Hayden Hale sits by himself before his next fight and tells himself that today is the day — the training through camp and preparation for this moment is worth it, win or lose. For some, the lights can become too bright in this situation. For the 18-year-old aspiring MMA fighter, he seizes the opportunity any time he steps into the cage.
“It’s like the thought of the future is so distant but it’s right in front of you happening in the present,” he described that particular moment. “It’s like what Bruce Lee said, ‘Be like water,’ let it flow.”
Growing up around the world of combat sports, Hayden said he first became interested in them after hanging around his grandfather’s martial arts studio when he was younger. The studio in Baltimore carried on the teachings of American Kenpo Karate, created by the late Ed Parker. Hayden later expanded his education to observing other combat sports like boxing and wrestling, finding inspiration in the different techniques used by various types of athletes.
“Of course we all love the ‘Rocky’ movies,” he joked. “I’ve just been in love with fighting, and it’s been about combining all of that into one thing for me.”
The family moved from Florida to Maryland in 2013, and he competed in karate tournaments until he reached high school and showed an interest in joining the wrestling team. However, his freshman year was upended by COVID-19 shutting down schools and gyms, including his family’s back home. He said he was starting to drift away from the world of combat sports and felt shut out from competing until he was able to finally join the wrestling team in his sophomore year. He went as far as reaching the state championship tournament in his senior year.
In addition to wrestling and karate, he began competing in jiu-jitsu tournaments in high school against adult competitors, feeling a need to “level up” in his fighting career. Even though he lost his latest fight, he uses the loss as a reminder to take things slow and “learn more from the guys that are around already.”
A normal day of training for Hayden consists of two separate workouts, one focused on endurance and the other dedicated to technique or strength training. He emphasizes that discipline has also played a big part in helping him stay mentally and physically fit for any situation, crediting his work ethic to his dad, who served in the Marines.
“When it comes to things that people my age are worrying about, I’m not worried about that right now,” he said. “I’m worried about getting what I need to get done and making my mark.”
With his consistent training schedule and the toll of constant competition on his body, Hayden has relied on Cannabis for relief, as well as elevating his creativity both in and out of the cage. In 2024, he became a medical patient in Maryland and prefers a solid hybrid strain to help him recover from a fight and jumpstart his creativity while training. Hayden said he prefers to keep his consumption limited to flower and edibles during camp, especially when cutting weight, saying Cannabis acts as a “boost” to help him make the cutting easier to push through.
“It slows everything down so I can see things a little differently,” he said. “It’s very cool to tap into those little weird spots where you find new things.”
While there is some controversy around fighters using Cannabis in any instance, Hayden added that it helps him to absorb hits easier and aids in his recovery time from injury.
“When I’m getting punched in the face constantly, you do notice a difference when you’re sober and when you’re not,” he said.
Outside the cage, Hayden has a deep passion for art, particularly drawing with dark ink. He said the act of ink gliding along a blank canvas is satisfying but added that the minimalist style can also reflect how people perceive a modern-day fighter.
“There’s that hard exterior, the black and white,” he described. “But if you look beyond that, there’s beauty in the actual art of what they’re doing.”
Understanding that his body won’t be able to bounce back as quickly when he’s older, Hayden is confident in his decision to pursue a full-time career as a professional fighter and compete in a larger organization with the dream of becoming a champion.
“I’m only 18, and I’m still young in this game,” he said. “I have so much more that I want to do. It’s just all those manifestations. Late at night, I see myself in the octagon with a belt around me.”
