Anthony Dooley Coleman Concepts interview on Nick and retirement

The Anthony Dooley Coleman Concepts interview came as Dooley prepared for an October 10 rematch with Nick—and what he says will be his last amateur MMA fight. Dooley told Coleman Concepts that he believes he deserved the decision in their first meeting, has spent the past year addressing the wrestling that troubled him, and plans to turn professional before retiring after a small number of pro fights.

When is Anthony Dooley’s next fight against Nick?

Anthony Dooley’s next fight is a rematch with Nick on October 10, following weigh-ins on October 9. Dooley said camp had gone well and that his immediate task was getting through the final weight cut. He also identified the bout as his last amateur fight before a planned professional debut.

He described this camp as a change from previous ones because he had eight months between fights and began reducing his weight before camp started. That preparation, he said, left him entering fight week at the lowest weight he had reached at that stage of a camp.

Dooley normally weighs about 157 to 160 pounds and fights at 135. Although he felt good about where he stood, he did not portray the remaining cut as effortless. He said making weight is usually hard for him.

What did Anthony Dooley say about his Nick rematch?

Anthony Dooley believes he deserved the decision in his first fight with Nick and expects to be better prepared for their rematch. He said Nick’s wrestling taxed his cardio in the first meeting, so he spent the following year working on the grappling and wrestling exchanges that gave him trouble.

The split decision against Nick

The first fight went three rounds and ended in a split decision for Nick. Dooley said one judge awarded him all three rounds, while the other two gave Nick two rounds each. After repeatedly watching the fight, Dooley still questioned how the judges weighed the damage. That assessment is his view of a close result, not a change to the official decision.

Dooley also said Nick appeared surprised when the result was announced. He believes the uncertainty of that first meeting could matter when they face each other again, though he cannot know how Nick now views the fight.

Training with Gage Young and Alan Olivas

Immediately after the loss, Dooley began working with Gage Young on striking and Alan Olivas on grappling and wrestling, alongside his other coaches. He said they had worked on those areas for 12 months. The work has given him more confidence than he usually feels before a fight, particularly because it addresses the problems he remembers from facing Nick.

Why does Anthony Dooley use the nickname Stormin’ Mormon?

Anthony Dooley said his nickname, Stormin’ Mormon, comes from his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His faith is important to him, and he wanted the public-facing part of fighting to represent something he considers central to who he is, rather than keep it separate from his athletic identity.

He explained that crowds and a following give him a platform beyond the fight itself. The nickname is his way of making that identity visible when he competes. Dooley did not describe it as a reference to his fighting style; he tied its origin directly to his faith.

What was it like for Anthony Dooley to fight on the same card as his son?

Anthony Dooley called sharing a fight card with his son one of the coolest things he has done. It happened in 2023, on the night of Dooley’s first victory, when his son was 17. He described his family as strongly supportive of his MMA career.

The two were not fighting at similar sizes. Dooley said he is barely five feet six and a half inches tall and now fights at 135 pounds, while his son is six feet one inch tall and weighs about 180 to 190 pounds. He laughed about the size difference but gave no detailed account of how they trained together for that card.

For Dooley, the shared event stands apart from an ordinary family visit to a fight. Both father and son had bouts on the same card, allowing them to take part in the occasion as fighters.

How does Anthony Dooley manage his weight cut to 135 pounds?

Anthony Dooley said he entered fight week lighter than ever before by doing more of the work ahead of camp. That let him eat more during a period of high training output, although he still followed a structured routine. As the weigh-in approached, he planned to remove carbohydrates and then salt from his meals.

Meals during training camp

His usual breakfast was Special K with protein powder, almond milk and blueberries, sometimes with peanut butter. After morning training, he had another protein-and-carbohydrate shake, followed by strength and conditioning work. Lunch was generally chicken with vegetables or carbohydrates; dinner often included beef, vegetables or tacos.

The final days before weigh-ins

Dooley said the restrictive part was still ahead of him: first cutting carbohydrates, then salt. He expected to eat four-ounce portions of chicken or steak two or three times a day, with fats such as avocado or butter. That was his description of his own fight-week plan, not advice for others to follow.

What has Anthony Dooley learned from fighting and teaching martial arts?

Anthony Dooley said fighting has taught him to persist through setbacks, a lesson he brings into his martial arts school. His advice to someone considering the sport is to start despite doubts about age or ability, then commit fully. He sees training as a demanding choice that affects far more than time spent in the gym.

Dooley said serious preparation shapes when he sleeps, wakes, eats and trains. He expects to train repeatedly through the week and does not believe someone pursuing fights seriously can treat the work as an occasional activity. He introduced the point plainly:

This is a lifestyle.

As an instructor with his own school, Dooley draws on his experiences when students encounter failure or other difficulties. He said being able to tell them he has faced setbacks himself gives him a useful point of reference. Fighting has been humbling and fulfilling for him, and he hopes his students take something from the example.

When does Anthony Dooley plan to turn pro and retire?

Anthony Dooley plans to make his professional debut after the October 10 fight, then compete at least once more. He said he expects to retire after his first professional loss; if he keeps winning, he thinks he will stop after about four pro fights. Those are his current intentions, not a fixed schedule.

Professional fights and a stopping point

Dooley said he does not expect to reach the UFC. He wants the chance to fight professionally for a short period, but recognizes that he is getting older. He also admitted that walking away will be difficult because fighting keeps him focused, in shape and motivated.

Growing his martial arts school

Teaching will remain part of his life after competition. Dooley plans to keep building his existing school and hopes to open one or two more over the next few years. He said that would leave more room to grow his business and attend to family matters instead of continuing to organize his life around camps and fights.

Who is Anthony Dooley?

Anthony Dooley is a firefighter and martial arts instructor who entered MMA later in life. He runs his own martial arts school and competes as Stormin’ Mormon.