THE MAN

SEPTEMBER 26, 2021

TACOMA DOME | SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

“You’re the man now, Gauge!”

That simple phrase can have such a significance, depending on the circumstances. This night was the shining moment, my crowning achievement. Twenty five minutes locked inside a steel pen against The Shooter is a situation most couldn't possibly comprehend. But alas, not only was I a man to achieve such a feat, I came out as the lone man standing victorious.

It was a back and forth war, something I had never experienced this far in my budding career. The feeling of satisfaction outweighed the pain and exhaustion, even if it was by an ounce. When you step up against Roscoe Robinson, you know you’re getting the very best version of him. The guy is never flat on fight night. He’s gonna bring hell with him, but on this night, I walked through the flames. I was tempered by the inferno and came out triumphant.

I could hear my coach howling with ecstasy as the Cruiserweight title was wrapped around my waist. My teammates rallied around me, boosting me up. I was suffering through so much pain, at that moment I didn't care who won. I could barely process what had just happened and all I could think about was how I just wanted to go home. The days that followed allowed me time to reflect on this feat. This is a moment I can look back, hang my hat on, and cherish forever. This is something I can build an everlasting legacy on. Now is not the time to get complacent and rest on my laurels. Being good is the enemy of being the best.

Gauge Lattimore versus Roscoe Robinson: The Sequel. Somehow, the stakes are even higher. With Union’s purchase of G2, I will put my G2 Grand Championship on the line with Roscoe’s Openweight Championship and through victory, forge a new era in combat sports. The man walking out with the hardware will be the new face of Japanese MMA. Through another firefight, the Ryujin Fighting Championship will emerge through the rubble and the ashes. I made my name in Japan, and goddammit, I plan on defending my turf.

Don’t get it twisted, there’s no bad blood between Roscoe and me. Hell, we share the same agent and from our first contest, I think we created a mutual respect between us. But once we step inside the ring, it’s down to business, and he knows that. He knows I’m bringing that same energy, just like I know he’s bringing the same tenacity that’s got him to where he’s at today.

It's the lone MMA fight at BattleMania. All eyes will be on us in the mystical Tokyo Dome. There won't be any flaming tables, no barbwire bats, no run-ins. Just man-to-man and old fashioned fists flying. I’m ready to bring the Lights Out show back to Japan.

DECEMBER 23, 1997

MACK AVENUE | DETROIT, MICHIGAN

I could hardly contain my excitement as I laid in bed, staring off at the flashing array of colors through my window. It wasn’t the idea of what presents I would get, but the fact that this was the first Christmas that I was gonna have as a family. Mom and Dad had gotten back together and were on great terms probably for the first time ever. Money was always an issue, but together they were able to scrounge up enough for decorations. They wanted that hallmark memory of the three of us, and so did I.

I’ve endured a lot of pain in the handful of years I’ve been on this Earth, probably more than what the average person would experience in a lifetime. It’s probably what detaches me from any social situation. My dad was my idol, but he was always in and out of my life. The way he made ends meet wasn’t exactly an honest living, but he did whatever he could to give me the best life he possibly could. He resorted to dealing drugs and stealing whatever he could get his hands on, and was constantly in and out of jail. The feeling of abandonment and betrayal is a feeling I could never really shake, and it's something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

But things feel different now. As far as I knew, dad got a real job and was on the straight and narrow. Money was still tight, but it felt so good just to have the three of us together under one roof. I dozed off after the excitement finally wore off, but I wouldn't wake up with the same sentiment in the morning. Instead, I was jolted up with booming havoc, scuffling, and shouting from downstairs. No longer were the cheerful Christmas lights flashing through my curtains, only strobing reds and blues.

Confusion quickly turned into panic as shrieking from mom instinctively pulled me out of bed to go sprinting down the steps. I scanned through every room but not a soul could be found. The scuffle had migrated outside and I nearly ripped the door off its hinges as I raced out there to see what was going on. It was a sight that has been burned in my memory ever since, because it was the last time I saw dad. His hands were bound behind his back in cuffs, pressed against a police cruiser’s hood, and being patted down. The other officers wouldn’t let me get near him, but we both locked eyes. I think we both somehow felt guilt, shame, and concern for one another, not knowing what was to come. The arresting officer grabbed dad by the back of the neck and escorted him to the back of the cruiser. Before he was stuffed inside, he turned to me with a look of despair in his eye, and with a raspy, gritty whisper he said:

“You’re the man now, Gauge.”