113. Carlos Vera, UFC Bantamweight and Eric Manuel, Expert Mindset Coaching

Hi I’m Scot Cooper and this is the Tales From the Trail Podcast by MatchPlay. In this episode I welcome back UFC athlete Carlos Vera and his mindset coach and co-host of our Mindset Mondays, Eric Manuel of Expert Mindset Coaching. In his UFC debut in February, Carlos sustained a shoulder dislocation, torn labrum and grade 5 separation with a broken collarbone in the first minute of the bout. Despite the injury, Carlos persevered and continued to fight until the end. He describes where his mind went in the moment so that he could deal with the immediate adversity he faced. Along with his experience and innate grit and resilience, Carlos discusses with Eric the work they have done together to develop his mindfulness which played a big role in him overcoming such a gruesome injury. Thank you to Carlos and Eric for sharing so much of their work together.


Summary

In this conversation, Carlos Vera discusses his first fight in the UFC and the adversity he faced when he injured his shoulder early on. Despite the injury, Carlos remained composed and focused on finding a way to win. He attributes his ability to stay strong to his innate grit and toughness, which he had developed through past experiences of fighting through injuries. Carlos worked with his mindset coach, Eric Manuel, to identify his pillars of truth, which are his personal strengths that he can rely on in any situation. These pillars of truth gave Carlos confidence and helped him navigate the pressure of his UFC debut. In this conversation, Carlos Vera and Eric Manuel discuss the importance of experience, consistent practice, and dedication in achieving success in fighting. Carlos emphasizes the need to train not only physically but also strategically and mentally. He shares how his consistent mindfulness practice leading up to the fight helped him stay grounded and focused. Eric highlights the importance of being proactive in mental training and consistently feeding the mind with positive thoughts. They also discuss the long and challenging journey to becoming a professional fighter and the importance of grit and resilience.

Takeaways

Carlos Vera faced adversity in his first UFC fight when he injured his shoulder early on, but he remained composed and focused on finding a way to win.
Carlos attributes his ability to stay strong to his innate grit and toughness, which he had developed through past experiences of fighting through injuries.
Working with his mindset coach, Eric Manuel, Carlos identified his pillars of truth, which are his personal strengths that he can rely on in any situation.
Knowing his pillars of truth gave Carlos confidence and helped him navigate the pressure of his UFC debut. Experience, consistent practice, and dedication are key factors in achieving success in fighting.
Training should not only focus on physical skills but also strategic and mental aspects.
Consistent mindfulness practice can help fighters stay grounded and focused.
Being proactive in mental training and consistently feeding the mind with positive thoughts is crucial.
Grit and resilience are essential qualities for fighters to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

Chapters

00:00 Carlos Vera's First UFC Fight
03:08 Injury and Adversity
05:35 Working with Eric Manuel
09:25 Pillars of Truth
12:13 Identity and Self-Discovery
24:17 Maintaining Calm and Confidence
27:11 The Importance of Mindfulness Training
33:42 Handling Adversity and Defeat
44:08 The Long Journey to Success
49:27 The Drive to Work on Mindset
53:18 Being Proactive in Mental Training