September 15th, 2012. Wembley Arena. A date that should have been synonymous with the rise of arguably one of the most destructive fighters to grace UKMMA; Rob ‘C4’ Sinclair met Andre Winner in what should have been his elevation to the bright lights of America. Many whispers and rumours said that if Rob won this fight the UFC would have to sign him up. How could they ignore a fighter that had put away everybody in his way since his admitted self-defeat against Paul Sass?!
BAMMA10 came and Rob Sinclair came out victorious against Andre Winner, a former UFC alumni. We listened for the ‘phone ringing… nothing… Rob had a contract with BAMMA still and planned on defending his belt again. This time against Curt Warburton; training camp started and disaster struck. Injury. The fight was cancelled and rehab began. During the stint on the sidelines Rob did get a call from stateside; where the UFC missed a trick Bellator came calling and soon enough Rob was signed up on a multi-fight contract along with a number of other British fighters. Rob was to spearhead the British Invasion. He continued injury rehabilitation and was soon lined up to fight Rich Clementi in what would have been his toughest challenge yet.
Rehab was complete, the injury healed and Rob was looking at his best. Now before I continue I have to say that I am extremely grateful and fortunate in the sense that I can call Rob a friend. He probably calls me worse but at least it’s one sided and not none. Anyway, I was fortunate enough to train under Rob and spoke to him fairly regularly and I can honestly say that the Rob Sinclair leading up to this fight was the strongest, quickest, most destructive he had ever been and to finish it off his skillset was more rounded than it had ever been. The change? For once Rob could train full time; until signing up to Bellator Rob had always had to work full time and managed to train 2-3 times a week getting maybe an hour’s instruction under one of the finest coaches outside of Jackson’s MMA (Gav Boardman, Predators MMA). At this point he had a Boxing coach; a Muay Thai coach; fitness, strength and conditioning coaches (Dave Bell and Emma Fletcher of Sportesse-PT) and again, Gav Boardman. A guy Rob once said could take both him and his brother, Mick Sinclair, at the same time. Six weeks prior to the fight Rob had already made weight and then the nightmare happened.
Purgatory
In a routine training session on the 25th August, 2013 Rob dislocated his knee rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament; the injury was so severe that his knee was twisted almost facing in the wrong direction. The doctors went on record at this point saying that even after intensive rehabilitation Rob would have impaired walking and that he would definitely not play football or train, let alone compete, in MMA again. For a guy that has been a sportsman since almost as long as he has walked you can imagine the impact this had on him.Fortunately, Rob was sent from our local hospital to Stockport known for being the best in the country for this type of injury. Surgery was the only option and on the 9th September, 2013 Rob had his first operation. He would have to let this heal for three months. The first week he was bed ridden; with a cast and knee brace covering ankle to groin. His muscles atrophied. He struggled straightening and bending the knee and had to keep working through painful and almost invasive rehabilitation. The cage on his knee stayed on lest any further damage occur.
I've talked about the physical impact of this injury; I think what hit Rob more and what he was least prepared for was the mental impact this would have on him. I keep repeating the word unfortunately and for a long period of time this was a word that came hand in hand with Rob Sinclair. It seemed disaster struck in every aspect of his life. At this time Rob’s – now fiancé – had just had a baby, at only 12 days old Rob had to watch others hold and play with his baby while he was on medication for pain control and severely limited in his movements due to the protection on his knee. He couldn't wash; he couldn't go to the toilet without help and he was restricted to his bed. His girlfriend had to wash him down and that was the nearest thing to a bath he could have for three months. The alpha male that was Rob Sinclair, the dominant and ultimately happy guy that was Rob Sinclair was broken. He had no means of income as he couldn't work; he could no longer walk his beloved English Bull Terriers and sadly had to re home them. The bad news didn't stop there for Rob unfortunately; the matriarch of his family, his Grandma who he was extremely close with, died. Four weeks later his Uncle died.
Deaths happen I realise and some families are closer than others but in the Sinclair clan there really is a tight knit community in its own. If Rob wasn't at rock bottom before he was now and soon his relationship broke down resulting in separation. Not only did Rob not have two of his closest family members but he now had to cope with the fact that his rock, Georgia, had to move out and he only saw his children at the weekend.
Salvation
The breaking of a man can be one of two things; his ruin or his salvation. Rob in early 2014 was a broken man with a mountain to climb. Throughout the remainder of the year Rob would tackle each day like a challenge, a game of Chess in fact. As a child prodigy Chess champion Rob employed the same mentality, only he could tell you whether it was conscious or subconscious, in dragging himself from the bottom right to the very top. Early 2015 and what we see now is a Rob Sinclair that has defied all professional opinion and is not only walking but running; he’s back training and he’s stronger, more flexible, has twice the confidence and importantly twice the ability he ever had prior to his injury. While some losses are irreversible, thankfully, some aren’t. Rob and Georgia are not only back together but engaged to be married and stronger than ever.Not only did Rob find support from his friends and family but in his own words:
“The whole industry has been patient with me. Bellator gave me all the time I needed and extended my contract. My physio and strength and conditioning coach gave their time and efforts free of charge because they knew I had no money coming in. Without them (Emma Fletcher and Dave Bell of Sportesse-PT) my life… without them I’d be disabled. Words can’t express how I feel about these guys or what I owe them”
This team built around Rob and told him when to train, how to train and when not to train. They reigned him in.
Rob also mentioned the support the likes of Glen Slater gave him not only throughout this time but from day one. When a lot of people didn't believe in Rob, Glen supported him (and his brother, Mick) through thick and thin, materially and emotionally. Glen’s not also kept the wheels on the Sinclair bandwagon – literally – but he also corners him and Mick. Then there’s Mike Clarke of Fight Lounge, Mike’s been a constant in Rob’s camp for a long time now and has found Rob opportunities not just in MMA but outside also when fighting was an option. It’s this support that has been integral to Rob and has helped him through some extremely dark times.
Would Rob ever fight again? The answer thankfully is yes and he’s due to fight a yet to be named opponent in the coming months reigniting the British invasion.
“I owe it to everyone that’s always followed me to take this fight in America. This guy, he’ll have to almost kill me to beat me. I won’t quit.”
There was no bravado when he said this. If anything it was almost resigned; I've never before heard Rob talk like this. The Rob I spoke to this time isn't the same man I've spoken to before. He spoke of fear; he’s been out for over 2 years in total due to delays in fights and then injuries. He spoke of a fear that was akin to that he felt in his debut.
“After the first you know what’s coming.”
"I can’t lose this fight, if I lose I've still won, I shouldn't be in there you know. I've still won. He can beat me in the match but he can't beat me in anything else."
"If he thinks he can break me he ain't got a chance"
The fundamental change in Rob Sinclair is almost tangible; his approach and almost spiritual outlook to life in general has changed how he views things and it has not only made him a better fighter but importantly, a better man as well.
Rob, brother, we’re routing for you. If anybody deserves the fairytale ending it’s you. Go out there, destroy the Lightweight division and come home a champion.
To the Bellator Lightweight division I’ll echo the words I’ve seen a lot recently…
“Burnley’s gonna get ya.”
Rushy out.
fearsome will and a wonderful family have taken Rob a long way
ReplyDeleteGreat story. I'm glad he's back. All the best Rob
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