Neelan Hordatt-Reece: A Future Champion!

Every month, the Evolve Instructor Team selects a student who best exemplifies the core values of Evolve Mixed Martial Arts®: excellence, humility, honor, respect, courage, and teamwork.

Neelan Hordatt-Reece is a 19 year old university student with exceptional talent in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Mixed Martial Arts.  He possesses the physical attributes of a future champion.  However, what makes Neelan truly special is what is inside of him and how he has embraced the invaluable lessons of martial arts. 

Neelan joined Evolve MMA approximately a year ago.  In the very beginning, the Evolve Instructor Team quietly identified him as a potential problem student because of his "know-it-all, young punk" attitude.  He had a few months of prior martial arts experience and did not show any humility.  Ironically, his fundamentals in striking and grappling were quite poor.  More importantly, Neelan lacked respect and discipline.  With all credit to Neelan though, he quickly shed his arrogant behavior and chose to inherit the Evolve MMA warrior spirit of excellence, humility, honor, respect, courage, and teamwork.  He checked his ego at the door and trained diligently almost every day of every week.  Neelan became a sponge for knowledge as his love for the martial arts grew each day.  He humbly listened to every word from the Evolve Instructor Team and applied the lessons to his martial arts game and to his life.  His technical skills skyrocketed and his fight intelligence grew dramatically.  Eventually, because of his efforts to become a better person and martial artist, Neelan was invited to become the youngest member of the Evolve Fight Team.  In 12 months, Neelan achieved both a Renzo Gracie Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Level 4 in Sityodtong Muay Thai.  It is the fastest time that anyone has ever achieved both together at Evolve MMA.  Today, Neelan is humble, yet confident.  With the blessing and support from his parents, Neelan is now working towards becoming a professional fighter.  In fact, he just had his first professional Muay Thai fight in Thailand and won by 2nd round KO against a very tough and seasoned Thai fighter.  Neelan's story is truly inspirational because of the dramatic transformation that has happened to him as a person and as a warrior.  As stated before, what makes Neelan so special is what is inside of him.  He is a true warrior and fighter.  Congratulations on all of your success, Neelan!  

Here are some words from the Evolve Instructor Team:

"Neelan was not very well liked when he first joined Evolve MMA.  I remember all of the Muay Thai instructors talking about how he lacked respect and discipline.  Amazingly, Neelan is an entirely different person today.  I think Neelan saw how all the World Champions at Evolve MMA conduct themselves and it rubbed off on him.  Neelan is now a very important part of the Evolve Family.  He is well loved by everyone.  I do believe that Neelan can become a champion if he works hard.  The next big lesson for Neelan is to learn the true meaning of training hard."
-Yoddecha Sityodtong, Evolve Instructor and Muay Thai World Champion

"Neelan has become like a little brother to me.  I have given him my heart, my wisdom, and my everything to help him become a better warrior and human being.  I'm so happy to see that he is listening and learning.  Neelan has a very bright future ahead in the martial arts.  However, he must always stay humble, hungry, respectful, and disciplined."
-Saknarong "Little Duck" Sityodtong, Evolve Instructor and Trainer of World Champions

"Neelan has really surprised everyone.  Neelan has really inherited all the valuable lessons from martial arts like humility, respect, courage, discipline, and so much more.  Neelan is also an outstanding athlete.  Of course, he is still young in his development as a fighter.  However, under our tutelage, I believe that Neelan will go very far.  I am very proud of his development as a martial artist and human being.  Today, Neelan is a very special part of Evolve.  Everyone loves and respects him because of the person that he has become.  I truly admire what he has become.  Here is to achieving your dreams together, Neelan!"
-Chatri Sityodtong, Evolve Instructor and Fighter

"Neelan makes me smile.  Martial arts has really changed him for the better in every way.  It is my greatest joy to see someone like him and how much he has grown in 1 year.  Of course, he is a tremendous athlete.  However, I am most proud of him because how he has chosen to become a true warrior.  He trains hard, he shows respect, he has discipline, he is humble, and he never gives up.  At Evolve MMA, our mission is to change your life for the better.  With Neelan, I can say that we are succeeding so far." 
-Rafael "Gordinho" Correa de Lima, Evolve Instructor and BJJ World Champion