Mixed martial fighter Michael Hill has been spending his summer reconnecting with the community where he grew up.
He just wishes he was back for happier reasons.
A week before he was to face Canadian welterweight champion Ryan Ford on July 5, Hill’s father was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack.
“Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you that my dad is my best friend,” said Hill. “I can’t lose when my dad’s there.”
Hill said that if his dad had been at the fight, he probably would have let Ford break his arm. “Then I’d be out for a half a year,” he said.
The fighter said he could tell that his coach was worried that the news of his father’s health would affect his performance.
“I knew not to let it get to me,” he added. “That was tough.”
Hill lives and trains in Kelowna, but the fighter decided to return this summer to reconnect with friends, to be around while his dad recovers and to regroup.
Hill said that it has been a hard year for him, from coming off losing in the Ultimate Fighter television program to his losses against Joel Powell and Ford, but he feels like he has turned a corner.
“I committed to being the first guy in the gym in the morning and the last guy out in the evening,” he said.
The fighter started swimming and taking jiu jitsu and yoga classes. He also started teaching some fitness classes at local gyms.
“I’ve never been so flexible,” he said.
Hill said that since he has been back, he’s been asked if he’s finished with mix martial arts, but he said he still has his goals set on making it into the Ultimate Fighter Championship.
“I’m just getting started,” he said. “I’ve been in this sport for only three years and almost half of the time I was out with an injury.”
Hill pointed out that fighters like Ford had been in the sport for at least 10 years.
In August the BC government announced that it has introduced new regulations that would allow amateur mixed martial arts sporting events to go forward in BC. The provincial government will now be regulating amateur mixed martial arts, kickboxing, pankration and Muy Thai events. For events to happen they will have to be sanctioned by the BC Athletics commissioner.
Andrew Thistle, who heads up Powell River Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, said that the changes will be beneficial for fighters because now it will make more sense for fighters to build up their experience with amateur bouts before entering professional matches.
