“Match to Serve” is sponsored by the Transcend Basis.
Colton Smith is profitable for a lot of causes, however the two he could also be finest identified for are his profession in blended martial arts and his service to America. The primary navy affect he had in his life was his grandfather, who fought within the Korean Warfare.
“He acquired a number of honors and a Purple Coronary heart from the Korean Warfare. My uncles served as effectively – one as a Marine and one other as a paratrooper proper after the Vietnam period.”
He credit his childhood for his MMA origins, admitting that he fought rather a lot. Smith shared his household on each side have been identified for his or her toughness and athletic prowess. His mom was a bodybuilder and arm-wrestler whereas his father competed in boxing. Younger Colton was energetic in 4 sports activities. Wrestling was the household favourite, although. His uncles saved up with the game in any respect ranges. Smith came upon that he might wrestle and even doubtlessly receives a commission by becoming a member of the navy.
“I joined the navy in the course of the peak of the Warfare in Iraq, and I selected to be an Infantryman,” he mentioned. “Shortly afterwards, I discovered myself in Iraq. Wrestling truthfully drew me to the navy at first, however I rapidly discovered myself loving being an infantryman and what all that entailed.”
Despite the fact that he was serving his nation, the concentrate on MMA started whereas he was deployed in Iraq. Smith was a part of a takeover when he had his first encounter together with his future future.
“Whereas we have been taking up a district in Western Baghdad, there was a market, and I received my arms on some DVDs of UFC 1 to 43. I noticed these and thought that I might get into that.”
Smith had the excellence of being each an energetic obligation servicemember {and professional} fighter. He made all of it the best way as much as the Final Fighter 16, and he received that competitors to earn a UFC contract. He received no particular remedy from the navy throughout that course of, which is what he’s most pleased with.
“It wasn’t till the day earlier than I flew to Las Vegas to struggle for getting in the home that the Military lastly accepted so long as I had the depart time constructed up, and I did.”
One other facet he took pleasure in was the psychological fortitude he had all through the competitors. He was seeing different fighters mentally break down whereas he was holding agency throughout that competitors.
“The way in which I used to be was a couple of quick years in the past, I used to be residing on a bridge in Iraq consuming MRE’s and working patrols. Quick ahead a couple of years, and I used to be residing in a mansion, making a want listing at evening that the manufacturing staff would have at 0800 the following morning, and I might focus solely on turning into The Final Fighter.”
Between his time within the UFC and different organizations, he collected a 7-5 win/loss report. He additionally made historical past by being the primary athlete to be each energetic obligation within the navy and an energetic UFC fighter.
He mentioned, “I used to be at a crossroads as a result of whereas it appeared I had the world at my fingertips, I nonetheless had a burning want in my coronary heart to serve my nation. I simply couldn’t ignore that feeling.”
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu third-degree black belt nonetheless compete every time he can and continues to be energetic in enhancing for self-defense and self-improvement.
“I’m 36 years outdated now, however I nonetheless get on the mat and wrestle.”
Smith can be thriving within the enterprise world. Other than proudly owning Enlisted 9 Struggle Firm, a profitable and rising MMA academy, he’s additionally a distinguished a part of Downrange Dietary supplements, a complement firm that was based by one other Match to Serve featuree – Kevin Flack. Smith is listed as part of the corporate’s Activity Unit.
“I imagine in what Kevin, SEAC Troxell, and all the Downrange Dietary supplements staff is doing,” he said proudly. “The merchandise are phenomenal, and it’s been nice watching them develop. I feel they’re going to maintain accelerating over the following few years.”
Whereas the 18-year veteran from Virginia has been on a novel journey so far, he has no regrets and is pleased with what he has performed and continues to be of service in the present day. He additionally feels that navy service can be an excellent avenue for younger Individuals to contemplate for his or her future due to what it has led him to since he made the choice to hitch 18 years in the past.
“I wouldn’t change it for something. I might keep serving and preventing as a result of it made me the particular person I’m.”
For extra data on Downrange Dietary supplements, go to downrangesupplements.com . You’ll be able to comply with Smith on Instagram @coltonsmithmma .
M&F Senior Army Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this text.
