I Went 20K Into Debt to Fight in the UFC
Episode 121: Alberto Crane
In this episode of the Matthews Mentality Podcast, Kyle Matthews sits down with Alberto Crane, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, UFC veteran, entrepreneur, and author of All In.
Before fighting in the UFC, Alberto made a decision that most people would never consider—he went more than $20,000 into debt to chase his dream. With no sponsorships, little money, and no guarantee of success, he moved to Brazil, immersed himself in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and dedicated his life to becoming one of the best martial artists in the world.
After years of setbacks, tournament losses, and relentless training, Alberto became a world champion, fought in the UFC, built multiple successful academies, and inspired thousands through his resilience. Later, an unexpected MRI led to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), forcing him to face an entirely new battle outside the cage.
This conversation explores courage, discipline, entrepreneurship, mindset, and what it truly means to go all in on your dreams.
Topics covered in this episode:
Why Alberto went $20,000 into debt to chase the UFC
Moving to Brazil with no money to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Losing tournaments before becoming a world champion
Building a career in MMA and earning a UFC contract
The pressure and reality of fighting inside the Octagon
Winning, losing, and dealing with performance anxiety
Knowing when it was time to retire
Being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Why he chose movement, nutrition, and lifestyle over medication
The philosophy behind TacFit
Why courage isn't the absence of fear
Lessons from writing his memoir All In
Building resilience through adversity
Whether you're an entrepreneur, athlete, martial artist, or someone facing a difficult challenge, this conversation is packed with lessons on resilience, sacrifice, discipline, and pursuing a life without regrets.
Show Notes:
00:00 Courage Defined
00:44 Meet Alberto Crane
02:05 Writing All In
02:55 Living with Multiple Sclerosis
03:54 Growing Up Across Three Countries
05:37 Discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
07:25 Going All In on Brazil
08:09 Life Training in Rio
09:50 The Early Grind
12:14 Losing Before Winning
13:49 Learning to Compete
15:43 Going $20,000 Into Debt
16:56 Returning Home to Teach
18:10 Family Lessons on Toughness
20:28 Opening His First Academy
21:58 Coach vs. Competitor
22:52 Why Everyone Should Train Jiu-Jitsu
24:45 The Evolution of Modern BJJ
25:20 What Makes Champions Different
26:27 The First MMA Fight
27:59 Overcoming Fight Anxiety
31:35 The UFC Dream
33:57 Fighting Through Pain
34:22 The Toughest Moments Inside the Cage
35:05 Learning From Defeat
35:42 Knowing It Was Time to Retire
37:12 The MRI That Changed Everything
39:22 Understanding MS
40:39 Choosing Movement Over Medication
41:58 The TacFit Journey
43:33 The Spain Tournament
46:29 Movement as Medicine
47:23 From Student to Business Partner
48:48 Happiness in the Pursuit
53:03 Writing All In
56:05 Advice for Facing Fear
56:50 Rapid Fire Questions
01:01:45 Craziest Story on the Mats
01:02:54 Closing Thoughts
