Issue 062

May 2010

At first glance, John ‘The Hitman’ Hathaway could pass for your average middle-class British boy. He’s polite and well spoken, plays a lot of Xbox, collects Darkhorse comics and he loves rugby.  

But underneath this very average 22-year-old facade is a UFC veteran and a rising British fighter on the verge of breaking into the top ten of the UFC welterweight division.  

Formerly a flanker for Hove Rugby Football Club, Hathaway is a natural athlete. Strong and aggressive, he has excelled at sports all his life. However it wasn’t until recently that he became a true mixed martial artist. “You can rely on athleticism to a certain point,” says Hathaway, “but not forever. I wouldn’t look at something like rugby as a recruiting ground for MMA. Technique-wise, rugby doesn’t help so much. But mentally it definitely does. You get used to the hard training and the commitment. But today, I’m a fighter first and an athlete second.”  

The Brighton native first tried his hand at MMA after watching an early season of The Ultimate Fighter. He made his professional debut in 2006 with a submission win, and since then has wholly dedicated himself to the sport and has gone undefeated for 12 professional bouts, with his latest victory taking place against Paul Taylor at UFC 105. He is currently one of the youngest fighters competing in the UFC.  

Whether training at Brighton’s ZT Fight Skool, sparring at London Shootfighters or training at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in America, Hathaway absorbs new knowledge and techniques like a sponge. As the years pass by, expect his game and skill-set to improve and evolve. While the stars of yesteryear had their start in one particular martial art before becoming well rounded, Hathaway is of the new generation: a fighter-athlete who started with mixed martial arts from the very beginning of his training. He places an equal importance on striking, wrestling and jiu-jitsu, and is comfortable in all ranges. “I think there’s a place for everything in MMA,” says Hathaway. “Even something advanced, like Eddie Bravo’s rubber guard. The key is to not rely on one skill-set alone.”

On May 29, Hathaway will take on his toughest opponent to date when he goes head-to-head with the first The Ultimate Fighter winner, Diego ‘The Nightmare’ Sanchez. A victory could fast-track the Brit’s career overnight, launching him into the upper echelons of the 170lb weight class. A defeat could be devastating. Though ‘The Hitman’ will undoubtedly be entering the Octagon as a heavy underdog, he’s not overly worried – after all it’s nothing he hasn’t dealt with before. “Oh, I’ve been the underdog plenty of times,” says Hathaway. “I’m used to being the underdog. It’s always worked out.”  

If there’s one thing that sets Hathaway apart from other fighters, it’s not so much the physical attributes, but more the mental ones that have helped him, namely his winning mindset and self-confidence – two attributes he inherited from his earlier athletic career. He never shrinks away from a challenge, even if that challenge holds a 21-3-0 record and wins over some very respectable competition. Some fans and commentators believe that Sanchez is too big of a step for the young welterweight, but Hathaway chooses to ignore the naysayers. Instead he presents a positive viewpoint and treats the tilt as a golden opportunity, one that will change his career forever. “I wasn’t expecting to get such a huge name so early,” says Hathaway. “I don’t choose my opponents – I just fight whoever they put in front of me. I’m really excited. He’s going to take the fight seriously. He always does.”  

One can only admire Hathaway’s refusal to get involved in any kind of negative thinking, both inside and outside the Octagon. But the uber-intense Sanchez is also known for his mental strength. In fact, the welterweight is a devotee of personal power guru Tony Robbins. Their encounter could turn into an exciting battle of wills, with each fighter attempting to impose himself on the other.  “He’s going to be intense,” says Hathaway. “That’s who Diego is and always has been. But we’re preparing for him. There are some things that we’ve noticed he really likes to do, especially during his takedowns – things that we’re preparing for.”  

But the sneak peek stops there. Though clearly super-competitive, the former rugby player is far from cocky and prefers to keep his game plan a secret. Always respectful, Hathaway even abstains from any kind of trash talking about his opponents, a rarity among young fighters. In some ways he is reminiscent of a young Georges St Pierre – well rounded and humble, but with still so much to prove. “I don’t like to say too much,” says Hathaway. “I look at someone humble like Georges St Pierre and I hope I can be like that when I get to that level. I’ll do my talking in the Octagon.”

Hathaway may be polite and passive outside of the Octagon, but when it comes down to business it’s a different story. At an age where most young men spend their time drinking and partying, Hathaway takes his career very seriously and has thoroughly dedicated himself to his training, with his recent successes at the UFC only firming his resolve. But success hasn’t gone to Hathaway’s head, and he hopes it never will. “My life hasn’t changed so much since signing with the UFC,” says Hathaway. “I get up, have some breakfast, go for a run, go to London. I train twice a day and then go home, or sometimes I stay in London for a few days. Life is pretty boring when you’re in training for a fight. The amount I get paid has changed though.”

Since signing with the UFC Hathaway has improved by leaps and bounds, and he seems to be getting better with each passing fight. But he’ll be the first to admit that there’s still plenty of room, and time, for improvements. “I think I’m well rounded,” says Hathaway. “But I still haven’t found my game, what works and what doesn’t work for me. You learn that from experience, from being in the Octagon. Fighters don’t hit their physical and mental peaks until they’re 28 or 29, so I’ve got time to figure it out. I think finding my game is a top priority for me.”

Despite his schedule Hathaway manages to find time for other personal endeavors. He loves to learn, and not just when it comes to MMA. Unknown to most, the young fighter is somewhat of a military-history enthusiast, who loves to immerse himself in books about ancient empires. In another life he may have been a historian. “I quite like reading about ancient history,” says Hathaway, “especially ancient empires and warrior cultures – the Greeks, the Romans, Genghis Khan and the Mongols. Also pre-Roman Britain – I’m fascinated by what Britain was like before the Romans got here. I really enjoy reading about that.” 

In many ways Hathaway and his future opponent are polar opposites, with Sanchez being the intense, outspoken, mainstream American superstar, while Hathaway is the quiet underdog, the humble and well-read Brit. MMA fans could be in for a real treat on May 29, as this clash of personalities, styles and wills should make for one hell of a fight.  

While Diego Sanchez may be more experienced, underestimating the soft-spoken Brit (as so many others have done) could prove to be a very costly mistake. In the past the TUF alumnus has referred to Hathaway as “a tough kid,” but after four years in the cage Hathaway is much more than that. He is no longer an athlete with an interest in MMA. He is now a true fighter, a combat-athlete with a dedicated training schedule, a contract with the world’s top promotion and very clear goals. “Goals? Well first I need to find my game,” says Hathaway. “Then break into the top ten and eventually get the belt. It’s not going to happen overnight.”  

Although he is a long way off from challenging the likes of Georges St Pierre, at 22, Hathaway already has the mindset and work ethic of a champion. He is so unlike the toughmen who have become mixed martial artists in the smaller British circuits; he is exactly the sort of talent the sport needs to gain mainstream legitimacy in the UK, and he knows it. But before he can focus on these noble pursuits, Hathaway has his own mini battle of legitimacy to contend with in the form of a skeptical father. “My dad is still a bit skeptical about the UFC,” says Hathaway. “He’s got better though. He’s starting to come around and he’s picking up what is allowed and what isn’t. Hopefully I can set a good example.”  

More than meets the eye

John Hathaway may be a history nerd who loves Xbox and collecting comic books, but he isn’t the only fighter with secret hobbies – not by a long shot. From chess to playing the harmonica, the men of the Octagon do it all.  

Georges St Pierre

The UFC welterweight champion is an avid chess player.  

Fedor Emelianenko

The heavyweight king is a skilled visual artist, who spends much of his spare time drawing cartoon characters.

Rashad Evans

The former light heavyweight champion is a skilled barber and hair stylist. His guinea pigs? The family, who else?  

‘Big’ John McCarthy

Before becoming a world-renowned referee, McCarthy was an avid water polo player. Rumor has it that ‘Big’ John is still at it.

Tomasz Drwal

The Polish powerhouse loves to swim and has worked as a lifeguard.

Ryo Chonan

The former UFC middleweight spends a good deal of his spare time wall climbing.

Carlos Newton

The former UFC welterweight champion is a bit of a bookworm. Newton loves learning and has spent years studying both medicine and architecture.

Sergei Kharitonov

The Russian plays the harmonica. In fact, before becoming a pro fighter, Kharitonov even flirted with the idea of playing the unusual instrument professionally.