MPG Letter #131
What Is A Great Fighter? Stuck In Limbo, Stillness Is Key
What Is A Great Fighter?
My definition of what makes a great fighter has definitely changed over the years.
When I first started, I thought it was all about being fast, powerful, and racking up wins. But after years in this game, I know now… It’s deeper than that.
A great fighter isn’t just skilled. They’ve also mastered the mental side of this game. They’ve got mental toughness, discipline, adaptability, and fight IQ.
There are a lot of guys with talent—but what separates the real ones is their ability to stay calm under pressure, think strategically, and push past their limits when everything’s going wrong.
Resilience is the key. Fighting is hard. The setbacks, the injuries, and the emotional toll. It breaks a lot of people.
But the ones who keep showing up, figure it out, and lead by example… that’s greatness. That’s what I strive for. Not just to win—but to inspire, and to keep rising no matter what’s thrown my way.
Stuck In Limbo
Waiting for a fight call is a weird space to be in.
You’re not fully in camp, but you can’t let yourself relax either. You train like the call could come tomorrow because sometimes, it does.
Every text from your manager, every missed call, it could be the one. Some fighters hate this limbo. It drives them crazy. But for me? I’ve learned to use it to my advantage.
When I’m not locked into a camp, I can build. I get to sharpen my skills, add new tools, and go more rounds without worrying about peaking or cutting. I treat it like a long runway before takeoff.
Day to day, it keeps me focused but flexible. I’m still training with purpose, but I’m also evolving.
So when that call finally comes, I’m not just ready. I’m better than I was last time.
Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.
Stillness Is Key
The most overlooked tool for a fighter’s health and longevity is stillness.
This might surprise people, but let me explain.
Fighters train like machines. Two-a-days, grinding, always moving, always pushing. But barely anyone talks about the mental reset. I’m talking about meditation. Cold plunges. Breathwork. Quiet walks. Time alone.
Your nervous system isn’t built to be in fight-or-flight mode 24/7. And when you don’t give it space to reset, you burn out—mentally, physically, emotionally.
The longer I’ve been in this game, the more I’ve realized this: recovery isn’t just physical. The calm is the weapon.
If you want to last in this sport, you need to learn how to slow down on purpose.
Stillness isn’t a
weakness. It's a strategy.
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UFC Des Moines
UFC Des Moines is going down this Saturday night, and it’s stacked with heat!
My teammate, coach, and TUF winner Ryan Loder is making his long-awaited debut—tune in and show him some love!
Gaston Bolanos is back in action too, bringing that fire as always.
Plus, Mason Jones vs. Jeremy Stephens is about to be straight chaos—guaranteed Fight of the Night.
Let’s go!!
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That ends it for this week’s MPG Letter!
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Talk soon,
Max “Pain” Griffin