When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training as a kid in a martial art called Hwa Rang Do.  I quit and later on started training in my teens in Tae Kwon Do.   Then at 17 years old I trained at the Renzo Gracie academy in Long Island run by Matt Serra, Nick Serra, and Rodrigo Gracie.  I always stuck up for what I believed in and got in my share of fights on the street.  I watched Matt and Nick fight and it got me excited.  I said to myself, I could do that, and one thing led to another.

What ranks and titles have you held? I have numerous wins in a lot of grappling tournaments.  I have a bronze medal from the 2003 Pan American Games.  I am the three time 185-pound MMA champion of the Ring of Combat.

Do you have any heroes? Anybody who is motivated and follows their dreams.

What is your favorite technique? Guillotine choke.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? When I first started training, it was a dream to be among the best fighters in the world and now I am living it.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went for computer engineering for two years.  I would be in class thinking about punching combos and armlocks.  I realized it wasn't for me and didn't follow through to get a degree.

What was your job before you started fighting? Bouncer.