By TXMMA Staff
Renewed focus and dedication are main priorities for Matt Hunt heading into his first fight of 2014
DALLAS, TX, January 14, 2014 – At 25 years old with 7 professional fights behind him, Dallas native Matthew Hunt (4-3) is already no stranger to the fight game. Even at this stage of his career, about three years in, he’s already experienced some of the highs and lows of MMA. He has fought everywhere from the bright lights of promotions like Bellator to the smaller shows on the regional circuit. Some fights he’s won and some he’s lost and his personal life has mirrored those some same highs and lows along the way. Following his most successful career year with 3 straight wins in 2012 Matt had high hopes for last year, but ended up fighting only once – losing his only fight of 2013 in a fight he feels was wrought with problems from the start. Now, putting all that behind him, Hunt has made some changes and is looking to gain a foothold on his career ahead starting with his fight this upcoming Thursday at Triple A MMA 4 “Caged Hostility” versus New Mexico native Javier Palacios (2-0) in Fort Worth.
We spoke to Matthew Hunt to get his perspective prior to the upcoming fight:
TXMMA Interview – Matthew Hunt (Mohler’s MMA)
Matthew Hunt: I have been okay…really just trying to plan ahead and focus on being a better athlete. From nutrition to mental health and of course all facets of the MMA world, I’ve been working hard to get ahead.
TXMMMA.com: You only took one fight in 2013 after a fairly active year in 2012 with 3 wins. Why was that?
Matthew Hunt: 2013 was a very tough year for me. I had to deal with some very deep personal issues and ultimately I decided against taking fights I wasn’t mentally prepared for. Also, for the record… I agreed and came in under weight for that fight (vs. Brian Castillo, Rocktagon 28). The the other camp did not (make weight) and had a slew of weak ass excuses. No excuses for me though, I’m going to improve exponentially every time I hit the cage man.
TXMMMA.com: What’s changed for you specifically between last July and now?
Matthew Hunt: I actually got to realize what I need to do in here to survive. I know life moves fast for us and this career even faster. So, really I just wrote a list down, accrued a great group in my mind who I felt would make it click and got together with them. I had to change how I lived, become more serious, learn more about myself, and learn from others.
TXMMMA.com: Where do you feel you stand right now as a fighter? What are some of your goals moving forward starting with this fight on Thursday?
Matthew Hunt: I feel as a fighter right now, I am at about 50% (of my potential). There are so many things I could continue to improve upon and that’s being honest. But realistically improvement takes…days, months, a lot of time. So I am in that process.
TXMMMA.com: You’ve trained a lot with Donnie Bell for a long time. Who else are you working with now that’s helping you improve?
Matthew Hunt: Well personally, I have tried to get in there with my head coach Allen Mohler and also get a better feel for the striking area at Reyes even though it’s somewhat of a commute. It’s worth it though. Both of these guys care about me and every single fighter they work with.
TXMMMA.com: You did a grappling superfight deal (UFFL) last weekend too, is that right? How does that affect getting ready for the fight?
Matthew Hunt: The grappling tourneys are always a treat. I think what Juan Angel is doing really creates a positive impact on all of us. The tournament was tough. All the guys that did it are tough so it helps you focus and helped me keep on weight too. I had a few mental lapses there but more work means a better me in the long run.
TXMMMA.com: What do you know about your upcoming opponent Javier Palacios? Any expectations?
Matthew Hunt: I don’t really know too much about him. I know that he is like any other opponent. I know that him and his crew wanted this fight. That’s enough for me. I’m just going to show how hard I have worked and what I have done to come out with the win.
TXMMMA.com: Any last words for the fans or anything else you’d like to add?
Matthew Hunt: Thank you to all who support me and to my sponsors the Cryospa, Simply Fit Foods, Legionnaire Fight Mgmt, Mohler MMA, Tony Cabello, Triple A promotions and you MIke Calimbas. Salamat!