NCO trains for mixed martial arts fight on base

  • Published
  • By John Cochran
  • 377 AIr Base WIng Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  The first thing a visitor to the FIT NHB Fight Gym in downtown Albuquerque notices is the steady series of staccato "thumps" echoing off the walls. It's the sound of solid blows landing squarely on padded targets, repeatedly and with authority. In this converted warehouse, fighters train to compete in mixed martial arts, practicing multiple disciplines of combat sports.

David Perez, a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force and an amateur featherweight who competes in MMA at 145 pounds, trained there since 2006. After serving as an instructor at the Kirtland AFB Airman Leadership School for the last four years, Tech. Sgt. Perez made a permanent change of station move to Fort Meade, Md. in early September.

Before leaving town, he put himself through a "farewell gauntlet" Sept. 3 - five 5-minute rounds in the cage with friends who are professional fighters. He said sparring with them helps him prepare for a fight.

"It's always a very humbling experience. I consider these fighters to be some of the best in the world. Frank Baca and Gerald Lovato fight at 135 pounds - that's bantamweight, and Thomas Schulte fights at 155 pounds - that's lightweight. Working with them boosts my skills, because we train with such a multitude of different disciplines, from boxing to Muay Thai, kickboxing, submission grappling, jiu jitsu to wrestling - we have to concentrate on training in each one for hours at a time."

Sergeant Perez said that unlike having an individual trainer the way a Western-style boxer would have, his training is a group effort.

"That's one of the wonderful things about our gym - we all train each other, we work out with each other, we sweat together. We all share the same coaches: Thomas Schulte, Tom Vaughn and Arlene Vaughn are our three main coaches who teach all of us."

He will return here to compete in the "King of the Cage" MMA fight card Dec. 4 at the Lamberson Hangar on base. Mr. Schulte, a submission grappling coach, and Mr. Vaughn, an MMA coach and promoter, will be in his corner for that event.

The nine-year Air Force veteran said he started MMA training with a friend when he arrived at Kirtland AFB. He talked about the satisfaction he derives from the sport.

"I live my life at a certain level. Most people live their lives at 90 to 100 percent; I do things at 110 to 115 percent. I try to find limits in everything, and fortunately for me, I haven't found anything that I haven't been able to do. I'm always searching for something that will push me and make me a better person. Mixed martial arts allows me to do that. Not only that, it allows me to be an inspiration for those who are trying to find who they are - how they can self-actualize."

Sergeant Perez, who'll return to his roots as a Transportation specialist at his next duty station, talked about the rewards of competing in MMA.

"Right now my goal is to make good friends and have fun. Whatever comes after that is a bonus. Don't get me wrong - I won't turn down an opportunity if it comes up. On a personal level, it's going to lead me to be a better person. It's going to allow me to reach some of my dreams. One of my biggest goals is to coach when I get a little older, to share some of the knowledge and skills that I have. I'd also like to give the Air Force an opportunity to see what some of our Airmen can do. You always see Army guys and Marines doing certain things - we've got a couple of Air Force guys who are capable of standing up with them and probably beating them, so I want to showcase that."

He had advice for someone who wants to take part in mixed martial arts.

"Make sure you try it out first, so you know it's something you can handle. It's a small part of our society that can handle a sport like this. It takes a special person to do this."

Sergeant Perez is optimistic that his participation in the MMA event on base will raise people's awareness of and regard for the benefits of combat sports.

"I hope the Air Force sees this as an opportunity to showcase what some of our Airmen are actually doing out there and are capable of doing. That it brings out the best in all of us - the competition pushes us to be better versions of who we are. I want to show that the Air Force has what we call the 'Warrior Ethos' mentality and we bring just as much of that as our sister services," he said.