Eryk Anders is not the only former college football player training at Spartan Fitness and MMA in Alabama as former Samford University defensive back Omar Johnson has made the transition from the football field to the MMA cage.
Johnson (3-0) has won all of his professional fights by stoppage and his introduction to the sport came several years ago. He was looking to get into football shape and ended up going to Spartan Fitness and MMA in Birmingham, Alabama to get some work in.
“I started training and just really started out as extracurricular activities to get in shape for football,” Johnson told The MMA Report. “When I went in and tried it out, I sparred with Marcus [Brimage]. My coach asked me if I wanted to spar and I said sure since he is a pretty small guy. I should be able to hold my own. Long story short, he gave me a black eye and seven years later, here I am.”
“I really enjoy it and I like the aspect of everything that goes into mixed martial arts. Just being able to see the fruits of your labor. Going into the gym everyday and working hard. Then on fight night, you get to showcase and let everyone see what exactly you have been doing. I think it’s the ultimate form of competition and combat. I really look forward to that.”
When you talk to Johnson about MMA, one word that will come up is passion. He has fallen in love with the sport of mixed martial arts and he explained during The MMA Report Live why he has become so passionate with the sport.
“It goes back to competing and competition,” he explained. “Playing team sports, I love it. I love football. If I could still do it, I would. Ultimately, it comes down to competition. Mixed martial arts is one on one, and of course you have a team that you train with. They help you prepare, but at the end of the day, when the cage door locks on fight night, it’s just you and another man.”
“At that point, we find out who is the better man. I feel like that is the ultimate form of competition. You can not hide behind someone. In football, if I miss a tackle in the third quarter and they score, but if I go into the cage and I do not put in the time and the effort into the mats leading up to the fight, I can’t blame anyone but myself. That’s the way I feel about the sport.”
Johnson competes at as a lightweight and has his eyes set on being a UFC fighter in the future. He wants to fight as much as he possible can since he understands there is a short time frame to be a full time fighter. He would like to fight 3-5 times a year as long as he is healthy and he is definitely a fighter we need to keep an eye out for on the regional scene.