Congenital Amputee Kyle Maynard Talks About Fighting MMA and New Documentary
by Nate Wilcox on Aug 13, 2010 2:26 PM EDT
in MMA News
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Kyle Maynard is a congential amputee who fought in one MMA fight in 2009. He's now the subject of a feature length documentary called "A Fighting Chance."
Excerpt from the "A Fighting Chance" documentary in the full entry.
He spoke to Michael David Smith about his MMA career and the film:
Michael David Smith: This documentary does a pretty thorough job of explaining why you wanted to fight, but I'm sure you still get the question all the time. So why did you want to fight in MMA?
Kyle Maynard: Just to experience it. I'm not looking to be a professional fighter and I'm not sure if I'm going to do it again, but I think life is meant to be lived through experiences. Some people think it's about collecting things or collecting money, but to me it's about doing stuff. I'm such a huge fan of MMA that I wanted to have that experience.
...
You obviously have a great passion for the sport, but the documentary goes into a lot of detail about the people who said that no matter how badly you wanted to do it, you had no business fighting, that you'd get hurt, that you couldn't pass a typical pre-fight physical. Did any of those people have a point?
Yes, I can see that viewpoint, if I look at it completely objectively, I can totally see the skepticism. My problem was that the athletic commission in Georgia said I could fight, and then when the heat was put on them they came back and wouldn't let me do it. So that left me without much choice but to go fight in Alabama, where there was no commission to stop it. Some people called it a freakshow and didn't want me to do it, but I just can't let other people's opinions control what I do.
And then there were really nasty things posted online, and I began to feel sorry for some of those people who said what they said. People said they wanted someone to come take a chainsaw to them so they wouldn't have arms and legs and they could fight, too. People said they wanted to beat me up so badly that I'd never want to compete again. And I'm guessing most of the people who would say those things would never have the courage to step into a cage and fight. Ultimately, the experience, to me, was so worth having, and it ended up being one of the most amazing experiences of my life. ...
But you did fight and you made it through the fight healthy. Do you want to fight again?
I wouldn't rule it out, but I'm out of shape right now because I've been focused on my motivational speaking, traveling around the world doing that. But I love doing jiu jitsu and my instructor, Paul Creighton is a great guy and I think the most underrated MMA coach in the country and only isn't better known because he's so humble. He was a fighter -- he fought B.J. Penn in the UFC -- and he's just a phenomenal, phenomenal guy.
I'll always do jiu jitsu. That has been my biggest passion athletically. I absolutely love it, even more than MMA and even more than wrestling. And I view it as a lifetime sport. I know people at the gym in their 60s who are still training.
I have to say Maynard is an interesting and determined individual who hasn't let his disabilities stop him from experiencing a rich and full life.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of Kyle Maynard:
- Quote of the Day: Kyle Maynard Reaffirms His Ability - Luke Thomas
- Why Kyle Maynard Should Fight - Luke Thomas
- Congenital Amputee Kyle Maynard to Fight MMA Match--Updated with poll - Bloody Elbow
- Kyle Maynard weigh-in video
- Kyle Maynard Loses Unanimous Decision - Brent Brookhouse
- The Return of Spectacle to the MMA Landscape: Kimbo Slice on TUF, Kyle Maynard and More - Kid Nate
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good for him. just competing in athletics with no arms and legs is pretty damn impressive. glad he didn’t get hurt badly in his fight, and it’s great that he loves jiu-jitsu.
must be interesting with no full limbs. he’s obviously not susceptible to toe holds, heel hooks, kneebars, and armbars, but how does he finish submissions without wrist control or ability to completely encircle a neck? what about defending chokes? and would a triangle work on him; is there enough arm there to block one side of his neck?
a life: it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come -Lester Freamon
Before everyone gets started, remember
Maynards a full grown man who can make his own decisions in life. He knows better whats good for him than we do. I think people often disrespect that.
Moisture is the essence of wetness.
What if
he fought another person with no arms or legs?
"I trained with Steven Seagal."
by B.H. Farnsworth on Aug 15, 2010 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Good for him
But I have to ask… Why let MDS interview him? MDS proves time and time again on mmafighting.com he knows little to nothing about the sport and should cover tennis or another sport that fits him better. I mean christ the guy took fedor out of top10 after one loss. Have you seen what this guy posts? they are jokes. Nothing more nothing less
I admit
I do think it’s a bit of a freak show, but who cares. We’ve all watched plenty of freak shows – and at least this guy knows he has limits. You gotta respect him for just wanting to be able to say he did it.
"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
wildly interesting
but in no way, shape or form is this anything but a freakshow. if he fought other people without limbs then it would almost make sense.
"Live fast, die."
I read an article about a one armed MMA fighter before
and how he was having a hard time finding fights. Nobody wanted to risk losing to a one armed fighter. It is interesting, good for anyone with the balls to do it.
Duckers... I say, if you challenge someone and the promoter agrees...
Then that someone should be penalised under relevant terms written into the contract for ducking.
Wrestled a guy in HS who had no arms
It was definitely a different experience. You definitely have mixed emotions going against someone like that. You don’t want to do anything that might embarrass him but you know that you’re both going in with a purpose which is to win. Was so eager to go, went double leg, half-nelson, pin. He was really cool afterwards though and we chatted and he actually did better than most were expecting later on.
Point I suppose is that, yeah, these guys whether it’s wrestling, MMA or whatever understand the risks involved and I’m sure are more aware of their handicap than we ever will be. It’s not like they’re going to be the next Brock Lesnar but if they want to do it, more power to em so long as they are properly examined beforehand and given the green light.
I think Maynard is proof that you dont go easy on those guys
Or they will eat you a live. There are fish with more physicality than anyone else on their team, and their are studs who physically should just hit the books somewhere.
Moisture is the essence of wetness.
Sorry
thumbs down from me. No opponent will honestly take it seriously. They will hold back at some points during a fight. It is human nature.
Be realistic. He is being an attention whore plain and simple. Yes it sucks you lost your limbs, good luck in life with it but stay out the fight game.
Whatever your thoughts about him fighting, he doesn't deserve comments like those mentioned at the end of his interview.
And those people should be ashamed of themselves.
No haters on here saying bitching about the lack of oversight in Alabama? I am always for freedom of choice, let those who wanna fight fight, but regularly others on here want government types to stop people from fighting that want to for whatever reason, there safety for example. In this case you have a guy you can’t really do anything(watch the fight, its not wrestling were the other guy has to engage, just staying on the outside and punching is quite legal) yet I guess its bad form to say anything in this situation?
Kyle Maynard is a strong dude, mentally and physically.
I saw multiple HBO sports specials featuring him, and what you need to remember is that he is weighs 125 or so, without limbs, so his core strength is like a MW. He was pwning the kids he wrestled.
Adding in punches and kicks, and I don’t like his chances, but I love his heart!
Since he is mainly a motivational speaker, why begrudge him a chance to add MMA to his resume? Calling him an attention whore seems a bit harsh, no?
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
STAY HOME!
This guy should just stay home and stop trying to change my perceptions of what disabled and handicapped people are capable of and how they should act. I shouldn’t have to be made to felt uncomfortable because he wants to have experiences in his life that I have already determined he shouldn’t have.
Whaaassssuppp?
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