“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt

BEAUMONT, TX, October 27, 2012 – Perhaps no quote can sum up the mindset of Beaumont-based fighter Cody Williams any better than the one above.

Known as one of the more exciting fighters out of the Houston area and perhaps the most visible local MMA figure in the Southeast Texas Corridor, Cody has made a name for himself throughout the last few years with his ferocious fighting style and affable personality.

Beginning in June 2009, he won his first 5 fights in a row and won 6 out of 7 overall as an amateur. He’s fared just as well to start his pro career winning his first two contests and cementing in his mind that this is what he wants to do for the long-term.

He was (is) in it to win it. Eventually he’d even quit his job at a Beaumont-based law firm to focus on teaching and training full-time. He’d also take a step up in competition from his third fight on with the mindset that with bigger challenge also come bigger rewards.

If you’re going to be 100% about something, why not take it all the way and take on the hardest tests you can right?

Throughout it all he’s had his critics. There are those that say he may have taken those tough fights against guys like Stephen Peterson or Ryan Benoit a shade too soon – that his choice in fights has directly resulted in his 2-3 record since December 2011.

“Go train outside of Beaumont,” they say. “Take some time off and work on your Jiu-Jitsu or take some easier fights.”

The list goes on and on.

At this point, Cody has heard it all. So much so that he’s barely hearing any of it anymore.

Wins and losses are important but to him, it’s about more than that as well.

“It’s how you feel about what you’ve done that matters,” he says. “Did I take the hard road and rise to the top or did i tip toe my way just to be outclassed in the end? I sleep at night knowing o train my butt off and knowing i do what i have to do to prepare for whoever is across the cage from me. Right now that’s my life.”

He goes on to say that he’s had his doubters – first when he stepped into the cage as nothing but a brawler, all the way through his amateur career and now as a pro.

“Keep talking while I’m getting better,” he says.  “I don’t even hear the whispers anymore.”

Taking on another tough challenge at Legacy FC 15

As his next challenge Williams will be taking on Sao Paulo, BR native Thomas de Almeida.

The two will meet Friday, November 16th in Houston at the Arena Theater as part of the televised card scheduled for live broadcast on AXS TV.

Like Legacy dual champion Jorge “Macaco” Patino, Almeida fights out of the Gold Team / Chute Boxe team. When it comes to styles he is primarily known for his high-impact Muay Thai kickboxing skills but he also has a decent secondary skill with his BJJ. He currently sports an undefeated 5-0 record and has finished all his opponents – 4 by KO/TKO and 1 by submission.

Looking deeper into his record though there are some questions – namely how he’ll contend with someone as seasoned as Cody when none of his 5 victims in Brazil have winning records.

All in all he’s somewhat of a mystery but is considered another tough opponent for Southeast Texas’ first professional MMA fighter… just another tough guy to test himself against.

Doesn’t matter to “Wolverine” though. This has never been about the opponent. This is his life and he’s loving every minute of it.