When and why did you start training for fighting? Six years ago. I saw my first UFC when I was a kid and my mom brought home some videos from the movie store and the kid at the desk must have put the wrong tape in the case because she put in the video then went to start dinner and when she came back the UFC was on with some guy with blood all over himself and Royce Gracie tapping somebody out. Of course she freaked out and turned it off but not before I saw a couple fights and knew someday I wanted to learn it.  So a few years later at 15 or 16 I went down to the video store and lied and said I was 18 and rented the tapes myself. Then that was the beginning.

 

What ranks and titles have you held? 5x Full Force Productions lightweight champion, US fight league welterweight grappling champion

 

Do you have any heroes? The men and women in the military fighting for our country in the past and in the present. More specifically, my friend, Marine Jaime Sojos, who is in Iraq right now.

 

What is your favorite technique? My hand raised at the end of the night.

 

 

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Associates from Mitchell College, Bachelors from Eastern CT State Univ. with Studio Art, (it’s very similar to MMA)

 

What was your job before you started fighting? Waiter at an Italian restaurant (never again), and I worked at a bakery in a grocery store (not bad).

  

Most memorable professional fight (who, where, why)? My first fight I knocked out a BJJ black belt and as he fell I didn’t know he was out and thought he was shooting, so I sprawled and started to punch again till I realized he was out. It was pretty exciting.

 

What was your most challenging professional fight (against who, when, what was the outcome)? Marc Stevens most definitely. It was a really close fight I won by unanimous decision. He was definitely really tough and hit pretty hard.

 

Did you compete in any other sport(s) at college or professional level (what sport, where, how long)? No

 

Who were your training partners for this fight? Andrew Caron, Justin Cole, Chris Simmons, John Naples, a lot of tough guys

 

Did you put more emphasis towards a fighting style or adjust your training to prepare for your opponent (what did you do differently/why)? He’s pretty explosive so I’ve been preparing for some of those situations

 

What, other than WINNING, are you using for motivation for the fight? Staying in the WEC. I can’t afford not to put on a good performance.

 

What is your favorite thing about this sport? That it’s so much what you put in you get out, as far as training, conditioning, technique, everything. There’s a lot of people that can be great fighters but it’s the work ethic that separates a lot of people in this sport.

 

How long do you see yourself staying in this sport? Until they put an age limit on fighting licenses.