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\nMelissa Amaya, UFC Vegas 121 Weigh-Ins Credit: Pat Danna\/Cageside Press<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve heard the stories about being in the Ultimate Fighter House. We\u2019ve heard that some people were losing their minds, missing their families, couldn\u2019t wait to get their phones back. While there are things that Melissa Amaya missed about being on the outside, she actually really enjoyed the process of being in the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it was only four weeks, but it felt like four years. It felt like a whole college experience,\u201d Amaya said. \u201cLiving with other people, going through such a transformative experience. Honestly, leaving the house, it was hard for me. It took me a bit to adjust. I really, really missed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
A big piece of that feeling was due to the ability to have a singular focus. While fighting to reach the Ultimate Fighter finals, she was able to think and train for only that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it was just so special to be able to lock in. Your entire existence there is to prepare you for a fight. It\u2019s for the biggest opportunity of your life,\u201d she explained. \u201cThere are cameras and all these other little things around, but at the end of the day, you get to take naps. I love to take naps and train.\u201d<\/p>\n
The comforts of the house were not lost on her either. She feels all that comes with the experience helped to make her the best version of herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wake up, train, you have a magical paper where you get everything you need, all the food that you need,\u201d Amaya said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to worry about finances. You don\u2019t have to worry about keeping in touch with people or anything\u2026 I thrive in that environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now home and back in training camp, she\u2019ll look to replicate and show off all of the growth that she had in the house. She faces Tina Black in the TUF finale at UFC Vegas 121 this weekend. That fight will be part of the main card, which starts at 8pm EST on Paramount+.<\/p>\n