Throughout his childhood and teenage years in New York, Will proved to be a talented athlete, standing out as a running back in gridiron football, as a goalie in soccer, as a shortstop in baseball, in wrestling and in backyard basketball, as well as earning a black belt in taekwondo. However, Will did not receive a worthwhile athletic scholarship to college; in fact he went to a university on decent financial aid for good grades, and earned a double major in nutrition and physical education. Regardless, elementary school through college would prove to have only been mere stepping stones in a grander career, after all.
Will intended to become an MMA champion, nay, a UFC superstar! After a short and successful amateur career where he earned four submission wins to a single decision loss, Will decided to go pro. The loss on his debut was a bitter pill to swallow, but it was an important lesson: anyone can get caught, and this time, he did… it was tougher to put a positive spin on the second KO loss. A close decision loss followed by what should’ve been Will’s first win but ended in a highlight reel flying armbar submission plastered all over different compilations on YouTube all but cemented the death of his career, but Will wanted one win.
Will was matched up against a true prodigy on his sixth fight. At this point, despite being only 23, Will was widely considered to bea journeyman for his paltry record of 0-5; happy for the opportunity. Observant fans knew there was always a game fighter in Will, his submission wins in the amateur circuit were not yet forgotten, but his opponent was on another level; younger, on a win streak, and the subject of talk for people such as Dana White, Ariel Helwani, Conor McGregor and everyone near the UFC juggernaut. This was Will’s greatest chance to make an impression before the world; instead, for five rounds, he was made to look like a punching bag.
Will isn’t prickly about many things, but he certainly doesn’t like to speak about that fight. He retired and unretired while being interviewed in the ring (clearly concussed), only to then retire again during the press conference. Nowadays, Will works as a taekwondo instructor for children, and as a personal coach on the side. Money is tight, which precipitated a move to New Harbor, but despite lower rents here, money only seems tougher to come across. Will spends most of his days nowadays circling temporary job opportunities as his class size is decimated and he finds little clientele within the confines of the local 24/7 Fitness.