Olly Bradstreet is a Utah MMA fighter out of The Pit Elevated training center. He has had quite a bit of experience in his MMA career, despite being only being 31 years old, and having been forced to take three years away from the sport. Bradstreet is 39-12, yet he states that he feels like he is in his prime and still has a lot to learn. Recently, I was able to talk to Bradstreet and ask him a few questions.
Bradstreet told me that he had to step away from the cage for three years, as required open-heart surgery. He had a PFO closure implant put in his heart, due to a genetic defect where one of the chambers in his heart had a small hole. He would later need a second surgery due to a blood-clot caused by his PFO Closure implant. To remove the blood clot, surgeons removed a piece of his heart from one area, and re-inserted it in another area.
Finally after three years away he went back to training, but his body had problems with adapting after the time off. He tore his shoulder because he had spent so much time away from physical activity. His wrestling was not as it once was and he couldn’t elevate people the way he used to. Bradstreet really had to go through a rough patch to get back to training at the level he was at before his medical issues. “It was a Hell of a road back” said Bradstreet.
Since Bradstreet has came off his long layoff, he has compiled a 5-1 record with his only loss being a controversial split-decision to Brandon Hempleman. Bradstreet was sure that he won that fight despite the fact that he was not able to fully train in the lead up to it (due to health issues).
Bradstreet is now back to full time training with The Pit Elevated and one of his main sparring partners is former UFC fighter Steven Siler. The interesting thing about Bradstreet and Siler is the fact that they have fought four times, and Bradstreet was able to fwin the first three. They are now really good friends and would not likely fight again.
Bradstreet also travels down to Team Alpha Male because he was an old college-wrestling buddy of UFC flyweight contender Joseph Benavidez. “I love picking up all I can from others and learning new things,” explained Bradstreet.
He loves to travel around to see a lot of the aspects of the fight game and enjoys continuing his education in the finer points of MMA. Bradstreet is not shy about picking up something new even though he has fought in the cage over 50 times.
Even though Bradstreet has had years and years of experience, he still wants to eventually make it to the UFC. “I’d love to fight in the big show” mentioned Bradstreet. “There is something special about fighting in front of your home-crowd in Utah, but I wouldn’t mind fighting in Brazil on a UFC card. I’ve fought all over the country and even fought in some iffy organizations where I had beer cans thrown at me. I’ve seen it all and done it all, but I eventually want to make it to the UFC.”
When asked about what his next opponent should expect, the first thing Bradstreet mentioned was “Danger!” Bradstreet feels like he is the best he’s ever been. He has more knowledge than ever before and he can’t wait to get another fight. Bradstreet truly is an MMA soldier with all that he has been through and his willingness to press forward and be the best fighter that he can be.
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