Never meet your idol

“Never meet your idol”. That is a qoute I have heard from mentors to movies. George St. Pierre said it after his loss to Matt Hughes. Now Pat Barry is think it from his loss to Mirko Cro Cop in the last UFC 115 – Headlined by Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin.

Par Barry is a young lion that has scary striking skills and he was pit against K-1 and Pride Champion Mirko Cro Cop. In fact, Barry admitted that CC was his idol. In the first round, Barry knocked down Mirko twice but did not follow up. Althought he claimed that he knew he was going to knock him out due to his aggressive and accurate striking, his “respect” for his opponent cost him as Mirko turned around the fight and wound up, of all things, submitting the up and coming Pat Barry.

In the process, Barry broke his hand AND foot in the match and was seen in a wheelchair at airport leaving for home. Dana White said he could have won the match early but allowed his idol to recover. Something you can’t due in this sport. My final words are, although the martial arts are about respect, we must protect ourselves. Afterall, our job is to become better than those who preceded us. As long as we do it with honor.