of pressure on myself. Not to mention the fight itself. My original opponent was a very dangerous fighter, athletic and well versed in Jiu Jitsu. So I trained very hard for 7-8 weeks. However, he was injured in an motorcycle accident and the MCC staff scrambled and found a very capable Travis Nath.  When asked by Shawn T at the weigh ins whether he was scared or not, he said he was scared of no man. Why would he be? He had 43 wins and 21 losses, seemed he would fight anyone, anywhere at anytime.  I expected a good fight with a game opponent, and to top it off, he was left handed.  I love fighting southpaws. I feel I can punch them easier and kick them in the head at will.

Before the fight

I was worried that with all the hoopla for this fight going on that I might not have the intensity or focus that I usually like to have.  I had so many distractions and I found that it was hard to do my usual mental routines. However, as the fight itself drew close, I found myself getting more and more amped up. My corner men Danny Anderson and Kenneth Robertson prepped me and fired me up. I could hear the strains of my music above the den of the cheering crowd and that always gets me pumped.  I looked into the crowd and saw many familiar faces as I paced my corner of the cage. I looked down as I heard someone shouting above the others, it was Kevin Burns with his recently broken hand from his last fight in the UFC gesturing like crazy, he was really getting into it.  For some reason that fired me up as well. I wanted to have a great battle like all fighters do. The bell rang and I was ready to punch Naths head off, or at least follow with a head kick that would finish it… I was hoping. However, Nath shot under my punch and attempted a double leg take down. My take down defense is nothing great and I felt I was about to topple over. I instinctively applied the guillotine choke and landed it. I knew it was in good. Over the years it is the one move I have really mastered, once I get it in, most people will tap.  I debated with myself if this was what I really wanted to finish this fight with.  A million thoughts went through my head. I thought of my friend and MCC promoter, Ryan Haas, who hates quick guillotine wins. I thought of my friend and training partner Danny Anderson, who promised me a black eye if I prolonged this fight by passing on any submissions. Lol. I had once passed on several submissions during a fight a year ago in hopes of getting a KO later and winning a watch…until my opponent elbowed me in the head and knocked me silly. Danny was cornering me at that time and was unaware of what I was doing. In his eyes, my opponent was escaping every submission hold I was putting him in and Danny was flipping out. He told me to never do that to him again. So here I was…thinking…  It seemed like an eternity, my hamstring started to tighten up and ache (an old injury). I almost let go. But I decided it was better to be safe than sorry, this kid I was fighting knows how to win and how to hurt people. I strained a bit more and he tapped. No black eye for me!

Fight begins

I went through a myriad of emotions. Disappointment. Elation. Relief. Saddness.  Confusement (I love that word, Thanks President Bush!). I wanted to get a KO. Or at least a submission that most people don’t get to see. I had worked so hard for so many weeks, and the fight was over in a blink. As I ambled over to get my hand raised, I realized this was it.  I was done. I called my dad to the cage and gave him my gloves. I told him to hold onto them, to never let me have them back and to kick my ass if I ever wanted to fight again. He assured me he would.  My family and friends are happy that I am done fighting. Well most are, there are a few that think I should keep on fighting. My girlfriend is excited that I am done, this means I will get to spend more time with her. I have been asked several times what I will do after fighting and I have answered with some smartass replies. But the truth is I am a fighter at heart, I will always be a fighter. I will probably venture into one on one personal training and doing instruction at some gym.  But my 15 minutes are up. And I am glad.

I look back at these blogs and wonder what other fighters might write. I wonder what they would relay to you. I wonder if they will go into aspects of toughness or macho idealism that pervades this sport. I wonder if they will delve into the animosity other fighters have for each other, things I didn’t get into. There is a whole other world in the fight game that I see but I don’t really get into, nor did I touch on it. Maybe in a future blog if the chance arises?  I don’t feel like I am anything special, I have just been around the fight game for a long time. I am an average fighter at best who just talks a lot and is sort of affable, lol. I hope you have enjoyed an insight into my life. I have tried to write in such a way that is as if I was talking to you as I speak. I could have written this in a more eloquent way, but that really wouldn’t have been me. Soon you may have another so called local fighting legend doing these blogs someday.  I think as the sport of MMA continues you will see more and more older fighters and maybe one day you may see a guy much older than me fighting in the MCC. I feel the sport of MMA lends itself to older fighters being more competitive. Boxing relies on speed and athleticism so much and once that’s gone, so is the boxer usually. Whereas with MMA there are so many different variables that experience and skill can offset youth, speed and athleticism. I see so many of these guys in their 30’s that are in amazing shape, far better than I ever was. If they take care of themselves, you will have them in a cage near you for decades.  Providing the learn the necessary skills required.

I would like to take this time to thank Ryan Hass and John Halverson for providing such a quality event to showcase the local fighters. What an honor and a privilege it has been to fight for the MCC.  I truly have been so fortunate.  I would also like to thank all the fellas at the Des Moines Extreme Fight Team, the Des Moines Mixed Martial Arts Academy, the Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy and the Round Kick Gym. I have trained at all these facilities at one time or another over the years and have met so many great people. Especially at my home gym with the DMEF crew, these guys are like family and I will love them always. I don’t have very many sponsors, but that’s not without reason. I have had offers, but I wouldn’t support a product, say like Budweiser, if I didn’t drink it. I don’t care how much money they offered. That’s easy to say, lol. I’m sure I would change my tune if I saw 6 or 7 zeros on a check huh?  So believe me when I say thank you to these guys, I mean it, I believe in them as they have believed in me.  Thank you Nutrishop, you have kept me going with that fountain of youth over there. Thank you Spartan Strength & Performance, I feel in as good as shape as ever. I could walk through walls if need be!  Thank you Blades Massage and Therapy, you gave me relief when I needed it most.

I would also like to thank my family and friends for enduring all these trials and tribulations over the years. I have been absent from your lives at the cost of my selfish pursuits in the fight world, thanks you for loving me still. I mean it.  Thank you to my girlfriend Keri, she has endured my aches, pains, suffering along side of me when I hid it from every one else. She has waited for me patiently to come home and now I am there for her.

I hope, like many fighters, that you will remember me.  I hope I made a mark.  I recall after one of my fights, a man approached me. I was in a hurry, I was being pulled in a dozen different directions and had a zillion things on my mind. I stopped and listened like I always try to do, I love making time for fight fans. Its one of the best things about being a fighter in my opinion. But this guy was different. He told me I was an inspiration to him, that he had broken his neck and had been paralyzed in a motorcycle accident I believe. He said I was his favorite fighter as I was an older guy and different than the other guys. He loved my style and quick subs. He said he thought of me often as he endured rehab and was eventually able to walk again. I was touched, I was somewhat speechless for once. I didn’t know what to say, after all I am just an average goofball who happens to fight for fun. I was blown away, how did this happen?  Before I knew it, he had shuffled off using a cane, the vestiges of that accident were still apparent. I look back at that and I wish I could talk to that guy again, get his name, get his story. Did he truly mean what he said?  There are times where I wish I could stop time and just soak it all in. Life comes and goes so fast that you don’t realize whats going on till its over. If you are reading this mister, find me and talk to me. I could use a little inspiration myself as I head into this new chapter of my life.

Farewell fight fans, see you at the fights. I will be sitting next to you. Say hi to me.
Love you all,

Ronnie Britt