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Rob Emerson

Training: There is no typical day of training for me; I'm training in Hilo with BJ Penn. It's all top secret and top notch!

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started in MMA as a spectator at my first fight and ended up fighting and getting the only KO of the day. I fell in love right then and there and have been in love ever since...the pride, the glory the challenge

Do you have any heroes? I try to be my own hero. I didn’t really have any growing up, but my first mentor and man I looked up to and respected was Marco Ruas. I was his first American student to receive a black belt in Vale Tudo. I now have a two-year old daughter, Liliana, and I hope I can make her proud and be her hero one day!

What is your favorite technique? Leg kick, flying knee and flying umma, gogo platapuss

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? To be able to fight for the UFC is my life’s greatest honor next to having my daughter. It is truly the world’s greatest organization in the world’s greatest sport

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Some college, no degree

What was your job before you started fighting? Scrapper

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? I was 4-0 as an amateur, getting all KO's in my first 3 fights with only a couple months of training

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? My accomplishments as a pro would be being on The Ultimate Fighter season 5 and fighting the warriors that I have fought. I take pride in the fact that I’ve stepped in the ring with the caliber of guys I have, especially so early in my career

Ranks in any martial arts styles: I am the owner of a black belt in Ruas Vale Tudo, brown belt in Kajukembo and a brown belt in Kyokushinkai... looking to receive my black in JJ here in the near future

Favorite grappling technique: knee bar

Favorite Striking technique: switch flying knee