Born and raised in Bakersfield, Tyler Bell is training to become a mixed martial artist.
The lightweight Bell, 19, a Bakersfield College student, has always had an interest in fighting. “Growing up I was always into street fighting. We used to box in the streets of our old neighborhood when we were bored,” said Bell.
This interest in fighting got him interested in kickboxing, which helped him lose 60 pounds during his junior year of high school. During his senior year of high school, Bell began wrestling after being encouraged by a friend, and through wrestling he met Jason Meek, Jr., who introduced him to mixed martial arts, which refers to combining martial art forms to compete in fights against others, the most popular MMA organization being The Ultimate Fighting Championships. Bell began training with Meek at Underground Training only 11 months ago.
Bell trains in boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, several wrestling styles and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Training a minimum of four days a week, Bell says he’s caught on quickly which he attributes to his gym’s emphasis on sparring and the helpfulness of its members. “A lot of times they’ll show you your mistakes by exploiting it,” said Bell. “If we leave ourselves open to a certain strike they’ll hit us with it.” Bell then went on to describe several sparring matches where he learned how to guard himself the hard way.
Bell continued about his training, “Because of how many people there are . . . we learn how to fight with different ranges, different sizes.” Bell mentioned that the majority of the people he trains with are in their 30s and 40s and that although he started training recently, he feels he’s learning fast because he can keep up with the more experienced and physically stronger members. “I didn’t do martial arts when I was young and I feel like I’m behind but with the quality of training I get, I can keep up with them.”
Bell said that fighting is his way to release stress.
“It’s a big stress relief for me. I get to hit people. You get frustrated with something, you go train and you let it all out,” said Bell. “You sock them in the face, kick them in the face. You’re not trying to hurt them.” Bell then paused and continued, “OK, you are trying to hurt them but you’re not trying to knock them out.” He then went on to say that he had never been knocked out while sparring and that MMA type fights are safer than most people would believe, noting that no one has ever died in a sanctioned MMA fight and that the rules and regulations along with the strict referees prevent fights from going too far.
Although Bell is eager to fight, he is eager about going into the ring. “Right now I’m doing a kick boxing tournament to try and get my nerves for competing. If I’m going to do a full MMA match I’m going to need that,” said Bell who went on to say he would enter any amateur event he could to ease his tension before fighting in front of a large match in an MMA fight.
Bell also admitted that he becomes scared at times. “These guys are older than us, definitely more experienced so I get nervous sometimes,” said Bell. “Getting kicked hurts. Getting kicked, punch, everything hurts. So sometimes you get shy because you don’t feel like getting your ass beat but you get into it.” Bell noted he was especially nervous because he had a tournament coming up on March 27. According to Bell, his foot was broken during his first match although he went on to win the fight but lost during his next match.
Bell says the length of his limbs and his double jointedness are big advantages for him in the ring. “Certain holds just don’t work on me because I’m double jointed.” He then went on to list a few popular holds that are ineffectual toward him, such as the Kimura, a type of shoulder lock. Although he described himself as well rounded, he noted that he needs to improve his takedowns and become more used to pain, especially shin kicks.
Having begun training in MMA only 11 months ago Bell is hopeful for his future in the sport. “I want to have my first UFC fight within a year or two, I should probably give myself more time than that.”
For inspiration Bell looks to UFC champion George St-Pierre because of his well-rounded style and positive attitude toward training and fighting, and Urijah Faber because of his focus. Bell also noted that his coach Jason Meek Sr. has “an endless knowledge [of martial arts.] Every week he has something to show us. I don’t think I could ever retain as much as he does, but I want to. I want to be that good but I know it’s going to take years.”
Bell said his training has come in handy in real life. “I got into a fight with some drunk guy twice my weight. I won, I ended up knocking him out.” Martial arts have also boosted Bell’s confidence off the mat.
When asked what he’d be doing if he weren’t fighting, Bell said he’d still be working out but would lack the passion he has for exercise now because it would lack the feeling of competition. “Back in the day, I was a nerd,” Bell paused, while pulling a Nintendo DS from somewhere on his person, and then said, “Actually, I still am a nerd. I still watch cartoons and everything. I’d probably be doing too much of that.”
Outside of training, Bell is a full time student, working on obtaining a degree in Physical Therapy, works a job, and finds time to hang out with friends. “Right now, my big focus is school. I want to get school done as fast as I can. I set a goal; I want to have my master’s degree by age 25. That way if I want to focus more on MMA I’ll have everything ready, my life will be set up.”
In his personal life Bell has a close-knit group of friends that he calls his brothers. Bell said, “I think without them things would be kind of hard, without them life wouldn’t be that great.” Although they all have their own lives, they still manage to support and see each other on a daily basis. Bell said that they are especially important to him at this time of the year, as he mourns for his sister who passed away two year ago. Her birthday was in early April. “She was our (Bell and friends’) big sister. They know how it can be, so they stay around.”
“MMA definitely helped me through that,” said Bell when discussing his sister’s passing. “There’s something my friend Jason Jr. said, ‘No matter what happens, MMA will always be there.’ It will always be there. It’s there, you can always train, it won’t change on us. Styles can get better, you can change yourself in MMA but MMA will always be there. It’s something constant to keep in mind so you can keep focus.”