When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training when I was 15 years old. I was smaller in high school and didn’t grow until later, so when I saw the early UFCs with Royce Gracie I wanted to train in BJJ and MMA. What ranks and titles have you held? Black belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 2nd deg blackbelt Pancrase MMA/Jiu-Jitsu. 7 times King of Pancrase/ 1st middleweight King of Pancrase/ Pancrase 2002 Spirit Tour Champion, Pancrase Trans Tournament Champion/ Bas Rutten Invitational Middleweight Tournament Champion, Ring of Fire Middleweight Champion/ I.M.A. Rumble in the Rockies Tournament Champion Do you have any heroes? Jesus Christ. What is your favorite technique? The Marquardt Choke. What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? I am fulfilling my dreams and my destiny. It is something I have looked forward to since I was a 100 lb 15 year old. Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went for two years but I left everything behind to go train in Japan. What was your job before you started fighting? Desk job for the phone company. It really sucked!
