“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 greatest recognized for are his profession in combined martial arts and his service to America. The primary navy affect he had in his life was his grandfather, who fought within the Korean Battle.
“He acquired a number of honors and a Purple Coronary heart from the Korean Battle. My uncles served as nicely – 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 so much. Smith shared his household on either side have been recognized 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 lively 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 may wrestle and even doubtlessly receives a commission by becoming a member of the navy.
“I joined the navy throughout the top of the Battle in Iraq, and I selected to be an Infantryman,” he stated. “Shortly afterwards, I discovered myself in Iraq. Wrestling truthfully drew me to the navy at first, however I shortly discovered myself loving being an infantryman and what all that entailed.”
Regardless 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 on a district in Western Baghdad, there was a market, and I bought my arms on some DVDs of UFC 1 to 43. I noticed these and thought that I may get into that.”
Smith had the excellence of being each an lively obligation servicemember {and professional} fighter. He made all of it the way in which as much as the Final Fighter 16, and he received that competitors to earn a UFC contract. He bought no particular therapy from the navy throughout that course of, which is what he’s most happy with.
“It wasn’t till the day earlier than I flew to Las Vegas to combat for getting in the home that the Military lastly permitted so long as I had the go away time constructed up, and I did.”
One other side 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 best way I used to be taking a look at was a couple of brief years in the past, I used to be residing on a bridge in Iraq consuming MRE’s and operating 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 subsequent morning, and I may focus solely on changing into The Final Fighter.”
Between his time within the UFC and different organizations, he gathered a 7-5 win/loss document. He additionally made historical past by being the primary athlete to be each lively obligation within the navy and an lively UFC fighter.
He stated, “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 at any time when he can and continues to be lively in bettering for self-defense and self-improvement.
“I’m 36 years previous now, however I nonetheless get on the mat and wrestle.”
Smith can also be thriving within the enterprise world. Except for proudly owning Enlisted 9 Battle 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 consider in what Kevin, SEAC Troxell, and your complete Downrange Dietary supplements staff is doing,” he acknowledged proudly. “The merchandise are phenomenal, and it’s been nice watching them develop. I believe they’re going to preserve accelerating over the subsequent few years.”
Whereas the 18-year veteran from Virginia has been on a singular journey to this point, he has no regrets and is happy with what he has accomplished and continues to be of service immediately. He additionally feels that navy service could be an awesome avenue for younger People to think about for his or her future due to what it has led him to since he made the choice to affix 18 years in the past.
“I wouldn’t change it for something. I’d keep serving and combating as a result of it made me the particular person I’m.”
For extra info on Downrange Dietary supplements, go to downrangesupplements.com . You possibly can observe Smith on Instagram @coltonsmithmma .
M&F Senior Army Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this text.
