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Now, after a couple starts and stops, he makes his debut against Garcia. So is the 30-year-old ready for all this after just six pro fights?
“Yeah, I think I am ready for this,” he said. “First of all, including amateur I have ten fights and also, I started a little bit late, but I have a long martial arts journey behind me, so I feel I’m mature enough for it.”
That maturity, which is evident the second you begin talking to him, is an overlooked aspect of success in this sport. Sure, it’s nice to be 20 years old and full of all the talent and energy that goes with it. But knowing a little bit about life once you get to the big show can help a fighter deal with everything that happens in – and out of – the Octagon.
“I think it’s very important,” Levy said. “It’s a part of what makes you a complete fighter. It’s not only if you can grapple and strike; it’s also if you have the mental fortitude to go through hardships. And a lot of times, it’s not the best fighter, it’s who’s left. Many fighters, things happen and they stop fighting before they can discover how good they really are.”
Levy wasn’t about to stop. The way he sees it, he’s just starting, and in doing so, he’s not only doing this for the usual reasons, but to set an example for mixed martial artists back home in Israel.
“There is some pressure, but it’s not like bad pressure,” he said. “I don’t mind it. It’s one thing where I can make a difference. I wouldn’t recommend to any kid to become a fighter, but some kids are destined to be fighters, and I’d like them to believe in themselves and see the path to doing it right and being successful at it.”
So is it safe to say Levy was one of those kids destined to be a fighter?
“I wasn’t going to be sitting behind a desk.”