Self belief is key to Kiwi's UFC success

In town to run an MMA training seminar, New Zealand-born UFC fighter Dylan Andrews signs a picture for Kaia Berridge, 8, and Paul Berridge at Stirling Sports Wanganui yesterday afternoon. Photo/Stuart Munro

Dylan Andrews will never take it for granted when someone asks him to sign his picture for them.

The 34-year-old from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was in Wanganui yesterday to run an MMA session at Fight Fit Gym, ahead of doing similar promotional work in Auckland leading up to New Zealand's first UFC show on June 28.

While he is thrilled to see the world's largest MMA promotion hold an event in his home country, Andrews (17-5-1) cannot compete at the Vector Arena card as he is still recovering from the bad shoulder dislocation he suffered in a loss to Clint Hester in December.

"I'm 50-50 on it [emotionally]. My ultimate dream was to fight back home. Having fights in Oz is cool, but this is home for me," Andrews said during an autograph session at Stirling Sports yesterday.

"I'll just promote it as best I can.

"We're on the second phase of [shoulder rehabilitation], we've worked on mobility for the past 3-4 months.

"Now the past couple of months is trying to strengthen the shoulder."

Andrews' personal story is straight out of a Rocky film.

Raised in Lower Hutt, he grew up in a home environment of drugs and alcohol abuse and was bullied in his school years, finishing without gaining any qualifications.

Moving to Australia in 2003, he discovered MMA at the Lion's Den Academy in Sydney and two years later had his first professional fight.

He spent eight years training and competing while still working fulltime.

During that time he was turned down twice for appearing on the UFC's Ultimate Fighter reality television show which known for discovering unknown fighters and making them stars.

Finally being accepted to appear on the 17th edition of the show, Andrews was not regarded as a top prospect, but won three straight fights to make the semifinals, despite an injured shoulder and cracked ribs, before being defeated by eventual runnerup Uriah Hall.

Andrews still received a UFC contract and won his first two fights before the defeat to Hester.

"It's been a long road, it hasn't been easy. The people close to me, they know the work's that been put in," he said.

Therefore, coming back to his homeland and signing posters with his own picture, Andrews is sure not to let the increased exposure go to his head.

"It's nice to go home, it's just really humbling, man.

"The fame, it just shows more of a progression, I don't think my status is better than anyone else.

"It just means what I'm doing is working."

What he accomplished just came from self belief, which was going to be the advice he offered the fighters attending his seminar at Fight Fit Gym yesterday evening. "I'm going to see all the faces that used to be me.

"It's very hard to tell someone 'you can do it', if you haven't essentially done it [yourself]. To have someone stand in front of you that has struggled and he's done it, that makes a difference.

"Belief the words don't seem like much, but they register in my head."