|  though ares' rise to ufc distinction seemed to happen all at once, in reality, he hammered away laboriously for years before his first ufc heavyweight championship. it was years prior to flashbulbs and unanimous cheers from the crowd, squashing the then-champ brock lesnar's hopes at continued title reign, that he had started his career in mma obscurity. a wrestler from age 6 onward, through elementary years, into junior high, high school and then to college, becoming an ncaa division I champion - some would say he had nearly mastered the sport of amateur wrestling, and craved something ever-changing and far more challenging. starting matches in the dark, and steadily climbing the ranks (going nearly half a decade before finally losing a fight, and after the fact of winning the heavyweight title), most would agree that he earned his success from the ground up, while others would say he took notriety by hard force (reminiscent of power displayed in-fight), and very few? make accusations that he was simply given opportunities. in truth, he's toiled and treaded through man after man to get where he is today.
quick career-highlight timeline
2005-2006 wrestled in college + accolades
2006 joins american kickboxing academy
10/7/2006 makes mma debut
2006-2009 trains, climbs ranks (not losing a match)
10/23/2010 wins heavyweight title / vs brock lesnar
11/17/2011 loses title / vs dos santos
2011-2012 trains, climbs ranks (not losing a match since loss)
12/29/2012 wins heavyweight title / vs dos santos
2013-2015 defends title x 2
6/13/2015 loses title
7/9/2016 won match / vs browne
media perception  the name 'ares candelario', at least in the world of ufc, is synonymous with in-cage viciousness and a gnashing source of power. that, paired with a hybrid mix of battle-mastermind and natural fighter's instinct, has landed men bloodied, backs snapped into the mat, as well as his name in stat books. in the ring, he lives by one singular rule; to respect and abide to the art of combat, and he honors it deeply, by way of merciless execution. 'war-path', as commentators have coined, is viewed by most, as a villain in the cage.
while a behemoth both in and out of the octagon, standing 6'4" and 265 pounds (the maximum of the heavyweight division), his public image is somewhat slight. he is perceived by most he casually encounters as stoic, quiet, bordering cold, and the perception of him in the media is nothing less. interviews, while few, have set a benchmark in his out-of-ring persona. minimally verbal, speaking with the wintry eyes flicking around, seemingly uninterested and aloof. in the chance he does murmur more than a few words here and there, his voice is a deep-baritone rumble at best. his reserved nature is often mistaken for callous, and he doesn't necessarily hinder the media's idea.
 countless footage clips and coverage of snippets with sports reporters at events, in the chance he does give words, reflect similarly. however, more times than not, it is in fact his opponent who will fire off about their bout during ringside interview, while ares comments minimally, or refuses comment completely. proving his distant nature, there is also very little outward celebration at victory, beyond a fleeting nod or a brief fist to the crowd in appreciation. still, his connection (or lack thereof) to the media has been mostly neutral in overall feeling. as it's been said, a mouth that says few words can't be accused of blasphemy. it isn't fear of persecution for his thoughts, or lack of respect for the liberty of free speech however; in fact, in private, ares is incredibly articulate and intelligent - and that is what he prefers when out of the octagon. privacy.
 : 75% of ufc junkies, mexican fans, californians (coastal especially), espn
 : 25% of ufc junkies, interviewers, timid/shy/mousy fans, most of his opponents |
|