Tyler Toner (145lbs.)  vs  Ian Loveland (145lbs.)

Trevor Wittman, the owner and head trainer at the Grudge Training Center in Denver, Colorado, is on a mission to make a difference—and not just inside the Octagon.

Grudge, which is home to some of the sport’s finest athletes, including Shane Carwin, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt and Brendan Schaub, has quickly become one of the most sought-after mixed martial arts gyms in the world, and at this point in time, shows no signs of slowing down.

“Our gym has only been open for 15 months, and what we’ve done already is only the start,” said Wittman over the telephone. “We’ve got a great group of fighters. I turn down five fighters a week. We’re looking for the right guys—guys who are going to be consistent, be team-players, and like I said, come out with a positive attitude.”

Although Wittman is undoubtedly proud of his gym—certainly for good reason—the Denver native is ready to take on a much tougher opponent than anything the world of mixed martial arts has to offer, as Wittman has joined the crusade against bullying in his country.

“I was actually bullied because I was transferring schools so much, and I was so small. I was 4-foot-11, 92 pounds all the way up to eleventh grade, so every time I would move, I would always be the smallest kid in the school, so I was always getting picked on,” said Wittman, “It’s something that was going on when I was in school, and it’s still going on.”
To critics may who think that Wittman is only contributing to the bullying problem by teaching more kids how to mimic their favourite mixed martial artists, Wittman is quick to point out that his seminar will be far from just a self-defense class.In response to the problem, Wittman and his crew at Grudge have begun holding free anti-bullying seminars for victims of bullying every Saturday at their training facility in Denver.

“One thing that we will be teaching, it’s not just an MMA class that we’re going to be teaching to these kids,” said Wittman. “I want them to have people to speak to, because if they’re not getting that at school, sometimes they need someone to talk to. To have an extra source to go talk to, I think it would be great for the kids.

“I want to find a councillor, someone that works with the law enforcement, and just all the trainers from the gym. Everyone’s been really cool on the idea, and everybody’s been wanting to help us out.”

Although Wittman and his crew at Grudge have just recently begun putting on seminars, the future is bright for Wittman’s idea.

“My short-term goal, we’ll do it consistently every Saturday, we’re going to set up a time just for this, and my goal is to build up some type of structure—something that works, that I do for six months or a year, or once I get a structure built, I want to go to other gyms around the country… my goal is to get every state in the United States to have three-to-four gyms doing the same thing we are right now off of our structure.”
“It was probably about two weeks before Thanksgiving, and my wife had one of her friends who was trying to get some turkeys to help out the Denver Rescue Mission, so we jumped on board and started Tweetin’ it and tellin’ our members,” said a passionate Wittman, “We had a good turn-out… my wife’s and my truck were filled to the brim and we took it down to the Denver Rescue Mission, and handed them out to the people out there. Man, that was great, it was a great feeling.”As if working to rid his country of bullying wasn’t enough, Wittman recently took a swing at feeding the underprivileged in his hometown Denver.

As it turns out, Wittman’s Thanksgiving food drive for Denver’s underprivileged is only the beginning.

“That was our first time doing it, and with the response we got, this is going to be something we do on a continuous basis—whether it’s Thanksgiving, whether it’s Christmas, toy drives, whatever! We’re going to be doing all types of things like that.”

Not only has Wittman been able to reach the highest levels of his career, but he is also doing his part to make the world a better place to live in—a true role model.

Wittman, who enthusiastically describes his life as, “going great, having fun,” serves as a role model to not just those in the world of mixed martial arts, but all people, everywhere.

Finally, we have reached our last category for the ATO 2010 Colorado Awards. The last category is Female Pro Fighter of the Year. There are a lot of up and coming women fighters in the state and we narrowed it down to the best four. Please get your vote in by Dec. 19th.

Click here to vote

Any fighter will tell you that their next fight is the biggest fight of their career. For Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt, it really is. He is heading into 122 to face off in the main event against Yushin Okami. On the line, one big victory and an even bigger promised middle weight title shot against the winner of the forthcoming Anderson Silva/Vitor Belfort fight.

And Marquardt has never felt better and more poised to set his destiny.

“I feel great, 100%. I’m really confident, I’m in great shape, I have a great game plan and I’ve had a great camp,” Marquardt told Around the Octagon on Friday afternoon.

The fight, broadcasting on tape delay on Spike TV and originating from Oberhausen, Germany, marks a new chapter in the veteran’s career. While for many less experienced fighters, the change of fighting on a different continent (excluding the ever present Japanese circuit) would present a problem, but for Marquardt, it’s just a matter of adjusting his internal clock.

“The only thing I’ve done is try and adjust my schedule to get more in tune with Germany’s time,” Marquardt says.
But don’t expect patience from his rather loyal supporters here in the states, as Marquardt has no doubt they won’t have any.

“Oh, they’ll check out the results right away. They won’t wait for the tape delay.”

While every fighter will suggest that they are focused only on the next fight, and Marquardt is no exception, the chance that a title shot and a possible title reign could only be a few months away, is an attractive possibility that he thinks he is ready for.

“I’ve always wanted to be the champion. I understand and am ready for all the challenges and pressures that go with that. But I’ve had those kinds of thought challenges and pressures my entire career,” Marquardt says, sounding as calm as he if were discussing what winter weather in Colorado might do this season.

However, while his tone remains calm throughout, when he’s asked about which opponent he would rather face, should that title shot happen, it was easy to detect a twinge of desire related to avenging his loss at UFC 73.

“I would be more excited to see Anderson Silva retain the title,” he says, pausing before he pointing out, “But I’ll just be most excited to be fighting for the title. No matter what though, I’m focused on Okami right now.”

This isn’t the only exciting thing going on in Marquardt’s life though, having just unveiled the newest work on his legendary 1970 Chevelle.

“I’m more excited for the fight, but I’m very excited about my Chevelle. It’s something I wanted since I was a teenager. My family and my dad were really into old cars like that. My friends all like those muscle cars. When I was in high school, I found a 69’ Chevelle that I wanted that I thought was the coolest car ever. I couldn’t afford it at the time. So later when I could, I looked around and found that the70’ was the coolest ever.”

To get a better look at the car, click here.

While Marquardt is famous for his love of cars, somewhat less known is his faith The Christian fighter goes so far as to list Jesus Christ as his hero on his UFC biography, and is happy to make it clear just what he believes.

“I’m a Christian, and I believe he is the only true hero. He died for our sins.”

Like all mixed martial artists, he has to endure the constant question of how he balances that belief, in what many on the outside of the sport, see as a violent lifestyle.

“It depends on how you define violence. If you just say that any contact is violence, then football or soccer for that matter, are just as violent. It’s a sport, and I’m an athlete. I don’t fight because I hate my opponent; I fight because I love the sport.”

An eloquent and astute point as Marquardt embodies the heart and soul of Mixed Martial Arts. Refinement mixed with brutality, aggression sprinkled with finesse.

Marquardt And Colorado

When his birth in Wyoming is referenced, Marquardt is quick to correct.

“Just a quick point, I was born in Wyoming, but I’ve lived in Colorado pretty much my whole life. I’m from Colorado,” he says without any hint of annoyance, and in such a matter of fact way that anyone hearing it would understand that his body may have been born in one area, but his heart and soul is strictly Colorado native.

Nowhere is that more evident, then in his dedication to the people of Grudge Training Center.

“I get to train and coach with excellent people. They are great guys, we’re like a family, and they’re my brothers.”
Many of those brothers are facing battles themselves, some on ‘The Professionals’ card in Denver the night before UFC 122, some in their own UFC events coming up.

“Good luck to them and I’m confident they’ll all do great,” Marquardt said

They say that to judge a man, you have to speak to those that know him best. No one knows a fighter better than those that fight him, and no one fights, trains, and lives with Marquardt more than the team at Grudge Training Center. Around the Octagon asked various team members and coaching staff to give their opinions on Marquardt, the comments we got back shared a very common thread.

Tervor Wittman-Head Trainter at Grudge Training Center
“I have trained Nate ever since he fought Ivan in his first fight in the UFC. Nate was a vet coming into the UFC. With all the fights he has it is amazing to me that he keeps getting better. This guy is so amazing in every aspect of the game, and when he fights Yushin, I believe he will outclass him.”

Josh Ford-Grudge Pro Fight Team Member (fighting November 12 at The Professionals)
“Just from my point of view, watching Nate train is an unbelievable inspiration. He comes and trains hard every day, works on new stuff just like the young upcoming fighters, always has a smile when not sparring and brings a really positive vibe into the gym with him. Not to mention the fact that he is completely humble and doesn’t hold himself above anyone else at the gym.”

Tyrone Glover-Grudge Pro Fight Team Member (fighting November 12 at The Professionals)
“Nate really embodies why MMA in Colorado is really going places and why this is such a great place to train. He works hard, is always open to learning and improving, trains extremely smart, and always has a super positive attitude. Not to mention he is super accessible and humble. Sometimes I show up early to light weight sparring just so I can catch his last couple rounds. His method and attitude in the gym is really one to model your own after.”

Vinnie Lopez-Grudge Amateur Fight Team Member
“Training with Nate is an unbelievable advantage that we here at The Grudge Training Center enjoy. Nate has accomplished many things in his fight career and still today leads this team by example. His hard work is second to none at this gym. His determination to be the best spreads to each member of our team. He learns every day, and he teaches as well. He takes the time to correct and encourage the younger guys. All in all he’s an inspiration to our team and it’s an honor to train with him.”

Vinny Pallone-Grudge Amateur Fight Team Member (fighting November 12 at The Professionals)
“Training with someone like Nate is truly amazing. His work ethic is second to none and his humble attitude makes it all the more amazing. He is never too big time to help some of the other fighters out and will work with anyone in the room. Nate has earned the right to be a UFC Main event draw by years and years of putting his time in and winning tough fights against good opponents.”

Whatever a person’s relationship to, or perspective on Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt, his talent, his heart and his dedication to the things and people he loves, cannot be denied. He has earned this place onto the main event, and will be representing his teammates, his faith and all of Colorado at UFC 122 in that main event on November 13 on Spike TV.

Many were shocked by Chael Sonnen’s performance against Anderson Silva in their UFC 117 middleweight title bout on Aug. 7. Nate Marquardt wasn’t one of them.

Marquardt fell victim to Sonnen’s style at UFC 109 in February and knew the Team Quest trained Sonnen could do the same to Silva.

“I thought it was a real exciting fight. I think Chael did a great job. I thought Anderson’s footwork would be a little bit better at avoiding the takedowns, but once he got on top I knew he’d be able to pretty much dominate,” Marquardt told MMAWeekly.com.

“I thought that if Chael was able to close that distance that he would be able to take him down and pretty much dominate him on the ground as far as positioning and punching, but to do it for five rounds is a pretty tough thing to do. He was able to do it, but he did get caught in the end.”

Marquardt, who has been in there with both Silva and Sonnen felt the match-up could play out exactly as it did, all the way down to the triangle choke submission win by Silva.

“It’s exactly what I said, that he’s susceptible to the triangle,” commented the middleweight contender. “He kept letting Anderson hold his wrists and he was able to escape the first couple of times. In the first couple of rounds I think he had that more explosive energy and Anderson slapped it on hard in that last round. It was a great fight.”

Not surprised by the takedowns, the ground and pound, or the submission finish, Marquardt didn’t predict Sonnen’s success striking with Silva, but who did?

“That definitely was not expected,” said Marquardt. “I think he knocked him down like three times in the fight. That was crazy. The first one was in the first round and the second one was right after it, I think probably because of the first one. In the fifth round I couldn’t tell if it was a slip or a knockdown, but it was very surprising.”

Marquardt takes on Rousimar Palhares at UFC Fight Night 22 on Sept. 15 in Austin, Texas, hoping to rebound from the loss to Sonnen and begin a path back to title contention.

Bellator Fighting Championships continues to add to its roster, signing UFC veteran Alvin Robinson to face Bellator standout Georgi Karakhanyan. The two will meet in a featherweight feature bout at Bellator 28 on Sept. 9 in New Orleans.

Sources close to the bout on Wednesday confirmed the signing to MMAWeekly.com.

Karakhanyan (13-2-1) is one of Bellator’s top featherweights. He was derailed in the Season 2 by eventual featherweight tournament winner Joe Warren. That loss came after winning nine straight fights, capped by a victory over veteran fighter Bao Quach in his Bellator debut.

Robinson (11-5) was a top prospect when he entered the Octagon with a professional record of 8-1. He had a difficult time assimilating, however, garnering a record of 1-3 in the UFC. The Gracie jiu-jitsu black belt has since dropped down to featherweight where he is currently 2-1.

Bellator 28 takes place on Sept. 9 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans.

Worlds Collide “The best fight card in Colorado History” – Fight Card” article, I wrote, “With fighters in 9 of the 14 bouts coming out of the Grudge Training Center…hopefully they do not disappoint.”Disappoint they did not. In fact, 8 of the 9 fighters hailing from the GTC found victory on Saturday night. Along with their victories, fighters from the GTC also defended and claimed a few title belts including Jason Lee earning the Amateur Middleweight Championship, Justin Salas retaining his Pro Lightweight Championship, and Alvin Robinson claiming the Pro Featherweight Championship. Overall, Fight to Win and the King of Champions promotions put on a fantastic show. The card was great, all of the fighters performed well, and the new cage lighting was an outstanding upgrade! Below is a recap of the professional portion of the card;

Jason Lee took on the undefeated Jason Clayton for the Fight to Win Amateur Middleweight Title. The fight was a 3 round war and the only fight on the amateur portion of the card to go the distance. The fight began with Lee and Clayton circling one another until the finally clinched and began trading knees. Clayton initiated a takedown but failed to bring Lee to the mat; instead the two clinched up against the fence and again began to trade knees until Lee was struck with a low blow. When the action resumed, Lee and Clayton each tested their striking range; the round ended with the fighters clinched against the fence.
In round 2, Lee took Clayton to the mat and remained in side control for a good portion of the round. Clayton turned, exposing his back, but Lee remained on his side and continued to pound away. Near the end of the round, Clayton made his way back to his feet and pushed Lee up against the cage, holding him there until the rounds end.
In round 3, Clayton attempted to take Lee down but his takedown was only semi-successful. The fight went to the mat, but Lee found himself in the dominant position; he was again controlling Clayton from the side and striking at will. Clayton again worked his way up to his feet and clinched with Lee but was unable to do any significant damage. Lee was bleeding from a cut above his eye but that didn’t seem to affect him. With seconds to go in the round, Clayton managed to take Lee down. Lee locked Clayton up in his guard and seemed content to neutralize Clayton’s attack until the final bell.
Winner: Jason Lee via unanimous decision.

Matt Mazurek taking on Josh Ford also ended in a submission. Mazurek attempted to land some early strikes but Ford shot in and took Mazurek down. On the mat, Ford transitioned from half guard to side control, eventually taking Mazurek’s back. With control of Mazurek’s back, Ford looked to sink in a rear-naked-choke. With the choke applied, Ford flattened Mazurek out and squeezed until he tapped.
Winner: Josh Ford via submission (choke) at 2:55 of round 1.