TRAINING: I wake up at 7 am Monday to Saturday and my day consists of 2-3 sessions throughout each day. I have a set schedule that mixes up sparring, wrestling, strength & conditioning, jiu-jitsu and pad work. The intensity of the sessions varies; everything is planned for peak performance when fight day comes.

When and why did you start training for fighting? Van Damme influenced me a lot, and where I was living you had to defend yourself from the other kids. I started martial arts when I was around seven years old. At the age of 14, soccer became my life and not until the age of 22 did I find MMA.

What ranks and titles have you held? Black on Red in Tae Kwon Do and a Purple belt in BJJ

Do you have any heroes? My mother

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means that I did something right and all the hard work paid off. A new journey may now begin!

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I got into a 3D graphics school but dropped off to pursue this path of becoming a Ninja

What was your job before you started fighting? Freelance Web and graphics designer

Favorite grappling technique: Anything that makes my opponent want to give up

Favorite striking technique: Anything that makes my opponent hit the canvas