When I received a message offering me Diego Pato on the next Who’s Number One in Costa Mesa, I felt a strange mixture of excitement and anxiety. 

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Not atypical for me, and I’m sure many others, but this opportunity seemed almost too good to be true, while also simultaneously the worst-case scenario. 

You see, I’ve faced Pato several times in the past, and the most recent was not all that competitive. He submitted me with an estima lock at ADCC 2022 and snapped my fibula in the process. 

He didn’t stop with me either. Over the last few years, he’s been on a leg-breaking rampage, claiming wins over the biggest names in the sport, all while capturing both gi and no-gi world titles along the way. 

Truly, Pato has established himself as one of the best to ever compete in the sport. 

I, on the other hand, have had mixed success on the pro grappling circuit. I’ve claimed titles in a few notable promotions like Polaris, Grapplefest, and Combat Jiu-Jitsu Worlds, as well as four silver medals at the ADCC trials and one gold. But I certainly haven’t had the same level of success or consistency as Pato. 

This is where we talk about being “the underdog.”

When you’re competing against one of the best to ever do it, you will likely not be the betting favorite. Most people will look at you as fodder to the main attraction. 

 And indeed, there will be many times in our lives when we will be looked at as the little guy. Not just in sport jiu-jitsu, but in any career field. 

So I wanted to put together a road map for navigating the art of being overlooked. Because, believe it or not, there is skill to it. 

Below are a few points that I keep in mind on the numerous occasions that I’ve been an underdog in my career. And while I can’t guarantee success, I’m sure I can help you handle the at-times uncomfortable feeling of being overlooked. 

1. Don’t Overthink It

Start by understanding that despite other people’s low expectations, you absolutely can beat “the favorite,” and, contrary to popular belief, there are many advantages that come with being overlooked. 

Whatever your preconceived idea of what other people think about you is: forget it. And frankly, you should embrace low expectations as an opportunity. With favoritism comes pressure. Pressure can be good, but life is much easier with less stress. So take advantage of this and know that all the pressure is on your opponent. 

In “The Art of War,” by Sun Tzu, he says, “appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” This is a lesson we can apply here. 

You probably consider yourself strong (as you should), but you should not have a problem with letting your opponent see you as weak. This could mean that they enter the match with too much confidence, and when you put up resistance, they will be surprised. That element of surprise will be your friend. Use it as an opportunity to put up more offense. Your opponent will still be trying their hardest to win, of course, but you gained an important early tactical advantage.

2. Skills Pay the Bills

Winners are typically determined by skills and fitness. 

In some instances, you can win by having one OR the other, but not at the highest levels. 

You need to have excellent wrestling and passing, and an even better guard, as well as the stamina and strength to actually apply it in the match. 

So spend most of your time developing those attributes, and less time worrying about what other people may say or think. Their opinion is not what will win you the match, your skills are. 

3: You Still Gotta Work

Unfortunately, there is no substitution for hard work. No one can do it for you, and you won’t have a snowball's chance at getting ahead in the world if you don’t do the hard work. 

I wish it weren’t the case, but it is. 

Remember that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity must come with a once-in-a-lifetime amount of effort. Redundant, I know, but true if you really want to push yourself past your limits. 

This mindset is where you will make your biggest improvements. 

Remember that training montage in Rocky 4? Where a grizzled Rocky Balboa leaves his family to go train in a cabin in the snowy mountains of Russia before his fight with Ivan Drago? Channel that energy. 

4. Just Show Up and Do Your Best

The sad reality is that nothing is guaranteed in life. Neither victory nor failure is certain. The ONLY way to find out is by showing up and doing the damn thing. 

So don’t run from it. Just do the work, show up, and what happens, happens. 

Whether you win or you lose, it won’t really change anything. You’re still the same person, you still have to work hard to make a living, and someday your accomplishment or failure will be forgotten. 

So don’t get caught up in thinking you NEED anything. As long as you have clothes on your back and people who care about you, you’re doing pretty great. 

Just choose to believe in yourself, even when people think you shouldn’t. That mindset alone will take you further than if you consistently tell yourself that you can’t do something. And more than anything, this will take all the pressure off of your shoulders and allow you to compete to the best of your ability.

Closing Thoughts

I hope that these points serve you in whatever endeavor you find yourself pursuing. No matter what field you’re in, you should believe that you can and will have success, as long as you put in the work and don’t give up.

I feel my grappling career has been emblematic of many aspects of life. I’ve tried and failed many times, but no one can say I’ve ever given up. I feel that one of the only things I’m qualified to teach people is the idea that you should never lose faith in yourself. 

Try to focus on what you can do now that will help accomplish your goals in the future. Over time, the dividends from this mindset will add up to something great. 

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