“Some of these boys learn to handle it, others go through there careers stumbling, getting dragged in a thousand unfruitful directions. It is at this point that many careers have been ruined, even before taking off As much as this moment has been pursued, it can become intoxicating to the point of killing the patient. We are attracted like flies to these heroes, but this needs to be faced with cool, with balance and level-headedness. “I just realized that I have seen this happen more than once – different names, different weights and circumstances but same process,” Davis said. “Eras” are christened with single victories and a lone loss can sometimes earn a fighter the label of “has-been” or “never-was.” Media can be cruel.”ĭavis’ point seems well-made, especially in a sport so driven by a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately mentality. People now expect more of him and will be unforgiving on an off-day. to the contrary, he is now under more pressure to perform. He forgets the reality, that the only thing between him and losing his next fight is his hard work, as it always was, and the fact that now his face and name is out there will never change that. “A guy starts seeing his face and name all over the place, and he starts confusing himself with his own image. “Another effect is psychological,” Davis said. And a fighter, who has spent 99 percent of his time concentrating on his skills, simply has no way of telling who and what is for real and what is a trap.”ĭavis said sometimes the attention can actually change an athlete’s self-image. “I’ve seen it time after time, and I have seen these guys lose their asses because they usually have good hearts and open arms and are trusting, and the buzzards among us want nothing more then an opportunity like that. Everyone has this great idea that isn’t being done, and the guy simply must get involved. His face is now all over the place, and people want to know even the color of his underwear! Business opportunities and new associates now present themselves with exciting proposals. Thousands of people now want to be seen with them, want interviews, want a piece of the action. “A whole process starts happening around them, and it is difficult for even the most stable and level-headed person not to get caught up in that hype. “The moment they achieve the light, they start getting media and attention,” Davis said. He’s in for a very wild, weird, crazy ride right now.”ĭavis said he’s seen similar challenges time and time again. “He’s going to have to make a lot of choices over the next couple of years – personally, professionally. There’s cling-ons all over, I’m sure, waiting to just barnacle right on to him. When you get to this point, I worry about guys. “His life is going to change in so many ways starting right now,” White said. “Truth is, everyone sees the rise to fame, and to be sure, it is a happy moment to see all that hard work rewarded, but there is still a long road of difficulties to overcome if these young men are to continue their careers successfully and still have something left over to live on later on.”ĭavis thoughts seem to echo the sentiments of UFC president Dana White, who warned of the potential perils facing Jon Jones immediately after winning the UFC light heavyweight title at just 23 years old. “As I manage these guys, get them fights and help them forward their careers, when I do manage to get a kid to where everyone dreams about getting to – due to his hard work and determination – into glory, his name in the headlines, his face on the sites and in the news, I realize that we have overcome a whole scope of problems to get here,” Davis told (“But we are also now confronted with a whole new set of problems and challenges. Davis believes Barboza’s grounded roots have him prepared to deal with the attention that will soon come, but the veteran manager warns that not everyone is ready to handle what comes after special moments in the octagon. The veteran manager watched with joy as his clients Edson Barboza, Rousimar Palhares and Thiago Tavares each picked up wins at UFC 142, and he grinned even wider when his fighters swept the evening’s “Fight Night” bonuses.įor Barboza, the night was exceedingly special, as the 26-year-old was rewarded with two honors and $130,000. 14, it was nearly impossible to wipe the smile off Alex Davis’ face.