My name is Dillon Holiday and I’m a mail handler in Manasota, FL. Outside of the Postal Service, I’m a mixed martial arts fighter.
I played football in high school and college, but after my second torn ACL, I thought, “Ah, I just can’t do this anymore.” I came home from college to get surgery done, and the physical and emotional pain afterward was the worst I ever felt. I could not sleep from the pain.
I was very disciplined in my football days, lifting weights and running track to stay in shape. In between sports and working for the Postal Service, I wrote a book, “Blinders,” about how I stay consistent and disciplined to keep physically strong.
In 2020, I got into mixed martial arts, or MMA for short. I have been a fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and MMA for years. When I first heard about them, I felt this is something I can be great at. The more I trained, the better I got.
My first match was in November. I was not 100 percent, in terms of health, and I had to rely on every ounce of training I put in.
It was quite an experience. No matter how nervous I felt, I kept my head down, stayed patient, and won the match in one minute in the first round.
Patience is the biggest lesson I have learned in MMA. When a fighter is impatient, they tend to panic, which gives his opponent the advantage. It is a game of endurance rather than a sprint to the finish.
Going to MMA matches such as the one I fought in, and the gyms where I train, they all cost a lot of money. My Postal Service job allows me to cover gym membership, travel costs and registering for matches.
I am grateful to all my friends and family who continue to support me in my endeavors.
“Off the Clock,” a column on Postal Service employees and their after-hours pursuits, appears regularly in Link.
