Piotr Hallmann left family in Poland to improve skills at MMA Lab in Arizona
So many times naturally talented athletes rest on their laurels and don't take steps to take their skills to the next level. Piotr Hallmann is not one of them.
Earlier this year, Hallmann made the decision to leave his home country of Poland and his gym there for training camp at the MMA Lab in Glendale, Ariz. He was already one of the top lightweight prospects coming out of Europe, but he wanted to try and raise his game even more.
So, he left behind his family, his girlfriend and his job as a second lieutenant in the Polish Navy and went to the desert, where he now trains under the tutelage of coach John Crouch with the likes of former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, former UFC flyweight No. 1 contender John Moraga and former "Ultimate Fighter" winner Efrain Escudero.
"Everything is bigger here," Hallmann told FOX Sports of the United States. "There are more fighters, more coaches. MMA has been around longer. There is more experience."
The change in scenery led to a third-round submission win over veteran Yves Edwards in June. Hallmann (15-2) earned a Performance of the Night bonus for the victory. He had lost to Al Iaquinta previously last October, but feels like he has improved exponentially heading into his co-main event fight Saturday with Gleison Tibau at UFC Fight Night on Fight Pass (8 p.m. ET) in Brasilia, Brazil.
"All I do [in Arizona] is train, stay at home, think about training and Skype with my family," Hallmann said.
The transition has been made easier because Hallmann has his striking coach, Roberto Flamingo, with him in Arizona. Flamingo, a native of Holland, has coached Alistair Overeem and with the Blackzilians. He met Hallmann in Europe and the two hit it off.
"He's almost like my family here," Hallmann said. "It has been a short time, but I really feel a difference working with him."
One of the most difficult things for Hallmann was to leave behind his duties in the Polish Navy. Along with his goals as a martial artist -- the 27-year-old took up karate at age 6 -- fighting for his country was something he always envisioned himself doing growing up.
"It's a big part of my life," Hallmann said. "I'm proud to be a soldier. That's also one of my dreams and I'm happy I can share some of those dreams."
But right now his focus is on the UFC and Tibau, one of the most experienced fighters in the entire organization. The 31-year-old Brazilian has racked up an extremely impressive 15-8 record in the UFC and has been a stalwart in the lightweight division for seven years. To put it in perspective, Hallmann didn't start his pro MMA career until 2009.
Edwards had similar credentials and Hallmann, a well-rounded fighter with sharp striking and dangerous submissions, finished him. Can he do the same to Tibau in Tibau's home country? Hallmann is relishing the opportunity.
When he left home to train at the MMA Lab, it was for reasons like this. A victory would get him closer to the UFC's official 155-pound contender rankings.
"I'm here and fighting with one of the names I've known for a long time," he said. "It's a great feeling."
