Total focus is the price usually paid for moving up in this world, no matter the area. 

How mentally healthy is that? Not very. All of us have complicated, multi-faceted lives. We have daily issues that must be dealt with involving family members, our own interests and pleasures to pursue, decisions about health and working out. It goes on and on. You feel that way about your life, don’t you? Forces are always pulling us in different directions every day. 

The only way to totally concentrate on achieving something big is to put on blinders and refuse to acknowledge most of the world right outside the window. 

Being manic about pursuing goals takes up so much time and energy - it doesn’t leave much left over. 

Sometimes I think the best gift a fighter can have is to come from a dysfunctional upbringing, one that makes him extremely obsessive-compulsive. My addiction for control, of myself and my octagon adversary, has to channeled intelligently. All that nutty energy poured into practicing, training, lifting, drilling…. 

Often it’s the most neurotic, driven, lunatic, and sacrificing of the two fighters - who gets his arm raised high by the referee at the fight’s end. 

Despite all the happy talk I hear about the model all-American guy being “well-balanced,” when I look around I see that the top UFC fighters are just pushing crazy. 

Working to be the best, while also trying to be normal, is a real challenge. It’s something I struggle with every day.