Why the UFC needs more Pat Barry’s
The UFC recently has been wrought with controversy and disappointment. Controversial decisions are leading to fans questioning whether UFC is going the way of boxing, injuries have been happening left and right causing us to wait for matches we were looking forward to, Rampage quit, TUF season 10 is losing gas, Hendo’s drama with management, and if I gave it some more thought I could add four or five more to this list. In all the hoopla it’s good to have a story now and then that brings us back. A fighter that refreshes us about what UFC is all about and makes us feel good to be fans, without all the overwhelming drama. So I say right here and now, thank God for you Patrick Barry. We need more of you in the UFC and here is why.
If you haven’t had a chance to read Pat’s story yet I suggest you get the full scoop. The watered down version is that when Pat had arrived for his fight at UFC 104, he was living off of ketchup and rice. He had no money in the bank. Nothing to his name. He was about to get evicted from his apartment. Then in one night Pat turned everything around. Not only did he win his match, but he won fight of the night honors and knockout of the night honors earning him a $120,000 bonus. What happens after that you can’t even write. He goes to cash his check. His car won’t start. He is flagging down people in pink shorts with a black eye trying to get a jump. Manages to get to the bank only to be met with some skepticism that this man with a black eye is really worth $120,000. Luckily he got the money in without incident.
When I read that story, I felt so good inside. I felt so happy for Pat, I can’t think of any fighter who deserves it more than him. Not only that I felt good about myself, for it inspired me to keep pursuing my dreams in life. Too many times our dreams are met with skepticism from those who can’t or don’t want to understand. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Pat. Literally to lay everything on the line for your dream. He had nothing left. Nothing. When was the last time you had nothing left? If you are having a hard time thinking of a time, good for you. Lord knows the amount of people who must have told him to abandon fighting. To stop taking a risk and get some other safe job. Well Pat decided that was not the path he was going to take. He wanted to fight. He was going to fight. No one was going to stop him. There was no time to think about defeat. Only time to think about what he worked so hard for, and it paid off.
The UFC needs more Pat Barry’s. More than that, I WANT to see more Pat Barry’s. Fighters who are hungry. Men who overcome every hurdle in front of them to pursue what they want to do. Men who know that as long as they stay focused and give it all they got, that they will be rewarded. Somehow, somewhere, they will be rewarded. For Pat that day was UFC 104, and I can’t think of any better person it could have happened to. I look forward to seeing Pat fight in the future and any other fighter coming in with a dream, a drive, and nothing else.
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