The day came to a close for Max as he arrived at his hotel in Santa Monica, California.  Max had his priorities straight when he arrived.  First task was to get some food, second was to do some laundry and the last was to get some sleep for his workout to come in the early morning.  Max received word that Gegard Mousasi, his idol, had already planned out their workout for the morning and it was suggested that he get plenty of rest for the day to come.  Max took the suggestion and was asleep well before midnight.

After two grueling hours on the highway, Max decided it was time to stop for some fast food.  Max passed on several options before picking out Subway.  A six inch turkey sandwich on wheat was just enough to keep Max going.  Max also picked up some dried vegetable chips which he insisted were not only nutritious, but also extremely delicious.  I had one bite of the dried beet and decided to forego the rest of Max’s offers to have more. 

“It’s been one hell of a ride today, literally,” says Max Martyniouk as he heads down California’s Interstate 5 from San Jose. Due to his late enrollment in the Sherdog MMA Fighter Exchange, Max has had to endure a five-hour car ride from San Jose to Los Angeles.

“I feel like the road isn’t ending,” says the lightweight. “I don’t want to be sitting in the car for thirty minutes, and it’s coming up on five hours.”

Max’s mentor, Gegard Mousasi, was fortunate enough to get on a plane early Sunday morning, arriving at his southern California hotel to rest before the first day of training.

“I have energy all of the time,” says Martyniouk, who seems unfazed when asked whether the trip will make him tired for his first day of training. “I am able to get a second wind in situations that I don’t have any energy left.”

Monday marks the first day of physical work for Martyniouk and Mousasi, but it’s the mental aspect which seems to be on Martyniouk’s mind.

“In the car today, I have been thinking about just getting that call, that contract.”

Tomorrow, Martyniouk will move one step closer to that goal.

No matter where in the world a fighter goes, whether for training or a fight, they’re almost always situated in a hotel room. The rooms come in many shapes and sizes, from five-star suites to scenes straight from the Bates Motel. The feel of the linens can vary, as can the smells and the service.

World traveler Gegard Mousasi knows he can always rely on one thing in his hotel rooms, though: the television.

”You know, here you guys have all of the channels,” says Mousasi. “I know most of the shows. We have a lot of them back home.”

Comfort is a necessity when you're constantly on the road. Whether you're a fighter, a businessman, or just traveling at your leisure, you have to be able to unwind. For the Mousasi brothers, a lot of that unwinding is done in their hotel beds, kicking back and watching television.

It’s a slow day for our camp here in southern California. Max Martyniouk is still in transit, and the rest of us are getting our bearings after a weekend of traveling and covering the Strikeforce event in San Jose.

Tomorrow will mark the first day of training. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, it seems that Mousasi already has some ideas for what he’d like to have Martyniouk do. I look forward to bringing you coverage of all that as it goes down.

Gegard Mousasi's mind started turning after checking in at his hotel in Los Angeles. There were many sights and sounds which caught the fighter’s attention, but one in particular piqued his interest.

Staring out over the beachfront behind the hotel, Mousasi spotted an outdoor gym. One of the cultural experiences of southern California is oceanside training.

In the veteran fighter’s mind, the thought of fun in the sun quickly turned to training ideas for his protégé, Max Martyniouk. Spotting an obstacle made of ropes, Mousasi smiled and said, "Those ropes are going to be good for Max.”

Travel day is never fun for a fighter, but for Gegard Mousasi and his brother, Gewik, traveling is something they’ve grown quite accustomed to. Having fought in Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and America, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion has logged more than his fair share of airplane miles.

With that in mind, Sunday morning’s itinerary was a breeze. At 9 a.m., the two men boarded a regional jet in San Jose, headed to Los Angeles.

“I don't mind flying,” says Gegard. “Long flights are not too fun though.”

The Dutch-based fighter says he enjoys airlines which offer in-flight services such as personal televisions and other multimedia options.

Due to his last-minute enrollment in the program, Max Martyniouk’s journey to Los Angeles will be a bit more tedious. "Payne" will take the scenic route: traveling by car.