This sport is growing. It's about patience, rather than getting

Derek Brunson, warrior of the cage, once spoke with clarity and humility: “This sport is growing. It’s about patience, rather than getting caught up in five in a row, want a title shot, main event. The goal is to put on a great fight and be smart.” These words, though simple in sound, are thunderous in their meaning. They remind us that the journey of the fighter — and indeed the journey of all human endeavor — is not measured in the fever of swift ambition, but in the steady flame of patience, the wisdom of restraint, and the devotion to craft.

For in this sport, as in life, many are consumed by the glitter of crowns. They dream only of title shots, of main events, of glory sung by the crowd. Yet Brunson warns us: those who chase only the prize may stumble, for their hearts are clouded by haste. The true warrior’s path is not to rush headlong into acclaim, but to cultivate strength slowly, to sharpen the blade with discipline, and to enter each battle with the mind as keen as the fist. Victory without wisdom is hollow; glory without preparation is fleeting.

History teaches us this truth again and again. Consider the tale of Alexander the Great, who at a young age conquered empires beyond imagination. Yet in his haste to seize the world, he burned out like a star too bright to last. His empire shattered upon his death, for it was not built with patience but with hunger. Contrast this with the rise of the Roman Republic, which grew slowly, brick by brick, campaign by campaign, forging systems and discipline that endured for centuries. Brunson’s words echo the Roman way: lasting greatness is not in speed, but in perseverance, not in recklessness, but in being smart.

The meaning of “putting on a great fight” is not merely to win, but to fight with dignity, to bring forth skill, heart, and wisdom in equal measure. For the crowd may cheer a quick knockout, but they will honor for generations the fighter who showed mastery of self and respect for the art. In the same way, in our own lives, the measure of success is not only in titles or wealth, but in the integrity of how we walk our path, how we treat others, and how we rise after defeat.

Brunson’s teaching strikes at the heart of modern impatience. In a world where men and women desire instant triumph — wealth overnight, fame without labor, power without sacrifice — his words stand like a stone pillar in the storm. He reminds us that the true goal is not the speed of arrival, but the quality of the journey. To be patient is not to be weak; it is to be strong enough to wait, strong enough to endure, strong enough to let wisdom guide the sword.

From this, the lesson becomes clear: do not chase only the crown. Instead, focus on your craft, on your discipline, on your daily practice. Build yourself into one who can fight — not just once, not just in the spotlight — but again and again with excellence. Be patient with the seasons of growth, persevere when victories are delayed, and above all, be smart in the choices you make. For the crown may fade, but the wisdom of patience and mastery will endure.

Therefore, let the listener take these words as both shield and spear: pursue greatness, but do not be consumed by haste. Train the body, but also the mind. Do not crave only the main event, but crave the fight itself, the proving of one’s soul in the arena of life. In this way, when the day of glory comes — as it surely will to those who endure — you will not only seize it, but you will hold it with the strength of one who was prepared. And that, as Brunson teaches, is the true victory.