This book is a MUST read! Highly recommend. I love the emotions put I to this book, I love Cody's relationship with the boy that had cancer .And I also enjoyed the writing style. Very good!

Great story. I felt like I was following on the journey with Cody and Maddux. Through all the ups and downs Cody never gave up. Hes a true inspiration.

I grew up in martial arts and as an adult came to enjoy watching UFC. Those were the days of Joyce Gracie (I know I'm dating myself). I heard of Cody Garbrandt and knew of his friendship with the kid who had cancer, watched him win the championship belt. I was over the moon excited when I heard he was writing a book. To learn the back story of Cody's life and how his life intercepted with Maddux's is simply inspirational and moving beyond what words can describe. Maddux truly saved Cody's life. And in his own way, Cody did the same for Maddux. They became the fuel for each other's fire to fight the battles in front of them.

"Live to fight. Fight to live."

Cody was fighting to get into the UFC and make a better life for himself, Maddux was fighting for his life. One of the beautiful aspects of this book and this story is first the honor and glory Cody gives to God - for helping to pave the way but always putting the right people at the right time in his life to get him where He wanted Cody to be. The second is that Cody stresses over and over how Maddux is THE strongest person he knows. That kid fought battles tougher than anything a fighter will face in the octogan. When Cody would win, it was equally Maddux's win as well. This isn't the story of just some kid Cody met doing charity work at a hospital. This is a beautiful story of two individuals who became family and forever changed each others lives. It's heart warming, moving, inspirational, it will bring you to tears at times. It's the exact opposite of what you would think of when describing a UFC fighter. And that's what makes this book so great. I truly feel blessed that Cody and Maddux shared their story with the world. I was already a Cody Garbrandt fan and now I'm an even bigger one.

In his memoir, Cody Garbrandt served as personal guide and took me back to his hometown that thrived on fists and fury, at least he did. His character came well-drawn beginning from when he was just a little boy right up to when he first entered the UFC. His inspiration to achieve world champion status was the overriding theme of the author's message. The well-written scenes captivated my interest as I witnessed him having his hand raised as he stood over opponent after opponent.

The luck of the draw had chosen Cody Garbrandt for the one and only thing for which he was destined, fighting. The neighborhood wasn't responsible as first claimed for his fighting but rather his unfortunate upbringing in a shattered family environment. All of the close male figures in his life, his mentors, were either in prison or ex-cons. It was no way for anyone to grow up. His anger and frustration which he had plenty of it, finally found its way to his fists.

While hard times took Cody on a downward spiral he found his savior in five-year-old Maddux, a little boy who had been stricken with a life-threatening disease, leukemia. Over time they became a support team for each other. For the first time in each of their short lives they had someone to look up to. A role model. A hero.

Cody put his mind and body into training for his UFC fights. He made a promise to Maddux and to himself. He was going to win that Championship belt. After five long years that dream came true. In a sense, they both had come full circle. Cody had made it, world champion. Maddux had conquered leukemia. The fight was over. They had found peace.

My thanks to NetGalley and W Publishing/Thomas Nelson for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.