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John Polakowski

TRAINING: wake up around 11 (I work nights at a bar called Bulls Tavern) and get to the gym with The Pit fight team. Start warming up, shadowbox, then sparring. Afterwards finish with some good bagwork. Then back to the gym around 5 for wrestling/jiu-jitsu practice. Wrestle for about an hour, take a break and then some conditioning.

When and why did you start training for fighting?
I wrestled in high school (I sucked!) and I always liked the one on one competition. After high school I wanted to box, but I ended up at a kickboxing gym instead because it was closer to my house. It was Maurice Smith's Kickboxing Academy. There I learned to kickbox and had some amateur fights. Then I moved down to California for school and started training at the Pit with John Hackleman. That's how I started training MMA.

What titles have you held? None.
Do you have any heroes? Hmmm, just fighters mainly. I look up to Chuck Liddell and Anderson Silva
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Everything. This is like the NFL of MMA! I'm so happy to fight in the UFC. I don't think there's anything else to ask for.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to CalPoly for a degree in Computer Engineering. I was about a year away from graduating when I decided to drop out to fight full time.

What was your job before you started fighting? Bartender (and it still is)
Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? I had about 20 amateur and pro combined Muay Thai fights. I also fought once in K-1.

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? In my pro debut vs Olaf Alfonso the fight was a candidate for Fight of the Year.

Favorite grappling technique: Ground and pound

Favorite Striking technique: Left hook, and I also like to clinch and knee