Taming the ‘Wild’: MMA fighter becomes teacher, coach at Manteca High

Manteca High teacher Vincent Bordi, a former MMA champion, goes over an agenda with his Success 101 class. (MAAVA TIALAVEA/The Tower)

Editor’s Note: This profile is part of a series of stories on Manteca High School teachers who discovered teaching only after starting their professional careers in another line of work.

By MAAVA TIALAVEA 
The Tower 

June 27, 2014: Vincent Bordi fights to be a champion.  

Bordi has always been the underdog, whether he was in high school, college and even in professional ranks.

But on this day, everyone will know Vincent “The Wild” Bordi.  

Going into the match being 1-0, Bordi faced defending champion Jordan “Juggernaut” Powell for the West Coast Fighting Championship. There was sweat, blood, bruises and scratches as the fight stretched into the later rounds. 

Just 45 seconds into the final round, Bordi forced Powell to the edge of the octagon, readying himself to slam his opponent to the ground. Getting into good position, Bordi forced a double leg, fighting for position and forcing him into a rear naked choke.

Seconds later, the champion tapped.

Bordi is one of several teachers at Manteca High School who has had a past career outside of education.

First Career 

Bordi uses his MMA career as a key to giving life lessons to his students in Success 101. Bordi’s desire is to inspire kids to change their mindset of life and show them it’s not all flowers and rainbows.  

“In wrestling, usually it’s a double elimination, so if you lose one match, it doesn’t mean it’s over,” Bordi said. “You just got to battle and get back up.” 

Bordi shows that sports can be the key to life as he teaches his student-athletes that the most prepared are the most successful.  

“The ones who bring the most intensity, the ones who are the most prepared are going to be successful and come out victorious,” he said.

Bordi’s wrestling career started when he was in high school but not for the reason you’d think. Before football practice, Bordi got slammed to the ground by a teammate and broke his arm. After going through several weeks of rehab, he tried to join the basketball team without a fully healthy arm. The basketball coach, however, crushed his dreams right on the spot saying he had no chance of joining.

Luckily, Bordi had one more shot at sports because his Spanish teacher was the wrestling coach and convinced him to join the wrestling team.  

“It was eye opening because it was not something that anything in life can prepare you for,” Bordi said. “It was a lot more physical, and it was a lot of constant physicality and a lot of conditioning behind it.” 

Bordi’s wrestling career would give him a boost on the football field. It made him one of the most hard-nosed football players on the team. The work ethic and hours of conditioning he put on the mat being translated. With four years of wrestling under his belt, Bordi received a scholarship to San Francisco State University where he would later become a professional MMA fighter. He retired with a 5-0 record, winning three amateur fights and two pro bouts, including the West Coast Championship.

Second Career 

Now, Bordi teaches Success 101 at his alma mater and coaches the freshman football team. With a new herd of Buffaloes each year, Bordi tries to make the most out of his opportunities and help the kids learn that their freshman and sophomore years are the years to develop yourself for varsity.  

Bordi helps his young athletes learn that high school is just the beginning and is full of doors that will only open to those who put the effort in. Bordi comes at you with sincerity and with the willingness to help his students and players build their own confidence.