Good enough never is.
Deep inside of us, there is always something more to accomplish. When we think we’ve reached the top of the mountain, there is always a few more steps to climb.
Enter Bellator rising star, Josh Shockley.
“Bellator has treated me great and they’ve done nothing wrong,” Shockley told Bleacher Report. “But I’m not content with being here at all.”
“The pay is far off and I’m fighting guys just as tough as the guys in the UFC. I’m making half the money. You know, before it was OK, but now I have a family and I need to make money for them.”
Shockley, who took part in his first fight during his sophomore year of high school, has seen his life change immensely over the course of the past several years. From an early dream of playing professional baseball to fighting inside a cage—it’s fair to say Shockley’s life has taken an unexpected turn.
However, Shockley has more than just fighting to take care of, as he’s now responsible for maintaining a full-time job while supporting his dedicated girlfriend and daughter at home. At just 22 years of age, Shockley has a full plate and has the hope of a brighter future.
“I get up every morning at 6:00 a.m. and do a couple of miles. I then get to come home and relax for a while. At night I train from 6:00 p.m. to around 8:30 p.m.,” said Shockley. “That’s it.”
“Unlike most fighters, I work a full-time job outside of training. I’m a union worker. I’m working eight to 10 hours a day and only get to train three to four hours a day. I’m working on the railroad and swinging a sledgehammer around all day long,” added Shockley.
You might think Shockley’s life is a little overwhelming—and you’re probably right. But with a brighter future in sight, Shockley knows it’s just a matter of time until better days arrive. With the loving support of his girlfriend and daughter at home—the sky is the limit.
“It’s tough being away from my girlfriend and daughter. I’ve been with her since 8th grade. Most girls wouldn’t put up with me. I see them maybe an hour-and-a-half a day. She’s not afraid to tell me when I’m messing up either,” said Shockley.
“But she’s been here all of this time and supports what I love to do.”
It’s this love and support that ignites Shockley to push forward. While Shockley will square off at Bellator 69 in the upcoming days, his vision far surpasses his upcoming fight.
Like the majority of those who enter the sport of MMA, Shockley wants to arrive to the premier stage—the UFC. And he won’t be content until he gets there.
“Bellator wants to give me $7,000 to fight and train for eight weeks at a time. I can’t do that. I can’t live off of $7,000 for eight weeks with a family,” said Shockley. “But I feel like the best is yet to come.”
“I didn’t get into the sport to be in Bellator. Like I said, they’ve been great to me, but the goal is to get to the UFC. You don’t play football to play in the AFL, you want to get to the NFL. I think I could be a top-10 fighter in the UFC right now.”
For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com