I also watched boxing all the time and Tuesday Night Fights on USA and just kept hitting my heavy back in the garage.

I did takwondo from the time I was pretty young and also played I did taekwondo for martial arts and then also played football, baseball, and basketball against older kids because of my brother being older. I learned pretty quickly to not be intimidated and to not back down.

I had never thought about being a professional fighter but meeting Pat [ Militich ] and the guys just pushed me in that direction.

I'd always done martial arts I was always interested in fighting.

You don't really realize the effect those things have on you when you're growing up but then when you look back you can see how they molded you.

I did start wrestling after I moved to Iowa, I think in the seventh grade. It's really a part of the Iowa culture so it's hard not to do it if you like sports.

I also watched boxing all the time and Tuesday Night Fights on USA and just kept hitting my heavy back in the garage.