JMA Podcast Episode 320: Will Caylor Reveals How Defeat, Fatherhood and Philosophy Rebuilt His Fighting Career
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Will Caylor joins the JMA Podcast to discuss his fighting career, fatherhood, personal discipline and a possible return to MMA.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Will Caylor discusses his transition from MMA to bare-knuckle boxing during the JMA Podcast, emphasizing personal growth after a pivotal loss.
- Caylor adopts the nickname ‘The Sixth Ring,’ inspired by Miyamoto Musashi’s philosophy, focusing on discipline and strategy in life and fighting.
- His father’s resilience shapes Caylor’s work ethic, influencing how he approaches challenges as a single father of eight.
- Retirement for Caylor may have been temporary, as he evaluates opportunities that align with his family responsibilities and personal goals.
- Caylor advocates for sportsmanship, believing respect should persist regardless of victory or defeat, highlighting his commitment to a positive mindset.
For most fighters, retirement is supposed to close a chapter. For Will Caylor, it appears to have opened another one.
During a wide-ranging appearance on the JMA Podcast with John Murray and Jeremy Fairhurst, the Kentucky fighter discussed an exhausting six-month stretch, his transition into bare-knuckle boxing, the loss that forced him to rethink his career and the responsibilities that come with raising eight children. What began as a conversation about stepping away from mixed martial arts quickly became a story about why he may not be finished at all.
The episode opened with Murray and Fairhurst reviewing several of the biggest stories moving through combat sports. They discussed the attention surrounding the UFC’s White House event, Dana White’s lingering dispute with Anderson Silva, and more.
The hosts also highlighted upcoming regional events, continuing the JMA Podcast’s focus on the promotions and fighters operating outside the sport’s biggest national spotlight.
The Loss That Forced a Professional Change
When the interview shifted to Caylor, the most important moment in his development was not a victory. It was his loss to Gage Mitchell.
Caylor credited Mitchell with exposing the difference between competing as a tough, experienced fighter and preparing with the discipline of a true professional. Rather than dismissing the defeat or blaming circumstances, he treated it as evidence that his approach needed to change. That response became the foundation of a new fighter mindset built around accountability instead of excuses.
That change matters because regional combat sports rarely offer athletes the luxury of learning slowly. Fighters are balancing jobs, family obligations, travel expenses and short-notice opportunities while trying to improve between appearances. Caylor fought three times in six months across Rival FC, Attitude MMA and his BKB debut with Jorge Baro, leaving little room for physical or mental recovery.
JMURRAYATHLETICS has followed that regional journey through its coverage of Rival FC’s return to Paducah and Caylor’s appearances on the promotion’s cards. His progression has not followed a clean line, but that is what makes the story valuable. The losses, quick turnarounds and changing opportunities are part of the process, not separate from it.
Why “The Sixth Ring” Became More Than a Nickname
Caylor’s transformation did not come only from additional rounds in the gym. He began studying self-improvement literature, David Goggins and the philosophy of legendary Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.
Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings became especially influential. Caylor adopted “The Sixth Ring” as his nickname, presenting himself as the next stage beyond the five elements explored in Musashi’s work. The name represents an attempt to apply strategy, discipline and self-control to every part of his life rather than simply borrowing a memorable reference.
That philosophy helped build a fighter mindset capable of handling both competition and failure. Caylor also recommended Musashi’s Dokkodo and Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, describing the books as tools that helped him become more deliberate about his decisions.
Combat sports are full of motivational slogans, but Caylor’s explanation was more practical. Reading did not remove hardship. It gave him a structure for responding to it.
His Father’s Example Still Drives the Work
The emotional center of the conversation came when Caylor discussed his father.
He described watching his father battle illness without constant complaint, continuing to work and provide an example of resilience for his family. That experience shaped how Caylor views discomfort. A difficult training camp, a disappointing result or another long drive to compete becomes harder to complain about when measured against what he watched at home.
For Will Caylor, work ethic is not a marketing phrase. It is part of a family standard that he feels responsible for carrying forward.
That responsibility now extends to his own children. Caylor is a single father of eight, with three living with him full-time. He explained that fighting has become a teaching tool, allowing his children to see the importance of preparation, emotional control and continuing after disappointment.
The schedule is punishing, and the sacrifices are real. Training camps take time away from family, while regional fight purses do not always justify the physical cost. That is why larger offers, a possible professional title opportunity and continued interest from promoters have changed his calculation.
Retirement May Have Been Temporary
Caylor entered the conversation as a fighter who had recently retired from MMA. By the end, the door was clearly open again.
He revealed that he has received opportunities that could make another camp financially worthwhile, including the possibility of continuing in both MMA and bare-knuckle boxing. It was not presented as an emotional comeback announcement. It sounded more like a father and veteran fighter evaluating whether the reward finally matches the sacrifice.
That distinction is important. Fighters often continue because they do not know what comes next. Caylor appears willing to continue only when the opportunity serves a larger purpose.
His recent Rival FC performances also provide context for that decision. JMA’s recap of the promotion’s first-round finishes in Paducah documented his quick finish against Charlie Nelinger, while earlier event coverage previewed his return as one of the area’s established regional attractions.
There is still risk. Caylor has already absorbed the physical demands of a long career and an unusually active stretch. Moving between MMA and BKB requires different preparation, defensive habits and tactical priorities. More money makes the sacrifice easier to justify, but it does not make the damage disappear.
Sportsmanship After the Fight
One of the episode’s strongest moments came from a situation that happened after the action ended.
Caylor recalled attempting to shake Nelinger’s hand following their fight and being rejected. He did not use the moment to attack his opponent. Instead, he explained why respect should remain intact whether a fighter wins or loses.
That response reflected the same fighter mindset he had described throughout the interview. Winning is not permission to humiliate someone, and losing is not an excuse to abandon character.
His broader philosophy came from a simple message: “The world is full of good people. If you can’t find one, be one.” Caylor said he has learned to choose silence over unnecessary confrontation and to focus on becoming a positive influence for the people around him.
That may sound separate from fighting, but it connects directly to the career he is trying to build. The ability to control emotion, accept criticism and move forward without creating new problems is as valuable outside the cage as it is inside it.
Watch the Full JMA Podcast Interview
This episode is not simply about a regional fighter deciding whether to compete again. It is about the experiences that changed how he approaches competition, fatherhood and responsibility.
Will Caylor explains why one loss helped professionalize his career, how his father continues to shape his work ethic and why raising eight children gives every fight a larger meaning. He also discusses the future opportunities that could bring him back to MMA while continuing his run in bare-knuckle boxing.
Watch the complete JMA Podcast Episode 320 on YouTube to hear the full conversation, including Caylor’s reading recommendations, his thoughts on sportsmanship and the trivia segment that closes the episode.
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