If nothing else, Fight 2 Win is a showcase for an endless # of personality types and professionals that also love to grapple. Take as an example F2W92 competitor Joe Connor. A field ecologist with a degree from the University of Central Missouri, Joe originally got into combat sports to cope after a tough loss. Fifteen years later and It’s become one of the pillars pf his life.
Read on to learn more about Joe ahead of his purple belt 155 lbs. gi match vs. The Kompound’s Dan Dykeman this Saturday in Denver.
Fight 2 Win 92 Interview – Joe Conner (McHahon TC / Easton BJJ)
Congrats on being on the F2W 92 card. How’s training been going for this one?
Training has been going great. I have a good team at the McMahon Training Center who have been helping me out and fine tuning my game. I’ve never been more prepared for a competition.
How did you get started with the sport? What’s it done for your life?
I originally started training MMA and BJJ in Missouri after my father passed away. It was a good outlet that helped me through tough times. I was also in college at the time and when MMA started to interfere with my school, I retired from that and stuck with grappling. Now I do BJJ because it’s fun, keeps me in shape, and I think I strive to achieve more in life when I have something like grappling to keep me disciplined and hungry for success.
As far as life goes, what have been some of your greatest accomplishments?
My greatest accomplishment so far has been my 2 college degrees in wildlife biology. My greatest grappling achievement was probably winning the F2W Colorado state championship expert division in my weight class.
What keeps you going every day? What makes you tick?
Family and Science are probably some of the biggest things that make me tick. My family is very important to me and is above all else, so I always want to make them proud. Science, especially wildlife biology and astronomy, has always been a passion of mine as well. If you can think critically, ask questions, and genuinely try to apply that thinking to life while treating others how you would want to be treated, a lot of the unimportant baggage in life seems to fall away.
If you look ahead at the next few years, what are some of the other things you want to accomplish?
Being in my career field, this is always one of the harder questions. I want to continue to work in my field but grappling is also a priority and it has been for some time. I want to continue to build my resume with more F2W pro matches, lots of tournaments, and I really want to start getting my name out there. I’ve been wrestling and rolling pretty consistently since 2003. I want that momentum to continue to build and I want people to see all that hard work pay off.
Your opponent on this card – know much about them?
I actually don’t. I saw he had a pro MMA record and saw he won his last F2W pro match but I try to focus more on myself and my training than my opponents accomplishments and game. I’m sure he is legit and I hope he brings his best.
What do they have to watch out for as far as what you’re bringing?
I can’t give away too much but I come with an attack-heavy grinding game and I try push the pace. Expect pressure.
How would you like to finish this match?
Power bomb. Just kidding. I’m going to take the first choke that presents itself. I would rather lose by sub than go to decision so we’ll see what pops up.
What’s next for you after this?
Back in the gym on Monday. Keep sharpening my game and staying ready for any other opportunities. That plus some pizza and beer.
Any message to the fans of Denver and those watching live on stream?
Thanks to all my friends and family for the support. Special thanks to my amazing wife for everything she does. Thanks to my team at McMahon, wouldn’t be here without them. Thanks to the other Easton affiliates for opening their doors. Thanks to my old gym in Kansas City, Glory MMA and fitness. Thanks to my sponsors: Scimetrics Limited Corp and Snack Attack in Fort Collins. And thank you for the opportunity!
