
There are fans and there are fighters, if you never stepped through the ropes or into the cage you will never know the true meaning of what a fighter is. Some of the fans believe that they can be critical of a fighter no matter how harsh the criticism is. If the fighter knocks out a guy in the first round than it’s like look that guy is bad ass. If he chokes out a guy in the first round even if it’s as fast as 20 seconds into the fight than its ehh that was good but he’ll get knocked out by a good striker. Fans will sit there and pick apart a fighters game, his work ethic, and his skill. A fighter will sit and watch tape of an opponent and pick apart a fighters game, work ethic, and skill or lack thereof. Fans are critical of fighters but fighters are critical of themselves and their peers yet they are in two very different ways. Fans at times show no respect for what it took for a fighter to go through to get where they are at today even if their record is less than stellar. While fighters although critical of other fighters show respect while talking because they know what it took to get there.
So what does it take to become a fighter? What goes through a fighters head as he comes up to try and make it? That’s exactly what I asked Jesse Romero and what I got was a glimpse of his life as he comes up from amateur to pro. Jesse Romero was born in what is known to the world as “Sin City” Las Vegas, NV. As Jesse grew up in the desert of Vegas the city grew as well, from dunes to a flurry of houses around the valley. The old casinos we 6-7 stories high now they topple the skyline with the lights burning brighter and the shows getting bigger. Jesse’s very first experience with competitive sports came during his freshman year in high school. Jesse wrestled for Cheyenne High School; Coach Mike Abrams loved his work ethic and determination. For Jesse Coach Abrams believed in him and inspired Jesse to be great at anything and everything he does. Jesse still lives by that tutelage today in the way he goes about day to day life and in how he trains.
After graduating in 1997, Jesse got a job working for a famous casino (can’t say which one without consent) and went off to do the day to day grind that so many of us do. Jesse though never settled down and had the itch to continue to compete. He was inspired by Matt Hughes back in 2004 when Hughes defeated George St-Pierre to win the Welterweight Championship a second time. Hughes submitted St-Pierre by an armbar in the 1st round at 4:59. At that time Jesse was impressed that a wrestler like Hughes was able to dominate and win a title. Jesse felt just by watching Hughes win and do it with wrestling that he too could achieve such a goal as well. Fast forward to 2006 Jesse found a Jiu Jitsu gym and started training. He entered into a tournament and even though he won felt he like he wasn’t progressing while at this gym.
Jesse continued to train and work balancing out both while living at home. For many fighters starting out it is a lot of the same grind, go to work earn your pay and then turn around to go train. There were days he sacrificed to train and days he sacrificed training to work. Jesse eventually left that gym and went back to his roots of wrestling. He went to train at Xtreme Couture there he trains with Jimmy Jones, Ryan Couture, and some of the best amateurs in the country. After being there a month he felt like he had learned more and became better. About that time they asked him if he wanted to fight. Jesse with eyes wide open said let’s do it. On January 8th Jesse found himself on one of the best armature promotions in MMA, Tuff N Uff.
I asked Jesse to go through that night tell what he felt before and during and after the fight? From a fighters stand point this is what he said. ”Before fight I love to listen to music get a good sweat going and try and stay focused.” “I was a little nervous and extremely excited when I was standing in the ring waiting for that first bell.” “Your heart beats fast the sweat from your warm up drips down your face, your eyes are locked you don’t want to show your opponent your nervous.” “You know though that he is just as nervous as you.” “You don’t want to give him any kind of edge; stay focused the ring announcer’s words sound like gibberish.” “The crowd is loud but you really can’t hear it.” “The bell rings and you go in.” “When I get hit it’s of kind like you know it’s coming and it may or may not hurt.” “It either doesn’t affect you or it does damage but you know it’s going to come again and knowing this it kind of hypes me up more.” “When I hit someone I just want to hit them again it gives me a rush that I can’t explain.” “Then when I heard the last bell all I remember was that was fast and I just won.”
Some of the people Jesse looks up to are Gray Maynard and Tyson Griffin. They help him with his technique and push him during practice. Jesse says “all the pros at Xtreme couture are a huge inspiration especially Martin Kampmann he is always training and becoming the best fighter he can be.” I asked Jesse where he wants to be in five years and this is what he said. “In five years I will be fighting for a major promotion and winning still.” Seeing exactly what Jesse goes though from beginning to end and the way he trains with guys who are well respected in the game I know for sure he will be in a major promotion sometime soon and winning as well. Jesse is (2-0) as an amateur and though he has a way to go I feel that there is no holding someone back once they are determined and have their eye set on the goal. Jesse would like to thank some people and I told him I would definitely oblige him. “I want to thank all my friends and family to support me and a special thanks to Jim Patterson this guy help me stay focused and is my biggest fan. My cousins Danny and Jayson Bresee they help me with sponsors and fan base. And Ron Frasier and Brain Keck those coaches push me harder and harder every practice to become a future champion.”
A glimpse in anyone’s world at times is a good thing it gives us perspective even if it is from a point of view we would never think of. I’ve said it before fighters are a different kind of breed they are a type of warrior, they fight for honor, and they fight for pride, most of all they fight for themselves. Sometimes though they fight for the fans that’s why we cheer that’s why we watch for guys who struggle and guys unlike us who push forward even when others tell them not to.
Jesse will be fighting Aug. 6th at the Orleans Arena for Xtreme Couture at Tuff N Uff in Las Vegas
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