EP #98 - What Does It Really Cost To Chase The UFC Dream - Cam Rowston

I'm super excited to share this great yarn with the future UFC middleweight champ Cam Rowston! Cam fights out of City Kickboxing and is currently tearing up the middleweight division. We breakdown the Chimaev vs Strickland fight, the performative side of the UFC and how to sell a fight without becoming a fake character. Cam talks about the reality and the sacrifices that come with chasing the UFC dream. We also talk about how he almost fought in ONE Championship, the difference between Aussies and Kiwis, what it really takes to be an MMA fighter, and much more! Stoked to finally have Cam on the podcast, I've been trying for 2 years to get him on and we finally made it happen! Leshhh goooo Go Support Cam Instagram:   / camrowston   YouTube:    / @camrowston   Sponsored by Infinity Sleep Get the sleep you deserve and use the promo code “onlyscott15%” and receive 15% off your first order. https://www.infinitysleep.co.nz/ My Social Media YouTube -    / @onlyscott   Instagram -   / theonlyscott01   TikTok -   / onlyscottspodcast   Facebook -   / only-scott-100091616387021   Chapter Markers 00:00 — Intro & welcome the "Battle Giraffe" 00:53 — Breaking down the Bryzek win: game plan over the finish 01:58 — Tim Tams, double-coated, and Tim Tam slams 03:14 — NZ vs Aussie beers and Crate Day vs Anzac Day 06:20 — Chimaev vs Strickland breakdown: making someone fight your fight 08:47 — Fake beef in UFC 10:05 — The performative side of the UFC 13:30 — Reading the corners: what coaches reveal between rounds 14:34 — Going back to the start: Cam's first MMA fight in Sydney (2014) 19:04 — What Mum thought about MMA & UFC's pre-mainstream era 20:28 — Discovering jiu-jitsu the hard way with an old-school Brazilian coach 23:52 — BJJ Belt-level jumps 26:22 — McDojos 29:37 — Other combat sports: King of the Ring, amateur boxing losses 31:45 — Cam’s Mum "no contact sports" rule 32:49 — Moving to New Zealand & first impressions of City Kickboxing 37:39 — The moment the UFC became the goal 39:34 — Dreaming big from NZ/Australia & the CKB pathway 41:26 — Aussies vs Kiwis: the personality differences 43:13 — Trying out for ONE Championship 45:55 — Cut from the ONE Warrior Series 48:25 — UFC rules on outside competition & the media-star game 49:26 — UFC politics, the White House card, and robot fights 50:46 — Mental prep 54:07 — Gym hygiene 55:53 — Misconceptions about being a fighter 57:18 — The real pathway into MMA today: the regional scene in AU and NZ 01:00:22 — Day-to-day outside fight camp: building phases & volume 01:01:43 — The sacrifices: parties, sleep, missing a best mate's wedding 01:04:38 — Why the gym makes the sacrifice feel worth it 01:08:34 — Quickfire 01:09:56 — Final words & wrap-up