One FC star Fodor fights depression to help autistic children

MANILA, Philippines – The 9/11 attacks drastically altered the lives of many people, including ONE FC star Caros Fodor. Fodor, who was adopted by a Hungarian mother and raised alongside several adopted brothers and sisters, had a childhood dream of a career in the military. He was 12 when his mother signed up for the military and was 17 and going through boot camp training when the September 11 attacks took place.  The moment he completed boot camp, Fodor was dispatched to Kuwait where he served a tour as the youngest soldier in his platoon in the United States Marines.

He was recalled following the takeover of Baghdad. When he returned, he suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder and turned to alcohol for relief. He left the army and started hanging out with a group of friends who would start fights for leisure.

The crew decided to train in MMA with the intention of learning to fight better on the streets, but they fell by the wayside when they realized the level of difficulty of the training. Fodor remained committed to MMA and began training regularly. He felt that MMA helped relieve him of the anger and resentment he carried since returning. He began drinking less and focused more on improving his MMA skills. It also distanced him from the group of friends he was hanging with.

Four years since embarking on a professional career, Fodor has amassed a respectable 7-3 record, and has fought in high-profile bouts in Strikeforce and UFC. He also has a brother Ben, who is now known in Seattle as masked vigilante Phoenix Jones. Fodor explained that he and Ben constantly fought growing up and they do not see eye-to-eye on many things, including his brother’s decision to be a hooded crusader of justice.

What they do agree on however, is their support for autism. Their mother ran a foster home for autistic children and Caros Fodor has gradually taken over the family business, and he spends most of his free time helping out as an assistant for mentally challenged kids. He credits it for a newfound maturity and considers his other first love besides mixed martial arts.

Fodor has now found a home fighting for Asia’s largest mixed martial arts organization, ONE FC. He made a successful debut by earning a hard-fought victory over tough Korean Tommy Yang. He now looks to knock off another contender in South African striking sensation Vuyisile Colossa and move one step closer to a shot at the ONE FC Lightweight World Championship currently held by submission kingpin Shinya Aoki.