Fighter Interview: Dan "Dragon" Spohn
Fighter Spotlight: Dan “Dragon” Spohn
Laurah Hallock and Logan Rance
There’s no easy day for Dan Spohn. When his feet hit the floor each morning, he embraces a grind that would send most fighters packing. On any given day, Dan is juggling fatherhood, marriage, a full-time construction job, and training– all while moving towards his ultimate goal of fighting in the UFC. On July 18th, Dan’s determination will pay off. As Dan jets off to Las Vegas to appear on Dana White’s Contender Series: Week 2, he leaves behind family and friends both in and out of the gym who eagerly wait to see him achieve his dream. This Tuesday, Dan will get to show the world a level of skill and athleticism unrivaled by most athletes. But what they won’t see is the effort that went into making Dan the fighter he is today– the countless hours on the mats, hundreds of rounds in the ring, and the unwavering support of his family and training partners.
Dan started martial arts at the age of 11, training an old school striking art called Kachido Aikjitsu. True to his roots, he considers this to be his greatest strength. He was drawn to MMA for the sense of belonging, something he felt he lacked during his youth. As someone who moved frequently growing up, finding a gym was like finding a home. Training first under Tim McConaughey and now at Ronin Training Center, Dan found his second family in the gym. Before Dan returns to the ring, he and his wife Rachel talked with RTC about what goes into making a fighter in and out of the ring.
What is your favorite aspect of training at Ronin TC? My favorite thing is that it feels like home. You feel like you can be yourself and train. Also, it's very humbling to be able to work with very high level people without feeling uncomfortable. It’s a huge family atmosphere and you feel welcome every time. It’s the best grappling training you'll find in the Midwest, and it's a whole different level than anything else in the area.
What is your mindset when you are training compared to when you are competing? It’s a very similar mindset. When I'm training I try to help other teammates and not always beat my teammates but focus on improving my skills and mistakes. When I'm competing my goal is a little different. I try to beat that person and win on every aspect of the fight.
How do you deal with negativity from other opponents? I enjoy it! If I get negativity from my opponent it inspires me to get in the cage and fight them harder. It’s only encouraging me to get more aggressive.
What do you believe makes the difference between champions and non-champions? Not giving up. Pushing through the difficult times. Knowing how to handle loss. It’s not a matter of not losing...but a matter of how to lose and come back to use that to motivate you to never give up and get better.
What has been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete? Making it to UFC. But what I’m doing now is one of my biggest because I can represent Ronin in front of Dana White and show him why I'm ready to take myself to the next level.
How do you handle stress and pressure? I work with a sports psychologist, David Mullins (works with SBG Team from Ireland) who really helps me handle and approach things. You are only affected by what you let in.
And lastly, but most importantly…
What is your favorite cheat meal? A Five Guys burger.
There’s an old saying that many are familiar with: “Behind every great man is a great woman.” While this is usually said with good intentions, it does not accurately reflect Dan and his wife Rachel. More accurate would be “Beside every great man is a great woman,” because Rachel has stood beside Dan along every step of this journey. Rachel works part time to support Dan and her three boys (all under 10 years old), spending her off time raising her kids and training as a martial artist herself. She offered us some insight on what it’s like to be married to a fighter, the challenges they face, and how it’s shaped their family.
How does being a father to three little boys set Dan apart as a fighter?
Being a father sets him apart in that he's a role model. From the way he interacts with opponents, to the way he handles a loss; impressionable eyes are always watching. He doesn't drink, do drugs, or party. He works hard and gives back to others constantly through teaching. I really think the UFC needs more examples like him for kids and aspiring fighters to look up to.
Has your family ever faced challenges as a result of Dan's intense training? If so, how do you overcome them?
We have faced MANY challenges. But every family has challenges, just in different ways. I'm so thankful we have all been in good health and our family is together. Every other challenge seems manageable. I've learned to keep things in perspective! Financially, we've struggled like many others. It's no secret that a fighter's life is a long, hard road and most often not glamorous. We've always been able to pull together as a family and make it work. We live on a budget and cook healthy meals. We always tell the boys anything worth doing requires sacrifice. As long as the kids are taken care of I'm ok with the challenges!
The biggest challenge has probably been dealing with unsupportive people ("haters" are many times disguised as friends or family) and judgmental people. We've both learned to tune those people out. You really become what/who you surround yourself with. So choose positive/healthy influences!
In what ways does Dan support you with your own training?
Dan always supports me 100% in anything I've ever expressed is important to me. It helps we are both martial artists, and share many of the same interests. He and my sister are actually the ones who encouraged me to start jujitsu! I had been on sort of a training hiatus since having babies and was struggling in different ways. They thought it would be great for me and they were right! Ronin's BJJ team is like a family! I love it there. Not just Ronin but all of jujitsu ...I'm amazed at how wonderful people who train BJJ are. They inspire me daily.
Dan has an amazing record of 15-5-0. After those few losses, how have you helped Dan get back on his feet and in the ring again?
I think Dan deserves most of the credit for this one. Honestly there were times when my resolve was pretty thin... We've been through some hard times during the fight career. Dan's belief in himself is SO strong. He will persist, persist, persist…even when the odds are against him. At the end of the day I've always had his back though, and tried to support him in any way I can. I know that mental training with his sports psychologist David Mullins has been a huge part of his ability to rebound from losses. He's pretty outspoken about the benefits of mental coaching because he knows it's something that can benefit all fighters, and help many athletes.
As a fighter and a father, what values does Dan try to instill in his boys? Has your family changed at all as a result of Dan's training and success?
Dan's core values (and mine as well) include kindness, respect for all life, hard work, discipline, helping others, persisting through difficulty and even fear. He's also a very positive person always grateful-which I think he learned from his mom!
I'm certain that won't change as his fight career becomes even more successful, because those things are a part of who he is.
There are countless ways in which both Dan and Rachel set themselves apart as martial artists. For Dan in particular, his respect for his team mates and refusal to quit when times get tough top the list. Although he is known throughout the gym for his huge smile and infectious attitude, don’t be fooled. When it’s time to fight, Dan dominates the ring and overwhelms his opponents with years of training and hard work under some of the country’s best instructors. Dan is truly one of a kind– a selfless father, supporting husband, and driven fighter with his goals set high. In less than a week he’ll have the opportunity to touch gloves with some of the most promising talent in MMA and claim the prize he’s worked for tirelessly.
Back at Ronin Training Center, we’ll all be watching and waiting to see what Dan Spohn will accomplish next. As Dan and his wife demonstrate every day, it takes a great family to make a great fighter.
