Issue 073

March 2011

This month, the UFC welterweight contender looks forward to starting 2011 with a bang...

After tripping around the world harder than a hippy at Woodstock, I made it back to the UK for the holiday season. After the year I have had, getting stuck in LA on my own for Christmas would have been no surprise! So, after a brief three-hour visit to Amsterdam, I’m here in the frozen wastes that used to be Nottingham, England, waiting for Santa.

Since my last column I have been to the THQ building in LA to record some voice-over stuff for the new UFC game coming out for Xbox Kinect. I also went to Toronto to meet some fans and watch some fights, and to Montreal to corner Mac Danzig. Both trips were pretty awesome and very tiring, and a lot of people were surprised to see me without the Mohawk!

I managed to spend the pocket money I get from Uncle Dana on a few hundred records, a new guitar and harmonica (which I am determined to learn) and The Beatles: Rock Band. The last one being responsible for waking me up at 8am on a Sunday morning with Elizabeth my girlfriend singing Can’t Buy Me Love at the top of her voice, on numerous occasions.

Mr Silva has just emailed me to let me know who I’ll be punching next and I wish I could share, but I’m sure you will find out soon. [Dan’s next bout is likely to be against Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson at UFC Fight Night 24]. Needless to say, I’m pretty damn excited to get back in there. I actually had my mouthpiece in my pocket in Montreal, in case GSP or Krotch-check got sick or fell over and couldn’t fight.

Apart from that, I’ve been training hard and have been improving – growing the hair back too. My estimation is that in about two weeks I’ll start looking a little like one of the Monkees and have to wear a hat all of the time. I’m looking forward to starting 2011 with a good training camp.

So, a very happy New Year to you all! Think of something you can do in 2011 to become better and stick with it. I’m going to aim to cut back on the cookies to lower my coach’s blood pressure levels! As Jerry Springer would say: “Look after yourselves... and each other.”