This is the incredible story of American amateur MMA fighter Garrett Holeve.
He trains hard like any other fighter. He works on his ground game, drills his footwork and spars to sharpen his technique and improve his conditioning. He wants to fight.
But this was a dream denied to him by the State of Florida…because he was born with Down’s Syndrome.
The Guardian followed Garrett as he campaigned to be sanctioned to fight David Steffan, a fighter with cerebal palsy, and make history in US MMA.
Nicknamed G-Money, Garrett was philosophical about the situation and how he became a figurehead for fighting for the rights of people with disabilities.
“I’m a fighter first of all,” he said. “That’s what I am. The only thing I want to be is a fighter.
“I think fighting injustice makes me stronger. More powerful.”
You’ll have to watch the video to see how his MMA debut went down, but his dad and trainer Mitch simply said this:
“Society is just getting acquainted with what people with Down’s syndrome can actually do. It’s Garrett’s generation that is really proving this.
“He’s definitely a pioneer as an adaptive athlete in Mixed Martial Arts.”
