Saskatoon mixed martial arts fighter Eric Wilson is ready for the Prestige FC “Atonement” event.
“Atonement” will be held at Crescent Point Place on Saturday, Oct. 24.
“I am looking forward to putting on a great show in my home province in front of friends and family as well as an opportunity to grow as a Mixed Martial Artist,” said Wilson.
Eric has an interesting story about how he became involved in Mixed Martial Arts. “One of my biggest mentors and I went out for coffee — he and a friend had started a new mixed martial arts program at the local YMCA and asked me if I would be interested in teaching some striking at one of these classes.”
He started instructing striking to two guys who where spearheading the program and three beginners. “After teaching two classes and feeling good about myself, they had asked if I was interested in learning some grappling.
“It turned out that these two guys were Black belts in Judo, one of them had boxed professionally and spent a short time in Marvin Hagglers gym training,” said Wilson.
“They completed lured me out by making me feel like I was doing something good, just to get more students — mind you the classes were free.
“I never stopped going. It has been eight years and I still feel that warm overwhelming feeling when I step into the gym as I did when I first began.”
Wilson also said that he was supported by those two fighters, when he started out as a mixed martial artist. “They bought me gloves that I could not afford, just so I could train.”
“When I had insisted I would pay them back over time, they responded with “just remember this when you become a coach and you meet a kid like you”. I have had a rough upbringing and they saw something in me I did not.”
“I have had this loyalty to these guys since the beginning and to this day they are still my grappling and striking coaches, along with a few others. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for them.”
One of the most challenging aspects of mixed martial arts for Wilson is the toll it takes on his family. “It is a constant balance between generating income and trying to commit yourself to training, especially with the level of competition I am facing.”
“I know these guys are training hard, some have opportunities to train full-time. Most of my days are occupied and my evenings are consumed by this constant search for perfection. I am very fortunate to have the support I do.”
“There is a lot of dedication and sacrifice that goes into these fights. People very much enjoy the actual show … but they do not see the work behind the curtains. You sacrifice friends, sometimes family, holidays, jobs, body parts and so much more.”
When it comes to being prepared for a fight, the most important thing for Wilson is getting sleep.
“I like to have a rest in the back room and wake up to go to the office and out in some work.”
In addition to mixed martial arts, Wilson also enjoys spending time with his family. “ As soon as the fight is over I commit the next week to nothing but family time. I also enjoy learning in any possible way I can, whether that’s reading, learning how to install a floor … pretty much anything, I’m very open-minded.”
