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LAS VEGAS – Brad Tate considers himself blessed.
“I’ve always said, ‘If you find something you love, you’ll never work again in your life, and that’s the truth,'” Tate recently told MMA Junkie on the red carpet at the 16th annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards. “I don’t work. I’m having a lot of fun. I get to hang out with my friends who have become family. You celebrated me and embraced me and let me be the idiot of the world. “You’re laughing at me,” and I love it.
Tate is one of the most recognizable faces in the industry and has been working as a cutman for 18 years. He has developed a strong bond with many fighters – and a large online fan base of those who enjoy watching his playful and comedic interactions with some of the UFC’s top talent.
Perhaps Tate’s most popular recurring Instagram segment highlights his “rivalry” with Gilbert Burns and other Brazilian fighters. No location is safe from sneak attacks and takedown attempts from Burns, who seems to take immense pleasure in dragging Tate to the ground wherever he crosses paths.
“The thing about me and Gilbert is that I’m a mouth,” Tate said. “If you ever see the content with me and DC, I just don’t know when to shut up. Exactly, I talked nonsense to Gilbert and of course he put me down. So I think it started in Houston, Texas. I was like, “Dude, you’re not that tough.” I grabbed him and lifted him up. Of course he beat me up. Then I sneaked in and ran upstairs.
“He kept me and the entire Brazilian community embraced me, from him to Charles (Oliveira) to so many other fighters. I feel like I have a serious job again and I’m there for five minutes and get serious again. This helps me and everything else. I’m really an idiot.”
Tate remembers in particular that a scuffle with Burns in a Houston elevator almost took a turn for the worse. Luckily for the innocent bystanders, the ride only lasted a limited time.
“There was an African Congress,” Tate said. “So we’re in the elevator. It was Gilbert and a few of his teammates. We’re getting started. This woman is in the elevator and she’s freaking out. He says, ‘No, no, you have to stop.’ But I was already determined: “I have to win this game because the door is open and I have to run.” That’s the only time it ever happened. People just look and say, “Oh, that’s interesting.” When they see me and Gilbert together now, they almost want to see us start fighting. So it’s a lot of fun.
The never-ending battle to defeat is just one way Tate tries to radiate good energy. He has also gone viral for his hilarious reactions to various warm-ups, including when coach Marcio Malko gave Marina Rodriguez an exaggerated slap.
Tate says his usual cutman work week is limited to a few days. While his job description involves tending to wounds, Tate prides himself on healing the mind and soul through humor and positivity.
“We usually come in on a Friday,” Tate said. “Then I do all my prep work that day. I’m making my ankle pads. I prepare my equipment for the fight that evening. That’s all. I go out and meet the fans and socialize. I’ll have that.” It’s a great time to fool around and release more content, laugh with the guys and then relax. A lot of it is prep work, just being ready for the fight on Saturday.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC cutman Brad Tate prides himself on his positive presence, gives origin to Gilbert Burns ‘rivalry’
