🎙️ Episode 57: Ben "The Baker” Neumann | One Fight from the UFC… Then Everything Changed

What happens when a professional fighter questions whether his career aligns with his faith—and then finds clarity?

In this powerful conversation, Mark sits down with Ben “The Baker” Neumann—former MMA fighter, black belt in a Rickson Gracie lineage gym, and entrepreneur—to explore the deeper story behind his journey.

From growing up on a Midwest farm… to serving in Iraq… to stepping into the cage and building a professional MMA career with 15 wins, a title shot, and being just one fight away from the UFC—Ben’s path has been anything but ordinary.

Along the way, he wrestled with a critical question: Can I pursue this level of violence and still honor my Christian faith? What he discovered changed everything—and allowed him to compete with conviction, clarity, and purpose.

And then, something unexpected happened.

The nickname “The Baker”—which started as a fight gimmick—became his next calling. Today, he runs a high-quality bakery, channeling the same discipline, craftsmanship, and intensity he once brought to fighting into providing for his family and building something meaningful.
This episode is about more than fighting—it’s about identity, evolution, and becoming the man you’re called to be in every season of life.

✅ Lessons from farm life, discipline, and growing up in the Midwest
✅ How military service in Iraq shaped his mindset and resilience
✅ The journey to becoming a black belt in a Rickson Gracie lineage gym
✅ How Ben resolved the tension between Christian faith and professional fighting
✅ What it’s like to be one fight away from the UFC—and what it costs
✅ How a fight nickname turned into a full-time business and calling
✅ Why fatherhood reshaped his priorities and identity
✅ The tension between business, family, and faith for high-achieving men

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💬 Comment below:
Which season of your life shaped you the most—your upbringing, your career, or becoming a father?

About the Lion Counseling Podcast
The Lion Counseling Podcast helps high-achieving men break destructive patterns, build emotional strength, and become the men God created them to be. Hosted by EMDR therapist Mark Odland and counselor Zack Carter, this show blends psychology, faith, and real-world experience to help men lead with clarity, discipline, and purpose.
New episodes drop every Tuesday.