Chad Livingston & Fernando Tovar
I hate Chad Livingston and Fernando Tovar. Real talk!!! Why do they have to be so good? Why did they really have to beat everybody in the Rise of the Warrior tournament and make it to the finals? I should have just asked Frank Thompson instead of Fernando. At least, Frank would have gotten injured somewhere along the way, and I wouldn’t be in this predicament.
I can distinctly remember the day that I asked both gentleman if they wanted to be in this tournament. Despite having similarly agressive and punishing fighting styles, they have 2 very different demeanors.
I remember being at ATT Longwood and telling Fernando about this 16 man tournament with a prize of 5k at the end. I said “if you are ever going to do mma, this is the one to do”. He replied, “Yes, sir. I really want this, Mr. Din”. Conversely, I remember talking to Chad about it for the first time… I didn’t think Chad would do it. Chad already possessed a pro style and I knew he was looking to fight professionally. I asked Chad if he wanted to do this 16 man tournament for 5k. He replied, “Hell yeah. For 5k , Ill $%# somebody up”.
I thought to myself, with 2 guys in the tournament, I would have a good shot of having one of them in the finals. I should have known better. Between the two of them, they have NEVER been inside of a cage or a ring and lost. They are winners! How could I have not known that they would both be in the finals fighting each other?
Now that time has come, and I am stuck like James Franco in 127 hours. How is it possible that I really want both of them to win? Even Marcelo Garcia and Sergio Moraes didn’t fight at the 2010 BJJ world championships…and that was just BJJ. Needless to say, I probably won’t be in the building when they fight. This must be how Greg Jackson felt when Jon Jones was first slated to fight Rashad Evans. Well, I hate both Chad and Fernando for this, and I should just kick them both in the shins.
Osu…
Dedicated the closing out divisions
Din Thomas
