When a fighter appears on television fans get the impression that the fighter has “made it”. There are thoughts of big money payouts and living a life that allows the fighter to focus in on just training and fighting. This kind of thinking is as about far from the truth as you can get. Most of the guys that we cheer for not only train harder than you can imagine, but they also work real everyday jobs to support their families and pay for all the expenses involved with honing their skills as an athlete.
John Poppie is an excellent example of this, He is a fighter who has appeared on TUF 19, had a 15-1 amateur record fighting under the unified rules, and currently is 4-1 in pro career. He trains at Anam’s Academy in La Crescent Wisconsin and works out of La Crosse Wisconsin as a Landscaper. I was fortunate enough to sit down with John and get his perspective on the fight game.
Aaron Robbins: Hey John thanks for sitting down with me and talking about what it takes to become a successful fighter. I know you are a very busy guy, tell the fans just how much work you have to put in to breaking into the higher levels of the fight game.
John Poppie: “Well I work a full time job, I landscape, which is a very physical job. Landscaping works well with fighting because you get that raw power that you don’t get from weightlifting or any other kind of workout, just pure strength. The landscaping will make you ridiculously strong, I haven’t touched weights in two months. I work my job at least 40 hours a week to support myself. I also train 5-12 times a week at Anam’s, and actually find time to be semi-sociable every now and then.”
AR: John, you and I have talked on the phone previously and I know you have some big plans in the works, tell the fans what you have going on.
JP:“My immediate goal is to move out of Wisconsin, and transplant to Greg Jackson’s camp in Albuquerque. I have been invited down for like a month long trial to see if I’m a good fit for the team, and then if that works out well, I would like to be there permanently by the beginning of 2015. So, I have a GoFundMe page to help me with my expenses to get me over there. I am getting good training at Anam’s but I know that I will get more well-rounded and higher level training at Jackson’s camp.”
AR: That must be exciting for you John, training with a world-class team like Jackson-Winkeljohn is an amazing, once in a life opportunity. Money should never be an a deciding barrier for anyone willing to work hard in pursuit of their dreams. I hope you get there, and I know you will fit in just fine with guys down there with the work ethic that you have. Now on to a different subject, I’m curious, if you had your pick, who would you choose to fight next?
JP: “Who would I love to fight? I would love to fight the guy that I mentioned on my TUF 19 try out, Chael Sonnen. They asked us “Who do you want to fight?” it was on a questionnaire, they asked us like three or four times, and I put him [Sonnen] down every time. I met the dude, he was super nice, super friendly guy, and I would love to train with him, and to fight him, I think it would be fun.”
AR: Well John, you and I have a completely different idea about what fun is, I think Chael is an amazing fighter, but fun? No way! Alright, so we covered who you would want to fight, is there any fighter that you wouldn’t want to get in the cage with?
JP: “Ronda Rousey, I don’t think it would be right to beat up a woman! (Laughs). No I’m just kidding. There isn’t anybody I wouldn’t fight, I would take any opponent in front of me.”
AR: (laughing) Well I guess I walked into that one, that’s an awesome answer by the way. John, If you could pick any fighter to be your full time training partner who would it be?
JP: “Oh man that is a hard question. I guess I would have to say it’s more about attitude than the person. I would want a guy who has the same work ethic that I have, and somebody who could bring me to the next level. I would want a guy who could get me motivated when I’m not feeling it that day, and someone I could do the same for. There are times when you just don’t feel like pushing yourself, and a great training partner can still bring it out of you. The work ethic is the most important for me, not so much skill level. I would rather train with a sub-par athlete that put more work in than everybody else, than a phenomenal athlete that rested on his talents, If I did have to name a fighter though… I would say Georges St Pierre. GSP has never settled on being average at anything, he puts in more effort than almost anyone else in the game, and he is always evolving. So, yeah, Georges St Pierre.”
AR: You are right there John, training partners don’t get much better than that GSP. Since we are on the subject of hard work, tell us, what is the hardest thing about being a professional fighter?
JP: “I would have to say the toughest thing is balance. It’s difficult to find a good balance between working, training, and still being able to live a life and have good relationships. As fighter who wants to get to the next level, I have to dedicate myself to training, at the same time I have to be able to pay my bills, so work is equally as important. With all that said I still have to be able to find time to have a life. You have to have the balance to develop as a human being completely so when you are done with fighting you don’t find that you’ve stunted yourself in any way so you can lead a full life.”
AR: That is refreshing attitude to see coming from a young fighter, very good. Well I think I’ve covered everything that I wanted to ask you, is there anything you want the fans to know about that I didn’t cover?
JP: “So okay, when people approach any endeavor where they can have success, a lot of people want to make a ton of money or win this championship or belt, now I want to be successful and win championships, but it’s more important to me to make a positive impact on all the people that I come in contact with me. I think if I keep that in mind everything else will fall into place. I want people to know me for the person that I am, not the fighter I am. I want to positively impact people, and if MMA is the avenue I have to do that, then that is great. I want to leave a positive legacy.”
AR: Right on man. Alright John I think that about does it, before we close would you like to give a shout out to anybody?
JP: “I would like to thank Jay at Fresh Start Entertainment, obviously, for everything he does. I would like to thank Bad Apple Armor for their support, and giving me a chance to prove myself, I would like to thank Brett Fox for his continual guidance, encouragement and mad organizational skills. I would like to Thank Captain America for keeping our country safe(laughs), and the few friends I have that keep on telling me to do this even when I don’t want to, especially Heather and her kids. Mostly I would like to thank God for continuing to give me second chances.”
To visit John’s GoFundMe page please follow the link provided below. Any help is deeply appreciated, those who donate will have their names displayed on John’s next walkout.
http://www.gofundme.com/c94ink
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