I have never had a passion before. If that makes sense. I had loved certain hobbies, but there was nothing that grabbed me the way that Mixed Martial Arts has.

One of my favorite pasttimes is watching MMA/UFC events on tv and going to live events and training Jiu Jitsu and boxing. Within the last few years, I have made friends with UFC fighters and very skilled Jiu Jitsu artists who have opened my eyes to the hard work and discipline it takes to be a martial artist and the rewarding feeling of being able to possibly protect myself in case of attack.

In September of 2022, I was invited to photograph for a Cannabis Jiu Jitsu event called High Rollerz in Las Vegas, which is a competition run by Wiz Khalifa’s people.

At this event, I was able to chat with a lot of very well known MMA athletes, alongside people with dreams of competing on tv one day. Every single one of them asked me if I rolled or fought….

So, I reached out to a friend of mine who had been fighting out of The Strength Academy here in Decatur, Illinois. I quickly signed up for Jiu Jitsu and Boxing classes and fell in love fast. I was able to take something I enjoy watching, to something I also enjoy doing.

MMA is just really something special.