Matt was a badass. He was so humble and cool when he came to the Lions Den. He was always happy to roll with everyone and share what he knew. Matt hasn't aged AT ALL either! -Isaac
I was a "hang-out" at the lions den. They didn't really have students. It was literally just a "if you know, you know" type gym. There were about four or five hangouts like me. Dude named Jake (Gumby), Brian Espinosa, myself and a few others. We would roll around with Scott B and Vernon White. Dudes from Pancrase would come visit and stay at that fighter house Matt talks about. It was an amazing time in the UFC. People did it for the love of testing themselves. I remember Roni was a Kung-Fu guy and he told me after the tryout that he just wanted to see if he COULD do it. I think once he passed the tryout, he was done with his goal. I saw a LOT of dudes come through the Lions Den in my years just hanging out. Matt Rocca was my favorite. He didn't have an ego. He was there to teach and learn. I think he eventually injured his eye? I could be mixing up that story with Mikey Burnett though. Matt was deeply missed when he left by the fellas. It's great to see him doing well. Thanks for the interview and walk down memory lane!
Matt was a badass. He was so humble and cool when he came to the Lions Den. He was always happy to roll with everyone and share what he knew. Matt hasn't aged AT ALL either! -Isaac
I was a "hang-out" at the lions den. They didn't really have students. It was literally just a "if you know, you know" type gym. There were about four or five hangouts like me. Dude named Jake (Gumby), Brian Espinosa, myself and a few others. We would roll around with Scott B and Vernon White. Dudes from Pancrase would come visit and stay at that fighter house Matt talks about. It was an amazing time in the UFC. People did it for the love of testing themselves.
I remember Roni was a Kung-Fu guy and he told me after the tryout that he just wanted to see if he COULD do it. I think once he passed the tryout, he was done with his goal.
I saw a LOT of dudes come through the Lions Den in my years just hanging out. Matt Rocca was my favorite. He didn't have an ego. He was there to teach and learn. I think he eventually injured his eye? I could be mixing up that story with Mikey Burnett though. Matt was deeply missed when he left by the fellas. It's great to see him doing well. Thanks for the interview and walk down memory lane!