Watch This Bodybuilder Get Crushed While Training With a UFC Pro
Bodybuilder and fitness vlogger Jesse James West has subjected himself to all manner of workouts in the name of YouTube content, from training with strongman-turned-boxer Thor Bjornsson to following the intense daily routine of former Navy SEAL David Goggins. In his most recent video, West joins MMA pro Michael Chandler for a day of training as the UFC lightweight prepares for his upcoming fight against Conor McGregor—and then steps into the octagon to demonstrate everything he's learned.
That day commences with the ‘stairs of death’ at 7am, an uphill trail run to get the blood pumping, then at 9am they hit the gym and Chandler takes West through his daily strength and conditioning workout—including a rigorous warmup and activation routine.
‘Even though I have an athletic background, I have the worst flexibility,’ admits West. ‘This is brutal.’
After initially struggling to keep up with Chandler, West begins to ‘prove himself’ on strength and power-based exercises like the trap bar deadlift, sled push, kettlebell swings, and medicine ball throws.
Chandler follows his workout with lunch — high-protein, low-carb — and a fully submerged ice bath to aid muscle recovery. He does this for five minutes every single day, and a game West follows him into the ice-cold tub. ‘It's times like this in life that really test you,’ he says, ‘when you're feeling just every part of your body telling you "stop, stop, stop, quit, quit, quit," but you keep pushing.’
After that ‘brutal’ recovery session, Chandler teaches West some basic fighting fundamentals — then it's time for the two to step into The Octagon and for West try his best to keep up with Chandler in a sparring session. And the pro fighter has no intention of going easy on the YouTuber.
‘I know you think this is kind of a joke,’ says Chandler, ‘but when I walk into this sanctuary, this is where it gets real. The lifting was fun, the ice barrel was fun, this is where the rubber meets the road.’
Looking back on the session, West says he almost immediately forgot everything that Chandler taught him, and he was ‘literally just trying to stay alive,’ especially when he tries his hand at grappling, the wrestling-based aspect of MMA which Chandler acknowledges is the most physically exhausting element.
Chandler also opens up about his future in the UFC, telling West that he's got ‘a couple years left’ in the sport at least.
‘As soon as I feel like I'm not recovering really well, as soon as I feel like my athleticism, speed, power, quickness goes away, then I'll say "OK, I need to reassess,"’ he says. ‘But now, I'm 37 years old, I've been training at such a high level for so long that I've kept those skills, kept those attributes, so I've got another three years left.’
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