New Zealand welterweight Mike Mathetha – who prefers to fight as “Blood Diamond” – isn’t the type to waste time hesitating or dwelling on the past when there’s an opportunity in front of him.
While the 34-year-old suffered a loss in his UFC debut, he’s filed that away and is only focusing on his upcoming bout against American Orion “Galaxy” Cosce at UFC 277 in Dallas, Texas.
It was a similar story at the very beginning of the Zimbabwe-born Kiwi’s career, when he’d walk by the City Kickboxing gym in Auckland and think it’d be nice to learn some martial arts. While it was a daunting prospect, Mathetha decided to stop wondering and go inside.
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“[That sort of situation] can be scary,” he reflects now, “but the important thing is to actually start. You can’t just think about things in life and expect them to happen.”
It wasn’t long before coach Eugene Bareman saw the new recruit’s potential and asked if he wanted to try a kickboxing fight. Mathetha said yes and soon joined a stable of fighters consisting of the likes of Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France and Carlos Ulberg.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 12: Mike Diamond of Zimbabwe warms up backstage with coach Eugene Bareman during the UFC 271 event at Toyota Center on February 12, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
Blood Diamond clicked with current UFC middleweight champion Adesanya and the two African-born Kiwis became fast friends. They trained together, travelled abroad to compete in kickboxing events together, roomed together and even cornered each other while fighting in China.
“The world knows him as Israel ‘The Last Stylebender’ Adesanya, but to me he’s just the same Iz I met all those years back,” says the 170-pounder fondly. “And he’s kept the same energy the whole time. He’s my brother.”
After competing in more kickboxing bouts than he can accurately recall, Mathetha eventually followed his good buddy across to MMA.
Fight By Fight Preview | UFC 277: Peña vs Nunes 2
“Basically, I was finding it hard to get opponents in kickboxing. Things had gone really quiet. Then Eugene told me that if I had some MMA experience, I would get heaps of fights,” recalls the up-and-comer.
Blood Diamond took that advice, put together a 3-0 record in mixed martial arts and scored a contract with the UFC. However, his initial bout against Jeremiah Wells at UFC 271 didn’t go according to plan, with the New Zealander finding himself submitted at the end of the first round.
“You live and you learn,” he concludes, noting, “Last time, you didn’t really get to see anything of me. I’d be an idiot if I fell for the same move twice. This time, I’ve got to be more patient.”
Indeed, Israel Adesanya echoed these sentiments on his YouTube channel, pointing out that plenty of people lose their debut MMA fights.
As already stated, his next opponent is Cosce at UFC 277.While it’s a matchup that has already been booked then scrapped a couple of times due to unforeseen circ*mstances, he is confident this will be a case of “third time’s a charm” – and he’s giving his foe plenty of respect.
“I don’t watch much tape, but I know he’s dangerous. Once you’re in the UFC, you are dealing with the world’s best. Also, he’s coming off a loss as well, so he will want to get a win badly. We’re both hungry – it’s going to be a fight to look forward to”
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As for how that fight will turn out…well, predictions are another thing that he doesn’t waste any time on, declaring, “I have none. I live in the moment. I focus on the now. I’m not a mind reader or fortune teller. I’m just going to show up and show what I’ve got.”
The only thing the man known as Blood Diamond is sure about at this stage is what he’ll do when he returns home from UFC 277 in Dallas: hang out with his partner, watch some anime and play with his pet dog.
“I just like to kick back and relax. Life is a blessing. You have to enjoy every second of it you’ve got.”
UFC 277: Peña vs Nunes, took place on Saturday, July 30, 2022 live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. See the Final Results, Official Scorecards, and Who Won Bonuses -and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
FAQs
"Sometimes I Wonder, Will God Ever Forgive Us For What We've Done To Each Other? Then I Look Around And I Realize, God Left This Place A Long Time Ago." This one is known to be one of the best quotes of the movie, and rightfully so.
What does it mean when someone says "shine bright like a diamond"? ›
'To shine bright like a diamond' is an attitude, a philosophy, a state of mind. It is also a journey and the destination is a happy place for sure. The Oxford dictionary defines to shine' as giving out a bright light, glowing, being bright with emotions, being very talented and performing very well.
What is the message behind Blood Diamond? ›
The film emphasizes how the actions of nations outside of Africa fuel illicit markets. One of the main plot lines within the film was how American buyers and the support of materialism promotes the illegal trade. In the film, Danny Archer states that by purchasing these diamonds, Americans are funding the war.
What questions to ask about blood diamonds? ›
1) Why are blood diamonds called blood diamonds? 2) Which term do you prefer, 'blood diamonds' or 'conflict diamonds'? 3) What do you know about blood diamonds? 4) Why do countries buy these diamonds?
What is the moral of the Blood Diamond? ›
He concludes, “What you do shows whether you are good or bad.” Indeed. And clearly identified here as evil is the indiscriminate killing of men, women and children in the name of conflict. Also that children should in no circ*mstance be used as either pawns in a war effort, or, worse, as soldiers on the front lines.
What does Leonardo DiCaprio say in Blood Diamond? ›
Danny Archer : Sometimes I wonder... will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other? Then I look around and I realize... God left this place a long time ago.
Is it correct to say shine bright like a diamond? ›
The correct phrase is "shine bright like a diamond." So, the corrected sentence would be: "Shine bright like a diamond." The addition of "bright" in this context adds emphasis and vividness to the imagery.
What does it mean to shine as a diamond? ›
The expression "shine like a diamond" is a metaphorical phrase often used to describe someone or something that exhibits brilliance, radiance, or exceptional qualities. It draws on the imagery of a diamond, a precious gem known for its sparkling and reflective properties.
Is "shine bright like a diamond" a metaphor? ›
But this phrase has a deeper meaning beyond just the formation of a precious gemstone. It is also a metaphor for learning to handle and overcome difficult times. We all face moments of pressure, stress, and adversity.
Do blood diamonds still exist? ›
Although many of these conflicts have now ended, the issue of conflict diamonds remains prevalent: the diamond industry is still often marked by appalling violence. Some governments and mining companies also have and continue to contribute to these atrocities (even in countries that are not at war).
The term is used to highlight the negative consequences of the diamond trade in certain areas, or to label an individual diamond as having come from such an area. Diamonds mined during the 20th–21st century civil wars in Angola, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau have been given the label.
Why are blood diamonds controversial? ›
blood diamond, as defined by the United Nations (UN), any diamond that is mined in areas controlled by forces opposed to the legitimate, internationally recognized government of a country and that is sold to fund military action against that government.
Why is Blood Diamond so good? ›
The film is well made, the script is engaging and the pacing is tight. We see the two leads depending on each other to get what they wanted, and the ultimate sacrifice they have to make is shocking. "Blood Diamond" is a must watch for anyone with a heart.
How accurate is Blood Diamond? ›
Is Blood Diamond (2006 movie) a true story based on the Sierra Leone Civil War? Most of the entire plot line of completely fake, but the conditions of the area are far too true, the horrors, and slavery to mine diamonds is very, very true.
What are the negatives of blood diamonds? ›
Diamonds have funded brutal wars in countries such as Angola, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, resulting in the death and displacement of millions of people.
What is the Bloodstone quote? ›
never mess with a Bloodstone! When I kill you with a motorcar, you should have the common decency to stay dead, you horrid little object.
What was Rambo's best quote in First blood? ›
Sylvester Stallone: Rambo
- Trautman : [1:24:53] You did everything to make this private war happen. ...
- Rambo : I could have killed 'em all, I could've killed you. ...
- Rambo : We were in this bar in Saigon and this kid comes up, this kid carrying a shoe-shine box. ...
- [last lines]
"Be like a diamond💎 precious and rare not like a stone that is found everywhere."
What is so special about blood diamonds? ›
Blood diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds, are diamonds that are mined in war zones and sold to finance armed conflicts against legitimate governments. These diamonds are often mined using forced labor, including children, and are traded illegally to illegally to fund violent conflicts and human rights abuses.
