ON DECK: Seeing MMA in a new light

I've never been an Mixed Martial Arts fan.

I've never liked the brutality, I didn't like the atmosphere and I never really understood how fighting leagues worked in general.

While I still wouldn't call myself a fan, covering MMA in Yuma the past few weeks has opened my eyes to a sport people down here love.

After doing a profile on Joe Ochoa and covering Desert Rage XI, I realized there aren't a lot of fighters like him. He knows he's not the best in the world, and he's fine with that. He doesn't run his mouth at other fighters. He's humble, knows his place in the sport he loves and works hard to get better every second he can.

When given the opportunity to brag on himself after his 17-second knockout victory over Chai Martinez, he politely declined.

“I'm in one piece, I'm fighting now, I have a beautiful wife and family. I'm happy,” he said.

That's a fighter I'd like to watch.