Tony Moran - Mixed Martial Arts

[admin]

Keep up to date with CNP involved athlete Tony Moran

[admin]

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/cnpprofessional/tonymoran.jpg

[tony moran]

Hello, just to let people know how important meeting Kerry has been to me, I will condense a long story into a short a one as possible.

My athletic/combat history:

Started out at 13 years of age in martial arts and achieved the following over the next 10 years:

10 British Freestyle Karate Titles, 1 European Bronze and 1 World Team Gold

Had several years lay off from competition when I opened my own dojo and then decided at 28 years old that I wanted to be a professional boxer. Went into boxing with only a few weeks worth of pad tuition and the will to win and after only my first 2 fights being losses, went on to fight for Central Area, British, Commonwealth and WBF world title.

I achieved these goals whilst also working between 50 and 80 hours per week in a shift work job with the homeless and other work. I also trained at least 5 days per week for at least 3 hours a day with very few breaks in the 6 year period I boxed.

*Apologies, I will have to finish this saga tomorrow, family calls :-)*

[tony moran]

The reason I refer to the above level of sometimes overwhelming committment, is important to my overall message of how Kerry and CNP products have impacted on me in such a positive way.

If you consider that combined with the hours of work and training I was putting in, I was also making weight! Problem for me was I had no idea or was given no guidance on how to do this effectively and safely.

Basically, the only way I believed I could drop weight to my 13st 7lb fight limit of the time, was to simply eat less and drink less. I was advised to suck Ice cubes rather than drink any fluids the week of the fight and in order to sustain what I believed would be a healthy and wholesome way to eat, I only ate things like fruit, veg, nuts, seeds etc and very little protein. I took no supplements believing that that stuff was for bodybuiders and the closest i got to re-fuelling my body was by drinking a bottle of lucozade now and again.

So when I was starting off great in my most important fights and then dying within a few rounds I simply could not believe that the amount of training I had done was not seeing me through the fight. After my last fight for the Central Area I came to the conclusion that I could not train any harder than I was, and the reason I must be drained in fights could only be down to the fact that I was simply exhausted by the several week training camp and my other committments, by the time it got to the night of the fight.

I questioned everything except my poor nutrition and lack of supplementation but knew within myself and via the obvious displays in my fights that my spirit had never died, it was simply a matter that come a certain point my body would do no more for me, despite what my brain was telling it to do.

So I decided to call it a day believing firmly that my efforts would always be in vain. Had a few months off feeling quite low and bored because I had nothing to focus on any more and then asked the boxing trainer I knew at an MMA gym called the Wolfslair if the fighters there needed any good stand up spars in exchange for me being taught the ground game in their sport.

The answer was yes and so around june 2007 I started going a couple to 3 times a week to spar when needed, and also to learn and keep fit for my own benefit. But I had no intention of competing again, believing that I would only go through the same process as i had with the boxing.

Then around a year later, mid 2008, Kerry Kays turned up at the Wolfslair to give a talk on the benefits of good nutrition. Kerry walks in and says "Your Tony Moran arn't you, I was in the opposite corner for your last fight" and then straight away he says if I tell you why you probably lost that fight" obvioulsy I wanted to know! "You don't take supplements do you". Kerry then went on to explain why I had started off so well and then come the mid rounds, my body became fatigued.

I remember it something like this but I'm sure Kerry would have been a little more specific in what he actually said. He told me that fighters have two forms of fitness, Cardiovascular and muscle fitness. And if you don't give each of them equal respect, then one will always let you down in a fight. He went on to explain the importance of protein and carbs for muscle repair and recovery between sessions and said that after a 2-3 hour training session, if you went to a hospital to be connected to all the monitors and such thing they have there, they would effectively tell you that your body was in trauma. Then he says most fighters (me included) would finish their session, eat a banana or apple and think they had refuelled their bodies. Then the worse thing is this would be repeated 2 to 3 times per day for an average of 4 to 6 weeks whilst training for a fight. Then come fight night when you body needs to be at its most optimum levels it is just a fragile shell with a good cardio engine, the muscles would have literally been canabilising themselves, looking for energy your body needed.

To say I was gutted is an understatement. I didn't sleep properly for days, going over the title fights I lost when feeling exactly how Kerry described. It is only my belief that things would have been different had I of been aware of these things earlier, but it is only my belief that matters at the end of the day, because I'm the one putting myself through it.

So after a few days of winding myself up i resolved to prove what I knew to be truth and turn this experience to my advantage. I spoke to Kerry and ordered my first ever batch of supplementation and stared taking it immediately. I could sense the difference in how my body felt after only a few days of taking Pro-recover and Pro-MR. My body although still tired from my 3 hour morning session felt ready to be put through another session come the evening. This was a stark difference to how I remembered my boxing days, when my evening session would feel much harder. Not because the training was harder but because my body was obviously in deficit from its earlier session.

So with now feeling I could again train twice a day and feel good doing it, I decided I would compete again but this time in my new found love of MMA.

I've only had two fights and although it's not for me to say (but I will) I have made a very good impression on the MMA world judging by the plaudits I have received in publications and on internet forums for the performances I have put in so far. For my last fight (which can be seen on the Fighters Only magazine website) I weighed in at 13st 2lbs and i'm 6ft 7ins tall. I did'nt suck ice cubes, in fact i was drinking litres of water per day. I didn't eat only fruit and veg. In fact I felt content and happy with my food intake. To top it all though, I have never before for a fight felt so healthy, strong and full of energy. I'm 36 now and I can truthfully say I have never felt better in my training or in my progression within that training. I aim to go further and I am tipped to go further. If I do, believe me when I say it will be in no small way thanks to Kerry Kays and CNP.

[pagie]

Nice story mate and welcome to the board, Kerry certainly seems to know his stuff. Keep up the good work.

[tony moran]

Cheers Pagie, thought you was my friend from Australia when I saw the name. No relation to Neil Page are you? Whats your main sport and how long you been taking the products. Train daily with a few good lads from Manchester, maybe you know some of them.

[pagie]

Not that i know of mate. Im just into going the gym mate train at Kerrys gym Betta Bodies and play a bit of football every now and then but not really played this season struggle to play after too many beers on a Sat night !! Might give competing a whirl one day if I can find the dedication !!

[stow]

Good story that, will be following you now tony, so let us all know what you've got planned

[johnoliver]

Excellent Story Tony, do you still work full time by the way?
What was it like to win a gold medal? I cant ever imagine how proud you must have been.
I know a lad who trains at a gym up in Glossop called Evade Gym.
I think they specialize in MMA and Muay Thai.
Some of the workouts and sparring they do are unbelievable.

[iron head case]

you look rippeddddddddddd in your picture mate, interesting read:yesnod:

[tony moran]

Cheers Stow, John and Mr Head Case, next fight is scheduled for 28th November in Liverpool so I will post to let you know how I get on. Taking copious amounts of CNP products at the moment to help my body through the training. Not long started taking Pro-vital and Pro-tect so probably too early to give any feed back on the effects for me personally. Any of you guys been taking these two products? In response to your question John, yes I do still work full time and i'm on 12 hour night shifts :yikes: at the mo' so not feeling my quirkiest. Get used to it though, nearly my 10 year anniversary of professional fighting and shift working combined so nothing new to me. Kids though now thats tough, i've got two little un's and one of them can cry non-stop when she is in the mood. I've gotta train just to keep my sanity :117: As far as the gold medal was concerned it was a proud moment but the best I ever felt was winning my first British title at 14 because a year and a half before that I had never taken part in any sports other than P.E. and didn't even believe I even possessed those kind of skills. It's been the positive foundation of my life ever since and the knock on effect to everything good and positive that has come my way.

Tony

[johnoliver]

Thanks for the reply Tony. Im starting nightshift next week, so i'll know what its all about then :crazy:

I take Pro Vital everyday, and am taking Pro Tect at the moment also. After starting taking Vital, i've not had a cold, or a sniffle, I think i must have been low on something before hand, could just be a coincedence though. One weird thing is it makes your wee bright yellow, or it does to me anyway. :svengo:

I've only just starting taking Pro Tect, I used to use Pro Joint Forumlar, which was out a while ago. I think Pagie has used Tect when he had a sore shoulder (could have sworn it was Pagie).

Good luck in the fight mate.

[stow]

I use Pro-Vital too and swear by it now.
The yellow pish is from excess vit B2, not harmful but it is excreted fairly quickly.
Stow

[scottz]

good luck tonite in your fight mate.........let us all know how you get/got on if you read this after...:coolgleamA:

[tony moran]

Cheers Scottz, apologies for taking my time replying, had much to deal with lately. I didn't get the decision mate although a the vast majority of people who where there live and have watched it on p4tv were surprised I didn't. In fairness he is a tough game fighter but he caught me with a million dollar knee during a clinch, about 30 seconds into the fight that broke 3 ribs and at some later point damaged the ligaments in my ankle. You could say that from that point on it became difficult for me :-) I did however complete the 3 rounds and had a point deducted which supposedly swung it my opponents way.

Essentially although I can't remember any pain at the time, I couldn't take a meaningful breath and committing fully to any technique was not happening, given that every time I moved I could feel the broken ribs jutting and moving around. Quite a restrictive feeling i'm sure you can imagine! So although I gained a several dominant positions in mount, I could not capitalize, because I couldn't twist into any shots and they were more arm punches.

Didn't do my street cred. any harm though, but i'm an honest person and believe I, and my corner risked serious injury (to me) by continuing. I collapsed on the way back to the dressing room and was taken to hospital with a suspected punctured lung and ruptured spleen. I must admit the wait to find out the x-ray results was not pleasant and the doctor told me I was a fool for continuing which I tend to agree with (pride though eh). Depending on circumstances (round of fight, in front etc) in future fights I would defo pull myself out though if the same ever happened so early into a fight.

External breakages although not pleasant have no risk to internal organs, so if you compete yourself bear that one in mind. But fortunately I live to fight another day, which should be March in Manchester!

Again thanks for mailing me with your interest and your probably sorry you asked now :D By the way check out the cagewarriors forum, There are some really good action shots of the fight and if pictures could tell a story you will know what I meant earlier about the general consensus being that I should have got the decision.

Take care

Tony

[scottz]

Ahh never mind mate..remember its the taking part not the wining apperently lol..blimey a knee too your ribs and 3 broken..your adreline must have been so high you didnt notice straight away mate..was you listed as the underdog in this fight or was you expected too win? i dont fight myself,if i was younger i would love too as i am in my late 30s now..i did boxing in the army,but not quite the same lol...

also,do you think taking cnps supps made a difference in your fight despite the loss? whats next then Tony in the way of fights and where is this too be? hope your on the mend now too..shame you lost the fight mate..lets hope the next is a win...cheers for replying..:sifone:

[tony moran]

Lets be more specific on your late thirties comment Scottz! :nono: I'm 36 and halfway to 37 and I intend to fight for much longer. My secret?............. CNP products................ ha ha.

Thats only half in jest though, the products help me enormously and if you read my introduction you will understand why. Honestly mate, cliche and all that, but i'm a great believer in just operating day to day on the old as I feel mantra. When I can no longer keep up with the younger lads in the gym, I will re-assess, but for now mate it ain't a problem.

In fact age and experience, allow you to develop the levels of fatigue and pain, your brain becomes accustomed to dealing with and accepting. So if that makes sense, you are less likely to give up more so than a younger fighter who may have not yet developed these levels. There are exceptions to this obviously, but you can understand my point i'm sure

I got a mate of mine who is mid forties into MMA a few months ago and he recently had and won his first amateur fight. No combat background at all so with your boxing experience you have no excuses. Don't know where you live but no doubt there will be an MMA gym in your locality.

Your point about the rib damage mate. Trust me when I say I knew they were broke straight away, not through pain which the adrenaline must have blocked, but through the obvious feeling and sharpness that broken bones create.

I was expected to win and most thought I did, but that's sport for you and too be honest as long as I keep on winning the loss on my record should not prevent the bright future that is expected for me.

So whatever it is you do sport wise, if you would really love to have a go again let me know because I know people who promote white collar events, both boxing and mma. You just need to get yourself in shape,

Think it over!

Tony

[scottz]

they got a good boxing club near where i live,and its more the white collar boxing..i was thinking too join this as the fitness side of things interest me a lot,as my stamina is pants..not sure if its the asthma though..i am touching 40 in April,and the thought of somebody elbowing me in the face for fun is a bit daunting,so hats off too you for doing it...

when is your next fight mate..? if you had too ever give this up through injury or had enough of it what would you replace it with..many thanks........Scott....

[tony moran]

No! Just do the white collar cage fight or boxing to give you a buzz. No head contact on the floor in white collar cage. You would be so happy with yourself I can tell.

And the answer to your question, I really couldn't say. When I packed in pro boxing I didn't believe I would compete again to be honest but hey i'm so glad I did. Can't go on forever I know but the god willing, there is always another chapter.

Tony