Facing off this past August on the Legacy Fighting Championship 13 aired nationally on AXS TV, the pair of DFW-based fighters put on a showcase that left the crowd thoroughly impressed about the potential of both of these men.
For Robinson in particular, that victory was a vindication for a lot of hard work and sacrifice on his end.
Very few people know just how broke he was when he made the decision to leave his native Oklahoma in an RV with the specific purpose of moving to Dallas to train with vaunted coach Sayif Saud at Octagon MMA.
As he says it, the move was necessary for him to progress from being a wrestler and BJJ stylist like he has been since beginning his journey in May 2008 to becoming an all-around MMA fighter like he wants to be from this point forward.
“I have progressed a lot, but there is still so much more I have to learn. I can only get better and my mindset is that I will never stop improving,”
“It’s a good matchup,” he says about the fight with his 5-2 opponent. Clayton considers Hale to be a striker but knows he’s coming with a well-rounded arsenal befitting a veteran as well.
There are multiple scenarios as to how this fight could unfold but he feels prepared to deal with all of them.
“I see him coming out swinging but I will deal whatever comes at me. I’m always hungry to win. I don’t do something unless I’m going to do it 100 percent. I wake up thinking about winning, and go to sleep thinking about winning. I have an innate drive to be at the top, and I won’t stop until I’m there.”
Acknowledgements
Thanks to my sponsors: Nos, Ryu, Powercore, MMA Applications, Fast Signs, and KO Reps. Also thanks to Octagon MMA and all of my training partners that helped me prepare for this fight. – Clayton Robinson