Carson Hardman credits mixed martial arts with saving his life.
As a teenager, Hardman suffered from depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies.
For whatever reason, medication didn’t work. Years of counseling helped a little.
But it wasn’t until Hardman discovered his passion for cage fighting, against his family’s wishes, that his health improved.
“Nothing seemed to work as well as MMA,” said the Lehi husband and father of one. “It provided a grounding for me. I felt closer to God when I was taking care of my body and physically progressing in something. Spiritually I was doing much better in life. Mentally, emotionally, it felt right to be in MMA. So MMA really saved my life in a lot of ways.”
Hardman is one of three members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who will enter the cage to fight in the Legacy Fighting Alliance 75 lightweight event at the Maverik Center on Friday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. MT.