Dan Ige says he needed to get previous the stigma of males being weak so as to take care of the psychological struggles of shedding three fights in a row.
After Ige knocked out Gavin Tucker, he received a foremost occasion combat in opposition to Korean Zombie in what might be a title eliminator. Unfortnately, Ige suffered a choice loss after which misplaced two extra fights to Josh Emmett and Movsar Evloev.
The losses had been robust, particularly because of the truth Ige is a dad now and at all times within the gymnasium. He says his identification was about successful and that basically impacted his psychological well being.
“I haven’t gained since March 2021. I contemplate myself one of many hardest, (most) devoted employees within the recreation,” Ige mentioned on Simply Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “In a method, my perfectionism is the largest rock in my shoe, it holds me again typically as a result of I need to do all the things proper and by no means go away a stone unturned. That stress form of builds up. It began somewhat extra so once I turned a dad and coincidentally, I misplaced thrice in a row once I turned a dad. I believe it’s simply the little additional stress I placed on myself. I’m already doing all the things doable after which once I turned a dad, I assumed I needed to do increasingly more. I believe that stress does take somewhat bit from me to carry out freely.
‘I used to be depressed for somewhat bit’
“After I misplaced to Korean Zombie, I went into that combat, I felt actually good, had an awesome coaching camp, and was motivated and needed to make a giant assertion,” Dan Ige continued. “I assumed if I knock this man out, I can get a title shot. So, that was my solely recreation plan was to do one thing large and he beat me out of technicalities. Shedding that, the primary loss as a dad, I took that one fairly laborious. I used to be depressed for somewhat bit, I put lots into successful and shedding, and my identification was positioned on that. Going into the Emmett combat, I keep in mind strolling out, I used to be so numb and had no emotions or feelings. I walked out and I wasn’t there and I nonetheless fought a very good combat, I confirmed a number of ability and a few individuals thought I gained.
“I received by way of that one. However, I received confidence in that one as a result of it was such a detailed combat in opposition to such a harmful man,” Ige added. “I took confidence out of that combat after which I went into that Movsar combat. It took me shedding thrice to actually dig deep and dig to my roots. Simply begin engaged on myself and dealing on my psychological well being and private life greater than my work ethic within the gymnasium as a result of I put all the things into the gymnasium.”
Not solely did Dan Ige begin to concentrate on himself and his psychological well being he mentioned he additionally spoke to a sports activities psychologist. The Hawaiian says that’s one thing he ought to have accomplished years in the past, however needed to mentally get previous the stigma of males speaking about their emotions and feelings.
“I spoke to a sports activities psychologist, doing issues I don’t usually do and a stigma that males shouldn’t do like you might be thought-about weak if you happen to search for assist or speak to different individuals,” Ige mentioned. “Numerous good got here from that and going by way of that it helped me reveal my larger function… We’re superheroes two or thrice a yr once we go into the cage and do nice issues. However, outdoors of that, I’m a human such as you and anybody else and I’ve the identical emotions and feelings. Simply getting rooted and grounded once more and understanding my emotions has helped me change into a greater fighter.”
Ige is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 67 in opposition to Damon Jackson.
What do you make of Dan Ige opening up on his psychological well being struggles?
