GUNNISON – His college eligibility is up, but former Fort Lupton and Western State wrestler Marques Bravo wanted to continue to compete.

    So he turned to mixed martial arts, a full-contact sport that combines such disciplines as wrestling, boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

    “I wanted to compete still and I did not want to pursue freestyle wrestling so I thought why not try MMA?” Bravo said. “I have always wanted to box. But this is better catered to my style because I can use my wrestling.”

    Bravo’s first amateur fight was in Grand Junction at 140 pounds He won by a technical knockout in the second round. Bravo wants to fight at 135 pounds eventually.

    Bravo said the training is about the same in both wrestling and the mixed martial arts. The only difference would be the striking, or punching.

    “It is just different. Not harder or easier. Just different,” Bravo said. “The submission stuff is an easier transition then striking. It is basically every illegal wrestling move that I have learned from age 4 that I get to do now.”

    He said the wrestling part of mixed martial arts carries over from high school and college. It’s a different story with the striking.

    “The striking has been a challenge,” Bravo said. “I cannot say it is natural,” he said. “But the wrestling base helps because I feel confident that if I get in trouble I will always be able to try and outwrestle my opponent.”

    Bravo gets his training help from an assistant wrestling coach at Western State, Chris Freije (an all-American who finished second at 149 pounds) and from a several time all-American track star, Jason Brenton. Brenton, who is 7-0 as a pro MMA fighter, helps with the boxing aspect. Brenton has been boxing for about five years.

    “I try to focus on seeing punches coming and footwork to create openings for punches or takedowns,” Bravo said. “I am not trying to become a knockout master. In fact, just the opposite. I am focusing on becoming a master at not getting hit so I can use my wrestling.”

    Bravo plans to continue his interest in triathlons as well. He was scheduled to run a triathlon during the Thanksgiving weekend.

     “I want to do it for as long as possible and see how far I can go,” Bravo said. “I am just not ready to start playing softball yet as a hobby. Obviously I am limited in my training. We have to go to the rec center to train. We do not have an actual MMA gym in Gunnison. However I hope to train whenever I on the eastern slope for extended weekends or breaks such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. I want to train with fellow Fort Luptonite Carlos Huerta. He is 3-0 as a fighter and about my size.”

    Bravo watched one of Huerta’s fights in person.

    “I saw how much fun and intense it was and also how many ex-wrestlers were winning, so I figured why not give it a shot while I’m still in shape and young?” Bravo said. “I am just trying to jump in with two feet and learn as much as I can as fast as I can. It is very humbling and fun.”