MPG Letter Issue #31

The Day Max PAIN was Born, Weight Cutting, Kids, and more!

Jun 02, 2023

Max Griffin poses for a portrait in the UFC Apex Octagon in Las Vegas, October 2022 (Photo by Kaylie Foster/Zuffa LLC)

16 years ago.

I had just returned to Marinoble’s gym as an adult and wanted to jump back into competition as soon as I could. So I signed up to participate in a pankration event.

If you don’t know what pankration is, it’s basically mixed martial arts without face strikes. The sport has a lot of history, going all the way back to the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC.

Anyway, I was excited. Even if I couldn’t punch my opponent in the face, I was ready to throw punches and kicks to the body. Wrestle. Submissions. Bring it all.

My opponent was this jiu-jitsu guy, just a pure grappler. Not gonna lie, he did a great job of hyping up the fight.

I guess he was recording his journey leading up to the match for a high school project. He had a year’s worth of film under his belt.

The event was huge. They had a ceremony with a belt presentation and about 200 people in attendance. And to top it off, it was held inside a jiu-jitsu dojo.

So no drunk screaming fans. Everyone was extra respectful and super quiet. To the point where you can hear every inhale and exhale from the athletes.

The match began.

My opponent came out trying to grab my shoulders like he’s gonna pull guard, real stiff. He must’ve forgotten. This is pankration, not grappling. Had he got me to the ground, he probably would’ve rolled me up.

But I could throw punches. So I ripped him with the meanest uppercuts to the sternum, knocking the wind out of him.

He went down, letting out an “Eeeeeeeeeeee,” like a deflating balloon 🎈

As soon as he hit the mat, he curled up and started crying for 3 minutes. Trying to catch his breath.

Meanwhile, I was hyped. I’m beasting out screaming, “AAHHHHH! WHAT Motherfu*cka!!”

Not the time or place Max 🤦‍♂️ (my bad). Definitely poor taste and sportsmanship on my end, but at that very moment…

Max PAIN was born! 💪👊

I kinda felt bad about ruining his project. Probably not the ending he was looking for. Hope he still got an A though.

Weight Cutting Woes

When I was weight cutting for the first few years of my career, I wasn’t as knowledgeable about nutrition.

My entire diet was raw spinach out of the bag and tuna straight outta the can. No dressing, no mayo, no flavor, no nothing.

Just straight up handfuls of spinach and tuna cans.

Listen, if you can tolerate this torturous combo, I guarantee the weight will come off. You will be shredded, lean, and hungry!

But now that I’m more educated and experienced, I eat GOOOD during weight cuts!

I know how to eyeball my portions, which foods to cut out, and when to eat carbs.

No more poor man’s tuna salads for me.

Pain’s Picks

Fights are back this Saturday! If you want to hear my detailed thoughts on some fights, check out some of my Filthbombbreaks breakdowns on my IG!

And if you want to talk fights with me and see who we’re rocking with for Pain’s Picks…

All you have to do is go to my Instagram and hit that subscribe button!

Kids Make Me Laugh 😂

Kids say the darndest things sometimes.

I remember when I got a chance to talk to a class of 4th graders. I had a couple of kids ask me:

“Mr. Griffin, how many mansions do you have?”

“Mr. Griffin, do you drive a Lamborghini?”

Not yet… 😂

But when you’re that age, that’s all you want. Big mansions and fancy sports cars. In their minds, that’s how they determine status. That’s what’s cool.

We all dreamt about it. I know 4th grade Max wanted a nice fancy car when he grew up.

But now as an adult, that stuff isn’t imperative to me anymore. I have better ideas on how to spend that big monthly car payment.

I could take my family out on vacations or invest it.

I like having fun as much as anyone else. I’m just not so big on being flashy.

But I won’t lie, there are occasions and situations where I like to flex a little 😎💪

4 Weeks Out 👊💥

4 weeks out.

I’ve been working on specific combos to beat this guy. Not gonna say what 🤐 you’ll find out on fight day.

The theme of this camp is repetition. And more repetition.

I’m sharpening all the weapons I’ll be utilizing. Making sure they’re cleaner, faster, and more accurate.

I’m also focusing on boosting my cardio. To me, there’s really no limit to how much you can work that.

If you saw Anthony Fluffy Hernandez in his recent fight, you saw the work we put in. We PUSH cardio to new heights!

Cardio is just another weapon for me.

That’s what’s on my mind. Go, go, go! Redlining the engine.

These workouts are brutal. 3.5 hours and I’m drowning in sweat. Sometimes dry heaving or on the verge of puking.

But I’m able to just keep going. And it’s paying dividends.

On July 1st, we’re cashing in those dividends. I’m better, stronger, faster, more experienced, and more trained.

I’m ready to eat!! Let’s go! 👊

Meme of the Week 😂😂

Al Pacino is having another baby at the age of 83. 😅🔥🎯

That ends it for this week’s MPG Letter!

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If you’re new here, welcome to the fam!

We’ll be back next week to drop more content in your inbox.

Talk soon,
Max “Pain” Griffin