I've fought in kickboxing in 2014 and boxing in 2015. I lost in both. Though, if I'm being honest, I was completely unprepared in 2014. I just joined for the experience and got my ass handed to me. I was more prepared in 2015, but I fought an experienced amateur boxer. I had better conditioning than he did, but he had better tactics.

Now I'm 28, and revisited martial arts in the past year. I started training grappling in June and I think I even improved my striking. The head instructor at my martial arts center believes I have a potential to win in an upcoming amateur combat sports event that he is organizing. He's also a licensed professional matchmaker and will be picking my opponent if I fight.

My head instructor has produced champions and winners in the MMA and kickboxing scene in my country. He has received awards and recognition as a martial arts instructor. He claims he has good judgment in picking fighters, and I believe him, but at the back of my mind, I'm thinking "What if he misjudged me?"

I already have 2 losses. I'm no exceptional athlete. I have no intention in pursuing a career in martial arts (Maybe jiu-jitsu or grappling if I get good at it since I don't get hit in the face). Martial arts are just the sport to which I was drawn when I was 19 because I was never good at other sports like basketball. Unfortunately, it's a sport that involves getting hit in the head. I fear that I might have some traumatic brain injury if I fight, and I'd like to keep my brain healthy for the rest of my life (especially since I want to build a career in the academe, so my brain is my biggest asset when it comes to my profession). I spar, but sparring is different from a real fight. But at the same time, I want to prove to myself that I've gained some skills, just like how any sports enthusiast wants to join tournaments.

Could really use some insights