BOOK PREVIEW - Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary Goodridge

When Gary Goodridge first stepped into a UFC Octagon wearing a black karate gi in 1996, and his enthusiastic style took fans by storm, it was the first chapter in a long and storied career in Mixed Martial Arts.

Nearly two decades after that storied night, Goodridge is retired and takes a look back at his life in fighting and more in his autobiography Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge.

Gatekeeper takes a candid look at the life of “Big Daddy” the world saw in the spotlight, and the troubled life of Goodridge outside of it. Besides his fighting career, Goodridge pulls the curtain aside to discuss taboo subjects such as fight-fixing, steroid use, and marital infidelity. He also discusses his insatiable desire to create the best life possible for his daughters, as well as the permanent brain injury he now lives with because of his decades of involvement in combat sports.

Now a personal trainer and public speaker for subjects ranging from anti-bullying to injury prevention, Goodridge lives in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, where he runs his personal business. Gatekeeper is a shared journey where Goodridge looks back on the first 45 years of his life, reflecting on whether he would choose to go down a similar path if given a second chance.

“Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge” is published by Toronto based ECW Press and hits bookshelves on February 1 with an MSRP of $18.95 ($21.95 in Canada.) Digital Editions for major eBook readers will be available same day. (prices TBD)

PHOTO CREDIT – ECW PRESS