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Condit Calm Before Backyard Battle
At first glance you would never think that Carlos Condit (Pictures) is a fighter.
He carries himself like a gentleman, with a firm handshake and a confident sense of pride. He could easily be mistaken for a bartender at the local steakhouse or your average college student. An everyday Joe, he is as cool as they come outside the cage.
"I pride myself on treating everyone with respect, not just fighters and not just cool people," Condit said. "I think that everyone has value and I make it a point to be kind and be a good person."
Inside the cage, though, Condit is a ferocious competitor with a warrior's spirit. The 23-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., native credits the people around him for his success.
Even though many fighters switch camps during their careers, Condit has made his way to the heart of downtown Albuquerque to F.I.T. NHB for training since he was a teenager.
"My team here has been crucial in my success as an MMA fighter," he said. "Tom and Arlene Vaughn have not only been my trainers and mentors, they are like family to me."
Condit also recognizes the help of his girlfriend and his father.
"My dad is my biggest fan," he said. "When I was 15 or 16, I didn't have a car and he would drive me to practice everyday. He's my best friend. Anytime I'm not feeling so good about something or anything, I can call him and talk to him. He's my support line."
Although it has been a while since Condit was on the losing end of a bout, his father is the one to pick him back up after defeat.
"My dad just tells me to keep my chin up, and as long as I'm still breathing, I'm still fighting," Condit said. "He instilled in me a sense of if you fall down, you have to get back up."
In September 2004, Condit fell to Carlo Prater (Pictures) via triangle choke in the first round. Since then he has gone 12-3, won six straight and captured the WEC welterweight championship.
Wednesday night Condit will meet Prater (21-5-1) again, this time in the main event of WEC's latest card on the Versus network. Not only will the lanky welterweight have a showcase for his hometown fans, but he'll also look to avenge a loss that happened less than a mile from the gym he calls home.
"I went in to that fight a little unprepared," Condit said of the bout against Prater. "I did MMA more as a hobby. I went in there against a very tough and talented opponent. He was prepared and he went in there and took me out."
Condit was quick to state, however, that that was then and this is now.
"Since then I'm more focused," he explained. "I don't do this as a hobby anymore. This isn't only my passion; it's also my livelihood. You try and take away my livelihood, you're going to strike a chord in me that's going to bring out my bad side. That's what he is going to see in the ring."
While the opportunity to fight in front of a roaring partisan crowd is surely inspiring, Condit admitted the pressure of putting on a good show could distract him.
"There's pressure in there," he said. "It's a bit nerve racking sometimes. Just think of all these different aspects -- it's in my hometown, it's for my title. If I start thinking about all of that, it's hard to handle. I just put all that energy into training. I'm more concerned with training the next day and making the next day a war, so by the time I step in there, it's not even a big deal."
You might think revenge is a big deal, but Condit, who acknowledges that his loss to Prater wasn't a fluke, isn't fueled by retribution.
"Carlo Prater (Pictures) beat me fair and square," he said. "He was the better man that night. This isn't about revenge. That was four years ago. I don't lose any sleep at night over that loss. My mindset is going in there and fighting to the best of my abilities, and if I do that, there is no doubt in my mind that I can win."
"He's coming into my hometown and he is trying to take my belt and my respect, and that doesn't sit well with me at all," Condit said. "Every fight seems like the fight of my life, and this one is no different."
He carries himself like a gentleman, with a firm handshake and a confident sense of pride. He could easily be mistaken for a bartender at the local steakhouse or your average college student. An everyday Joe, he is as cool as they come outside the cage.
"I pride myself on treating everyone with respect, not just fighters and not just cool people," Condit said. "I think that everyone has value and I make it a point to be kind and be a good person."
Inside the cage, though, Condit is a ferocious competitor with a warrior's spirit. The 23-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., native credits the people around him for his success.
Even though many fighters switch camps during their careers, Condit has made his way to the heart of downtown Albuquerque to F.I.T. NHB for training since he was a teenager.
"My team here has been crucial in my success as an MMA fighter," he said. "Tom and Arlene Vaughn have not only been my trainers and mentors, they are like family to me."
Condit also recognizes the help of his girlfriend and his father.
"My dad is my biggest fan," he said. "When I was 15 or 16, I didn't have a car and he would drive me to practice everyday. He's my best friend. Anytime I'm not feeling so good about something or anything, I can call him and talk to him. He's my support line."
Although it has been a while since Condit was on the losing end of a bout, his father is the one to pick him back up after defeat.
"My dad just tells me to keep my chin up, and as long as I'm still breathing, I'm still fighting," Condit said. "He instilled in me a sense of if you fall down, you have to get back up."
In September 2004, Condit fell to Carlo Prater (Pictures) via triangle choke in the first round. Since then he has gone 12-3, won six straight and captured the WEC welterweight championship.
Wednesday night Condit will meet Prater (21-5-1) again, this time in the main event of WEC's latest card on the Versus network. Not only will the lanky welterweight have a showcase for his hometown fans, but he'll also look to avenge a loss that happened less than a mile from the gym he calls home.
"I went in to that fight a little unprepared," Condit said of the bout against Prater. "I did MMA more as a hobby. I went in there against a very tough and talented opponent. He was prepared and he went in there and took me out."
Condit was quick to state, however, that that was then and this is now.
"Since then I'm more focused," he explained. "I don't do this as a hobby anymore. This isn't only my passion; it's also my livelihood. You try and take away my livelihood, you're going to strike a chord in me that's going to bring out my bad side. That's what he is going to see in the ring."
While the opportunity to fight in front of a roaring partisan crowd is surely inspiring, Condit admitted the pressure of putting on a good show could distract him.
"There's pressure in there," he said. "It's a bit nerve racking sometimes. Just think of all these different aspects -- it's in my hometown, it's for my title. If I start thinking about all of that, it's hard to handle. I just put all that energy into training. I'm more concerned with training the next day and making the next day a war, so by the time I step in there, it's not even a big deal."
You might think revenge is a big deal, but Condit, who acknowledges that his loss to Prater wasn't a fluke, isn't fueled by retribution.
"Carlo Prater (Pictures) beat me fair and square," he said. "He was the better man that night. This isn't about revenge. That was four years ago. I don't lose any sleep at night over that loss. My mindset is going in there and fighting to the best of my abilities, and if I do that, there is no doubt in my mind that I can win."
"He's coming into my hometown and he is trying to take my belt and my respect, and that doesn't sit well with me at all," Condit said. "Every fight seems like the fight of my life, and this one is no different."
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