[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by blackfox

I saw UFC 1 with my moms drunk redneck family at the age of 8 (i had a bad childhood needless to say) who thought it was cool shit then would go outside and try to immitate Ken Shamrock, or Royce Gracie. My father was a boxer and always retained a love for it so I also wanted to get into it and learn but due to me being an asthmatic and a fat fuck as a kid I was denied permission to play sports or do anything that I thought looked like fun.

I got older, taller, healither, and stronger, I saw TUF 1 (yeah i said it motherfucker), then began learning everyhting I could about MMA, I mean everything. I found a local BJJ gym, and I went down to start my training a month later I injured myself outside the gym during a car accident, and was unable to continue with my training. I then started a new job which took up most of my time, but I stilled followed MMA. Now that I have a steady job, and not so many bills I plan on getting back into it traning wise.
I own two affliction shirts, 4 TapouT shirts, one UFC shirt, a shirt from my old gym East Coast, A shirt from the new gym Victory, a hoddie from them as well, and a Combat sports international BJJ shirt. I wear them with pride, and as much as possiable. I have a 4" TapouT sticker that I plan on applying to my 1995 Dodge caravan rear windsheild as soon as the weather gets nicer here. I talk shit in bars during UFC events telling people how wrong they are when they predict the winner of a fight that has little to no chance of winning Timmay beating Nog, or Penn loosing to stevenson. I even talk shit when I know I could be wrong (Leben beating sakara).

I have gotten all my friends into the sport and gotten them addicted to it. I am also the guy with all the anwsers when it comes to MMA in my circle of friends. They all enjoy it and a couple have even talked of going to Victory to work with me when I finally go back next month.

so call me a poser call be a casual fan call me whatever the fuck you want. I know what I am in my heart and anyone who knows me knows that I love the sport.

IMHO theres no classifaction of "fans" in the MMA world. You are either a Fighter, or a fan. Plain and simple. If I plated basketball 4 times a week would that make me a basketball player? no that would make me a guy that loves the sport. Not knocking youman just saying you're a bit off base.

My first post on this topic was based on seeing the classifications and an experience shortly thereafter. But I admire your stance on the topic. You overcome obstacles to do something your passionate about and I respect that a lot. I don't judge people on their fan "status" but I would consider you a hard core soldier. Best of luck in the future.