Former IFL lightweight Kevin English is one of four finalists in FIGHT! Magazine's "Full Time Fighter Experience" contest for a chance to win a free week of training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas with trainer Shawn Tompkins.
Fighting out of Lake Stating, Indiana, English is the oldest finalist and is giving it one last shot as a professional fighter.
"I'm getting older I'm 29," English said to MMAFighting.com. "I need that break."
Starting his fight career in 1999 in the amateur ranks, English turned pro in 2001 after eleven fights as amateur and has compiled a 13-7 pro record. In April 2007 English caught a break by headlining an IFL event against current WEC fighter Jeff Curran, but would lose the fight and three more out of his next five fights.
The rough patch almost ended English's fighting aspirations.
"The last few months I was off I was contemplating just not doing it anymore," English said. "Getting this opportunity and talking to a lot of friends and family has put me back in the mindset that I gotta keep going. I got a tattoo on my back that says 'adversity,' since I overcome that stuff so I'm going to listen to that, my friends and family and go after it one more time."
Nearly all of English's wins have come via submissions and training with Xtreme Couture's lead Muay Thai instructor would be an obvious plus, but the most important aspect for English is figuring out the mental aspect of fighting.
"My standup game has been getting better and better," English said. "And actually my last fight I lost unfortunately, but my stand up was ridiculously good compared to normal, but my ground game suffered. I couldn't put the two together. I trained so hard in my standup that I forgot about my ground game again and I think just having that type of training and he's coached so many good guys, that's going to help me the most. The technical aspect, he's going to help me but I want to pick their brains mentally, because the sport's so mental and see what I can do in terms of my mental game and everything."
English, who recently made the move to Corral's Martial Arts in Schererville, has been back in the gym fine-tuning all aspects of his game before he accepts another fight, and hopefully, a call to train in Vegas.
"This is extremely motivating right now," English said.
To cast a vote for English or any of the other three fighters, click here.
Fighting out of Lake Stating, Indiana, English is the oldest finalist and is giving it one last shot as a professional fighter.
"I'm getting older I'm 29," English said to MMAFighting.com. "I need that break."
Starting his fight career in 1999 in the amateur ranks, English turned pro in 2001 after eleven fights as amateur and has compiled a 13-7 pro record. In April 2007 English caught a break by headlining an IFL event against current WEC fighter Jeff Curran, but would lose the fight and three more out of his next five fights.
The rough patch almost ended English's fighting aspirations.
"The last few months I was off I was contemplating just not doing it anymore," English said. "Getting this opportunity and talking to a lot of friends and family has put me back in the mindset that I gotta keep going. I got a tattoo on my back that says 'adversity,' since I overcome that stuff so I'm going to listen to that, my friends and family and go after it one more time."
Nearly all of English's wins have come via submissions and training with Xtreme Couture's lead Muay Thai instructor would be an obvious plus, but the most important aspect for English is figuring out the mental aspect of fighting.
"My standup game has been getting better and better," English said. "And actually my last fight I lost unfortunately, but my stand up was ridiculously good compared to normal, but my ground game suffered. I couldn't put the two together. I trained so hard in my standup that I forgot about my ground game again and I think just having that type of training and he's coached so many good guys, that's going to help me the most. The technical aspect, he's going to help me but I want to pick their brains mentally, because the sport's so mental and see what I can do in terms of my mental game and everything."
English, who recently made the move to Corral's Martial Arts in Schererville, has been back in the gym fine-tuning all aspects of his game before he accepts another fight, and hopefully, a call to train in Vegas.
"This is extremely motivating right now," English said.
To cast a vote for English or any of the other three fighters, click here.
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