TRAINING: Every day at 12 I can be found at American Top Team Coconut Creek. This is where I do all my sparring. At night I train 3 times a week at IHP, Institute of Human Performance, for my strength and conditioning. Once a week I go up to ATT West Palm Beach for some BJJ training with Marcos (Parrumpina) Da Matta. Some nights I stay at ATT Coconut Creek for MMA techniques with Liborio or pad work with Vertelmo Kubis.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training in MMA back in 95. In 2000 my college roommate and I read a post on the UG forum looking for fighters in Boston. My roommate (Gunnar Olson) said “hey let’s try this thing out.” One fight led to another and another.

What ranks and titles have you held? Former WEC Featherweight Champion, Absolute Fighting Featherweight Champion and Fightzone Featherweight Champion

Do you have any heroes? My heroes are my coaches, my friends, and my family.

What is your favorite technique? I don’t have a favorite technique. Anything that gets the sub or KO sounds good to me.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? This is why we all dedicate ourselves to this sport. The dream of fighting in the greatest organization in the world. I have been watching since the very first UFC and I will continue that till the day I die.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? In 2000 I graduated from Norwich University with a BS in Biology.

What was your job before you started fighting? When I graduated from college I started working at Budweiser as a merchandiser. They fired me because I was taking too much time off to train and fight. My plan was to train and fight for a few years then pursue a job in the biology field. A few years has turned into eight. Other jobs I had include pumping gas, produce clerk at a local supermarket, cashier at Sam’s club, mover (probably the worst job I ever had), worked at a cemetery, overnight desk job at a 24hr fitness club.

•    6-2 in WEC with wins over Urijah Faber (twice), Leonard Garcia, Cole Province, Anthony Morrison, and Jeff Curran. Only losses were to Jose Aldo and Manny Gamburyan.

•    Former WEC featherweight champion

•    10 year MMA vet

•    Has faced Hermes Franca, Joe Lauzon, Mark Hominick, Masakazu Imanari, and Yves Edwards in non-UFC / WEC bouts.

•    13 wins by submission, 5 by knockout