Antoni Hardonk (8-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) discusses his decision to retire from fighting and focus on training other fighters with Ben Fowlkes:
"In your twenties, you don't think about the future as much. You do whatever you feel like doing and you don't think about it. In your thirties, the future is more of a consideration. For me, I'm a good competitor, I have some talent, but I can't retire on that. I can survive, but that's basically it. So I decided I had to move on."
In April, Hardonk opened his own gym – Dynamix Martial Arts in Santa Monica, Calif. – and began devoting more of his energy to teaching. Soon he had other UFC fighters like Jared Hamman and Vladimir Matyushenko training with him, and shortly thereafter fellow Dutchman Stefan Struve called him up, looking for a new boost in his training.
almost 2 years ago
Nate Wilcox
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Good move.
He has a lot to teach, but also a lot to learn before he could be successful in the UFC.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
If you like it, you should put a rec on it.
You know I was just wondering what was going on with him, good to know that he’s got a plan for the future because a guy with his limited skillset needs to plan ahead smart guy.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
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Great decision
He’s got a load of experience in Kickboxing to teach the younger fighters but the MMA world is changing too fast. Good for him to get into training now before his body is too beat up.
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Interesting
I’m a fan of Hardonk, especially after he whipped some knife-wielding muggers asses.
Even though he was doing a good job rounding himself out, he is smart enough to realize that at 34, it’s going to be hard to pick up the skills to deal with the new breed of wrestlers fast enough to stay competitive.
Best of luck to him.
Hardonk is smart. He realizes the business of MMA is far more lucrative than MMA itself.
Why be a middling fighter perpetually one loss away from being cut and just scraping by when you have good enough name recognition to sell your services as an instructor.
I guess a lot of sports are like this
For instance, the golf industry employs gadzillions of people, most of whom don’t coach professionals.
by Lauren J Darkbloom on Aug 13, 2010 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I love reading about fighters who have the common sence to hang it up before its too late.
Hardonk obviously couldn’t compete with the top HW talent in MMA, so why bother getting battered for a fight or two more (then get cut), when instead he could earn a living teaching and staying pain free.
I wish more guys had this line of thinking. Imagine if a guy like Shamrock had decided to focus on training full time rather then taking bad fights and getting his shit kicked in every fight. Now people look at him as a washed up guy who looks like an idiot, compared to a guy who could have been a great coach.
I think guys like Hughes, Franklin, Henderson and Wanderlie are a few years away from being in this same scenario (even though they are all still relevant). Hopefully they take the smart route, not the Shamrock route
Imagine if a guy like Shamrock had decided to focus on training full time rather then taking bad fights and getting his shit kicked in every fight.
The implosion of the Lion’s Den, the falling out of the Shamrock brothers, and the events both in North America and Japan that surrounded it, is some of the most fascinating MMA history. It’s sad to see how many opportunities were squandered, and absolutely enthralling to see how much people will sacrifice because for the sake of their egos.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
Well Shamrock did focus on training and the Lions Den collapsed. Look at how he did on TUF for example. Jonathan Snowden is the expert, there’s a lot in his book about Shamrock. If he had stuck with Frank Shamrock and been more open to new ideas then I think the Lions Den would have been a lot more successful, but thats clearly not what happened, and thats not what Ken wanted
"Ten more seconds is all I ever ask. That's the good thing I learned about being KO'd twice. You don't see it coming -it's like death- you don't plan for it so don't wait for it. So many people are afraid of getting Ko'd that their hands stay home, but not me. I got to go out there and shoot the lights out and fall down" Jens Pulver
Good for him
I’m not going to say much more, cause I’d basically be repeating every one else in here.
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."
- Frank Zappa
Good for Hardonk
Easily could have kept fighting at pretty high levels, but has a vision for the bigger picture. Best of luck to him.
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