Great job Brandon (Mohawk), and welcome! I hadn't thought of all those factors that complicated your mental preparation for the competition. Nice initial piece; looking forward to the next one.

Thanks Brandon, good read and I look forward to the fight!

thanks mohawk brandon...now you can tell us who won. thanks!

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

"To come this far and to quit my job, sell my cars and everything I could just to get enough money to cover my mortgage while I was on the show... it could all be over before it even starts!"...... WOW. did you ever for a moment think at that point, "what the hell did i just get myself into?" that kind of pressure can be a distraction or a motivation. hopefully is a BIG motivation for you. thanks, Brandon, for letting us in on your thoughts!

I was thinking last night watching those guys... how hard it must be to quit your job and then tell your friends and family that you will be gone for six weeks only to back on a plane and home within two/three days. It's great to have you give us your insight and put a 'real' face to that risk.

Watching the highlights last night and reading about your background, somehow I think you will be around for the whole time... and hopefully a UFC regular.

haha. when you said that on the show, i was like"idiot!!!" at least you won...

sorry brandon. i didn't know that was you...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Brandon,

Good job on the first blog. I understand you are a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine)? How did the mind games in boot camp compare to this experience? I assume that since the Marines are trying to make a team it was very different because Dana was trying to find an individual.

I would like to ask a few questions if you would get the chance plz try to answer
1. As a coach I have seen first hand that the pressure of a big stage can drain a athlete, was that your problem, was it you had to dehydrate yourself to much, or did you just not have the cardio?

2. Was you to tired to sink your hooks in when you had his back, or was you afraid he would sweep or something?

3. What do you think the single best background a person could have walking in to MMA?

Eers,

Just so you know, Brandon hasn't fought on the show yet. Questions 1 and 2 seem to imply that he has...

he hasn't?

what?! i thought he did. he had camera time...maybe there was some other guy with a mohawk...named brandon.

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

That's correct -- it wasn't Brandon (though he did get some face time).

There was another guy with a mohawk. I believe he won and I believe his name is Cale Yarbrough (defeated John Clarke...) Those details are a bit sketchy... I can verify tonight...

when tuf was over i was like no!!! that's was like 4 hours of fights last night. UFN13 plus TUF...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Oh thank god I thought I was talking to the dude with the goofy looking hair cut.......anyways haha damn it and those was good questions.

Yes I'm sorry I had you mixed up with the cat with the Jens Pulver hair cut please forgive me.

eers is mentally challenged...haha. jk

thanks for answering some questions brandon

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

mohawk fought 2 guys at the same time...he pmd me...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

dude my uncle Dana won't like that comment "none of my fights have been aired yet"

Sorry, that was the intll analyst in me coming out!

he can always edit his comments on here anyway and say, "i have not fought on the show yet." or something...mohawks goin to dana prison...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

It's not considered insider trading is it? We need to get TheBudCan over here to tell us where we can lay a bet in Vegas and make some cash!!

Sweet, I cant wait to see next weeks fights. The first episode seemed like it had some good fights in it.

There was some people with real raw tallent there. Rampage's boy is a sure winner........sorry I thought I was on CBS for a second......(inside joke)

A couple of fighters did look good.

haha(inside laughter)

this should be a good season. i think last season there wasn't a lot of great fights.

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Hey everybody, thanks for all the response to the blogg! I will try to answer a few questions here. In my next blogg I will go a little more into the relation of my Military experience to the MMA world. That is a common question and I can relate much of my fighting to my experience in the Marines as that is a big part of my life and who I have become in life. So please just stay tuned and Ill get more into that.

Also, my fight has not been aired as of yet so I think that perhaps you have me confused with another fight.. Coming onto the show I was in GREAT shape as you will see in the next episode I was very much a cardio machine, I consider it to be one of my strongest points in fighting actually. However, I am a large 185er so the dehydration not only once but twice within 72 hrs is very hard on the body both mentally and physically and I think you could see allot of that in most of the fights. Like I had touched on in the blogg it was a combination of many things dehydration and just the "Hype" of the situation it is the UFC and this pretty much a dream come true for all of us so there was just the pressure to perform at a new level.

I believe the best background for MMA although it isn’t mine is a solid wrestling background, I say this because most serious and successful wrestlers are doing it form the time they are very young and they get used to training at a intense level and competing. Wrestling helps to control a fight so much by allowing a good wrestler to possible dictate weather or not the fight is on the feet or the ground. Like anything else there is always going to be pros and cons and in no way am I saying wrestling is the best, or only important discipline I just think longtime wrestlers make the transition to BJJ, and MMA fighting well.

Hope this answers some questions!

REGARDS
BRANDON

I know you'll do well!!!

Like I said, I don't know what everyone's talking about...nothing to see here...

i'm high on all sorts of drugs. nothing i said should be taken seriously. i'm on jugs.com right?

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

I really do like the way they are selecting fighters. I've seen it so many time where a guy wants to be part of something, just to go at it half-ass after he figures out how much work it really is. With the eliminations, you find out who really wants it, who wanted it by coming in prepared and who is willing to work for it.

and who's good. the guy prince took it pretty hard though. the dude who cried.

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Heart, determination, work ethic does not always over come skill. I wanted to be a porn star........John Holmes ruined it for us guys that are "length and girth challanged".

I wanted to be a porn star........John Holmes ruined it for us guys that are "length and girth challanged".

Sucks to be you. Heh

Luckily for you... Lev's wife takes all cummers

Hitman for the MMAfia

levs wife is good to me...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Here are your winners. In my opinion. Mike Marrello or CB Dolloway. Although I have a feeling Mike might be getting KO'ed next week, that would be a bummer, Gerald Harris is a tough IFL vet. Mike is my boy from the area, I've just seen him fight too many times to think he doesn't have a chance.

Thanks Brandon.

Hey Phoenix I just came off a sex sandwich with your girl and Hardyz wife, mmmmm good!!!!

Godfather and all-around Mafia Aficionado

Co-Founder of The MMAFIA

Live Blogger for Fightticker.Com

my girls got STD's

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

I am separated from my wife...so shes fair game. Hope she was good.

As long as it wasnt with my gf...I am ok

and no I didnt leave my wife for my gf. at least my wife doesnt have crabs

Hitman for the MMAfia

Cereal - No need to head to Vegas, buddy. We can handle this from the comfort of our own homes.

It's crazy having "one of our own" on the Ultimate Fighter this year. Brandon has given me a sense of pride. I have a feeling Brandon will represent himself, his gym, and his brothers at FightTicker.com very well in this competition. Good luck, Brandon. Give em hell.

Great Job Brandon! Nice reading and we got your back all the way.
Jay Canals
UFFC Ministries
WWW.UFFCMMA.COM

Anyone know how far out they film the show? So, right now what 'week' are they in?

i'm pretty sure it's over. basically all the reality shows are done filming before they air. but shows like American Idol where you vote are in real time...so all these guys are training in their camps where ever getting ready to fight in the live season finale...

i'm tight like that.

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

because they would need time to train for the season finale, get healed if they have injuries...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Makes sense... I was just hoping for some blogs from Brandon WHILE he was in the house...

...seeing you can't have access to the outside world, this whole blogging while in the house wouldn't make sense. what if he chose to leave the show for his girlfriend of 2 months?
that would be cool though

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

As Phoenix mentioned the show is indeed done filming. The last day of taping was in early March...

i have sources...jk

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Good luck on the show Brandon. We are all down here in Fort Myers pulling for you. Did Brooke tell you she is taking Jiu Jitsu. All she wants to do is wrestle people.

Good Luck!!!