A Chula Vista mixed martial arts fighter is raising money so that he can compete at the Youth MMA World Championships next month in Abu Dhabi.
David Daniels, 16, won bronze in 2022 and silver in 2024 in his age and weight class at the event.
According to his father Robert, David “never stops” training, which earned him the nickname “The Machine.”
David said he doesn’t know anyone who can keep up with him in practice — or in a fight.
“I don’t really know anyone who could keep the same pace,” David said. “I know I have a very strong mentality where if I break them, I know that they won’t be able to keep up with me — and I know once I break them, I’ve got them.”
When he got off work at Viejas Casino around 1 a.m., his father said David would lift alongside him. But after taking the bronze in 2022, David needed a nutritionist, Robert said.
To fulfill his dream of becoming a world champion — which he has trained for since he was 7 — David also needed to sleep eight hours and eat well, so Robert connected with a nutritionist named Eric Peña over Instagram in early 2023.
For $200 a month, Peña made a meal plan for David and called him every single Sunday, Robert said.
However, a few months before the national youth championships in May 2023, Robert realized there was something Peña hadn’t mentioned.
Robert was watching an episode of “UFC Embedded” — a TV show that follows professional fighters before their competitions — and caught a glimpse of Peña with Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier — the fifth-ranked fighter in the UFC’s lightweight division, and a former interim champion.
According to Robert, he called Peña and asked him why he hadn’t mentioned working with Poirier.
“He’s like ‘Well, I wanted to prove to you guys how good I am, and I wanted you to hire me because of who I am and what I do, not because of who my clients are,” Robert said.
Peña’s humility won Robert’s respect — and David won gold at the national championships a few months later.
Peña said David and his team handle themselves as true professionals.
“David and his team are determined to win,” Peña said. “Even at such a young age and so early in his career, they reach out and put themselves amongst others that will help them get better day in and day out.”
David skipped the 2023 world championships because his family couldn’t afford the trip, Robert said, but he placed second in 2024.
According to Robert, most fighters have to pay for their trips to the events, although the Irish national team had their trips paid for by UFC star Conor McGregor in 2021.
“There’s so many American fighters — and in the UFC, not a lot of people have Conor McGregor money,” Robert said.
Robert said that David will only be traveling with his coach if they can hit their GoFundMe goal.
David said he might treat himself if he wins gold in Abu Dhabi.
“When I went there last year, I had a cheat meal — I had some pizza and some meats,” David said. “But I might have a cheat meal once we get back — we’ll see.”
