Leglock..yep I was pretty high there..which is a selling point on my resume at least.I made next to nothing being i fought at 145..at the time the ufc only had 170 and up..and then 155 and up..its amazing to see all the people on the fight cards i was on in the UFC now.
Monte Cox was my manager and i did some stuff for the scum bag Chad Bergemeir as well in Extreme Challenge. Then spencer did a lot as well manging wise. Montes got into some tax trouble and is headed to prison for tax fraud.
Its funny I was 20 at the time I started getting PPV fights and could not see I just needed time to mature and grow into bigger fights and get experience along the way..I wanted to be in the UFC then not fight on small shows..I never knew Myles Jury would become who he was today nor would i know about koch..
I kept being told to go to college have a good career..this was before 07/08 so funny how life works out when you think youre doing the right thing it sets you back. But one thing I learned from fighting which is applicable to all things in life is when youre getting hit..and hit hard..its better to keep moving forward into it then trying to run. I never really wanted to stop fighting it just turned into one of those things that I got busy with life and had no place to train at..Now at 30 not much point in trying to make a comeback.
Who was your friend? I'm from Moline..I didn't start there until 2003 over at Golds gym..then when they were building the new place in downtown bettendorf we went over to Augustana College and then finally where it is now.
And possibly..Though when I knew Pat he seemed like he wanted to do anything but train people..he'd work with the IFL guys and that was about it..There wasn't much of a team like ATT or Greg Jackson..Pat hardly went to UFC events unless it was for Sylvia or Hughes.
With regards to your friend that's just how Pat was..He grew up poor and I don't think liked asking people for money because he knew most fighters could not afford much. I know he would let people come and train and find things around the gym for them to do like clean and etc in exchange for training fees. He was a good person and helped me out tremendously as a teenager who was getting into trouble lol. Nothing more motivating then getting a phone call from your idol telling you to go to class or there would be consequences from him. haha
I saw many blow ups by Pulver and Fisher and Mcfredries about pat being non existent..I always looked at it like hes only one guy he cant help everyone. So other then me and Spencers fall out I was thankful for him (Fisher) taking me aside to teach me and help me with stand up..Id help him with wrestling. He a a good friend until he got into the UFC it got to his head i think when everyone would try and stop and talk to him when we would go out.
I agree as a future case study..Pat has a degree in business from St. Ambrose..I just think it was really a perfect storm of bad events happening. Though yes a very good example of never outsourcing internal accounting. And the need for yearly audits which would have caught these things. As far as the drop off in attendance I think that was out of his hands as obviosuly when severe economic downturns occur gym memberships will be one of the first things to go.
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