Bodog Fight: St. Petersburg Fighters

Hitomi Akano
Hometown: Japan
Record: 9 - 2 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 135LBS
I can connect with the crowd when I show them good technique.
For Tama Chan, a chance opportunity to learn Judo resulted in a swarm of scholarships to various schools and colleges. She has been crowned the Judo champion in Osaka and is a member of the well-known AACC.

Shayna Baszler
Hometown: South Dakota
Record: 5 - 3 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 135LBS
A champion is one who trains to exhaustion even when no one else is watching.
Shayna is one of the world's more well-known female mixed martial artists. Her recent submission win against fellow Bodog Fighter Julie Kedzie has helped to propel her to the forefront of women's mixed martial arts.

Steve Berger
Hometown: Missouri
Record: 18 - 14 - 3 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 161LBS
What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
For Steve Berger, mixed martial arts has been a ten year obsession that started when he donned the gloves at a local boxing gym. Since then, he's fought three times in the UFC and in various Japanese, Brazilian, and Canadian tournaments.

Black Mamba
Hometown: India
Record: 8 - 4 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 155LBS
My ground's okay, wrestling's fantastic, and my looks are debonair.
This young, highly quotable product of a tough Indian boarding school has dedicated himself not only to excelling in MMA but to advancing the sport itself. He has promised to provide an entertaining fight - win or lose.

Mike Brown
Hometown: Florida
Record: 15 - 4 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: 155LBS
I'm going to get after him. I'm going to be in his face.
In addition to acquiring a degree in biology at Nurwich University in Vermont, Mike has trained and excelled at numerous martial arts. He practices with America Top Team as well as with experts from Japan, England, and Brazil.

Amanda Buckner
Hometown: Maine
Record: 9 - 4 - 1 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 135LBS
The mental training is tops for me at this point.
Amanda Buckner continues to be one of the highest-performing female mixed martial artists in the world. She and her husband Jay Jack own the Academy of Mixed Martial Arts in Poland, Maine.

Tama Chan
Hometown: Japan
Record: 12 - 5 - 1 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 143LBS
I simply want the audience to have a good time.
Tama Chan's background in the martial arts stems from an experience in grade school that she describes as "a balance between hardship and enjoyment." Since then, she's earned a reputation for being one of Japan's fiercest female fighters.

Jeremiah Constant
Hometown: Oregon
Record: 4 - 0 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 250LBS
I haven't had a match that's gone past 1:30 yet.
While working as an oil derrickman in West Texas and Oklahoma, Jeremiah found the time to become the Division II American National Wrestling Champion. Since then, Jeremiah has added various other martial arts to his repertoire.

Josh Curran
Hometown: Idaho
Record: 3 - 1 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 266LBS
MMA is the closest thing to gladiators you can get.
The Buffalohead has already proven himself in various toughman competitions - now he seeks to push his limits in the MMA ring. He's also working to make a living in MMA so he can quit his fry cook job at Denny's.

Carina Damm
Hometown: Brazil
Record: 5 - 2 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 122LBS
Rosie is a strong boxer, so I've been focusing my training on boxing and Muay Thai.
Carina's famous ferocity and stunning physique have earned her the nickname "Beauty but the Beast." As well as teaching Jiu-Jitsu and Capoeira at her brother Rodrigo Damm's gym, Carina has also been profiled in Japanese Playboy.

Rodrigo Damm
Hometown: Brazil
Record: 2 - 0 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 154LBS
I'm not worried about who wins or loses. That's with God.
Rodrigo Damm is a renowned Jiu-Jitsu expert and the owner and founder of his own gym, Rodrigo Damm's Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Vila Vella, Brazil. He's also the brother of renowned female mixed martial artist Carina Damm.

Yves Edwards
Hometown: Texas
Record: 29 - 11 - 1 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 156LBS
I'm a professional ass-kisser. I mean kicker.
Yves Edwards is a name known in MMA circles. He has fought repeatedly on Pride, UFC, HooknShoot, and in various other leagues. He is the co-founder of Revolution Dojo and the co-creator of the "thug-jitsu" fighting system.

Jake Ellenberger
Hometown: Nebraska
Record: 12 - 1 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 171LBS
I love fighting more than anything.
Jake has put aside numerous life-loves - a business degree, a happy home life in Omaha, a successful athletic swimming career - all to pursue his fascination with the martial arts. He trains with the legendary Team Quest.

Jeff Ford
Hometown: Missouri
Record: 7 - 2 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 206LBS
I believe in my hand speed and power.
Jeff Ford is a three-time world Muay Thai champion, a two-time mixed martial arts champion, and a member of the Frank Shamrock Fight Team. He's also a personal trainer at the VH1 Celebrity Fit Club.

Diego Gonzalez
Hometown: Sweden
Record: 6 - 3 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 171LBS
I just want to see how far I can go.
This half-Chilean, half-Uruguayan citizen of Stockholm is as complex as his lineage. Despite studying electrical engineering in school, Diego has learned to balance his life's desires against his goal of excelling in MMA.

Khalil Ibrahim
Hometown: Palestine
Record: 6 - 0 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 206LBS
My opponent is cold - but I'm hot.
Khalil has recently made a name for himself at the vaunted Abu Dhabi Combat Club - and earned a nickname to boot: "Scorpion Heart." Prior to that, Khalil acquired his 3rd dan Black belt in Karate and became a kick-boxing instructor.

Tyler Jackson
Hometown: Canada
Record: 7 - 3 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 170LBS
If I had a son, I wouldn't let him do this. You get a little dumber after every fight.
The only thing Tyler missed when moving from hockey to mixed martial arts was the enjoyment of working in a team. He got that back after joining Revolution Fight Team, whose membership includes Bill Mahood and The Black Mamba.

Julie Kedzie
Hometown: Indiana
Record: 7 - 4 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 135LBS
Sometimes you're most human when you're most broken down.
Since the age of 4, Julie has studied all the arts that contribute to the sport of mixed martial arts, acquiring a black belt in Tae Kwon Do along the way. She has a masters in English literature and is pursuing her doctorate.

Sang Su Lee
Hometown: Korea
Record: 2 - 1 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 260LBS
I want to be the best Judo fighter in the World.
Like many Korean students interested in sports, Sang Su Lee first became involved in the martial arts by taking Judo in grade school. Though he's working to become the world Judo champion, Su Lee also compete in MMA.

Bill Mahood
Hometown: Canada
Record: 15 - 5 - 1 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 205LBS
For me, mixed martial arts has been a journey of the extremes.
"The Butcher" first experienced the combat arts as a spectator in his father's boxing club. Since then, Mahood has continuously trained in every form of martial art available. He's a member of Revolution Fight Team in Langley, BC.

Jorge Masvidal
Hometown: Florida
Record: 9 - 2 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 161LBS
I'm hungry. Literally.
Under the guidance of the FFA's Marco and David Avellan, Jorge Masvidal has transformed from street fighter into one of MMA's rising stars. He holds the AFC welterweight title.

Kristof Midoux
Hometown: France
Record: 5 - 6 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 233LBS
I am ready to make the war that I need to make.
Kristof "The Hurricane" Midoux has trained the world-over in his pursuit to become a true master of the MMA: Greco-Roman wrestling in Canada; Karate and Judo in France; and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Royce Gracie himself.

Roxanne Modafferi
Hometown: Massachusetts
Record: 7 - 3 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 135LBS
I thought I was all cool, like the movie stars - but then I learned what it was like to fly.
As a teenager, Roxanne Modafferi trained in Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo purely out interest in the artform. An introduction to competitive Judo eventually forced her down the road to kick-boxing, and then to mixed martial arts.

Roy Nelson
Hometown: Nevada
Record: 6 - 0 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 257LBS
I'm still an old Kung Fu guy.
Despite an upbringing in a family that abhorred contact sports, the young Roy Nelson was drawn to the martial arts. With the help of Skip Kelp's Modern Mixed Martial Arts gym, Roy bolstered his combat style with a strong jiu-jitsu base.

Derrick Noble
Hometown: Illinois
Record: 22 - 9 - 1 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 170LBS
I had a couple of tough losses, but I'm back on the winning track.
Since the age of 10, Derrick Noble has practiced and excelled in all forms of martial arts, including Thai boxing, Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do, and Hap Ki Do. He has a degree in kinesthesiology and is pursuing a masters in sports administration.

Jarno Nurminen
Hometown: Finland
Record: 0 - 0 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 255LBS
For me, the numbers don't matter.
Jarno's upcoming fight against Korea's Sang Su Lee marks this Finnish Muay Thai Champion's entrance into professional mixed martial arts. He claims that his primary interest in the sport is to simply "to find out how tough I am."

Dmitry Samoilov
Hometown: Russia
Record: 1 - 0 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 170LBS
I am ready for this.
Dmitry Samoilov has been training in the martial arts ever since he enrolled in Sambo classes at the early age of 6. After a later move to Belgorodski, Samoilov expanded his combat skills by learning Judo.

Dr. Rosie Sexton
Hometown: United Kingdom
Record: 4 - 1 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 125LBS
It's good fun really.
Infinitely shy and surprisingly well-spoken, Rosie Sexton doesn't come off as a professional fighter. She's also the only Doctor of Theoretical Computer Science ever known to also possess a Cage Warriors Women's Championship belt.

Steve Steinbeiss
Hometown: Arizona
Record: 7 - 0 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 215LBS
The fight doesn't turn into a fight until you get hit.
Steve first discovered mixed martial arts while attending clandestine cage-fighting events in the town of his upbringing, Queen Creek Arizona. Eventually, he joined Arizona Combat Sports, intent on entering the ring himself.

Matt Thorpe
Hometown: United Kingdom
Record: 6 - 4 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 170LBS
I got beat up for the first year and a half. Then I settled in and it became great.
Matt "12 Gauge" Thorpe was inspired by his father - a kick-boxing champion - to enter mixed martial arts. While holding down a printer's job at The Telegraph, Matt joined on with Northern Cartel and now trains exclusively at Coliseum.

Cain Velasquez
Hometown: Arizona
Record: 1 - 0 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 246LBS
I see my opponent as an enemy - before and through the fight. Afterwards, I don't really care.
After discovering wrestling while attending Arizona State University, Cain began a lifelong fascination with the martial arts. His interest led him to study kickboxing and, eventually, mixed martial arts as a whole.

Roman Zentsov
Hometown: Russia
Record: 13 - 10 - 0 (W-L-D)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 235LBS
I try to do what I can without thinking - without getting attached to victory or loss.
Like many Russian youths, the young Roman Zentsov was attracted to the sport of Sambo. Since then, Roman has bolstered his wrestling and striking skills with various kicking techniques.