David Dodd: UFC 21 and 26 Badass

I recently caught up with UFC 21 and UFC 26 veteran David Dodd. Read below to hear the insane tale of how he went from Arizona to North Dakota to Columbia and became a Buddhist.

-- David Dodd is one of the old school badasses that stepped in the cage with whoever, whenever in the early days of MMA. His career began with a unanimous decision loss to UFC veteran Pat Smith in November of 98 at Extreme Challenge 22. That fight was followed up by another loss to the Native Warrior Tyrone Roberts from Tama Iowa - this time a TKO. The two would face each other again at UFC 26 in June of 2000. Unfortunately for David, it was another win for Roberts - though this time by way of a decision. Dodd faced some killers including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Travis Fulton, Mike Gallo and Vernon White - losing to all of them. The biggest win of his 4-7 career was an armbar finish of The Snowman Jeff Monson at Extreme Challenge 23. David no longer trains or follows the sport. Check out his story below.

When I was training Jiu-Jitsu and MMA I was a drug dealer to pay my bills. I scored a really big account before my last professional fight. Made so much money on the deal when that fight actually came up I was never able to shift into gear. Vernon tiger white knocked me out in the second round at a King of the Cage event. A week later I was back in Detroit with hockey bags full of dope. It can be said that I got knocked out of the fight by Vernon, but the truth is I never had it that night. The night before I signed for $1,500 and thought "Dave, what are you doing here?". I felt that way when I walked in the ring and couldn't turn it on.

I started trafficking dope professionally after that. I got pinched and did four and a half years Federal time. As soon as I got out of prison and off of parole, I headed to South America and set up a home. I'm only in North Dakota for work in the oil fields. It's a rotating schedule and on my off time I go home to Columbia. The US Dollar is strong and what I make in the American oilfield, I'm a rich man down there. The bad thing is, I only work about six seven months a year, so it just depends on bank account how many Christmas presents I need to get. That is my present status.

I was involved in martial arts as a kid because my dad was a Judoka. That was our family chore. That as a base, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and dirty boxing; really all I needed back in the day.

When I first got released from prison, I was on parole probation and I hung out in Phoenix where I trained with Gustavo Dantas and my adult son. It was really good therapy for me. I haven't followed MMA for a very long time. Couldn't really follow Jiu-Jitsu or Judo as a fan. I became a Buddhist in prison. I still lift weights and watch what I eat. Just no real fight training. Has a purpose and place in my life but just not a part of my present.

As far as dwelling on my losses, yes and no. You have to be careful dwelling on anything in the past. The professional fights I lost, I absolutely not dwell on. Those men were all professional athletes. Put a recipe together and put it on the table. All men of that caliber deserve what they get. Losing a professional fight is easy. The hardest part is just showing up. All losses hurt big ones and little ones. My lost to the federal government hurt the worst. We recover, we get up.

There's a whole lot more to the story and I started writing it down while I was in prison. I just kind of need some help finishing the story. Kind of an emotional rollercoaster, with pain. Love it and appreciate any interest in old schoolers. You got a taste of it and I'm interested to hear back from you. Peace and love David Dodd