TRAINING: A typical day of training starts with pad work and grappling in the morning and hard sparring and MMA training in the evening.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started learning the submission game in 2003. I wrestled all four years in high school and one year in Junior College. The more I learned, the more I wanted to train and keep learning. I started learning Muay Thai and boxing, one thing led to another, and I started fighting in MMA in 2004.

What ranks and titles have you held? Gladiator Challenge Bantamweight Title

Do you have any heroes? My mom

What is your favorite technique? Putting people to sleep with my hands.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It is an honor to compete in the UFC. It validates all hard work and all the hours in the gym. The UFC provides an opportunity to compete against the best level of competition.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? One year of junior college.

What was your job before you started fighting? Construction worker

•    Owner of four Fight of the Night awards in the UFC, placing him near the top for the greatest number of such awards

•    Has for past several years lived in Vegas and trains with vaunted Extreme Couture team

•    Fought most of his career at 155 pounds where he defeated some of the sport’s top contenders, including Clay Guida, Gleison Tibau and Hermes Franca (had been known to walk north of 185 pounds in between fights). Recently dropped to 145 pound category and faced Manny Gamburyan at UFC on Versus 4 on June 26

•    Never in a boring fight. Remarkable scrambling ability and a non-stop motor.

•    Former construction worker

•    Humongous tree-trunk legs

•    Born and raised in Sacramento, Calif.