In a narrative of resilience and grit, Jonathan ‘The Matador’ Rogers is all set to roll with the punches for his debut amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight on July 1st. The stage? The Radisson Hotel in Hauppauge, Long Island. The opponent? A fierce warrior named Zachary Hafley, who has more experience.
I’ve spent hours in the gym with Jonathan, who has been discussing his upcoming fight since I met him. He’s intensely focused, having lost 20 lbs. in preparation. He has one thing on his mind. Win this fight.
Rogers doubles as a server at the bustling Blue Parrot in East Hampton and an inspiring trainer at Gotham Boxing in Bridgehampton. MMA Pro Fights present the fight night, and it is a big step for Rogers, who recalls being bullied in high school as a kid to a man ready to exchange blows in a cage, toe to toe, in front of a roaring crowd.
“I found the gym and a boxing bag, and from there, my love for the sport swelled like a well-timed uppercut,” Rogers shares, “It was an obsession; I was enamored with the process.“
Rogers dreams big. He eyes the glory of turning pro, fully aware of the shadows that loom large in the sport. “You have to lay your life on the line, surrender to the game; that’s the only way to know you’re all in,” he says, laying bare the reality of MMA. Rogers doesn’t shy away from the grit and grind; he embraces the early mornings, the road work, and the arduous rounds that shape a true fighter. He is—for lack of a better word— an animal.
Rogers’ mantra echoes through the gym at Gotham Boxing, where he trains others, “The pain is temporary; the legacy is forever.” This resilience fuels him on those grueling training days, always one jab, one hook away from the dream. He’s into it, it gets you into it, and if you want to see an in-person fight on Long Island with a connection to the Hamptons, then you gotta make the trip, it will be, without question, entertaining.
Witness Rogers as he springs into action at his first fight, the night’s main course, on July 1st. Tickets are up for grabs at $80 a pop. Grab them directly from ‘The Matador’ himself or head over to https://www.nymmaprofights.com. He encourages you to purchase tickets through him. You can call his cell at 631-566-6046.
Get your tickets now and brace yourself for a night of exhilarating MMA action!
