The Modern-Day Renaissance Man: Michael Alexander’s Journey of Reinvention

By Jordan French Jordan French has been verified by Muck Rack's editorial team
Published on January 7, 2025

Michael Alexander has never been content to be just one thing. He’s a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and two-time world champion. He’s the voice behind Fury Fighting Championships on UFC Fight Pass, where his sharp commentary and viral post-fight interviews have made him a fan favorite. He’s also a real estate investor, an entrepreneur, and the author of Improve Your Position, a book that’s helped countless readers rethink their approach to life’s challenges.

But what makes Alexander truly remarkable isn’t just the breadth of his achievements — it’s the way he got here.

Starting Over from Scratch

At 33, Alexander walked out of a Texas prison after serving nearly three years, carrying nothing but a $50 check he couldn’t even cash. At that time, starting over wasn’t just daunting — it felt impossible. He describes the experience as “absolute zero,” a moment when life demanded reinvention or defeat.

In the chaos of rebuilding, Alexander turned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and soon, what began as a way to fill his days became the foundation for everything else. On the mat, he found lessons in resilience and adaptability. The sport taught him how to approach problems, to stay calm, think strategically, and keep moving forward. And those principles didn’t stay on the mat, instead becoming the blueprint for his second act.

Mastering Many Arenas

Alexander’s journey didn’t stop at becoming a world champion in Jiu-Jitsu. Instead, he used the discipline and focus he learned from the sport to expand into entirely new arenas.

As a commentator for Fury Fighting Championships, Alexander has become a defining voice in MMA. His role goes beyond calling fights. His post-fight interviews, many of which have gone viral with millions of views, connect with athletes and audiences alike.

Outside the cage, Alexander has proven just as versatile. He’s built a career as a real estate investor, developing unique projects like wellness-focused treehouse communities. He’s even written a book that combines hard-earned wisdom with practical strategies for personal growth. For Alexander, each new venture isn’t a departure from the last but another thread in the fabric of his life.

The Philosophy of a Renaissance Man

What ties all of Alexander’s accomplishments together is his approach to growth. He’s not chasing perfection or trying to master everything. Instead, he focuses on what he’s good at and finds ways to make it work for him.

“People waste too much time trying to fix their weaknesses,” Alexander says. “If you focus on your strengths and build on them, you can accomplish so much more.”

This philosophy is evident in the way he structures his life. At 49, he still trains in Jiu-Jitsu and lifts weights several days a week. Moreover, he continues to pursue projects that excite him, from writing to building, while staying connected to the sport that shaped him.

A Modern-Day Renaissance Man

Alexander’s life is proof that reinvention isn’t about discarding the past but about transforming it. He took the lessons from his hardest years and used them as the foundation for something extraordinary. His diverse accomplishments — spanning sports, business, and personal growth — reflect the spirit of a true Renaissance man.

Whether he’s mentoring fighters, writing his next book, or envisioning a new project, Alexander approaches every challenge with the same curiosity and drive that brought him to where he is today.

“You don’t need to be good at everything to succeed,” Alexander says. “You just need to find what you love, get better at it, and turn it into something meaningful.”

By Jordan French Jordan French has been verified by Muck Rack's editorial team

Journalist verified by Muck Rack verified

Jordan French is the Founder and Executive Editor of Grit Daily Group , encompassing Financial Tech Times, Smartech Daily, Transit Tomorrow, BlockTelegraph, Meditech Today, High Net Worth magazine, Luxury Miami magazine, CEO Official magazine, Luxury LA magazine, and flagship outlet, Grit Daily. The champion of live journalism, Grit Daily's team hails from ABC, CBS, CNN, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Forbes, Fox, PopSugar, SF Chronicle, VentureBeat, Verge, Vice, and Vox. An award-winning journalist, he was on the editorial staff at TheStreet.com and a Fast 50 and Inc. 500-ranked entrepreneur with one sale. Formerly an engineer and intellectual-property attorney, his third company, BeeHex, rose to fame for its "3D printed pizza for astronauts" and is now a military contractor. A prolific investor, he's invested in 50+ early stage startups with 10+ exits through 2023.

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