Josh Neer (36-13-1) says that he started fighting before he even began real training. The 31 year-old began competing in MMA, essentially as a pure wrestler.
Back then, over twelve years ago, he was just a teenager who wanted to mix it up, and so he did. A lot.
Of course, he eventually began real MMA training, became ?The Dentist? and is now a veteran of fifty professional fights, in addition to a relatively long amateur career. Neer doesn?t use more words than he has to in interviews, and doesn?t seem one to become overly effusive with his language, but he has no problem admitting to Cagewriter that he?s passionate about the sport of MMA.
?I wouldn?t say I thought I?d make a career out of it, back then,? he reminisces of the sport.
?Because, I wasn?t making any money doing it (laughs). But I did love doing it, and I wanted to do it for as long as I could.?
In his next bout, taking place this Friday in the main event of Bellator 129 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Neer will fight another Iowan, and he?s not too happy about it. Paul Bradley (21-6) wrestled at Iowa University, but also spent time training at Team Miletich when Neer was still on the team.
Neer says that he and Bradley trained together. What?s more, he never had a ?problem? with Bradley.
That is precisely why Neer wasn?t keen on fighting his former teammate this week. ?It?s kind of annoying,? he admits.
?When I fight, I like to make it personal. It?s like, why fight someone I?m cool with, when there are a million other fighters out there??
Still, Neer says he won?t have a problem flipping the switch and becoming a ruthless fighter once he looks across the cage at Bradley on Friday. If he didn?t start out with a grudge against Bradley, he?s sure got one now.
?He made it personal when he signed to fight me,? Neer explains.
?It?s like, ?alright, I guess he wants to fight me.? Now, he won?t be a person I?m cool with, he?s a person who is trying to take me out.?
Follow Elias on Twitter @EliasCepeda & @YahooCagewriter
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