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 kept doing my own thing, working out with weights, wrestling, and doing other spots until I graduated from high school. Then I made a conscious decision to pursue MMA seriously and full time.

I got a little bit of the Marine mentality from my dad, I guess. You can't but help absorb the culture you're around.

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

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

I met Pat Militich when I was a junior in high school when I was 16 and just started training and went from there. I went to the same high school that Pat had attended and he would bring some of his fighters out to wrestling practice to work out and I got to know him that way. I immediately like it.