HARD WORK

Instant classic.

UFC 139 ended last night with one of the most outstanding battles in modern combat sports history, a 25-minute war of attrition between veteran fighters Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua. Hendo took the decision, in what was less a show of athleticism, and every bit a show of grit, determination, and hard work.

These characteristics defined the card, which was appropriately opened by Sacramento's own, Team Alpa Male fighter Danny Castillo. Castillo took the fight on short notice, matching up against The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 member Shamar Bailey, the reality show's much-ballyhooed number one pick. To fully understand the gravity of the situation, a little background is needed...

This was Danny Castillo's 11th fight for Zuffa, his first eight coming in the highly competitive WEC promotion. Things could be very different for Danny, as he was rejected at the last minute (more literally, the day before launch) for a spot in the lightweight division on The Ultimate Fighter Season 8. Producers for the show decided to "go in a different direction," opting to showcase eight other lightweights to a global audience on Spike TV. Danny had to go a more traditional route, building his record and developing his skills in the storied WEC lightweight division. While the eight fighters from Season 8 are no longer in the promotion, Castillo improved dramatically with every fight, eventually earning a spot in the UFC.

Going into his first UFC bout, I worked with Danny on a fight camp documentary and was afforded to see, firsthand, how much time and dedication goes into every 15-minute fight. Three-a-day workouts that push a fighter to the brink - a real exercise in physical and mental toughness. Castillo defeated UFC mainstay Joe Stevenson in that fight, but subsequent talks revealed that one victory in the UFC wasn't enough for Danny. The chip on his shoulder did not budge an inch.


Unlike Shamar Bailey, Castillo received little face time over the past four years, despite finishing 8 of his career 11 victories via TKO or submission. Things came full circle at the Friday afternoon weigh-ins, as Bailey showed up on stage weighing 158 pounds, three over the limit and two over the lightweight non-title fight allowance. While those two pounds might not sound like much, one must understand the process of weight-cutting that every fighter goes through leading up to a fight. For some it is a hellish process, with some fighters dropping over 10% of their body weight in the days before a fight. While obviously quite harrowing, as professional fighters, virtually all competitors are well-prepared and come in on weight. It's the fight-before-the-fight that everybody has to go through. After Bailey didn't even try to make a second attempt to meet the limit, Castillo agreed to fight at a 158 pound catch weight. While he kept a straight face, I could only assume at the time that the nonchalance shown by Bailey lit a serious fire inside of Castillo, less than 24 hours before they met in the octagon.

After the fight, Castillo told Joe Rogan that he "felt disrespected." During the fight, he put that feeling on display for the world to see. Castillo executed three takedowns, two via double leg slams, schooled Bailey in the ground grappling game, and finished his opponent with several unanswered shots on the ground for a first-round TKO victory. In other words, a classic beat down.

Whether Danny knows it or not, I believe that this was a career-defining victory for him. He can go on to win a belt, but I will always look back to this victory as a moment when he proved the worth of all of his work. All of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi work with Fabio Prado. The kickboxing with Gijs Brat. The boxing with Mike Ortega. Sparring with Nate Diaz and Jeremy Stephens. Grappling with his teammates Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, Joe Benavidez, TJ Dillashaw and Justin Buchholz. Every practice with the legendary Master Thonglor, dating back to his very first striking session. Reality television could never replace blood, sweat and tears.

A classic story in its own right, and a fitting bookend to an unforgettable night.

To see what hard work looks like, check out the videos below: