When the cage door closes and the action goes live, there are few fighters with more intensity than Carlos Condit.
The former UFC interim welterweight champion possesses a versatile and dangerous skill set that has allowed him to rack up one of the highest finishing percentages in the 170-pound ranks. Those statistics—and the highlight-reel knockouts he’s distributed—have helped build the “Natural Born Killer’s” reputation as one of the most dynamic strikers in the fight game.
Yet, Condit is also a cerebral fighter with the ability to keep his aggression in check. And while the ability to do so is a key attribute to have inside the Octagon, the 30-year-old’s mental fortitude has been a crucial element over the past eight months as he’s recovered from knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and partially torn meniscus he suffered in his bout against Tyron Woodley at UFC 171 back in March.
“In the early part of my recovery I saw every day as a challenge,” Condit told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “There was plenty to do. I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do, but the things I could do were difficult and tedious. That helped me stay focused on putting one foot in front of the other and getting healthy.
“Rehab was tough from a physical standpoint, but it gave me something to do. I love a challenge. I got with a great Physical Therapist and he kicked my ass every time I went in there. He put me through seriously hard workouts and I need that sh**. If I sit around and I’m idle, I’m not a happy guy. I’m not really a sane person under those circumstances.
“Balancing the mental aspect of recovery is tough,” he added. “At some points I’m sure I’ve pushed too far or too hard and I’m lucky nothing happened. Then I would have to dial it back, but it’s definitely a fine line to walk. I’m trying to get back to health and even better than I was before, but also trying not to injure myself or extend my time off in the process.”
After enduring a slow and grueling rehabilitation process, the rangy striker is finally getting back to work inside the gym and doing so at a measured pace. While he’s undoubtedly eager to get back to work and reactive his goal of becoming the undisputed welterweight champion, Condit is a realist and understands the negative elements that can accompany a rushed comeback.
With those things in mind, he’s keeping all aspects of his training in check to ensure the proper steps are taken at the proper time. Yet, even though he’s still in the stage where caution is needed, Condit is excited to back to his environment.
“I’ve basically been cleared to start doing some sparring and training as long as it is light,” Condit told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “I have to be cautious of anything explosive movement-wise or doing anything too quickly. I can run, hit mitts and do plenty of other things. I just can’t go 100 percent on anything yet. I can do jiu-jitsu from the ground but I have to be careful with explosive takedowns and things like that. All of my training partners have been great and know I’m not 100 percent right now, so they’ve been able to get their work in without putting my knee in danger.
“Right now, I’m looking at getting back into the cage in March or April. That’s the plan and I’m working hard to make that happen.”
With his focus on the day-to-day grind of making a full recovery, Condit is still several months away from putting himself back into the heated divisional race currently raging in the 170-pound division. Where he’s standing, recovery absolutely needs to be the primary focus right now in his career, and getting caught up thinking about potential matchups and who he will face in his return to action are all counter-productive at this point.
That said, Condit is a fighter and it would be next to impossible to keep all of those thoughts from trickling into his mind from time to time. The resilient contender is passionate about the ruckus and knows which potential scraps would exciting for him on a personal level as well as give fight fans something to get pumped up for. But his recovery in the here and now requires his mind to stay locked on the next step rather than something that could happen six months down the road.
“I have been watching the fights, but more from a fan perspective,” Condit said. “If I start to think too much about where I fit in and what’s going on in my division, it’s a bit much. I think those things are a little too far ahead of me right now. But I’ve been watching as a fan and I’ve really enjoyed the fights lately—especially at welterweight.
“There are a lot of intriguing matchups for me out there when I get back, but right now, I’m not really focused on those things. My attention is on what I have to do today to get healthy and I can’t afford to take my focus off of that. There are a lot of small steps to take between now and my next fight and my focus is right where it needs to be.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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