TRAINING: Training is always changing, depending on the day.

  

When and why did you start training for fighting? I’ve been doing martial arts since I was eight years old. When I saw the UFC in ’93 back when I was ten years old, I was hooked. I started training in everything and I knew that that was what I wanted to do.

 

What ranks and titles have you held? Black belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Liborio, won numerous jiu-jitsu tournaments, Combat Fighting Championships (CFC) Welterweight Champion.

 

Do you have any heroes? Bruce Lee

 

What is your favorite technique? I like to kick people in the head

 

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Fighting for the UFC has been my goal in life since I was 10 years old after watching the 1st ever Ultimate Fighting Championship Live on Pay-Per-View.

 

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Valencia Community College. No degree.

 

What was your job before you started fighting? I had numerous jobs. I worked at McDonald’s, Burger King, and Blockbuster. I was a hardwood stair carpenter for a little while and then became a barback at one of the top bars downtown in Orlando.

• Pro since 2004

• Started off his pro career 0-0-2

• Had 17-second submission win over Jacob Volkmann in non-UFC bout on September 9, 2016

• First man to knock out Marcus Davis

• Ten wins by KO, six by submission (omoplata, Americana, 3 armbar, triangle)

• Eleven first round finishes

• Stopped The Ultimate Fighter 2’s Kenny Stevens in three rounds in 2006.

• 8-3 between UFC appearances (2010-2014)

• Origin of nickname: “I got it from my teammates after an altercation incident combined with being a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan. It started more as a joke and then it stuck.”