Javy Ayala: Avoiding Financial Disaster at Walmart
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Bellator MMA veteran Javy Ayala’s 2019 campaign was one to forget. He earned the most significant victory of his career the preceding December, when he knocked out former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder Frank Mir. Ayala planned to follow it with a Bellator 225 showdown against Vitaly Minakov in August. However, the bout was scrapped hours before the event when it was learned that Ayala was suffering from a staph infection. It was rebooked for October and subsequently canceled four days before the show because Minakov failed to secure his work visa. The resourceful Ayala endured financially by the leaning on the same job he has held since high school.
“I work for Walmart. I’ve worked for Walmart for 13 years,” Ayala told Sherdog.com. “It’s been my full-time job since I got out of high school. I didn’t fight [at] all [in 2019]. Imagine if I only lived off the fighting game? I would have made no money. I’ve got a wife, two kids and a house I’ve got to support, so I’ve got to work. Thankfully, I had my job. I was able to pick up overtime and made it through the year.”
In this exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, the 31-year-old zeroed in on his upcoming confrontation with Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 239 on Friday in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Ayala also discussed his growth as a grappler, future opponents and his love of pizza.
