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

Here's an idea of my skills

I have some confidence in my striking. My head movement and footwork isn't as good as those of a pure boxer, but based on my previous sparring, I think they're decent enough to not get me beat up.

I like to jab and throw combo punches (I've been working more on my hands because I noticed when I went back to martial arts early this year, I relied too much on kicks like a TKD practitioner). I'd finish the combo with a power strike like a rear hand or kick.

I might also throw single kicks out of the blue like front or side kicks to the body. I haven't thrown straight kicks to the head/face in sparring since we wear shin guards, so the bottom of the feet has no padding, and I don't want to step on my sparring partner's face. But I can and have thrown high round kicks with either leg

I also like to counter-strike, especially with an aggressive opponent. If I'm already tired, like in later rounds, my defense is mostly me getting out of range, or absorbing strikes if I feel like they'll throw a short combo, or until I find a chance to counter-strike. My preferred counter-strikes are spinning techniques. I might do a defensive spinning back fist if they're close, or a short spinning back kick if they're mid-range. If they're just initiating a strike wita a punch, like a jab, I might deflect or parry, then counter-strike. If they keep throwing combos and I can't counter, then I'll do what I can to get out of range and regather myself.

I know takedown techniques, but I've struggled to apply them on sparring. I've only sparred with takedowns twice. In both cases, sometimes I'd get taken down even though I initiated the takedown, though I did spar with people who were better than I was.

When I'm on the ground, I can handle myself. I probably wouldn't stand a chance against a pure grappler or jiujitsu artist, but I think my instructor knows that. I don't think he'd match me with a skilled grappler. Like, I said, I started grappling in June (maybe July). I haven't been able to finish anyone (except a complete noob who has never rolled before, so that really doesn't count). I've been finished man times, though I can defend myself in pure grappling and get out of sticky situations.

If I'll fight in MMA, I'd probably like to keep the fight standing, but if my corner feels like I can take the fight to the ground, then I'll trust their gameplan and try to go to the ground. Whether I'll fight kickboxing or MMA (or even boxing), I definitely know I'm not great at strategizing, so I'll trust my corner's gameplan.