Ryan Curtis | Life Changing Injury, Overcoming Adversity & Future Plans | The Energized Show

Summary

What is up and welcome to The Energized Show! On this episode FAI's Ryan Curtis joins us to discuss his Life Changing Injury, Overcoming Adversity & Future Plans. Like, Comment, Subscribe & Hit the notification bell for more Energized Shows! Youtube : Energized Show Instagram…

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Kind: captions Language: en here we go we are live okay what's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of energize brought to you by or Kings competitions Ross are you intoxicated or something introduce their guest man today we are bringing you the face that runs the place it's the one and only Ryan chaos Curtis CTA how are you doing my friend good boys how are you getting on doing great man unbelievable unbelievable you were the energized inspirational fighter of the year in 2024 and my God have you inspired many many people Ryan how are you doing today tell tell us that no I appreciate that boys I feel phenomenal I'm just back from the gym there and yeah just about to uh they with this and have some day and yeah but everything's phenomenal coming on great yeah you're looking great Ryan no appreciate it boys thanks so much new nothing new there says you yeah no I'm I'm really getting there you know every day just getting stronger and yeah like I said just such a contrast from um this time last year you know but like like I like I said H nothing no surprise to me you know yeah obviously Ru you know 11th of January last year like your life changed in such a Monumental way and no one had more belief in yourself than you did where does that self- belief come from and tell us this like did you know when a year time You' be where you are today did you know be you be you know making these Milestones so fast do you know what to be honest I probably thought I was going to do it sooner you know and that's that's the truth of it because I knew to telling me all these things but I knew you know it's was like I was okay no problem but I know you know it doesn't matter what you're telling me and I appreciate your opinion and everything else but I know what I can do and you don't know me to be able to tell me okay yeah you can give me your your medical opinion but I just know where I could do with you know and I know where I a Comm me life and how meally strong I so yeah I know what could do Ryan like uh first of all like like absolute inspiration but um can I like I heard you WR with the talking bolic Lads and Sh boys and you described what the actual accident was or how it happened like um I haven't actually seen a visual of that but would you be able to like sort of show us just on camera what sort of happened so people tuning in can actually see what happened yeah so was like like so you went in trim me neck here there like a scar hair it fed a good bit to be honest and there's a big scar going down my back and not down down the back of my neck it was so funny because in America you know the way like I feel like the people are a lot more gullible over in America and they were asking me what happened and I was telling them I got sh just for the buys you just having to laugh and so yeah that was my story over there I got shot H I was telling them I was a pimp in irand and I was walking around because obviously I had I had a limp a lot more it was a lot more noticeable over there I was just having the buzz buzz about the as well yeah one of them hat with the little feathers coming out the top of all now what had happened was um so I broke my neck and when I snapped me neck the vertebrae pinched me Spinal card so I broke C4 C5 and C6 and I think the C4 exploded into me back um and like I was saying on talking bics I wish the all exploded because then I wouldn't have been the pinch on the Spinal card because that's what really does the damage but the C4 and five or the C5 and C6 rather was uh compressing me um Spinal card and that's what was C causing the paralysis and like what what sort of move happened to Indy for that it actually happened and it was just we were we were on all fours and you either had to roll back to guard or else get back up to the feet and as was getting back up to the feet me arm got trapped and yeah it was was just like nearly like blading do you ever see Kevin randman and Fedor ever say that suplex it was nearly like that was yeah it was just look it was just the way it all went and uh yeah unfortunate but these things happen you know you're not in the gym to play Bingo you know it's a combat Sport and it is what it is I guess yeah I suppose in Touching that uh touch on that like obviously it is very very dangerous and like you know as you say like you're fighting like you know what I mean like it's not so much a sport it's it's as much fight you know each time you step foot in there you put put your health at risk obviously uh real tragedy has happened the last week obviously John after fast like what what what do you think when you see something like that happen look but that's why I always say like I've openly said that from the beginning you know I've said this from the start of me career but it's not a sport you know my at the child was you know you're in that to day and I'm in had to do and that's the way because it can happen at any time and people want to think about it like a sport I never thought of thought of it like a sport you know like like one one of the things is like the most humil feeling in the world to be being in front of all the people you love like I mean for me that's not really a noise thing like you know it's you get beat in a a game of tennis or a game of golf and it's like ah okay it just got beat but you know if the you're going around with your head down shamed by getting humiliated in the front in front of everybody he loves and then there's it there's like a possibility that you can die in there I mean it's not you know I never used to think of it like a sport that's that's the way I always thought you know and that's why I was always willing to go so forward on the other person because you're not going to kill me because I'm coming to kill you and that was my attitude from me for till me last yeah I I think also if some of the fans actually saw what happened what goes on behind the curtain like after each fight like what like like the the way some of the fighs are so dejected after I know that the winner is always like always loving life but like the if you actually look at the the person who loses who walks out with their head down with their team it's actually like such an emotional watch I know C you've seen Millions times but like Ross you've been there as well and it's it's it's mad to see like and it would actually like cut down on people trying to absolutely abuse them online for losing as well yeah it's it's it's crazy like to be honest like the fans have no idea they just chill in on the night at the fight they didn't know the 12 weeks beforehand they're not saying your family the missing out on all the events the hard work the the the injuries you know it's just there's just so much that goes on and then not all the fans but then to be able to just tune in on the night of the fight and then see someone losing and then go online and just slate them and it's like you have no idea what's at the going into that man's life or you know every everything that's led up to that point and then you just want to go on and abuse them and they're Down For Your Entertainment it's you know it's just that like Fighters a lot of the time don't get a fair shake off everybody the fans the promoters you know a lot of a lot of Fighters struggle to get paid and it just it's it's a rless game you know and um oh loved and that's why I always I never done it for the fame or the money I just actually just loved um but it's it's rless it's and it's cut TR because you're the best thing since slow spread when you're winning and then when you're losing you're just another sh bag you know so that's that's unfortunately that's the way it is but as long as you don't getting misconstrued and you understand that's the way it is then your feelings are never really hurt you know because yeah it's just that's what expect then it's only I feel like you're only get H when you have a false um perception of it yeah like look obviously rest in peace John K you know I mean he used to always we used M before every fight and like you always get back to saying he was going to pull on a show and that he did like absolute Warrior and like that's the thing you put your your health on the line when you get in there and you know very few understand what that's like you know I mean and you are one of them run so um or IP to him you know what boys because I know people who personally know heard nothing but great things about the absolute I've never had the pleasure of meeting but I heard he was an absolute gentleman an absolute G so yeah he'd be sadly missed sorry yeah yeah but so so are so many people in the scene as well that that's what I think a lot of people from the other looking in as well to the not only or M scene or or combat scene but like they they they have a false perception of what the actual scene is like and the way how how many like communities it's helping um like how many people it's like like like it's just helping in general like it's keeping people off the streets it's uh that's why myself and Ross love covering it don't Ross yeah absolutely well I suppose that brings on to our next next Point like obviously like when your accident happen like I don't think I've ever seen the Irish and make commity rally so hard behind one individual um like Jims were putting on like seminars at all times trying to raise raise some money for you Gary Rooney was up and down breath and length of the country as was key for putting on seminars um trying to raise money for you did you did you feel all that love and all that backing that was behind at the time you know what boys that's what kept me going a lot of the times like the messages and the support and you know it's just such an like overwhelming like the amount of times that I was overwhelmed by the support and the messages and just everybody reaching out like yeah it's just it's just it's it's a beautiful feeling were inside me and they really everybody got behind me and it was so nice to feel and like I said a lot of the time that's what kept me going you know was it was in in the gym and in the gym in the hospital I mean you know it was just so such a nice feeling and you know it was yeah it was it was amazing for me like the the like the support I got like you said was just yeah it was phenomenal beautiful was yeah well I think that goes also show the type of character that you are on like obviously you have a big personality you know I mean like in probably gives you that bit of loud m in here but like people love you like people are always entertained by it like everywhere you go like as soon as you walk into a room people take notice like that's just the type of character you are but I I've yet to meet someone who had a has a negative word to say about you like you're sort of beloved across the country the one's favorite song no now I appreciate that boys I just you know what it is I never try to be anybody else but myself you know and I think people fail the realness off me because the thing about it is I never try to be you know I never try to be everybody's favorite person or anything like you know it's like sometimes it's like the best field in the world for me is steak and so many people love Stak but not everybody loves steak so it shouldn't be a job to have everybody love you you know and I always say like a friend of everybody's is a friend of nobody's because you're always trying to keep people sweet or whatever and that's not me I just say what I want to say and you know if you agree with me brilliant if you don't that's just the way it is and you shouldn't have you know everybody shouldn't like me that's just the nature of of of the world it's you know people can disagree which I'm not like you as a person it shouldn't be your job to want everybody to like you just be yourself and whoever wants to be around you and whoever loves you does and you know the people who don't you don't need them around anyway because they're not they don't love the real you you know absolutely and I suppose with the love that the ma community in Ireland has for you came came with the go for me and with the go for me obviously there was massive amount of money raised which is obviously well deserved for yourself obviously there was controversies with the go for me but how are you financially set now and like is there anything you want to say about the go for me yeah the go for me those misappropriated funds um we'll say oh you can't legally speak on it right now you know there's there's been a lot of talk about and there's a lot of questions asked all the time you know I was just those other people in control of it from the beginning I didn't have access to it then you know but it's something that I can't legally speak on right now but we're in the process of of getting it sorted out but until it's legally I can legally speak about it I can't say to much about it but you know a lot of people yeah have have been in touch with me asking me about it and stuff like that I just can't legally speak on it right now but yeah some I I will be able to speak on a own and just just with that just from like a personal point of view like obviously like you're off to Columbia you're off the Texas you know what I mean like these things aren't cheap but like obviously some people are really good here and like I've given their time I thought uh the Sean mcom Paul he was up yeah he was up doing a few bits with you but obviously like you need like stem cell regeneration I'm probably just making up but like that they're the think yeah yeah you need those they're not cheap so like how does that all so expensive they're all so expensive boys and the real is only for fundraisers and the go for me that's another thing that I'm really lucky about because yeah you can think positive and you can have this mindset but if you're not getting you know the appropriate um kind of like rehab and and treatments then you can only get so far so I'm so blessed to have people to own fundraisers for me and the the goal for me well obviously there was a bit of controversy around it you know but I'm so blessed for everybody you know digging down and and down them sort of things for me you know from where I did get from and stuff like that yeah absolutely and I suppose uh is it is is the link still active for with with yourself in control of yeah I'm in control of an now okay yeah obviously I wasn't the one in control of it in the past but I'm in control of it now thankfully and like bit of random but like obviously Fighters sort of get sponsors on board for their fights or whatever but as any any company's ever approached you to like sort of sponsor your Rehabilitation or is anyone sort of G on to or would you be open to that because at the end of the day like you're one of the most watched fighters in the country right now who's not fighting you know what I mean because people story they want they want to see how's R Curtis progress and what's he up toover like normally sh you know all the Treads are always fresh boys yeah now the the H that priz guy H he he sponsors me and he looks after me and um yeah those we've we've been in negotiations with with business and stuff but that priz guy and he done a lot for me when I was H when I was in the bed too you know it's it's like and and the thing about it is I've always tried to help before the accient I've always tried to help anybody out in any way I could regardless of time money whatever and I never looked for anything in return but the thing about it is is like I'll never be able to repay like 99.9% of people who was at the helping me because they've all done so much for me and like I say I I'll never forget the that time when everybody really looked after me when when I couldn't look after myself you know so yeah people I came are absolute gentlemen you know I wouldn't be in the position that i' be in only for people I him Paul Haren absolute Legend tell you the truth uh Ryan I I actually think you're paying everyone back in book of Ls by seeing people like seeing your progress seeing you backing your feet walking seeing you getting around seeing you you know continue to be the person you are and just the motivation and inspiration that you actually are giving the people all across the country it's probably Bown to you but like I think you're paying everyone back and paying the back in spades you're making people think the impossible is possible yeah no and I do appreciate that and a lot of people have said that to me since the exent you know uh it just I kind of didn't really set out for that reason I was just like I'm just going to get I'm just getting back to me feet and for me daughter and stuff like that but I as time was going on and I knew that I was helping people because I was getting so many messages about it I was so happy because I love to help people and all only want everybody to realize that as long as you don't put a limmer on yourself nobody can put a limit on on what you can do you know because like I said and I'll openly say a lot of even very close friends had come up to me have come up to me since the accident and said like we're going to be honest when we' seen you like that in the bed we didn't really think you're going to do anything but you know here here we are and look at what you're doing and it's amazing you know so even some close people timy who have openly said that they they R me off and I was just like as long as I never r myself off which I didn't I never for one second thought like oh what if this or what if that I was like no that's not a possibility I'm going to be back down whatever I want to do and and Ryan how how do you actually feel mentally and physically because like you're after overcoming something just so unbelievable sorry say that again how are you feeling both physically and mentally right now because what you just came over like yeah both I'm I'm phenomenally down down I'm down phenomenal on both it's just there's a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes that other people can't say and I can't legally speak about them right now either you know what I did even say on the talk on bolic podcast was if people saying what I went through behind the sces you know they would be even more impressed with where I am because what I've had to deal with behind the Saints nobody should ever have to deal with this kind of like Badness put on them never mind while being parlar from the neck down you know but like I said when the when the time's right and I'm legally allowed to speak about everything I will be speaking about it cause nobody should have to go through this I I actually think it is incredible because I I've actually I was sping to Bar about this and said like even what you went through personally like forget the like physical injury and forget like even the mental aspect of just the personal life the the stuff you're going through I think that would break most people and for you to be able to still be here today you know the positive C that we all know and love is absolutely incredible and I suppose like thinking of like what's in the future for Ryan Curtis as well like would you ever consider doing like you know public speaking as something I'm actually getting speaking lessons as we speak yeah I'm actually um just just to to speak a little bit better a little bit more clearer you know it definitely the over Colombia and Texas like nobody understands me I have to speak really slow and excuse me sometimes when I'm speaking to worsh people I don't think about it because I know they understand me anyway but when I'm away in different countries and they're like what are you saying you know so and and you understand I can I can't speak slower it's just the the the pace that we speak at when in in Oreland both but then when you go outside of orand you realiz oh people don't really speak at that sort of pace cuz it's the pace more than anything that people don't understand and obviously we don't always fully like uh pronounce our words correctly like they do in America you know so there just just stuff but when when I'm publicly speaking I'm aware of that so you know it's not like when when I am on stage or I'm doing this event or that event that's something that I will have in me mind anyway but it's just it does it just there's a lot of technique to talking that you wouldn't actually think until you get lessons and you're like oh it's it's like f it's people just see somebody try one town they're like oh I can do that until you try and do and it's like oh there's a lot there's a lot more to it yeah well you're definitely a TED Talk wait waiting to happen um no yeah oh absolutely one thing I did want to tou on actually was uh your time away in Texas and Columbia we've seen you know out in the streets with the likes of uh Rampage Jackson and Michael bising what was that like cuz as soon as I saw you Rampage I was like I wonder which of those two has the Wilder stories yeah to be honest boy there's a lot of wild stories and great they great great people but you know what we've been in Realms with some of the biggest lepes in the worlds the world and the biggest people in the world and you know I'm kind of a person to be honest I don't really care about your status I only cared about are a good person or you a bad person or you enjoyable to be around or you not and I think that's why they also liked me how being around them because I never cared about any of that you know I don't care about celebrities or a a like that when I'm around people like that I just want to have a good time nearly same when I'm around me mes and just good conversations Good Times having a laugh just stuff like that I'm not like sitting there going I can't believe like you know like a text page all the time on WhatsApp and stuff like a decent bit but just because he's actually a good friend now and he's funny and you know he's a great he's a great person he's such a nice person like it's not it's I don't care that he's Rampage secks and you know he's just a good person you know that's that's all I cared about stories yeah say again did Jackson yeah yeah yeah he was saying he was talking about potentially going over and having their own like you know he's inviting me all about to stay in his house and stuff you know so yeah he's a really kill I definitely will do that home stage in California well I think that is that is part of the lovability about you C you were probably the biggest personality in the room when I came to in the room with those guys yeah probably they can't shut me up to be honest I talk if those I talk to the wall in an empty house if I could you know CU like that I just h i just like having a buz with people and just I'm genuinely intrigued by people's lives like when I ask people questions about their lives it's not like I'm just doing it for the sake of doing it you know I want to know like oh what was it like then and you know so I nearly asked him more about his own life than he did even thefc stories or anything like that you know absolutely but I suppose you understand what it's like to get into caj and fight so like you probably don't ask D ask questions probably ask the more personal questions which makes a more enjoyable conversation for them you know what I mean and yeah because I'm sure he's he's getting that all he like he's whole career anyway oh what's it like to do this in the UFC what's it like what's it like to be champion and I'm sure he sick of talking about it to be honest yeah I'd say so and was bising over there getting his o on or what was he getting on no no he was actually you know was it was just by chance I met bisbing he was in the office and I walked in and he he just kind of looked at and arani and Britney Palmer was there as well when I walked in and they were like y that guy who was paral from the neck down the the MMA fighter and Bisping saying it as well and I was like oh yeah that's me yeah I was just going in the same May Joey he's the one who kind of runs the clinic he looks after the athletes and the sports people and the celebrities if you will and and I was just popping in to see him and they were it was just a coincidence that they were there at the same time and when I walked in they couldn't believe they were like can't believe just walking into the office here like nothing's going on I was like I no I appreciate that so yeah it was it was cool but he was getting his neck done H Bisping was and he was like I can't believe that I'm here complaining about me neck and whatever and like look What's happen after happening year when you just getting om and know he was like saying like I really need to stop all that that complaining you know so yeah it was cooled with that being said obviously you're getting this Dam hell work like what what is your Mobility like these days R and like like do you need any assistance throughout the day or can you go through a full day just being yourself at this stage boys I nearly didn't really need assistance since I left the hospital to be honest yeah you know it was like it now definitely when I just had left the hospital everything was a lot more challenging now it's like I'm just you know I'm just by myself and it's sweet like I could go I could easily go do anything I ever I I wanted without assist of anybody really you know so now like I'm completely independent I don't need anybody to do anything for me no that that that's brilli that's that's what people want to hear you know what I mean I'm sure like you know cuz I feel like that's always a question of someone who was in your situation you be afraid to ask you be afraid to be like oh what help like you never want to like I know emasculate someone but you know what I mean like some people whatever you know me i' been true you know what I mean that was like this wasn't always the case like there was times at the the beginning when I I had people feeding me washing me changing me you know like that's that's what they do say like you know leave leave your dignity at the door of the hospital because you know when you're when you're in the hospital it all goes away and and it's not it's not an no feeling to have to have people do them things for you you know but I know at the end of the day I was upsetting at the time but I didn't get to bad I didn't get to down on it because I knew it wasn't going to be forever I knew it was just this just a short period of time and with that as well like obviously like that's that's obviously a time where like you could mentally break when when you do have these people you know strangers really coming into the room like helping with those sort of things like how did you mentally stay strong to that like is that is that when you look at your daughter and be like I need to get back my fee for her yeah yeah she was such a big uh such a big part of it the motivation you know because when I would really think of like I used to think about non-stop every day but when I really used was like when I didn't have an in me myself to do a lot of stuff you know and I was like okay well if you can't show up for yourself today you need to show up for wh cuz I could nearly just make that mental switch every day no matter how down I felt because make no mistake about it there's a lot of down days a lot like and I'm not talking about like I'm having a bad day like like heavy day is you know but that's it I didn't make um you know because I'm just such a person for I just don't really like when people are victims of life you know I'm I'm really I really don't like that you know it's kind of like other so many people I I see kind of blaming other people on on things and you know what I say to people is if it's always somebody else's fault there's nothing you can do about it you know so that's why you need to take accountability for yourself and your life because when you take accountability for yourself and your life then you can change it because you say to yourself okay well I'm going to putt myself into this mess now I can get myself out this mess but when you're constantly being a victim of life and you're constantly blame other people you can't get over because it's not your fault that's what they think in the head I mean I could easily say oh this is not fair you know I went to the gym that day and whatever I brought myself to that gym you know I know what I was signing up for it's nobody else's fault it's my fault because I brought myself to the gym that day yeah I might not I might not have broke me own neck you know but at the same time I brought myself to the gym and like I said I never blamed anybody else I took accountability for it and that's because you know I knew that if I took accountability for myself and my actions then I could be the one to get myself over you know yeah AB absolutely and like I think I think that's where people get so much motivation from listening to you know I mean like the the accountability Peaks the you know the determination like the um the consistency of everything that like you saying do and like you know some people all the time say I'm going to do this I'm going to do that but like every time you say something you do it I think I think the word I was looking for is the discipline discipline you've shown since the injury like it's like you've took everything that you would have put into fighting and putting into your recovery and this and like and on the days where like you said you're in in the deepest dark as hle like you managed to see the light and dig your s over it's absolutely incredible and so inspirational um one another thing I did want to ask just like on the hospital is do you still go up to Belfast for your checkups and when like you walk into that hospital now like did the staff look at you like you're you're some sort of Superman after walking back in there um I actually haven't been back up to the hospital since because uh they referred me to the hospital down in Dublin and then obviously they never really would have been now judging like me prognosis and stuff when they see me they're like you know I like say for instance I only went to the hospital there not long ago for a checkup cuz I wanted extra physio of them cuz I'm I'm always like all right come on let's get let's get walking I want more walk like the the guys in the other strengthen to two I get H like kind of walk outs with them every single day I walk out with them with h with at least one of them but I'm all about okay can I get extra somewhere else I'm constantly looking to work so I was in the hospital and they gave me this little test and do I like Ryan there's nothing we can do for you because you're at there just getting some like above this test you know like you got it like do a score on the test and you're just that they just getting so much above it that we know that there's nothing that we can actually do for you in here so our advice is whatever you do now we probably wouldn't have been able to do better than that anyway so just continue to keep on doing what you're doing so yeah that's yeah unfortunately H you know they they actually can't do anything for me because I just PA all the tests well sh and share to yourself for showing up every day you know what I mean as I listen to you uh on the talk bollocks you know what I mean it's not like you know you get to go to the gym every day you get to go to your rehab every day so that's that's that's again like it's just that mindset like I can't speak highly enough about it but no I appreciate it I appreciate it and it's that's it like like I say I I never disrespect Myself by saying something you know talking negative to myself because you know even boys you should hear hear how I speak to me daughter you know if she's not look thinking that she can be the president of world of the world but the time she's tell how I speak to her I'll be really surprised because the stuff I they even say to hor now like about confidence and the way she like people think that she doesn't really understand it because she's only like three years old but trust me it goes in you know and that that's like it's all about how you speak to yourself because people think you know it's like as soon as you break like little things like you know um you say you're going to show up that day but you don't that's like a little a little nugger of Doubt then you say you're G to do something else and you don't that's another little nugger of doubt and then the next thing you know they all compound and you're starting to really doubt yourself that's why I don't doubt myself because no matter what I say if I say that I'm going to show up and stay there for 10 hours then I'll do it because I never let myself down and that's where the confidence comes from I never make excuses you know I'm always there I'm always putting in the work and I never let myself down I don't speak bad to myself I don't speak negative to myself everything I say is really positive and um yeah I'm just all about just working hard and and just putting in the putting in the hard work and H doing what I need to do yeah I was gonna say as a handsome man who's well-dressed from D1 once said those that say they can and those that say they can't are usually both right exactly cuz that's that's it you know the person who thinks he's can who thinks they can will do it and the person who thinks they can't won't do it because they at the to is why would I even try and do it because I'm not going to be able to anyway and then the upset is true they say or can do it and you if you're saying that I can do it you're not really letting anybody else talk your over you know like like me and never let anybody talking me out do anything that I want to do because they're not putting in the work like I'm willing to put in the work or do whatever I'm look I'm willing to do you know like I said if I tell you I'm going to do something I'll put in 23 hours a day just give me one hour rest even you know what I mean but I'll do it so you know no one has the right to tell me that I can and can't do something yeah R Ryan just before we just ask you a bit more about what's next in the future uh could you could you let us know was there anything you would have done differently in your in your process in the last year say say that one more time like in is there anything you would have done differently in the last year of like your recovery that you would have done differently um that I would have done differently I can't I honestly I can't say that I would have done anything um different differently you know like I think and I think that's why I'm trly at the point that I'm at so fast cuz you know I speak to even people who have got got back walking from stuff like this and I I speaking to a guy and he told me that he could only stand up after three years and he didn't start even taking steps till six years you know so I believe the reason we went fire along so quick is because I have done everything possible you know I don't does like I don't even know something that I haven't tried to get to this point you know I've always had super clean I've always took the right supplements the right nutrients of got stem cells I've done extra sessions um then know we got I went outside the hospital to get more work I I you know I I've done almost everything off the top of my head that I can that I could think of because that's how bad I wanted to do it you know what I mean there was no there was no if if if an obstacle came up then I just found another way to do whatever I wanted to do and I never let any barriers way no that's you see I feel like I've been sh in this episode cuz I'm just like just in all What You've Done Right honestly bro um I appr that looking into looking into the future on like like is there anything that you sort of want to achieve now because like obviously you have to over coming something like probably the biggest Hur of your life like is there anything else you you plan on doing like whether it be like I don't know like a triathlon or like climb a mountain or is there is there any that sort of stuff that's G to your head that you're like I've done this now I want to go and try to do that yeah I definitely I'm I'm definitely thinking to do them stuff and to be honest boys them stuff are not even too far away I know that from know from how we moving and what we're doing in the gym at the minute that them kind of things are not too far away and that'll be the only reason why I live I even will want to do something like that is again just to show people that it can be done because I know that I will be able to do it regardless you know but when the time comes and I'm physically able to do it I it will be more to just show other people because that's all I want to do I just want to show everybody that it's you're capable you're capable of doing whatever you want to do as long as you're willing to work hard show up put the time and effort in and don't let anybody tell you that it's not possible then you can do whatever you want to do and you know that's like for young kids that's for people like my daughter coming up you know one thing that I um that I really doal over about Market that I say that I do notice over there is as soon as you come out of room over there they tell you that you can be the president of the country you can be the president of the United States you know and I wish that you know there was more more of that talk to young children over here I feel like we're quick to set limits on young kids and just people in general over here you know I don't I feel like Ireland's and you know how we speak about Oreland it's the greatest country in the world I love it but I think like if I had one thing to change that' be it you know I feel like H there were too quick to put limits on people over here big time Big Time well I do think it's a you sort of grow up where you grow up and you're sort of taught like that's that's that's your that's your limit at times you know what I mean and like yeah you know people can go on to do incredible things and do whatever they want you know what I mean so I definitely would agree with that um another thing that I did want to touch on um what's what's it like now when you go back up to Flight Academy Ireland obviously we saw you win an award there you know I mean you're AB beloved up there I mean like like we always say you're the biggest character in the room when you go up there what's it like when when you go back up there and you walk back into that room yeah it's great it's just it's it's just phenomenal it's what a gym you know the the the the coaches the fighters the people everybody it's just it's just a great atmosphere I just love being in a place that has a really good atmosphere and it's just it's just such a good gym and you know there's no surprise there's no secret to why the gym is doing so well when you've been in the gym and you see the war getting torn down you see the effort being put in by everybody up there and the coaches what the coaches do you know um it's just it's just phenomenal and it's no surprised that like you have people like Paul y on W stages and down things like he's down and Paul is only now getting the recognition he deserves but obviously now people know who Paul is but there's an army behind Paul that people don't know the names yet and he will soon big Ryan we can't we can't let you go without asking as well like like to summarize your MMA career like like like overall what like how would you describe it yeah it's just you know we are talking we are talking D that day and it was just h I'm extremely proud and happy of me MMA career H you know it's a shame that it ended like it did because I really me dream me dreams was just to get to the UFC I always just wanted to get to the UFC um and I'm like I am disappointed that I never got there but you know I had like a lot of bad luck coming towards at the end of me career and stuff and you know that they would agree that might have been God gone you know this is not for you we need you to do something else and I wasn't listening and he had to just take me from that you know but I really would have love to fight in the UFC because that was me dream but um yeah what like some some of the best like definitely hands down some of the best nights of me life and some of the loyal supporters and the best support in the world um have have been the deny to me f and I like I really I really Lov that and the the people who who got behind me you know and traveled with me throughout the world you know it was it was such a an electric career I fought on some of the biggest stages in the world and yeah it was great that it was just I would have just like and Def the UFC but look it is what it is at least you know I was having like a because you know like I'm not I'm not a quitter or whatever you know but coming towards me at the end of me career like me last couple of fights I'm like I'm just like so disappointed because I show up I Walk Hard I do you know four hours a day I used to drive from Dublin to Belfast te up and then two back you know I I done everything possible to get there um and I don't it because you never want to be that person that's like retires that does something and then be like oh what if what if I had to just kept pushing or what if I had to kept on working hard and I would eventually got there so like I was saying I I couldn't ever looked at me dark in her eyes and told her that um you're capable of doing anything if I had to gave up in me dreams so it does pum me mind a little b a little bit I is to know that I done everything possible and it was actually taken away from me as opposed to me giving up on my dreams yeah I'll never forget toy Bellator in the tree Arena as well when like he abely stole the show like that was that was that night was abely electric wasn't it us yeah it really was cuz uh I think you were early enough on the night but like the the noise out of the the chaos cartel was absolutely frightening that night you know I mean they really came in their drives to to support you and look I suppose it just goes to show all the support you're getting now and like look you are one of the most famous people in the country in the MMA scene right now you know mean and like I think you're probably the most well- wished person in the country out of the entire MMA scene like everyone is dy to see you know what what's your next feat and what what will royan curs do next and like I I think you've made Believers out of everyone yeah yeah and I want to look they put that Fai in me and you know I'm happy to prove them right you know I'm happy to prove myself right but I'm happy to prove everybody else right also you know and like it like that whether it's a your MMA career a business you know you you want to run for a president whatever it may be you can do it you just have to believe in yourself and show up and put in the hard work and I'm happy that I was able to display that to people because you know a lot of people tell me every day like oh you've really got me through some hard times and they even hear that in itself from people is like crazy because like I said I didn't set out to be this inspirational person or it wasn't for that um for that for that H like reason that I done anything you know I just was like okay you know I know what I can do and I'm going to get back to me fee but then as time went on and people were saying like oh hell like this guy he's actually you know because obviously it was so severe so I think even at the start a lot of people didn't think that was going to do and then as it was happening in front of people's eyes they were like oh he's actually doing it he's not just yeah talking about or whatever this is actually happening in front of our so yeah to to hear people get confidence and inspiration from me just mean so much yeah is it yeah I'm still blown away but the whole entire story Ry like like I'm like I'm sure you're not you never doubted yourself once but like just having you on like tell I think this is probably like the the the craziest and like heartwarming podcast we've probably ever done R um yeah it's definitely one of my favorites f one probably my favorite to be honest and like it's weird to say that before you finished it but like it's just one of those ones where like yeah you mean I don't think we've ever had someone on and like you've listened to their journey and just went like this guy is the go and like right now man you are the guy like at the end of the day you're making people believe anything is possible and you're proving so many people wrong so often and I suppose like going through something so lifechanging really really made you realize like who are the real ones around you and on top of that also who like you know I mean who actually believes in you and who was just saying they believ in you the whole time yeah and then that's what I said from the start it's like it's so nice to have support and everybody believe in you and even people down in me yeah no problem but the most important thing is I believed in me and that's what people need to take away from this it doesn't matter who who says that you can't do something as long as you believe in you that's the main thing you know that that really is the main thing and you know that's one thing that I'll always instill in me thought and me future kids that I'll never put a limit on any of them you know and the thing about it is I just want them to be happy if they're collecting stamps all I ask is they be the best they try and be the best a collecting stamps that's all I want from them you know to show up every day and put in the effort and just do what makes you happy but don't listen to anybody who tells you that you can't do something Ryan is before we let you get back on with the rest of your day is there anything else you want to say to the all the the chaos cartel tuning in yeah no I just I just want to say from the bottom of my heart everybody who's ever done anything for me and reached out and sent me lovely messages you know you you you guys are the ones that kept me going you know on the dark days it was all you guys and even you two guys you know you show me loyalty from the very beginning of this you know we we you know just just sending me well wishes and and just keeping me in the public uh talking about me and stuff like that you know it really it really is very overwhelming the amount of people who have done a lot for me and the the world really is a an incredible place and I always try and pay it forward I've always tried to pay it forward from from long before the accident but on making a a mission to reach out and help people and anything yeah anything anybody needs I'll be here yeah can you uh can you send me on that uh turtleneck please send I'll send always yet uh pretty pretty medium extra medium extra medium I'm excess myself yeah extra stocky yeah yeah we want to thank you very much for your time board and we'll let you get on with the rest of your day appreciate it boys thanks so much for having me on you're the man the enjo show up the orish it's the face that runs the place chaos ctis I want to thank the orish MMA community so much for getting behind me y up the chaos cartel