In this conversation, Kiefer Crosbie talks about growing up in a negative inner-city environment, getting pulled into “the wrong things,” and how finding martial arts early gave him something to focus on. He describes fighting as “normal” when he was young, how competing shifted his mindset, and how teammates and gym camaraderie became a positive anchor. He reflects on regrets about not “locking in” earlier, the reality that there’s “no money” in pro MMA until you’re established, and the importance of cutting out people and habits that pull you down. He also goes deep on the UFC experience: a short-notice debut with an extreme weight cut, the emotional crash after losing, and the chaos of fight night—plus later injuries, fighting with “one arm,” and the mindset of “delusion” and belief required to walk into the cage.

This episode is proudly sponsored by @declanmeenancarpentry

Shownotes

00:00 – Growing up in an inner-city environment and the negative influences that were all around.
02:45 – Reflecting on friends who ended up locked up, dead, or homeless and thinking about what could have been.
05:10 – Discovering martial arts at a young age and finding something positive to focus on.
07:20 – Being kicked out of school and spending more time in the gym.
09:30 – Starting martial arts to learn how to fight for the street before discovering competition.
12:15 – Early tournaments, losing at first, and becoming obsessed with improving and winning next time.
15:40 – Why martial arts wasn’t considered “cool” at the time and keeping it quiet from friends.
18:10 – Training under a coach who was manipulative and eventually deciding to move on.
21:05 – The camaraderie inside gyms and why everyone believes their own gym is the best.
24:20 – Regret about years spent drinking, partying, and being around the wrong people.
27:00 – Learning to structure life so training, education, and side hustles can coexist.
29:30 – The reality that there is very little money in professional MMA.
32:10 – Understanding that having a plan B while pursuing plan A can still work.
34:50 – Realising that being half-in leads to poor performances and getting hurt.
37:40 – A fight after going out the night before, gassing out, and making the decision to fully commit.
40:10 – Watching the UFC growing up and dreaming of fighting with the small gloves one day.
43:30 – Accepting a UFC debut on short notice and going through an extreme weight cut.
46:50 – Walking out of the arena after the fight and processing the loss alone.
49:20 – Struggling mentally after the loss and dealing with attention and criticism.
52:00 – Reflecting on the judo throw decision that led to getting caught late in a round.
55:15 – Travelling abroad to rebuild through a simple routine of training and recovery.
58:40 – Accepting another fight opportunity while dealing with a serious injury.
01:01:30 – The mindset required on fight night and staying focused under pressure.
01:04:10 – Staying calm in chaotic environments during fight camps and events.
01:07:30 – Thinking about life after fighting and the importance of purpose.
01:10:15 – Exploring new ventures and starting a podcast.
01:12:20 – Where people can follow along on social media.
01:13:30 – Final thoughts and encouragement to reach out if the conversation resonated.