Out of Guard is Hyperfly's new interview series. We sit athletes down for 50 rapid-fire questions about where they're from, how they got started, what they're chasing, and the stuff you don't see on the mats.
Watch the full interview on YouTube
What’s your name, and what do people actually call you?
My name is John, but I’m pretty well known as Slim, or Slim Reaper.
Where did you grow up?
Born and raised here in San Diego.
How did you first end up in a Muay Thai gym?
Same as a lot of people, I was going through a bit of a dark time in my life, and Muay Thai was the escape I needed. It was actually MMA I wanted to get into at first. I started with Muay Thai and decided to stick with the striking.
What did you eat for breakfast today?
Four eggs over easy with some steak, arugula and olive oil. I’m really dialed in with that.
Walk us through a normal training day.
I’ve been working a lot, so a normal day is a couple of clients, then the gym. I time all my nutrients and supplements before I train. Then I get it in: spar, hit some pads, hit the bag, mix in some weights.
If you could keep only one album, which would it be?
That’s tough. It wouldn’t get me hyped for the gym or anything, but Chris Stapleton, Higher.
Elbows or knees?
That’s hard. Elbows for sure.
What’s the toughest fight you’ve ever had?
My fight out in Thailand, against a Dagestani. The nerves were already crazy because it was my first fight overseas. Then I see my opponent: cauliflower ears, veins lining his chest. Standing across from him in the ring, he looked like he was bred to fight. I thought, well, here we go. But I smashed him, cut that calf in half and dominated.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I don’t want superpowers, bro. I want to get it like a normal person.
Who’s your favorite training partner, and why?
That’s a good question. Probably the dog in me.
Describe your perfect day with no training allowed.
Waking up with sunlight in my eyes, hydrating, journaling a little, reading a little, a little hike in there. And I’ve definitely got to smash like a dozen eggs fried in butter, with some steak on that.
What’s your favorite strike to land?
Right hand. Right kick or right hand. There’s something about seeing that power side, that dominant side, land on someone’s leg, body or face.
What’s playing in your headphones on the way to the ring?
Man, it’s got to be Lil Baby. Some of his songs just get me going. “I’ve come this far,” it’s time to go.
Which loss taught you the most?
A loss to someone I fought twice. I thought I was better than him and it humbled me. I learned my lessons, fought him again and smashed him. It showed me you need a healthy amount of ego. You have to balance the confidence. You don’t kill the ego completely, but you keep it at a level where it doesn’t hinder your growth or your performance.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had, and where was it?
I have it pretty often: steak and oysters. There’s nothing like it. Made by me, shucked by me.
Which athlete outside of combat sports do you admire most?
Probably a soccer player, like Ronaldo. That was basic. (laughs)
What’s the hardest part of this life that nobody sees?
The loneliness. I wouldn’t say I’m alone, but people don’t always understand what we go through. Everyone knows about weight cuts, but there’s also the self-doubt you have to conquer by yourself. People can tell you you’re good, you’re strong, you’re fast, your technique is sharp, but self-doubt creeps into this sport like no other. It’s a lonely sport. When you’re in that ring, it’s only you.
What’s your favorite city you’ve traveled to for a fight?
It’s got to be Thailand. Being able to immerse myself in that lifestyle, there’s nothing like it here. I love fight camps here, but I have responsibilities outside the gym. Overseas, in the motherland of the sport, I live and breathe it and then I go fight. Easily Thailand.
What are you working on in your game right now?
Cardio. My technique is good and my strikes are sharp, but cardio is the only thing that holds me back at times. As long as gassing out isn’t in the back of my head, I can throw as much as I want, as hard as I want, as fast as I want.
What’s the most worn item in your wardrobe?
This right here. Hyperfly.
What’s one health habit you never skip?
There’s a lot. Morning sunlight, blue light blocker glasses at night, and magnesium before bed. You said one, but I had to list them all.
If you could go pro in any other sport, which would it be?
If I put my mind to it I feel like I could do the NBA, but probably a water sport. Anytime I go surfing or do any kind of water sport, I’m humbled. So maybe water polo, as weird as that sounds, or swimming.
Who would you most want to have dinner with, living or dead?
Michael Jackson. Give me MJ’s brain. Great music aside, the man was a genius. I do some of the same mental things he did. They say your brain waves are different at night, when you’re about to fall asleep or about to wake up. There’s a story about one of his hits coming to him in that state. He took advantage of it, popped up, wrote down the lyrics or the melody, and it became a huge hit.
What’s your last meal on earth?
Steak.
What do you collect?
Bodies. In the ring. (laughs)
Desert, forest, mountain or beach?
Beach.
Which win meant the most to you?
My first fight. It proved I could do what I put my mind to. I started this sport because I was in a dark place, and Muay Thai built my self-confidence over time, but that first fight was proof of concept. Since then I’ve conquered the things I said I’d do. I said I’d do it, I did it, I won. That gave me all the proof I needed to do anything.
What are you reading right now?
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind.
What’s your favorite season?
Summer, easily.
How many hours of sleep do you actually get?
Probably seven and a half.
Which smell takes you straight back to childhood?
Probably a Hot Pocket.
When do you trust instinct over technique?
I try not to let fight or flight take control. Fighting teaches you that. A coach taught me this: you don’t fight emotionally, but you fight with emotion. So I don’t go out there wailing. I try to keep my wits about me.
If you could relive one moment, which would it be?
That first fight dub. Winning it flooded my body with dopamine for weeks.
Morning person or night person?
Morning.
What does a real rest day look like for you?
Doom scrolling for six hours straight. No, absolutely not. (laughs) Probably walking on the beach, the sauna, reading.
What sound do you love?
Cracking someone in the face with a right hand.
What still scares you?
Getting cracked in the face. (laughs)
What would you tell someone walking into a Muay Thai gym for the first time?
It’s going to be hard. You’re going to feel a lot of pain. This sport comes with inevitable pain. But stick with it long enough and it’ll give you everything you need: conquering your fears, self-confidence, grit, that dog. Knowing how to deal with anything. At least that’s what it gave me.
What are you grateful for?
My health, my circle. I’m grateful for so much. I live in a state of perpetual gratitude. Everything.
