Gregor “The Gift” Gillespie Gets to Take The Rumble Home

Lightweight competitor Gregor “The Gift” Gillespie goes to battle this upcoming Saturday at UFC 210 in Buffalo, New York. The 8-0 former Ring of Combat Champion is set to fight Andrew Holbrook, whose record currently stands at 12-1. On a card headlined by the notoriously outspoken Daniel Cormier, Gillespie’s only comment about his opponent is that “I respect everyone I face and wish them well. In the cage, we won’t be friends, but we don’t have to be enemies on the outside.”

Gregor’s second fight in the UFC is special because the native New Yorker is getting to fight in his own backyard, and near where he grew up in Rochester. A week shy of the one-year anniversary of MMA’s legalization in New York, Gillespie will have the opportunity to finally fight at home. Training out of Long Island’s Bellmore Kickboxing Academy, he still had to make a seven hour drive up to Buffalo. However, that definitely beats his previous destination for his first fight–traveling to Brasilia, Brazil–where defeated Glaico Franco by unanimous decision in his UFC debut.

“I think what’s most important about any fight is having the right mindset. I know that I am putting in work at the gym, training as hard as I can, and leaving it all on the mats at the end of each day. They could send me anywhere and it won’t matter because of all the work I’ve done leading up to my bout. It is a real honor though, to be able to fight where I grew up. I wasn’t sure if it would ever be able to happen, but as soon as I found out that it was, I waited for the right time. Lots of New York-based fighters would have killed for this opportunity, and I am very grateful that I get to have this chance.”

Gregor’s nickname reflects his positive attitude. He is called “The Gift” not just because of his talents on the wrestling mats or within the Octagon–but due to the good-humoured nature he brings to his friends and teammates. Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez, a fighter in the UFC’s featherweight, dubbed Gillespie “The Gift” because he was just a pleasure to be around, almost like a gift to his training partners.

“With any fight, you know, there’s going to be some ups and downs, but you just have to keep looking towards the good things and reminding yourself why you’re doing this. There’s a lot of greatness in this sport and I want to enjoy my time doing it. Why would you do something if you don’t love it and if it doesn’t make you happy?”

Beyond Gillespie’s gifts in fighting, he’s also known as the “Best Fisherman in MMA”.

When asked why he likes fishing, “The Gift” responded, “I grew up doing it with my father, and after a few years off, I fell into it again with my brother. We have our own boat and actively fish when we can. When I love something, I’m in one hundred percent. I love MMA, so I am constantly training. And I love to fish, so I fish as often as possible. It’s relaxing to me and now I can say that every time I go out on the water, I’m catching something!”

Some fighters attempt to trash talk to obtain publicity for their fights or challenge other competitors for a future card and paycheck. “The Gift” has a different kind of call out.

“Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone is a pretty acclaimed fisherman himself. If there is anyone I’d love to go fishing with, it would be him. I’m sure we would have a great time talking about training, and then we could catch some fish afterwards. You’re on that boat for hours at a time, sometimes on really quiet water. You get to know a person, and more importantly, you get to know yourself.”

With only a day to go before Gillespie’s big fight at home, he’s not even the least bit worried or intimidated.
“I’m just happy. I’m happy I get to do this, that I get to fight, and that I’m doing it in front of everyone I love. So many people live a life where they’re in a job they hate with people that only bring them down. My life isn’t like that at all–it’s so amazing and full. How many people do you know wake up excited to go to work and experience the day? I’m grateful I get to be one of them.”

Writer: Pari Aryafar  (@pariunderthesea)