Having lived and trained three times a day, six days a week with the former middleweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, I have been able to experience things that many aspiring fighters could only dream of. However, many of the most significant memories I have from this journey were gained outside of the gym. One thing I have taken from Evan is the importance of daily recordings (list of things to do for the day, conditioning updates, journal etc). Having seen first hand the relationship Evan has with his fans after a two-year absence from the sport, I have decided to keep a journal. Evans following is different from any professional athlete or celebrity I have ever come across, there is an unexplainable bond between people who can relate their lives to one another. Evans blogs have made him accessible to fans across the globe, he is truly a man of the people.

Evans Official UFC key chain, which was stolen from his landcruiser along with his gear.

Now, a little about myself. I have been meaning to sit down and write for quite some time now. Over the past months, I have spent countless hours alone in airport terminals and bus stations in strange cities, yet for some reason never took the time to write about my travels. Maybe subconsciously, I knew that my journey was not quite over, and that if I waited until the right time, there might be a story of significance to share, I think that time is now.

Initially, in 'theory', many factors lead to me packing up all my personal possessions and heading to Vegas to live and train with Evan. However, after a week and a half of living out of my brother's living room and the overbearing feeling of having overstayed my welcome, the determining factor was a conversation with Evan, who had convinced me to book myself a flight to Vegas for the next day. Anyone who knows me on a personal level, knows that I stress and worry about almost everything. It was at this point that the only real thoughts of doubt over my entire journey had entered my mind. Was I in good enough shape to hang with the likes of Evan Tanner? Was I comfortable enough with myself to be genuine living with a man that I had been inspired by on so many levels? What he would think of me? etc, etc, etc. I had eight and a half hours on a plane to think of all the possible scenarios that might transpire, It wasn't the most relaxed flight I have been on. Evan picked me up late that night at the airport, when we got back to his place he gave me a quick tour of his apartment (which was stripped of everything but the bare necessities) and we talked for a couple hours before going to sleep, we had a big day of strength and conditioning ahead of us.

Picture of our condo.

We went to the gym early in the afternoon; Evan had warned me of the intensity of his workout, and after 30 minutes at a reduced speed (me slowing Evan down) and the feeling that I was going to puke all over the place, the workout was finished. This was the most intense workout I had ever been through in my life; at this point, I knew that this was going to be a trying experience, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. By the time I left Vegas the workout lasted 45 minutes to an hour and in length at an increased intensity, while working out 3 times a day. I knew I would be ready for war come January 26th.

The next day Evan took me to his home gym, Hard Knocks Muay Thai, which also doubled as our connection to the outside world (we didn't have internet at the apartment) for a couple weeks.. I recommend this gym to anyone interested in training in Vegas; it is a great gym with a positive atmosphere, people, and an accomplished instructor, Renzo. I learned a lot there.

Picture of our "office" at Hard Knocks.

One of the most memorable moments of my stay with Evan was our trip to Salt Lake City. The 8 hour trip was made in Evans land cruiser, it was a freezing cold trip but one that was filled with great scenery and memories. We stayed at Josh Burkman's place and trained at Absolute MMA, another awesome gym with no shortage of tough dudes, what an experience. The elevation training was intense. Ill never forget the run that Josh took us on, or the toxic cocktail he served Evan and I, consisting of carrots, spinach, a clove of garlic and beats – it was delicious. We also went snowboarding before hard sparring one night, it was a well deserved break. Evan is a speed demon, and Burkman will be ready to tackle the pro circuit in no time. When we returned to Vegas, we went on a search to find a gym that could offer us wrestling and grappling. There is no shortage of gyms in Vegas, but finding a gym with the right atmosphere was extremely important to Evan and I. After stopping by the Xyience training center, we knew we had found our second home, John Wood and the rest of the training staff and students were very welcoming. Evan took a lot of time and showed a lot of patience reworking my wrestling game, I learned a lot of tricks that would come into play in my fight.

Utah Pics.

Every morning we would get up and go for a jog, come back eat some breakfast, hit the strength and conditioning workout at Las Vegas Athletic club (the biggest gym I have ever been in), have a shake or eat a small meal, go to Hard Knocks to work mitts with Renzo, back to the apartment for a small meal again and then off to the Xyience Training Center. It was an intense schedule, but for the first time in my life, I could see what would become a six-pack. The important of diet, work ethic, and support of training partners really sunk in.

I never once got the feeling that I was unwanted or unworthy of Evans company, we did everything together, went to the gym, went to the grocery store, movie store, coffee shop, everything. I was always treated as an equal. Evan is a true friend and one of the most honest, genuine men I have met in my entire life. Ill stop writing for now. Ill pick up with the rest of my training leading up to my fight and the interesting adventures I have encountered since then. Thank you for your time, this was an experience I will never forget.