After 'hot dogs and ramen,' WSOF 12’s Kelvin Tiller says Bellator release justified

WSOF 12 fighter Kelvin Tiller knows it’s cliche, but he has no problem preaching about how a career in professional MMA saved him from taking a dark path in life.

Growing up in Topeka, Kan., Tiller said he could have easily walked a familiar path. His father wasn’t around, so his mother was forced to raise Tiller and his three older sisters on her own. Money was tight, which meant Tiller’s options and opportunities were limited.

He dabbled in some unsavory activities through his teenage years, but it didn’t take long to realize that such life wasn’t viable, he said. He wanted to find a way to avoid becoming a stereotype. Because of that, he made the lifesaving decision to turn to MMA.

“It kept me off the street and kept me out of trouble,” Tiller told MMAjunkie of his transition into fighting. “I was hanging with the wrong crowd; guys I grew up with were dying, going to jail, getting mixed up with drugs, shooting, murders and stuff like that. I wanted to try something different.”

The real turning point came when Tiller became a father. He was only 18 when his son was born, and the added responsibility forced him to grow up much faster than anticipated. It would have been easy for Tiller to run away from his responsibilities. However, he looked around at what he didn’t want for his own life and that of his son, so he found a way out.

“I wanted to set a better example for my son growing up,” Tiller said. “I didn’t grow up having a daddy. I didn’t see my daddy until I was about 18 years old. That was my motivation. My mom had to take care of me and my sisters by herself, and I didn’t want that for my son. It’s important to be a good role model for him instead of being in prison or dead while he’s growing up. I wanted to better my life for him, for myself and for my family. I use that as my motivation in everyday life.”

Tiller was no stranger to physical altercations prior to his MMA career, but in terms of a traditional martial arts training, he had no credentials. That would typically put a would-be fighter behind the curve, but Tiller said he’s far from typical. In fact, he claims to have picked up every aspect of the sport in a hurry.

“Everything has come natural to me,” Tiller said. “Not to be cocky, but when I see something, I pick it up right away. I don’t think there are many things I can’t do as far as wrestling, jiu-jitsu and kickboxing.”

Tiller has proven to be a formidable competitor. He opened his career with six consecutive victories and finished five of those opponents inside the distance. On paper it looks like everything has gone according to plan, but he said that’s not the case.

Even though Tiller in undefeated, he missed weight for two of his past three wins. Tiller was previously signed to Bellator MMA and fought three times for the organization. His debut went smoothly, but his next two appearances saw him miss the middleweight limit.

Tiller was allowed to compete the first and second time he missed weight, but with the third strike, he was out. Bellator pulled him from a scheduled contest just one day before the fight and subsequently released him from his contract.

While Tiller speaks highly of his time at Bellator, he said being released was necessary to make him realize fighting isn’t all about what happens in the cage. It’s also about acting in a professional manner outside of it, and Tiller learned his lesson and got his diet in check.

“I’ve learned that I need to make my diet a lifestyle,” Tiller said. “Bellator did nothing but treat me well, even when they let me go. I just needed to make diet a lifestyle. When you do that, it becomes part of you.

“I’ve learned to stay committed, but it’s hard when you come from where I come from. We could only afford hot dogs and ramen noodles. On good days it was macaroni and fried chicken. It was all unhealthy food, but that’s what worked for us coming from that area. So trying to eat baked fish and chicken was a hard transition, but it’s worth it.”

Although one door closed, several others opened due to Tiller’s weight issues. His knowledge about maintaining proper health quickly increased, and he signed with WSOF, a budding organization with many new opportunities.

The first opportunity comes Saturday, when Tiller (6-0) makes his promotional debut opposite Elvis Mutapcic (13-3) at WSOF 12. The event takes place at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The main card, including Tiller’s bout, airs live on NBC Sports Network following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Mutapcic sports a solid resume against legitimate competition and represents arguably the sternest challenge of Tiller’s career. Tiller views Mutapcic as a bridge to the next level of the sport, especially because he said the winner would become the No. 1 contender for the WSOF middleweight championship.

“This is absolutely huge for me,” Tiller said. “A lot of people told me not to take this fight, but NBC Sports and World Series of Fighting are doing great by me to put me on the main card. To put me in a position to fight for a title next is huge too. I’m grateful, I’m blessed, and I’ve worked hard. You look at my fights and my record, and it was all earned. This is an earned opportunity, and I promise I’ll show the world that I belong.”

Tiller has seen people divert into all walks of life, but few have turned their individual path lead to something positive. The 24-year-old believes he is in such a position, and regardless of how far he makes it in the sport, he’ll never forget where he came from and how his ultimate goal is to do best for his son.

“I see people younger and older than me still in the streets, and I see how proud they are of me,” Tiller said. “Most people from my situation go into basketball and football, and if basketball and football don’t work out, they get a 9-5 job at McDonald’s or something, and they’re unhappy, so they sell or turn to drugs. I never wanted to be that way, so that’s why I took the MMA route. When people tell me they are proud with what I’m doing with my life, it puts a smile on my face and makes me want to work even harder.”

For more on WSOF 12, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.