Shoot me now, please!!!

My friend Marco asked that I update my blog. I know that it has been a little while but not much has been going on. So, while I sit here contemplating ways to kill myself, I figured I could take some time to catch y'all up. Work is absolutely killing me. It has been so freaking slow. I will be lucky to make one of my two bonuses this month. I keep reminding myself that it is for the greater good.

I should find out about nursing school in another few months. I am really excited about that new challenge. I have spoken with some people and I am leaning back towards nursing as opposed to medical school. I am not ready to sacrife so much of my life in order to be a doctor. Nurse anesthesist offers so much of what I am looking for in medicine with the compromise of not having to sacrife so much.

Training for my fight in February is going well. I started watching what I eat but I am not really dieting. I have some good training lined up to directly prepare me for my opponent. I am working my weaknesses as compared to my opponent's strengths. I am fully confidant that I will be victorious come February.

I had a trip planned to go out to Portland to train at Team Quest. Certain work and school obligations will keep me from that unfortunately. Not to mention the cost to get out there and the time traveling is a little much. Instead, I am going to train with Luis in Florida. It is a good trade off. I will get a lot of good training on the ground there and that is what I need most for this fight. It isn't any secret that my opponent has great jits LOL.

Otherwise life is good. Keeping busy and focused. I start class again on the 6th. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas (at least all my Gentile friends that is :). More to come next week.

So what have I been up to....?

Some news briefs first:

• got a 102 on my last test. Professor curved it 4 points.
• got a 91 on the final and an A in the class
• our new instructional DVD is out (Go here)
• hate my job LOL
• really sore from yesterday's lift
• thinking about going to Medical School instead of Nursing School (more on that later)
• it is hella cold outside

My good friend and probably one of the top 20 185# in the country, Charles McCarthy, is coming to spend a week in Athens from the 27th-Jan 3rd. His jits is top notch. It will be great to hang out and do some training with him. I am very much looking forward to it. More importantly what he recently wrote on the UG moved me and I wanted to share it here.

The question was asked: "I am interested in buying a Singer instructional DVD. Does anyone here have any info on them? Are they accomplished fighters? What is the scoop on them?"

Charles responded with the following: "I have trained a lot with them and with Forrest at the hardcore gym in Athens. I can do nothing but sing their praises. Adam is not a fighter, he is the coach. He is the best guy in the gym but he dedicates his time to getting his guys ready. Rory is an excellent NHB fighter and is on a great win streak. I feel he is about to make some huge waves and is on the fast track to the big show. He has great standup and clinch work along with very good jitz. Forrest is right along side Rory in terms of skills and is an amazing athlete to boot. He was a contestant on the UFC reality show and while I don't know the results, I think he has to be one of the favorites to win the whole thing. Combined they make one of the greatest forces in the southern USA. Anything these guys put their name on will be worth it. "

Such an awesome thing to say and completely unsolicited which is why it really got to me.

It is so nice to not have school or an upcoming fight on my mind at the moment. I do have a fight coming up in February in Florida but I am not worrying about it just yet. I will start hardcore training for it real soon. As for now I am still just enjoying some light training and some heavy lifting. I will give all the details of the fight as soon as I am allowed to do so.

Otherwise not much else to report. Go buy our new DVD! Until next time...

Just a little bit more...

So I feel like I got hit by a truck today. Second day soreness sucks. Managed to only bust up my right big toe on Saturday. Woke up Sunday and it was swollen and all kinds of pretty colors. My shin is doing well. I did heel kick myself at one point right on the contusion. I had opened up my guard and went to close it again. Bam!!! kicked myself right on the shin. Hurt like hell! Otherwise though I am just sore today. Nothing of major concern. The toe is already feeling better.

Forrest bought myself, Adam and our friend James dinner at Longhorn's. The restaraunt was right around the corner from the highschool. It was after 7 I think by the time we got out of the event. The event was great by the way. Well run and only slightly disorganized. Good competition and only had one mini riot almost break out (which for a BJJ tournament is pretty damn good).

I will continue this later...work calls. Oh, the life of a car insurance salesman.

Okay, I am back. So where was I? Yes, had dinner, it was yummy and we headed back to Athens. Went out and got a little crazy. Had a blast. Ended up seeing just about everyone out. Spent most of Sunday studying for my test this morning. Took a nap somewhere in there and did some food shopping as well. Got a 98 on my test. Got the quiz back from lab Friday and had scored a 100 on it. Final is Friday and then I am done for a month. Talk about the Reader's Digest version of events...good for me.

Results from Saturday's tournament!!!

The HardCore Gym and Team Praxis combined forces yesterday to create Team Georgia. THCG brought 9 competitors ranging from beginners all the way to Pro grapplers. I am so very proud to announce that almost all of THCG grapplers placed either 1st, 2nd or 3rd in all divisions entered with some members placing in multiple divisions.

Two of my team memebers won outstanding grappler awards. Jim Stoudemire competed in both the excutive and men's beginner no-gi divisions (170ish). He took first place in both divisions winning a total of 5 matches, three by way of submission (all americanas from either mount or cross-side). Jim is 38 years old, married with children and has been training with us for about 4 months now. So freaking proud!!!

Not to be outdown by a newbie, Forrest Griffin went 6-0 with 5 submissions on his way to winning both the Pro division Heavyweight tournament and Advanced divisions. His only win by decision was in the finals of the pro division agaist a Royler Gracie black belt. Not only did Forrest win 6 matches but he was beating some monsters along the way.

I was running around to every mat coaching and screaming all day while my brother reffed on another mat. Boy was I worn out. What I remember:

Mark Capagna and Dustin Kirby placed 1st and 2nd in the Advance no-gi ?-194.9 division.

Rory Singer and Buckner Nesheim placed 1st and 3rd in the no-gi Advanced 195-214.9 division.

Buckner placed 2nd in the intermediate no-gi 195-214.9 winning two matches by armbar and then losing on points in the finals.

Nate Horsley place 2nd in the advanced no-gi superheavy division.

Nikkie Czechowski placed third in what turned out to be a women's no-gi absolute division. She has been training all of maybe a year and competed against girls with 8 years of experience each. She went 2-1. She is awesome.

Rory Singer won the purple belt combined division 190-215.

Lastly Chad Shaffer, who in my opinion is the best pound for pound grappler at my gym did not place. He has some competition anxiety when he gets on the mat. He is 2-0 as an amatuer MMA fighter and an awesome grappler. He just hasn't put it together yet in competion. But when he does, look out.

Rory Singer did not place in the Pro division in which Forrest won. He went 1-1, submitting his first opponent by triangle and losing on points to the Royler Gracie black belt later beaten by Forrest.

Not a bad day if I do say so myself. Cam will have to post the results of our other half. I do know they had some great success as well. Team Georgia was awesome!!!

While I have some free time this morning

Thought I would catch everyone up a little bit. The past few days have been relatively uneventful. We got our test back on Monday. Professor had to curve it since I imagine the grades were aweful. I ended up with a 92 (curved from an 84). I hate that I only got an 84 but I will take the A nonetheless.

Started lifting again on Tuesday. I got weak fast. No worries though, it will all come back and then some. Training this week has been aweful. I have some sort of infection, which I am now taking antibiotics. I am also dealing with a major knot on the medial side of my distal tibula (also know as the shin), see mom, I am learning.

Everytime it got rubbed last night the pain was terrible. At one point I took a big hit right on the contusion and it nearly sent me into tears. After that I was done and went home to apply some ice. It still hurts and will most likely hurt for some time. I need to start rubbing it out and that hurts like hell. I was considering not competing this Saturday but fudge that. I want to win that $500 Absolute prize. I figure Forrest is my biggest competion. Assuming me face off in the finals that is going to be one hell of a match.

I have a quiz tomorrow morning in lab, tournament Saturday, test Monday and then my final on the 10th. I will be glad when this quarter is over. One less thing to worry about. I will have a few weeks off from class. Next quarter starts up again on January 6th and runs through March 23rd.

Keep checking back because I am going to have some big news concerning my upcoming fight in February. Can't talk about it just yet, but soon, I promise :). I need something to keep y'all on the edge of your seats.

A little explanation as to the "Version 2.5"

It was asked of me on a forum I frequent to expain the whole Version 2.5 thing. The forum is known as the UnderGround and is the largest MMA forum of its kind. I am going to cut and paste what I wrote there:

Earlier this year I fought in the KOTC in Florida. I had a tough opponent in Wilson Goviea from ATT. I trained my ass off for that fight. I was also fighting 205 at the time so I was eating a lot trying to keep weight on. I got myself in very good shape. I joked around about being Version 2.0. A new and improved Rory so to say. It sort of stuck.

I fought next in July again at 205. Again I trained hard and ate harder getting prepared far another tough opponent. The Version 2.0 stuck. I had not necessarily improved but maintained the same high level.

I was next slated to fight Carl Malenko. This time I would fight at 185. I trained harder then ever before all while cutting weight. I got myself in amazing shape cardiovascularly and cut my body fat down to probably 6-7%.

I felt that I had exceeded where I was in the past. I had improved almost everything about myself: conditioning, abilities, my physique...I was new and improved yet again so to say...Version 2.5 (just like in software). We joke around that I now come with anitvirus protection... :). It might be cheesy but it works.

I now have a goal in mind when I start to train for my fights. It is to get back to where I was for that fight (although it never happened...but it will) with Malenko. It might seem silly but it is a sorce of motivation for me now. I hope that answers some of the questions surrounding that. Someone once asked if I ever cut down to 170# (which will never ever ever happen) would I then be Version 3.0. I told that person I would most likely be Version R.I.P.

I think I am still full!

I ate my @$$ off yesterday. I had to lie down on the floor for a little while. I ate so much it hurt. It was so good though. We had garlic mashed potatoes (cooked by your's truly), corn casserole, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, turkey and fried turkey breast (all of which was either cooked or supplied by my brother and his wife). We started with some cheese and crackers as an appetizer. We also managed to down about five sour apple martinis a piece. They were delicious.

After dinner and relaxing we headed over to some friends for dessert. I could hardly eat but I managed to force some apple and pecan pie down. The apple pie was sugar free and not very good even with the whipped creame on it. What a waste. The pecan pie was yummy though.

Back at work today. What a freaking drag. I wonder how much I weigh? Managed to get some studying done. It has been fairly slow today. Luckily I get to come back tomorrow to work 10-3. Come on, don't you wish you could be me for a day? Probably just do some more studying tomorrow while recovering from the inevitable hangover I will have in the morning LOL. Yeah mom, I am going to get drunk tonight and there ain't nothin' you can do about it. Neener, neener, neener :).

Is getting drunk anyway for a high level combat athlete such as myself to act? Probably not, but I need some time off from all of that. I deserve it and will not feel guilty about it. I am back in the gym Monday lifting heavy again and getting stronger. I don't have to worry about my weight until after the New Year. I will continue to eat clean starting Monday and start conditioning again in the evenings with the team.

I did some work on the website. Nothing major yet. There is still lots to do. It needs a massive revamping and updating. Hopefully I can continued to find some time for it. Take a look if you have never been there The HardCore Gym.

Hope everyone had a happy, healthy and safe holiday. I know that I have lots to be thankful for and I think yesterday is just a nice way to put it all in perspective. I am very happy with where I am in life right now. Sure I wish that I had better job and was making some real money. Although I know that I am in pursuit of a greater good and this job serves that purpose. I will hopefully be in Nursing School next June and I have some big fights coming up soon.

I have a wonderful family whom I love dearly, great friends, a great gym and a fight career that is starting to blossom after all these years. Life is good and money isn't everything. I work to live and I don't live to work. That is hard for a lot of people to say. I don't have anyone else to worry about so I need to make the most of this while I can. Until next time, this is Version 1.5 (yeah, yesterday messed me up that badly LOL) signing off. Later

Happy Thanksgiving

Only an hour to go before I get out of this place. It is slow as all get out and I want to go home. I only had class this Monday. I start class back up next Monday. It will be nice to have the day off tomorrow. I get so few of them with this job. I pretty much work Monday-Saturday. I only ask off for training or fighting related things.

I haven't really done any training this week and we are closed today through Sunday. I plan on getting back in the gym Monday and stepping the training up Monday night. Going to lift hard and try and put a few pounds on. Not going to worry about my weight because I am not going to fight again until February. In the mean time I will try and do a few jits competitions to keep active.

I spoke with one the gentlemen involved in the AFC (Absolute Fighting Championships) promotion about fighting February. Looks like I am on the card and it will most likely be against the same opponent I was originally slated to fight in October, Carl Malenko. I had trained my butt off preparing to fight him and he pulled out with about two weeks to go. He got injured in training or something. I might just get another shot at him in a three rounder. The show is in Ft. Lauderdal. The fact that both my mother and grandmother are in Florida makes fighting down there great. Not only do I get to fight in Florida, but I also get to see my family...and all on someone else's dime. Not too mention I get paid for betting someone up.

My manager is trying to get me a fight in Canada as well on the next Apex show. Looks like I might get myself a pretty good opponent for that fight as well. I don't want to say anything until it is finalized but it looks good.

Here is a picture from my most recent victory. Yeah, some guys have all the luck. I mean that is the two guys that got to take home each of those girls...niether of whom was me :(. So I got that going for me LOL.



I am making mashed potatoes for tomorrow's dinner. My brother and sister-in-law are taking care of most everything else. It is the three of us, my brother's in-laws, and a close friend whom we have taken in for the holiday. I am going to eat my ass off tomorrow. Until next time. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. Version 2.5