“Fit to Serve” is sponsored by the Transcend Basis.
Colton Smith is profitable for a lot of causes, however the two he could also be finest identified for are his profession in combined martial arts and his service to America. The primary army affect he had in his life was his grandfather, who fought within the Korean Battle.
“He received several honors and a Purple Heart from the Korean War. My uncles served as well – one as a Marine and another as a paratrooper right after the Vietnam era.”
He credit his childhood for his MMA origins, admitting that he fought so much. Smith shared his household on each side had been identified 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 discovered that he may wrestle and even doubtlessly receives a commission by becoming a member of the army.
“I joined the military during the height of the War in Iraq, and I chose to be an Infantryman,” he mentioned. “Shortly afterwards, I found myself in Iraq. Wrestling honestly drew me to the military at first, but I quickly found myself loving being an infantryman and what all that entailed.”
Although he was serving his nation, the deal with 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.
“While we were taking over a district in Western Baghdad, there was a market, and I got my hands on some DVDs of UFC 1 to 43. I saw those and thought that I could get into that.”
Smith had the excellence of being each an lively responsibility servicemember {and professional} fighter. He made all of it the way in which as much as the Final Fighter 16, and he gained that competitors to earn a UFC contract. He acquired no particular therapy from the army throughout that course of, which is what he’s most happy with.
“It wasn’t until the day before I flew to Las Vegas to fight for getting in the house that the Army finally approved as long as I had the leave time built up, and I did.”
One other side he took satisfaction 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 way I was looking at was a few short years ago, I was living on a bridge in Iraq eating MRE’s and running patrols. Fast forward a few years, and I was living in a mansion, making a wish list at night that the production team would have at 0800 the next morning, and I could focus solely on becoming The Ultimate Fighter.”
Between his time within the UFC and different organizations, he amassed a 7-5 win/loss report. He additionally made historical past by being the primary athlete to be each lively responsibility within the army and an lively UFC fighter.
He mentioned, “I was at a crossroads because while it appeared I had the world at my fingertips, I still had a burning desire in my heart to serve my country. I just couldn’t ignore that feeling.”
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu third-degree black belt nonetheless compete every time he can and continues to be lively in bettering for self-defense and self-improvement.
“I am 36 years old now, but I still get on the mat and wrestle.”
Smith can be thriving within the enterprise world. Except for proudly owning Enlisted 9 Struggle Firm, a profitable and rising MMA academy, he’s additionally a outstanding 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 Process Unit.
“I believe in what Kevin, SEAC Troxell, and the entire Downrange Supplements team is doing,” he said proudly. “The products are phenomenal, and it’s been great watching them grow. I think they are going to keep accelerating over the next few years.”
Whereas the 18-year veteran from Virginia has been on a singular journey so far, he has no regrets and is happy with what he has performed and continues to be of service immediately. He additionally feels that army service could be an ideal avenue for younger People to contemplate for his or her future due to what it has led him to since he made the choice to hitch 18 years in the past.
“I wouldn’t change it for anything. I would stay serving and fighting because it made me the person I am.”
For extra info on Downrange Dietary supplements, go to downrangesupplements.com . You possibly can comply with Smith on Instagram @coltonsmithmma .
M&F Senior Navy Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this text.
