I have been training every single day for about two months now, just to get in peak shape. I'm 21, 6-foot-4, and 200 pounds, so I know this is about as good as it gets in my life. And I started to contemplate taking up MMA. I've watched it since I was 10-years-old and rolled with people who have formally trained, but never formally trained myself.

I'm writing this because I want to remind everybody being in peak physical shape is only a small part of being an MMA fighter. It takes a special human being to be an MMA fighter, and I realize now so much of it is innate. You simply cannot comprehend how tough you have to be until you get in there and get hit square in the face and body repeatedly.

You watch them and think, "I could do that."

No, you probably can't. If you've ever fought in school and been rocked, multiply that by one hundred to get an idea of the level of intensity with which these strikes will land.

I have so, so much respect for every single fighter on the UFC roster, or even the other leagues. They are quite literally sacrificing years of their life for this.