TRAINING: Morning cardio (run, hill sprints, sled work. All interchangeable for different days of the week). Morning lifts, Mon., Wed., and Fridays. Afternoon pad work Tuesday and Thursday. Evenings, sparring and jits on Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday and Thursday evening, stand up technique and game planning. Friday, wrestling then timing sparring and game planning. Saturday, intermediate sparring/ game planning and recovery. That's a week of what I've been doing.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started committing myself to training a few years ago. I've always enjoyed the one on one challenges from wrestling, and MMA was an exciting way to showcase my wrestling.

What ranks and titles have you held? No belts – there’s only one belt I'm interested in.

Do you have any heroes? None

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means the world to me because I have an opportunity to fight in the biggest promotion in the world. That excites me a lot and motivates me to be great. This is every fighter’s dream to fight under the bright lights of the UFC. I'm just another fighter here to prove myself.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I attended the University of Minnesota, then transferred to Augsburg College. I haven't fully finished my two majors - Health and Physical education. I have a couple credits to complete for both majors.

What was your job before you started fighting? Summer construction and high school wrestling coach.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 4 time high school state champion. 4 time Division III national champion. Multiple freestyle and Greco state and national championships. Competed internationally in wrestling, three world team appearances.

Favorite grappling technique: The guillotine choke.

Favorite Striking technique: Any strike that lands

•    Pro since 2003

•    10 wins by KO, seven by submission. All submission wins by rear naked choke

•    212-17 as a high school wrestler, and defeated future Olympian Ben Askren

•    155-0 in college for Augsburg College with four D-3 national titles. Only other college wrestler to finish college career unbeaten is Cael Sanderson