FiveKnuckles.com: It actually makes perfect sense because even the biggest fighters in the sport are on television only a couple times each year at best. Now, One More Round may have gone under, but TapouT isn't going anywhere. I got off the plane here in Vegas last week and they're throwing up a TapouT store right in the main terminal. People from all over the world are going to see your pretty face right when they get off the plane.

Stitch Duran: (Laughing) Absolutely. And whatever city I'm in or whatever airports, you always see quite a few people wearing TapouT gear so they're obviously everywhere. When I lost the One More Round contract, it literally broke that company's heart. A lot of people actually thought that it was my company. I gave them so much exposure that everyone started associating me as the face of One More Round as if I was the only guy they were sponsoring.

FiveKnuckles.com: I made that mistake myself. I was disappointed to see them go under because I liked the whole concept and I really bought into the idea as did many.

Stitch Duran: Yeah, they definitely had the right idea, but if the least little thing goes wrong, there are problems looming. That's totally understandable in today's day and age. If you really look at it, there's a lot of inspiration hanging around the sponsors of the fight game. One More Round had the right idea, and I remember listening to Mask speak on television and he was very inspirational. He told people to go out there and do it. Even if bad things do happen, you can still get up and move on. I think what I'm trying to say is many people overlook the inspirational aspect of the fight game.

FiveKnuckles.com: Who are some people out there you would like to thank?

Stitch Duran: I'd like to thank my two sponsors: TapouT and Xyience. They're both tremendous. I have to give Dana and the whole UFC a lot of credit. They were really thinking ahead and staying in front of the curve like always when they decided to bring the cut men on full-time. It really changed our lives. I'd also like to thank Burt Watson. Burt is the coordinator not only for the cut men, but the fighters as well. He's the man behind the scenes that makes this program work as well as it does. Last, but not least, I'd like to thank my wife Charlotte. The sacrifices that I made to come to Las Vegas and follow my dreams, I couldn't have done without her. I put myself in a deep hole to follow this dream and she was there the whole time and she believed in me. Of all the people in the world, she sits at the top of the totem pole of the people I'm gracious towards.

*Be on the lookout for "Stitch's" new book entitled: "From Migrant Worker to Madison Square Garden: The Jacob ‘Stitch' Duran Story" and be sure to check back with FiveKnuckles.com for part two of this interview later in the week.

**Follow "Stitch" on Twitter @StitchDuran

***Tommy Kail is a former athlete at the collegiate and professional levels and has been involved with sports his entire life. He is passionate about advocating for MMA athletes by shedding light on them as individuals and giving you a take you might not get anywhere else.