How a pair of Air Jordans changed Mark Muñoz’ life

Mark Munoz during UFC media availability. Photo by Ryan Leagogo

Mark Muñoz looked like the personification of calm as he sat on his chair during UFC’s Ultimate Media Day at Solaire Resort and Casino.

He wore sweat pants and a sports jacket with his “M” logo emblazoned on the left chest, just above the heart.

On his feet were Nike Air Flights with white upper and red accents.

But he admits that his favorite pair are Air Jordan IV Cements. Not because of the style, but because of a life experience he got out of wearing them.

“There’s a story behind that, in my school, when I was growing up, Js were very popular,” the Filipino Wrecking Machine said Thursday. “But actually I got bullied for my Js because somebody wanted them.”

Muñoz said there were five guys who wanted his Air Jordan IV Cements and bullied him to get them.

That incident actually steered him to a career in mixed martial arts where he has reaped success through out the years.

“After that incident, a friend of mine came up to me and said if I wanna wrestle.”

A string of luck led him to the national championships, a university scholarship, and then later on to the UFC.

Muñoz became a national wrestling champion when he was with the varsity at Oklahoma State University.

“Life experiences mold you who you become, but more importantly your life choices do that,” Muñoz said.

On Saturday, Muñoz will be facing his final UFC fight in front of hometown crowds as he faces Luke Barnatt.

He added that his past experiences pushed him to become an anti-bullying advocate,  traveling from school to school to help students address the issue of bullying.

But Muñoz said he didn’t get back at his bullies.

“I didn’t get back at them, God bless them,” Muñoz said.

The long-time sneakerhead will always look at Air Jordan IVs as not only the shoes Michael Jordan once wore, but the shoes that changed his life. CC