In the footsteps of The Blind Side comes a story on the power of friendship, commitment and the ultimate will to keep living.
Cody Garbrandt grew up in one of the most violent places in America; coal country, deep in the Appalachian mountains of Ohio. There was a longstanding culture of fighting, drugs, mayhem and chaos. Raised in this environment by a single mom (his dad left him at the young age of three to reside in the Ohio State Penitentiary), Cody grew up fighting and he grew up wild. His future ticketed him for the coal mines, but after spending two weeks deep in the earth, Cody decided that wasn’t for him. The way out? Mixed Martial Arts. Cody drifted for two years, spending as much time on street fights as in the gym. Then, at age 20, Cody’s brother (and frequent combatant) introduced Cody to five-year old Maddux Mason. Maddux was deathly ill with leukemia, his survival by no means assured. A friendship quickly developed and shortly after they met, they made a promise to each other: Maddux would beat cancer and Cody would win a championship belt.
Through five long years of pain and hardship, they both persevered; Cody, through the agony and sacrifices of becoming a champion, and Maddux through the horrors of chemotherapy. They loved and supported each other. They served as each other’s inspiration. And in December 2016, Cody won his MMA Championship belt which he promptly presented to Maddux, who had just beaten cancer and was in remission.
This is their story.
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Cody Garbrandt is a professional mixed martial artist signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has a record of 11-1 as a professional fighter and is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion. Born and raised in Uhrichsville, Ohio, he currently lives and trains in Sacramento, California, as a member of Team Alpha Male.
Mark Dagostino is a New York Times bestselling co-author and a former senior writer for People magazine. He lives in New Hampshire.
Dave Hoffmann is an accomplished voice actor who began his career by voicing his first radio commercial at just 12 years old. Dave has worked with ABC, CBS, Warner Bros/Telepictures and brands such as Chase, Lowe’s, Pizza Hut, Walmart and many more. Dave is heard around the world daily in commercials, promos, toys, narrations and ADR and is currently the narrator for shows on both Discovery and Nat Geo. Dave lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with his beautiful wife and two amazing young children.