Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset - Life After MLB: Levi Kelly’s Raw Path from Pro Baseball to MMA Fighter

Episode Date: November 11, 2024

Join former MLB prospect Levi Kelly as he opens up about his intense journey from professional baseball to MMA. From navigating the challenging "priority player" politics within the Diamondbacks organization to overcoming setbacks and finding his true passion in the fighting world, Levi shares raw stories of betrayal, resilience, and self-discovery. He reflects on clashes with coaches, the struggle for respect, and how his West Virginia roots shaped his relentless mindset. This episode dives deep into the determination it takes to reinvent yourself when life throws unexpected curveballs. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation filled with grit, honesty, and lessons for anyone facing adversity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When it comes to what your family eats and drinks, you know your choices matter. You're the expert because you know what fits your life. And getting it right starts with good information. That's why America's beverage companies are sharing more information about our ingredients at good to know facts.org. No spin, no judgments, just the facts straight from the experts for more than 140 beverage ingredients. Visit good to know facts.org. I remember I got hurt and the pitching coordinator He started talking to me different

So I was like I had this little bit of like I can fuck you up And I wasn't afraid to voice that I remember when I got hurt He came into the dugout And was like what the fuck are you doing Like this shit doesn't even play an A ball And I'm like

Dude you're who fuck do you think you're talking to I'm from West Virginia bro I don't give a fuck if you're the coordinator or not I'll fucking smack you right across the face right Like, at the end of the day, take all this bullshit off. Like, bro, I'm from West Virginia, like, the sticks. People look at me like I'm some Florida boy or whatever, which is cool. But in West Virginia, junkyard fucking dog.

Oh, sure. Like, I'll smack you right across your face. He came at me like that and I was like, bro, the fucking thing you're talking to. And I just remember that being a moment. Like, dude, you're just in number. Mm-hmm. Like, you built a relationship with this guy and you think he's your friend. He's not your fucking...

No, it was your base on your value. Right. Sean French, what up? What up. What's up until it's done. I'm me for the entirety. I'm putting an overtime. I'll be working.

Just know I'm a go for mine because I earned it. They watch and I know it's time. I confirmed it. A whole society determined. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of The Determined Society. I'm your host, Sean Fritch. If you haven't watched or listen to the episode, hit subscribe, follow along.

Today I have with me an amazing guest. Former baseball player, Shocker, I know. I don't have many baseball players on here. But Levi Kelly played at IMG, also local here in Fort Myers at Bishop Row for a cup of tea. A brief little step. Yeah, yeah. Had a brief commitment to LSU, go Tigers. And then into the Diamondbacks organization in eighth round.

And now he's doing some amazing things in MMA. So I'm excited to get into it, man. Welcome to the show. Appreciate you having me. It's a sweet setup. Watch a couple of episodes. It seems sweet. So congrats.

Yeah, I mean, we try, man. We try, right? We're not perfect, but we're fucking doing it, man. We're out here doing it. So I'm grateful to have you on the show. So walk the audience through your background. I think you're from up north a little bit, right? Yeah.

So born and raised, small town, St. Albans, West Virginia. Yeah. Like super small town. I think the biggest high school is 3A in the whole state. Maybe 4A now, but when I was coming up, 3A, went to Nitro High School in my freshman year. I don't know if you know J.R. House. Yeah.

So J.R. House was like the phenom of West Virginia. Okay. And he would play baseball in Florida, transferred back to West Virginia and play football. No shit. So that was like the model for me, at least growing up. Wow. And then his dad was kind of like, hey, you need to get to Florida.

So I played travel ball in Florida. And then freshman year, after freshman year, transferred to IMG. And that's what kind of got me here. And yeah, I was at IMG sophomore year. And then family moved to Cape Quarral. And we were like, hey, we're in Florida. Like baseball is good in the entire state. I don't necessarily need to be at IMG, living away from home and all that.

So I went to Bishopboro for a little bit, played my junior year there, and then got in a car accident at the end of my junior year spring, and didn't want to get rehab at a typical PT, whatever, because I didn't want it on the medical stuff for the draft. So my dad was like, let's go back to IMG. You can rehab on the download there. And so I went there and then drafted out of that. When you were here at Bishop Vro, who was your coach?

Was it that stint where what's, what was his name? Flores. That's Raya. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember that. Yeah, because it wasn't Casey Scott yet. It definitely wasn't David Nelson. No, Nelson was there, but he was there as like the dean of students or something. Flo was good.

He was just young for the job. Very young, dude. And we weren't the easiest to deal with. Dude, high school kids are ever fucking easy to deal with, dude. It's always one thing because there's so many distractions now, right? It is like it's not just baseball or football or wrestling. It's all this other shit. And I think that high school kids have had like there's so many different things that have their attention now.

And I think they're growing up quicker because of social media. Right. It's like they they feel entitled to drink sooner, do drugs sooner, go to party sooner. And it's just fucking wild to me, man. Yeah, you just have access to so many things, so much information. Yeah. Whether it's true or not, like you think you know more as a young kid because you have access to things that maybe that older generation didn't have.

Yeah. It's interesting because I remember where I was in high school and I don't know how it was. I mean, because you were, well, you graduated in 2018,

2019, yeah, 2018. Yeah. So like for me, graduated in 1997, like I didn't, I didn't know what a weekend was.

Yeah. I didn't fucking know what a weekend was, bro, because I was trying to get there, right? I was trying to play baseball be really, really good.

And then nowadays, you know, like I'm working with athletes on, you know, on their mental performance and things. And I'm like, hey, what's on your schedule this weekend? Well, I'm going to do this.

And then I'm going to go to play poker with all my teammates and go to this party. I'm like, the fuck? Like, that's a thing now, right? And it's hard for me to manage that type of demographic because to me it's like, what do you mean? Like, it's like you just go do your shit and then go home and go to sleep

and the way back up in the morning and do it again. Right. How was it for you? I'm that way as well, but I like that way. Yeah. I was almost, I feel like coming up, even in pro ball, looked at a bit different because I enjoyed that.

So it wasn't coming from a, I was misunderstood a bit because I think it came across as like, this dude's like an arrogant, kind of like try hard type guy, but my hobbies were training. Yeah. My hobbies were hiking. My hobbies were jujitsu.

My hobbies were whatever and where other guys that's like drinking, gambling, all these other things, which whatever, as long as you're, you know, being responsible is fine. But for me, like the organization, especially with the Diamondbacks. What are you doing hiking? You're like you're supposed to be like with your guys, whatever. And it's like, dude, it doesn't stop.

When I leave here, it doesn't stop for me. Like this is really what I love to do. And it's not necessarily baseball. It's just training. Yeah. That's why I do the MMA is like, if I can train for a living, I don't care if it's for pickleball. Yeah.

It doesn't matter. I just train. It's really cool. And it's funny you mentioned like you were misunderstood as a player, right? You know, like an arrogant type, try hard. You know, it's funny because I've never got that read on you. But that reminds. me of one of my athletes, one of my favorite athletes I've ever worked with. He's like a little

brother to me now is Jackson Beeman. He was at Missouri for a lot of years now. He's at Iowa. And he gets that like coaches sometimes have a problem with him. Yeah. Because he's always doing weird shit, right? I'm saying air quotes. For those of you that aren't watching on YouTube, air quotes is weird shit. The dude's a fucking worker, man. He's sitting there being paid to go to school, right? So he can perform and hopefully go play in the minor leagues. And, work his way up. Like, dude, what else do you have to do? Why are people being labeled weird and arrogant and try-hards for doing the right fucking shit? Right. To me, as long as it's done, like, in good intention, that's why even my career, like it didn't work out baseball-wise, how I

expected it. But everything I did, even the mistakes I made were in good intention. So, you're about to make a trade based on a friend's text. But which you do you listen to? Is it, we could buy a house in Tulum? Get optioning those options. We could lose everything. Or let's do a little research. Get your head in the trade and make the investment decision that's right for you. Learn more at finra.org slash trade smart. When did making plans get this complicated?

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Like a good neighbor, state farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state. They were for the goal. At the end of the day, it was like to get better. Yeah. And I can make myself in the mirror now and be like, you know, maybe it was right or maybe it was wrong. But at least the intention behind it was good. Yes. That's the thing, though, is I think, too, like that point makes me really think like a lot of people talk about right and wrong, right? Why can't it just be, right? And especially if you're looking to better yourself, if you're looking to improve your mentality, improve your physicality and your skill, why would anybody have anything to say about it?

And I think what happens is those people down at the bottom that aren't doing what you're doing or even trying or putting the effort in that you're putting in, it offends them because it makes them look like shit. Right. They don't believe it. They don't believe it. There's no way.

There's no way this is real, right? I want to touch on something really quickly because, you know, you've told me this before, then I forgot about it. And then before I interview, I was reading up a little bit more. You were committed to LSU. That was Menary's era, right?

Maneri. So I committed early freshman year of school. I was like, yeah, committed. Andy Canisera was there. Oh, my God. That's who recruited me. I actually loved him, which, I don't know, whatever. He had his little thing.

But he was a great baseball coach. Dude, he was awesome. He was great. Yeah, he was really good to me. Alan Dunn was there, which was another, like, the staff there at that time when I committed. Nolan Kane was like that baseball off sky. Dude, Nolan's a dope-ass. He's kicking ass now. He's at A&M.

He's doing really good. The staff was insane. And then I go there, people are telegating at noon for a seven o'clock baseball game. Yeah. It's like football. This is sick. Heaven, bro.

Yeah, so it was an easy sell. So let's talk about that, right? So you were committed to LSU and then you ended up not going, right? You went in the draft, right? Yeah. So, do you ever regret that decision? Um, I don't know. I don't think about it that much.

Because I try to just, you know, it's too late now. Well, fuck, you can't take it. You know, some people ask me that a lot. The timing, I don't know if I would have got hurt. Like, I got hurt. That would have been my year after, my drug year. Yeah. So I don't know how that all would have played out.

Like, would I even got hurt? Maybe I don't know. But, yeah, it would have been interesting to go there and see it play out. It is funny because, like, my father and I were having this conversation. And for those of you listening and watching, you know that my, dad and I have had a, you know, really strange relationship and we've recently started talking and working out again. And my heart's full from it, man, because, you know, it's my dad. You know, I like having conversations with my dad. But I asked him, I was like, did I make a bad decision going

Dallas, you? He goes, you guys, kid, if I had to do it all over again, you would have not to GondellosU. You would have taken that 96% to Cal State Northridge or Western Carolina and you would have been a badass and you would have done your deal. But here's the thing, man. I like my life where it's at right now. And like everything that we do and it's in and I love that you pointed to point out of like, I don't think about it much.

It's like everything that we do in our lives. There's a reason for it. Right. There's a reason for it. And we learn different lessons through it. And then through those lessons, we become the man or the woman. or cat that people that were meant to be, right? You know, so it's like it's,

you can never regret a decision. Yeah, I'll say this about LSU when I went on my official visit, going back to like our previous conversation, I was the guy that was like the try hard. So when I went to LSU my official visit, they party there. I did a mouth.

Like, it was wild. And I wasn't that type of guy. And that was my first taste to that. And I remember when I left there, I thought, I'm either going to go down, If I go to LSU, I'm either going to go down this path of being wild, and it's going to be a great time. But I don't know how much better I'll get at baseball, or I won't, and I'll be the outcast and the teammates won't like me.

And then it won't be the best experience. But maybe so that was my- That does happen, dude. That does happen. That was my thought at that age. Now, would that have been the case? I don't know. But I remember thinking that, and that kind of played into the decision to sign.

You know, it's funny because if you look at quarterbacks like Jaden Daniels, right? LSU and then Joe Burrow like they weren't the dudes that were out right right so they I don't think they were the outcast but like if you're gonna be that person that doesn't go out you better be the golden spikes winner yeah right like Dylan Cruz or or be like a Paul skeins because like I think people judge way too much for me I was always about whatever my teammates wanted to do on their own time it was cool I never guilted anybody for not going out or anything like that but dude like going back to what you said about going to LSU,

you can either go down that road, right, of being a part of, I went down that road. After my first semester, my parents called me like, hey, get your fucking head out of your ass. You're about to get kicked out of school there. I'm like, what are you talking about? Like, congratulations. First semester, you're an academic probation.

I had two Ds and two Cs. It's like a 1.5. Yeah. And so, like, for me, like, for you to think like that at a high school level, that's a very intuitive thought process. how has your family played a role in your mental development for you to be thinking like that at 1718?

Well, my dad was in the Marine Corps, so I think that speaks for itself. Yeah, of course. And they always kind of let me make my own decision. Like, IMG, that hadn't really nothing to do with my parents. My parents didn't even know of IMG was really a thing. Yeah. I played for FTB.

I don't know. Yeah, of course, yeah. I played for FTB, and I would come down and I would get smoked in June and July of the Summer Bowl. late in the July I would I would start to pick up speed and then right at the very end I would be like on par with everyone else and I remember telling my parents like I have to get to Florida I can't keep playing catch up in the summer

like what are you talking about I mean you have to get to Florida normal jobs and we aren't rich and I called IMG and at the time I was I think I was ranked like third on perfect game and they were like we'll make it work and I was like what do you mean you make it work like we're not rich we can't pay yeah like I just want to be clear like we can't. $80,000 a year.

Yeah. It's not going to happen. And we went down there, I think August and school sort of like the end of that month. And they made it work. That's freaking awesome. Yeah. My mom especially like did not want me to go. I bet not.

If this is what you want to do. The biggest thing for IMG too is that's your life. Baseball is your life there. So you'll find out quick if that's what you want to do or not. Did you know Jeff Dillman? Yeah. That's my boy, dude. Yeah.

Dude, so like he was. my strength coach at LSU. Really? He was a GA back then. Dude, yeah. And then you know, Scotty Cochran, the guy that went and did, you know, he was a GA at LSU, but then he went to Alabama and Georgia. He won eight national championships as strength coaches.

Delman's got some energy behind him. Dilman's the most amazing dude ever, dude. I talk to him pretty frequently. I've talked to, he shot me a message the other day for my birthday. And then I talked to him maybe like two weeks ago. So I keep in touch with him, dude. He's a dude, man. He's a dude.

I got closer with him when I was at IMG training as a pro in the offseason. He was there doing football stuff or whatever. He's amazing, dude. He's amazing. So catch everybody up now at MMA. MMA. I saw it. Hey, guys, I went and checked them out at the gym over at Evolution.

What's the full name of it? What's it called? Evolution in Naples, yeah. Evolution in Naples. He was hanging out doing some sparring today. But not for me, dude. I don't want to get it like that. You hit somebody with a leg kick.

I thought, I might, dude, that shit would have broke my leg. Yeah, the leg kicks at my best shot for you. Yeah, that's good. I mean, I snap it on guys in there, but I'm not, I'm not letting it fly, like, how well in a fight. I fight in three weeks, so, like, at then I'll be letting it fly. Just nuts, dude. So you mentioned earlier in the conversation, like, if you could just train for a living. And that's what you're doing now, right?

So walk everybody through this journey, man, baseball to MMA. So when I got hurt, like training was my coping, of course. I had thoracic outlet surgery and found jujitsu. Probably not the best thing for rehab. I'll say that. Yeah, probably not. But I trained in the ghee, which is a lot slower. The guys, I trained in Arizona with Tim Weld, Sean and Molly,

those guys, they took care of me. They knew I was playing baseball at night. And you just fell in love with it. And then after I got released, it was kind of just like everyone else. What the hell am I going to do? I was still in school. My mom made me start school as soon as I got drafted. I'm almost finished with that.

now. That's awesome. It's been like a year and a half since I got released. Um, but just like everyone else like what the fuck do I do that I did any switch bro. I did a TED talk on that. The identity crisis after sport. Fuck, bro. Yeah. I wish there was like material out there to help athletes get through that really. Um, maybe that's something I'll, I'll try and work on later on my life because even my friends now I see you one through it. I'm like, dude, you got a hard like at least year and a half coming. Yeah. And they don't know it's coming. No, nobody can tell you either. Dude, I help athletes with this. I do this.

Like, those moments, those years after that I didn't deal with that identity crisis, there was a gaping hole inside of me, dude. And I did so many bad things, dude. I was just a piece of shit for that period of time, maybe five, six years, where I was just so hurt. I was hurting others just to fulfill my own, you know. I remember I got released and I text Tim Welch, which is Sean's coach. and was like, what's the best gym in Florida?

And I told my girlfriend on the way, I got released, and they sent me a fucking high. It was so pissed about that. Because you were up in AA, right? Yeah, I knew I was getting going to get released. After surgery, I was starting like 88. Oh, yeah. So, I mean, it was coming.

For a mighty? Send me to AA, so it's a short drive to Florida. Like, I don't want to drive from Portland to fucking Fort Myers. I know it's coming at some. Yeah. So when they drive back, I asked him, where is the best gym in Florida. Like, I'm just going to go right into fighting.

I told my girlfriend, like, let's take a month to think about things. They moved to Boca Raton two weeks to train full-time at Killcliffe, which was like the number one MMA gym in the country. Probably, yeah, top two or three. And full-born ahead and MMA there, which was really good, but I took a lot of ass beatings there because guys were so, so good. And I was not at that level. I'm still not at that level.

And I was trying to learn on the fly, like, hey, I just got fucking head kicked. And how do I not get head kicked? It was less of a coach like showing me more of like, hey, this dude, just beat your ass. Don't let him beat your ass. Yeah, it's more like in the fire type. And that's a hard way to learn when you're first starting out. So that's why we decided to come back here, go to evolution, smaller gym, more instruction. Maybe later on in my career, if things go great, end up turning pro, then we go to a bigger gym like that.

how things grow evolution but for now yeah we're there training a fuck twice this year this would be my two and oh two and oh two and oh yeah um first two guys not not the best position but i always always tell everybody i'm taking the jake polar route but this next guy is much better he's got five fights so it'll be it'll be more of a scrap it's exciting where's the fight four mire's no shit sydney burn no way yeah i want to go yeah it'll be fun who already how do i get tickets. I don't know if they're posted yet, but when they are, I'll share please, dude. I want to support you, man. They're fucking dope. It'll be really cool. So what do you have to do to get your pro car? Like in MMAC? So you have to go

or you don't have to go five and oh. So it depends state to state. It's based on commission. So like in Arizona, you can either go three and oh. Okay. Or you have five fights. And Florida, you have to have five fights. Doesn't matter your record. Okay. So right now I'm two and no. I could essentially win this fight, turn pro and go fight somewhere. else um but my plan is probably to get five fights okay and then see where we're there's a significant time in between your fights i remember when you fought it was a couple months ago right yeah okay i would like there to be less time as long as i don't take damage for now yeah just because it's so new right like i'm so new at everything i just i need to fill those emotions of we can spar like

you guys saw but i'm not scared to spar at all i'm scared to get knocked out in front of all my buddies Oh, yeah, dude. Yeah, exactly. And just dealing with those emotions, I need reps and that. So as long as I'm not hurt, then I would like to turn over pretty quick. Mentally, how do you deal with those fears? So the guy that cornered my first fight, Mike knowingly, I think this is last time. He's out of Fort Myers.

He's a boxing coach. He explained it to me really well. I was shaken. He was wrapping my hands and my hands were shaken. And I was like, oh, fuck. I didn't care that my hands were shaking. but I cared that he saw my hands. Yeah, the vis.

My ego was like, man, he knows I'm scared. Yeah. And I kind of felt like a bitch right now. But, and he just said, everybody feels that. And he said, that's God's way of protecting you. Those nerves are going to make you faster. They're going to make you punch harder. They're going to make you react quicker.

So no, they're there to help you. They're not there to hurt you. I was like, damn. And then I was just like, okay, I got it. It's a great way to look at fear, right, for people listening and watching is like, we're going to be afraid of shit in life. And right then that arena was the actual

arena, right, going into the octagon. But I think life in general, we all get these jitters. I remember when I started this show and then I went, you know, into my den, started in, you know, interviewing like just guest and then it was high level people. Then now it's in person.

I get to sit down with people like you. There's a lot of nerves and a lot of fear, right? When we start something new, I think what's important for everybody is to understand that everybody fucking feels it. You can be scared all you want. But if you sit there, then you are that little bitch, right? We need to make sure that, you know, hey, feel the fear. Feel the being scared shitless.

But move in spite of it because it may not look perfect, but you'd surprise yourself along the way. Yeah. And dude, this even goes back to like childhood. I remember my dad when I was like 10, he would tell me like North Carolina is in the stands. like to a 10 year old but it wasn't it was to it was to get me to like perform because if it was a little league game

that I knew it didn't matter at all like I wouldn't perform to the level I could actually play yeah so even 10 11 he back South Carolina's over there better show up fucking Ray Tanner's over there watch right here to get me to fill that and now yeah when I don't fill that

I'm like oh shit yeah like it's so funny because like you know I've had like I said reconnected with my dad and you know he used to say a lot of things that I took the wrong way and kind of like victim mentality. But I think what he was really trying to do was just toughen me up, you know, and just tell me what I didn't want to hear, but what I needed to hear. And it's so important because like we have to understand what drives us, but we also have to maintain it so we don't get this crater-sized chip on which our shoulders.

Because for a long time, I operated with that chip. And dude, it's cool for a moment, but it's fucking exhausting, dude. Yeah. Yeah. I always say like it's a flame that burns. high, but for a very short time. Yeah. Yeah. And we look at our, you know, lifespan, right? That short time could be 10 years. That that flame bird's so hot that you're like, fuck you, I'll show you. You know, it doesn't work long term. No. We got to, we got to be more like, okay, I know I got this. Let me go prove myself right. How have you managed those emotions in the transition from baseball to MMA and then now, you know, going into your pro and hopefully one day, I'm sure you'd want to be in the UFC, right? Yeah.

One thing that I've tried to balance, like I did not do a very good job with baseball. I almost have to, because I'm a very structured and disciplined individual, I don't mean like toot my own horn or anything, but. No, it's just not how operating. And sometimes it's a detriment. Like, especially early in my career, it was probably more detriment than hell at some points, is to be disciplined, to be undisciplined. Like, just because you feel good on the treadmill doesn't mean you need to kill yourself.

Right. Because in MMA especially, like I have sporting tomorrow. I feel good and I want to be like Earl of Jock on Thursday on the treadmill because I felt good or whatever and I'm going to be Mr. Tony. But how does that affect like next week's training? So being disciplined, being undisciplined, like everything doesn't have to be perfect. Like your routine, especially as a pitcher, like being a pitcher, it happens so often. You see it like if I don't stick to my routine. then I'm fucked.

Yeah. And sometimes I'm still like that. But even my girlfriend's on me about it all the time. Things are not going to go per- I always lay my week out. Like this is what my-per-cheek week looks like this. Probably 90% of the time I get 70% of it done. And that's a good week.

Yeah, of course. But before, when I, early in my career, if I got 70%, I would like beat myself up over and over about. But let's dig into that, dude. Because my wife's the same way, your girlfriend's wise okay and in these good women these good women we have you know keeping dudes like us in check i mean let's be honest like hey levi that you don't need to be perfect all too often we we create this process and this plan of execution you know strategic plan right but like

we think to ourselves like oh if i do all of this then that's the perfect week when reality is like, is this fucking sustainable? I might be able to do it for a day or two, but can I do it a week? Can I do it for two weeks? Can I do it for three? Can I do it for seven years? And the reality is mostly not.

So to your point is like, we need to know that what we need to do is like small progressions, right? Let's put the work in, run the play. But sometimes we load up that playbook, man, and it's just not attainable. Right. It's got to be like fluid. Yeah.

Things move around. Sometimes you miss training. Sometimes you, it's just, it's not, it can't be so. rigid. Yeah.

I'm going to get deep. Not deep, but like... Go for it, man. It's plays for it. You see it into athletes that live a rigid lifestyle, they play rigid. And sometimes it works. I don't want to name drop here, but I'm going to name drop. And this guy's one of the best players that I've ever seen, Corbyn Carroll.

Oh, yeah. Corbyn Carroll and Alec Thomas. Both played with him both. He's dope, dude. Alec is like it, water. He's very flowy. they both get the job done at a very high level. Corbyn is very structured and rigid.

So you can see that in their play too. Like Corbin lives his life by the book and it's very 9 o'clock, 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock, 12. Yeah, yeah. And Alex just kind of like, yeah, whatever, and I'll get it in. And you see that it turns into their style of play. They both work.

Yeah. But like almost as a scout, I always think, what are they looking for? Are they looking for like the playful guy? Yeah. Are they looking for this like robot type guy? They're going to look for the halics too because here's the thing. Because that becomes part of the personality.

Like you said, part of their play, right? If you can play and have fun and just understand, I'm going to get it in. It is what it is. There's less injury. No. Right? And people may think, listen to like, what the fuck's that to do with anything? Has everything to do with it.

Yeah. Because if you're rigid, you're tight and you can't flow. Like that's a great analogy, dude. That is a great analogy. It's very interesting. to me to look at the personality type and like how that affects the body movement and just their whole life. And you can see it. You don't see too many like hippies that are all tight. Daniel Murphy, you know what I mean? You listen to the show. Yeah. Because I didn't know Daniel

from, you know, like personally before I show, I was like, I'm thinking I'm going to get this savage dude. It's like, oh, yeah, like my kids, like they're having a play about it. I'm like, that's why you were the fucking guy. You can see it in his movements. Yes. Like you can see his personality and the way he moves. So good.

Yeah. So good. It's funny because like a lot of times, you know, when people are asking me about the show and about my interview style, how often do you practice? How much research do you? I'm like, well, I know enough about my guest, right?

But my thing is just like sitting down, like I told you before, like, hey, we're going to have a fun conversation. Because people on the other side of these microphones want real. Right. And if I'm tight, if I have scripted questions, now I'm just integrity in your ass.

You know, the Spanish fucking Inquisition, like, okay, where were you born? Okay? What's your favorite routine? Like, that's boring and it's whack. So it's your point. Let's let us all just kind of flow. Yeah. How's it help you in MMA?

It's a struggle, too, because I'm the rigid guy. I know. That's, I was raised by Marine Corps dad. Yep. Like, if you met my brother, he's even more rigid than I am. But I've tried to balance that because I've also went on other ends of the spectrum where I like, I want to be so elucid that. I don't have that like same pop.

So it's a balance of also not trying to be somebody I'm not. Yeah. Like I'm not a hippie like whatever like. Yeah. Type Nadeez type style where I'm just going to tap you. Like I still need that because that's me. But it's a balance. I can't be too far on either into the spectrum.

It's so hard, man. Like you mentioned something very important that I want the audience to really key in on. Because I think there's a lot of gold in the small things. Be yourself. Yeah. There's too many people out there seeing somebody else and respecting something big about those people because of what they accomplished. I think that's a big compliment. But you can't be them.

You are one of a one. One of one. Limited edition. You cannot be them and they cannot be you. So like we need to continue to think just like you said, just be yourself. You know, and be able to adapt, I think is the biggest thing that you're talking about because like you said, you're not this free flowing type, you know, the hippie. Like you're rigid. but I don't see you as rigid.

Yeah. I've worked a lot on it. Yeah, I mean, but that's the thing though, right? It's just fucking working. But being yourself, man, how is that? Have you ever struggled with that, you know, growing up, you know? I always think that I had like this role model that I tried to be like, like, dude, I have Jock tattoos all over because I was in 2020, I was like a Jocko disciple.

Really? Which even goes back to the more rigid. Like, Jocco and Gaggins were like my guys. Oh, dude. I remember this is going to sound crazy. I would, because I was trying to prove that I was a tough guy, I don't even know. That's kind of also why I got into MMA because I realized like, I'm not really a tough guy. I'm a pussy, really.

But nobody will call me on my bluff. So everyone thinks I'm tough. That looks really cool for the time being until I had to look in the mirror and be like, man, I'm like, I'm a pussy. I wouldn't call you that. But I would sleep on the floor, dude, in the off season. Because Gagons and these guys were like, you need to chase discomfort. And here I am fucking in the off season, just like sleep.

I don't want a yoga mat beside my bed because I wanted to be like, crap. But see, that's the fucked up thing, right? Like, and I'm going to get really fucking fired up about this one. I respect you being honest with that. And I fell into it, too, with Andy Fricela. You know, the first one was like, you know, do not negotiate with yourself. you know, 75 hard, do this, do that, you know, and do all these things. And I'm not, and dude, I'm not saying it doesn't work for some people. But I'm saying like the chasing

discomfort, everybody started going and wanted to do what doggins was doing. Like the, what is it, the four miles every 48 hours or like 45, some weird like, I don't know, was it two miles every four hours. I don't know what it was. But the bottom line is, is all the people, the lay people, just the normal everyday people were trying to do what they were doing. You know, in getting fucking hurt and putting ourselves in bad positions when all they were saying was, dude, create a process, follow your fucking plan, be disciplined in the work and go do it and build something. And we all thought, oh, I'm Goggins. I'm Andy Friclella. I'm Jocko.

I feel you. I'm not ridiculing you because I did it. Yeah. And you know what? And that's why this show and that's why me and my brand wasn't hitting early. Because it wasn't me. Last night I'm dancing on a golf cart singing a love song to my boy.

Bobby Brown, don't be cool. That's me. I got more response out of that than people back in the day when I was regurgitating somebody else's shit. It's crazy. I always tell people too, this is,

I've stole this from somebody else, but you take two rocks, like the hardest things we have and you fucking smash them together and grind them together, you're going to have dust and you can just blow it off your hand. But if you polish them,

then you got two shiny objects. And I was always like that hurt, like out. And then my fucking shoulder, went to dust. You feel you on that one, bro. I feel you on that one. I remember going into Dr. Mark Field and saying,

oh, no, you're good, man. Like, you don't have anything wrong. I'm like, why does it feel there's a machete going into my shoulder then? It's like you want something so badly. And like you're saying, you grind it, you grind it. A lot of the times it's our body. But the one thing that is more dangerous

if you grind it consistently, consistently is your mind. Yeah. Because you can go into some dark places. And, dude, in this journey, I've gone through some dark fucking moments, man. What about you? Has there ever been anything you want to share

of like a dark moment that you felt like shutting everything down that the audience can relate to that may be able to help them? There was definitely like some dark moments. I never got too beat up about it because my mindset was always like good intention, good intention. Like at some point in my career,

I knew it was coming to an end because I just couldn't throw the same and arm just did not feel the same. And I always showed up every day and was like, I know this is coming to an end. But when it is over, I want to be able to look myself in the mirror and be like, I did everything. Yeah, man. And that was the biggest thing I was proud of, like at the end of my career was one, I want to set an example for people that show up here that, hey, this is how you work. Not only is this how you work, this is how you work when things are going really bad.

Because at the back end of my career, I would go out there and give up two, three runs to guys that two years ago wouldn't touch me. and then coaches, staff, everybody's looking at me like how I currently was playing. I'm like, damn, y'all forget about the guy when I was the top, whatever prospect. Now I'm a different guy, but I'm still going to show up with the same mentality.

Yeah. And that really got me through it. And that made me, and that made the pill of getting released much easier to swallow. That's hard because that's an identity thing. Like this whole thing, you know, I talked about identity earlier.

Like you said, you were one of the top problems. You know, two years before that, you had a different brand. Right. The identity was there like, through the piss out of it. Here I am. Yeah, it was so weird being like a priority guy and then not being a priority guy. Explain to the audience what you mean by that? Because there's so many youngsters that listen to this show that want to go play professional sports. Priority guy versus a non-priority guy. Educate them. So basically a priority guy in the minor league is, if you're on the top 30 prospect, it doesn't really mean. It's a little political, but it's a little political, but it's,

If you're on there, you're a priority guy for the most part. Like, you're valued, the organization values you. Your trade amount is probably pretty substantial. They can get something valuable out of you, which basically means you have more say in what goes on. And if you need treatment on your arm, they're going to find time to treat your arm. And when you're not a priority guy, they don't want you getting treatment. Not that they don't want you, but if you're taking time, away from a priority guy they don't like that it's interesting and I went I play out both of

those guys throughout my career and sometimes I would voice that like I would call people even staff direct like the pitching coordinator I remember I got hurt and he started talking to me different like and I was trained jiu jizzo this time so I was like I had this little bit of like I can fuck you up to. And I wasn't afraid to voice that. Right. Because I was also this, still at this time, like this egomaniac. I hadn't kind of went through it yet. Yeah. Like, humble myself.

And I remember, I'm like, bro, you're texting me all off-season, like, being my boy. And now you're, he came, I remember when I got hurt, he came into the dugout and was like, what the fuck are you doing? Like, this shit doesn't even play an A-ball. Jesus. And I'm like, dude, you're, who? fuck do you think you're talking to? Like, I don't, I'm from West Virginia, bro.

I don't give a fuck if you're the coordinator or not. I'll fucking smack you right across the face, right? Like, that's how I was right. Like, at the end of the day, take all this bullshit off. Like, bro, I'm from West Virginia, like the sticks. And people look at me like I'm some Florida boy or whatever, which is cool. But in West Virginia, it's a junkyard fucking dog.

Oh, sure. Like, I'll smack you right across your face. I had that mentality. And this, dude, the pitching coordinator, which was like the guy. he came at me like that and I was like the fuck are you think you're talking to and I just remember that being a moment like

dude you're just in number like you built a relationship with this guy and you think he's your friend he's not your fucking no is your base on your value right and that's the thing that's hard about life right that's why it's so great to have a great relationship with ourselves or in your instance like I want to go back to this because I haven't touched on it and I want to honor her

like I know your girl has been through some times with you and she's stuck with you through a lot of transitions. It's a fucking ride or die, do. So let's honor her a little bit. How has her support, her love help you through a lot? Yeah. Even now with like the MMA stuff.

Like it would be, life would probably be a lot easier on her if I would just go get a normal job. Yeah. And then she lived with me when I got released. We fucking drove 40 hours from Oregon. Like, do she've been through it? I moved her ass to Boka because I wanted to go train over there

and like didn't. give her much say. And she's just, she just carries on, you know, she's a beast. That's awesome, dude. I mean, like, I'm super lucky. Dude, it's so funny. Like, I have been through so many transitions. And, dude, quite honestly, like what you're, just to give you, not that you need the comfort, but like my wife's life would be a lot easier if I wasn't doing what I'm doing, right? Like, there was a moment when I was in corporate America, you know, making high six figures, our lives was much more comfortable than it is now. Because everybody sees all the shows and sees all the conversations and what it looks

like on social media. But if they don't fucking realize, I've taken like a $200,000 cut. Right. Right. And in my income, household income, it is hard to survive. But the most important thing that a man can have is a woman that is right there. It'd be like, you know what? I believe in you.

It's okay. And it will be okay because you'll make it. Yeah. She'll be right about you and my wife will be right about me. Yeah. It's cool to be with somebody that and she's, she's told this to me before when I'm like going crate like, can't sit still. Fucking I need to do this, need to do that. And she's just like, I don't care. Like I just want you to love me.

That's it. Like I don't give a fuck about all that other shit. I'm like, damn. Dude. Yeah. That's a real won't. You might want to keep that one. You might, you might want.

We can go to the jewelry store after this, Brian. win a couple more fights first a couple more fights yeah win a couple more fights uh so you got one in a few weeks you'll win that one how how far away would be your fourth fight i plan on fighting uh probably early february that's cool that's not too far late january take the holidays yeah away because because i have to make weight too i'm not cutting a lot of weight right now

but this would probably be my last fight at 185 and then i'll have to cut at 170 which that's like that's a real cut how do you how do you keep the energy And that's a big cut. Well, I've never cut in 170. So shit. Unchartered territory. Yeah, right now, I mean, I walk around 190. So I literally, like, I'll go do what we did today.

And then I'll go weigh in. And I'll be 185. Okay. So. I mean, dude, you were, you guys were pretty drenched, man. Yeah. You guys are pretty drenched. Probably, like, in that type of training, I'll lose seven pounds, five to seven pounds.

Fuck, there's a diet hack. My fat ass needs to get on this MMA shit, roll around on the map for a little bit. Yeah. The way they cut a lot of way. It's an interesting concept. up so that you overload on water like probably a week out so two gallons two gallons two and a half gallons or give or take whatever and then you cut out all carbs maybe just have a little carbs in the morning before training and cut out all salt so you're overloading on water but you don't have

carbs so your body is just pushing water pushing water pushing water because it's like dude this is giving me way too much and it's constant it's like crazy and sweat like crazy and then you cut water too So when you cut water, your body's used to flushing it. Now you don't have the carbs or salt to hold it and you don't have it. So your body's pushing it out and you're not putting in the end. So you can lose 15 pounds like in 24, 36 hours. That's crazy. Yeah, of just water.

Of just water, yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah, because that's like two gallons of water, right? Yeah. Subcontaneously like it's not definitely not good for the body. No. But everybody does it. The problem is is the brain needs water.

And you see guys get knocked. out easy because they're cutting. Don't we need salt too though? Like yeah yeah hold the water right some guys cut crazy amounts I mean we'll see I'll cut the 170 and see how I feel I'm not afraid to stay at 85 I'll have to put on a little bit of muscle though I'm gonna walk around probably like 205 okay that's that's a good amount of muscle yeah yeah you better get pumping dude I see you in there working man you you work your ass off dude I I appreciate you you know coming in and and you know telling us your story and you know it's been really cool getting to know you and I'm pulling for you man and you know what's the one piece of advice you'd give the audience right now they ask you what's it

going to take for me to hit my goal or to be the person I want to become what would you tell them just keep showing up what does that mean even and I was thinking about it because I figured that you would ask about uh determination so I was thinking about this on the way here um keep showing up and then the days that you don't want to show up just show up and go through the motions like every day doesn't need to be a killer sometimes you just show up to go through the motions and then you're 15 minutes in and you're like fuck i feel good isn't that weird how what works out just keep showing up it's so easy to throw in the towel it's so easy to throw in the towel in mhm and go get a fucking nine to five yeah that'll be there in 10 years yeah of course it will be and that's the thing

about you know that question because it does bring up determination a lot of times i like to lead the guests to it instead of say it but it's like determination is such a funny thing because people think it looks like David Goggins. They think it looks like Jock O'Lewanick. They think it looks like Andy Fricela. And really what it looks like is just you getting the fuck up, going to the gym, or shooting the show, and going through that and getting in this flow state. So now the rest of your day, you make another call and you make another connection.

Like, dude, I woke up this morning tired of shit. I'm like, oh, shit. Like, what's it going to be like today? all I know is I need to meet my boy Mike down at the gym to see you and then I walk in and you know Levi's there like I've known him since he was in high school you make another connection then we meet a boat a plane broker there make another connection all these little things is what I want the audience understand to your point is showing up is what we did today yeah and then connections are formed and then things are built from that yeah small wins too like if you have

15 small, if you're, let's say you're 10 for 15 on the day. Take it, bro. It's a good day. I don't give a fuck. What comprise? I could be a bloop single. I don't give a shit. And like just having that mindset of consciously thinking about that, that's like win number

one right there. Love it, man. I love it. Well, dude, thank you again. I'm pulling for a, can't wait to see you knock out your next opponent here in a couple weeks and four Myers. So, you guys heard it here from Exposer Studios and Naples the Determin Society with Levi Kelly.

Until next time, subscribe, like, share, stay determined. So I've tried a lot of protein, you know. What I've always found is all the flavors, you can taste artificial flavoring in them. With raw, it's exactly that. I don't taste that. It's a clean protein source. It tastes great, and I'm not putting a lot of things in my body that aren't good for you. The biggest thing that I will say that I love about raw nutrition and bum energy is,

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