Becoming A Fighter with Megan Olivi

Max Holloway has blessed us all with some of the most memorable fights and finishes in the history of MMA. But before his BMF belt, his Featherweight title, and his signature point down that had us all on the edge of our seats, he was a kid from Waianae, Hawaii fighting over Pogs and Pokémon with his friends. So how did Max learn to grit his teeth and swing? Why did he step into a kickboxing gym for the first time? And how did...

Kayla Harrison may have born a fighter, but she also got plenty of chances to prove it along the way. Despite being a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a UFC Champion, the hardest challenges she has faced have existed outside the realm of competition. With all she has overcome, what keeps her so grounded? What is the source of her desire to climb every mountain she can? And how can she live so free from pressure despite the height...

Frankie Edgar grew up with a simple dream: Become a two-time state wrestling champion and get his picture put up in a restaurant in his hometown of Tom’s River, New Jersey. But after falling short of that dream and then falling short of a championship again in college, how did he go on to put together a Hall of Fame UFC career with wins over BJ Penn, Gray Maynard, Charles Oliveira, and Urijah Faber? How did the self-described...

Just days after losing his belt to Petr Yan at UFC 323, Merab Dvalishvili sat down with Megan Olivi to uncover how he came to be The Machine we know today. On this episode of Becoming a Fighter, Merab discusses his childhood in Georgia, his first foray in “the fight without rules,” and how he is able to move on so quickly after a loss. 

This is Becoming a Fighter with Megan Olivi.

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Lerone Murphy isn’t only unbeaten in 18 professional MMA fights, he’s also survived two close encounters with death. Still, “The Miracle” draws on these moments and considers himself blessed despite the streak of bad luck. Lerone sat with Megan Olivi to discuss being shot on his mom’s birthday, how his promising football career came to an abrupt end, and the only thing on Earth that scares him.

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No one takes a shot like Daniel Cormier. The former two-division UFC Champion has faced loss after loss, both physically and emotionally, but he has never (and will never) quit. Every bit of adversity he has ever faced prepared him for his next challenge. But where did that all begin?

This is Becoming a Fighter with Megan Olivi.

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Terrance McKinney’s life is full of contradictions. An impressive UFC debut – followed by an injury celebrating it. A devastating experience that nearly cost him his life – which gave way to reinvention. But “T-Wrecks” is just getting started pursuing his vision, while navigating a family curse and the wild swings borne of his natural talent. 

This is Becoming A Fighter with Megan Olivi.

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The question isn’t why Tatiana Suarez fights – the question is why she hasn’t stopped. Her career has been threatened by injury and rehabilitation, and her life was threatened by cancer. But the former Olympic wrestling hopeful recast her dreams and is now undefeated in her UFC career. How has Tatiana overcome so much adversity at such a young age – and what can we take from the lessons she’s had to le...

Although Islam Makhachev’s dominance in the UFC has led him to a title fight, he still cannot halt comparisons to his mentor: UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov. 

But Islam does not mind the comparisons. In fact, he is the first one to credit everyone from his teammates and coaches to his family and former employers for his success. 

Even with world-class help, what drove Islam to walk the long, hard path to UFC gl...

After winning the UFC Bantamweight title, Aljamain Sterling appeared to go from fan-favorite to villain overnight.  If you think he simply got lucky, then you don't know Aljamain Sterling. 

Aljo's path to the title included roadblocks set by his own family, intervention from an all-time great of the sport, and an uncanny ability to make the best of unfortunate circumstances. Hear Aljamain's story on latest episode of Becom...

How did Rose Namajunas end up dedicating her skills and passions to fighting when it’s clear she could have done just about anything she wanted?  In many ways, fighting has always been in her blood. 

The UFC Strawweight champion overcame a tough childhood filled with violence. Rose leaned into mixed martial arts to cope with everything around her. Little did she know, her dedication to the sport would take her to the...

Brandon Moreno has been labeled an 'underdog' since he first entered the UFC. But that might be too simplistic of a label given what he's been through.

How did the unmotivated son of piñata shop owners in Tijuana forge himself into a UFC champion, even after getting cut from the promotion? Grit, discipline, and dedication to a goal bigger than himself. 

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Leon Edwards is often the odd man out in a division of attention-grabbers. But his upbringing, during which he navigated gang violence and the death of his father, was anything but boring. 

Did Leon Edwards become a fighter because of the extraordinary circumstances he had to overcome? What unlocked his potential, and how did he rise above what was holding him back? And why is he sharing his story now?

Hear Leon answer those que...

Why do people dedicate their life to a sport as grueling  as Mixed Martial Arts, with no guarantee of success? And how do they overcome obstacles, both in their life and in the cage, in pursuit of their goal of being a champion? 

In this show, we try to find the answers to those questions. Because oftentimes, it's the fights that happen outside of the Octagon that create the athletes performing within it.

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