If you’re a fan of mixed martial arts, more often known as MMA, then you undoubtedly already know who Kyle Griffin is. He’s one of the younger fighters to come on the scene in quite some time, but he definitely has an interesting technique and he also has the skill necessary to become a legendary fighter in his own rite. If you want to know more about him, both inside and outside of the ring, read about these 10 things listed below. It will help you get a more well-rounded picture of who Kyle Griffin really is.
1. So far, he’s only had a handful of professional fights
To date, he’s only participated in three fights. Granted, two of those fights have been losses but he did win one of them in a first-round knockout. That’s pretty impressive for somebody that’s just getting started. He readily admits that he still has a lot to learn but that he’s also having the time of his life while he does it and he can’t imagine doing anything else.
2. He may be new, but he’s learning a lot
As previously mentioned, he’s learned a great deal. Becoming an MMA fighter might seem like an unattainable goal for most people, but it’s really not that unlike any other job. The lifestyle may be different due to the nature of the job itself, but being successful as a fighter requires the same type of skill, dedication and perseverance that is required to succeed in any industry. He’s always had a good work ethic and he’s putting that to use. It shows.
3. He’s Canadian
A lot of people don’t realize that he was actually born in Canada but in reality, his earliest years were spent in Calgary, Alberta and it wasn’t until later on that he moved with his family to the United States. To this day, he has a soft spot in his heart for his hometown, and he tries to get back there whenever possible.
4. He has a background in martial arts
This one probably seems obvious, at least at first. After all, it would be hard to compete in mixed martial arts without having a background in martial arts but that background can vary a great deal from one person to the next. In his particular case, the background is in Muay Thai and kickboxing. That’s a fairly formidable combination, to say the least.
5. He has a degree in business
You may be surprised to know that even though he is becoming one of the most prominent MMA fighters around, that wasn’t always the career path he thought he would choose. He actually has a degree in business and even upon graduating from college, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to pursue an MMA career or follow his own path into the business world.
6. He decided to follow his brother into MMA
It probably helped that he had an older brother who had already decided to go into MMA. As a matter of fact, that brother is none other than the extremely successful Tyson Griffin. There’s no doubt that this influenced him a great deal and by all accounts, it looks like he made the right decision.
7. You might say that he’s been training his whole life
He has commented in the past about how he and his older brother used to fight, sparring even when they were children. You might say that he’s been training for a career as an MMA fighter since the day he was old enough to walk.
8. He loves wrestling
While he is certainly dedicated to martial arts, the thing he loves most is wrestling. Don’t be surprised if you see him incorporating some traditional wrestling moves into his matches. It definitely makes him a more well-rounded fighter because he’s capable of doing several different things and it keeps his opponents on their toes, literally.
9. He attended Oklahoma State University
It’s hard for some to believe that the MMA fighter from Alberta, Canada actually attended college at Oklahoma State University as opposed to going to some other prestigious college but it is indeed true.
10. He now lives in Las Vegas
These days, he lives in Las Vegas because that’s where he has the opportunity to train with other people who are veteran MMA fighters. He believes that training with other individuals who are in the same organization he fights in and who have more experience than he has gives him the best opportunity to learn and get the most out of each training session.
