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Tuesday, Apr 21, 2015

UFC 186: John Makdessi Returning to Cage With “Happy State of Mind”

John Makdessi

By Kelsey Mowatt

Although many people believe John Makdessi should have had his winning streak extended to four last February, the lightweight decided it was time to take a break, following his controversial loss to Alan Patrick.

Yes, when Makdessi steps into the Octagon to battle Shane Campbell at UFC 186 on Saturday, over a year will have gone by since “The Bull” competed last.

“The whole thing with taking a year off was that I had to restructure my personal life. I wasn’t happy with, I wasn’t in a happy state of mind,” Makdessi relayed on a recent edition of Full Contact Fighter Radio. “I’ve been fighting, doing martial arts since age six. I did Taekwondo, I did Karate, I did kickboxing, I did so many different arts man, it’s crazy…I’ve always been competing, I kind of lost love for the game.”

“I was never happy, I was always miserable, I was always angry…I was struggling,” Makdessi furthered. “I was struggling with a lot of stuff, you know, business wise, a lot of things, how to find good people…I just wanted to get back to my roots, get back to a happy state of mind, because at the end of the day, if I’m only fighting for money, it becomes dangerous.”

The 29 year-old fighter–who also underwent eye surgery during that time–is happy to report that he feels recharged and renewed as his 16th pro bout approaches.

“I wanted to reflect, really look deep down inside and see what I want, and now I’m happy, back in a happy state. I’m taking control of my life, controlling my training,” Makdessi relayed. “You know, no one knows me better than John Makdessi…so I’m just getting back to my roots, trusting my instincts, and getting back to what got me here in the first place.”

And how does the Tristar fighter feel about his loss to Patrick? Now, over one year later? A defeat which followed Makdessi’s KO win over Renee Forte in September, 2013, and decision victories over Daron Cruickshank and Sam Stout?

“I don’t care. At the end of the day people saw the fight,” said the Quebec fighter. “I’m happy with my performance. I look at the tape, and I was frustrated, because when I saw the tape, I was like ‘how do you win a fight by backing up?’ That makes no sense to me. You’re running away the whole time because I’m hurting you. You know what I’m trying to say?”

“It is what it is. I don’t care. Now I focus on the present; focusing on Shane Campbell. I respect him, he’s a tough opponent,” Makdessi said about the decorated striker. “My background as a kickboxer, my first ambition was to fight in K-1, so this will give me the opportunity to fight a K-1 fighter.”

UFC 186 will be hosted by the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.

posted by FCF Staff @ 8:00 am
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