Mansur Abdul-Malik wasn’t at all times as constructive as he’s now. It took time, however the development was pure. He found the ability of the thoughts and is now on the UFC’s doorstep due to it.
A 5-0 professional, Abdul-Malik fights Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Collection 67 with the chance to vary his life, and the lives of these round him. Isn’t that sufficient to smile about?
“There’s no different place I wish to be,” Abdul-Malik just lately informed MMA Junkie. “There’s actually no different place I’d wish to be than worshipping God and simply being peaceable and make my household glad. Apart from that, there’s no different place I’d wish to be. I simply like it a lot in there. I simply really feel like my thoughts is emptied in there.”
“Once I go compete, it simply feels so liberating. I swear, it feels so pure than common, on a regular basis life. Once I go compete, it’s like a breath of recent air. It’s like I’m right here. I’m right here and I can drop all the troubles. I can drop all the opposite stuff that doesn’t matter. I can drop all of the negativities and those who don’t matter.”
A Maryland native, Abdul-Malik has lengthy been destined for the chance just like the one he’ll have Tuesday on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. There have been some obligatory delays alongside the way in which, however the journey at all times resumed.
A jiu-jitsu practitioner since six, Abdul-Malik fell in love with wrestling in center faculty. That keenness and success carried over into highschool, after which at wrestling profession on the College of Maryland whereas finding out kinesiology.
Alongside the way in which, Abdul-Malik met fellow Maryland native Bryan Hamper, of SuckerPunch Leisure, who served as a mentor and helped pave his path towards MMA success.
“I’ve identified him since I used to be a young person,” Abdul-Malik stated. “That’s certainly one of my finest individuals on this sport and on this life as properly. That’s a superb man.”
In a spot the place adrenaline and nerves circulate on the highest ranges, Abdul-Malik has discovered peace and non secular freedom. As he racked up first-round end after first-round end (he now has 5 of them) the cage started to really feel increasingly like house.
“I wasn’t at all times like this,” Abdul-Malik stated. “I undoubtedly wasn’t considering constructive. I wasn’t optimistic. However I understood the ability of the thoughts. The facility of positivity. The facility of excellent vibes and perception and the religion in what you’re doing and your actions. It simply flowed into MMA. It’s all only one huge bubble. It’s not only one side of my life I’m constructive in. It’s the whole lot.
“… That is what I wish to dedicate my life too, but additionally in the identical hand, I type of disconnect and deal with it prefer it’s one thing that’s leisure. As a lot as I care about it, it’s additionally one of many final issues that issues in life. Life is so lovely, man. There are such a lot of totally different features of it. I’ve my household. I’ve my physique. I’ve my well being. I’ve different issues I’m concerned in that make me glad. I’ve meals. I freaking love meals. There are such a lot of different features of life I really feel individuals type of neglect.”
That is one of many extra violent GNP KO’s I’ve seen shortly. Mansur Abdul-Malik dropping hammers #LFA176 pic.twitter.com/Vy0Z4yznUW
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) February 10, 2024
Abdul-Malik will combat Wes Schultz (6-1) within the headlining bout of DWCS 67 and have the chance to earn a UFC deal if he impresses the brass. Whereas it’s an accomplishment to get this far, the true reward stays distant.
“My short-term aim is to get my hand raised on Tuesday,” Abdul-Malik stated. “My long-term aim is to develop into a two-weight world champion, get all the cash I can get my palms on after which give again to the those who gave to me, and provides again to different individuals in types of inspiration in the case of something monetary, serving to them in any method I probably can. I’ll simply dwell a superb life and proceed to construct my wealth and standing after preventing. I do know and perceive this gained’t final endlessly, however I’m going to take each single doable factor I can from this profession. It doesn’t solely revolve round preventing.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for DWCS 67.
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