U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mark Landa (center), a cadre member at the Warrior Transition Unit on Fort Bliss, runs through an exercise drill in the boxing ring at the Wolves Den, El Paso Texas, July 29. A native of El More
Christian Wellisch looks out from the cage at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on April 1, 2006, during a fight with Dan Evensen. Wellisch won the fight.
Lance Cpl. Sean E. Varriale, a radio operator with 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, corrects mistakes two Marines make during a training session Mar. 6. Varriale is training with hopes to someday become a p More
Petty Officer 2nd Class Dave Stahl throws a punch in this portrait at the Fifth Coast Guard District headquarters in Portsmouth, Va., Feb. 5, 2009. Stahl, who serves as an administrative assistant for the Coast More
Petty Officer 2nd Class Dave Stahl poses for a portrait at the Fifth Coast Guard District headquarters in Portsmouth, Va., Feb. 5, 2009. Stahl, an administrative assistant for the Coast Guard Investigative Serv More
Petty Officer 2nd Class Dave Stahl, a yeoman for the Coast Guard Investigative Service in Portsmouth, throws punches as Chris Gaither holds pads during a training class at Global Martial Arts in Virginia Beach, More
Global Martial Arts owner and head coach Mateo De Los Reyes instructs as Petty Officer 2nd Class Dave Stahl demonstrates the triangle choke, a technique using the legs to immobilize one of the opponent's arms w More
Petty Officer 2nd Class Dave Stahl catches Ryan Beasley's leg and throws a punch as the two spar before class at Global Martial Arts in Virginia Beach, Va., Feb. 9, 2009. Stahl, an administrative assistant to t More
Professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter Rich Franklin prepares to rappel off the 60-foot Camp Hansen Rappel Tower, Aug. 22.
Mixed martial arts fighter Matt Mitrione executes a landing in a KC-135 Stratotanker flight simulator during a visit here Oct. 14. Mitrione and two other MMA fighters visited with members of the 352nd Special O More
Spc. Johnathan McMullen, of Long View, Texas, 3rd Bn. 29th FA Reg., performs a guillotine choke on his opponent during his match at the Fight Night event at Memorial Hall on Camp Adder Nov. 29. Fight Night is t More
Sailors match the faces of five mixed martial artists with those on a flyer during a mixed martial arts fighter's tour aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington. The fighters are on a Pacific tour spons More
Mixed martial arts fighters sign photos and shirts for Marines at the end of their Fighters to Fighters tour visit Jan. 14.
Staff Sgt. Ferdinando Acerra knocks gloves with his opponent at the Caged Chaos mixed martial arts competition at Jamil Temple here Feb. 26. Acerra is an F-16 crew chief maintenance instructor for the 20th Main More
A soldier from the 58th Engineer Company, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, attempts a Guillotine Choke against his opponent during the opening round of the Warrior Challenge combatives tournament at More
Staff Sgt. Joshua Geery (right), the platoon sergeant of 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, and More
The 501st Sustainment Brigade surgeon cell conducts a quick check of a fighter before the start of the Korea Modern Army Combatives Tournament, Aug. 6 at USAG Carroll.
III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Installations Pacific Policy Letter 1-12 was signed Jan. 19. This letter outlines the steps Marines and sailors must follow in order to participate in off-duty mi More
Pfc. Marshall O. Hughes, satellite communications operator and maintainer, Signal Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 25th Infantry Division from Asheboro, N.C., poses for a photo on Contingency O More
U.S. Navy Seaman Chris Mesnard, a 22-year-old corpsman with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, from Omaha, Neb., peers through the scratched lenses of an oxygen-restricting tr More
A referee briefs fighters before the start of their fight in a mixed martial arts tournament in Clovis, N.M., Dec. 10. Two Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., airmen participated in the sporting event. (U.S. Air Force More
Spc. Miles McDonald, Missouri Army National Guard, won the 2012 National Guard Combatives Tournament featherweight (115 pounds) class with a rear chokehold submission against Sgt. Terry Hams, Alaska Army Nation More
Members of the 818th Engineer Company warm up for a basic Combatives class at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., March 27, 2012.
Sergeant Michael Fogg directs fire onto an enemy position in Nad ‘Ali, Afghanistan, April 19. Fogg is a full-time infantryman with the Grenadier Guards of 12th Platoon, Inkerman Company, and has a love for mart More
Tech. Sgt. Steven Pina, 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, attempts to gain the advantage on his sparring partner during a practice fight June 7, 2012, Wichita, Kan. Pina was the only airman to place in More
Jason Micnuc, Mixed Martial Arts fighter, ramps up the crowd after his match at MMA Fight Night 3 at Felix Field, June 22. Micnuc, a service-disabled Army veteran, lost to Shane Kruchten, a Marine disabled vete More
“The beast” Spc. Nathaniel Freeman (right) has his hand raised after winning the Heavy Weight MAC championship, during Marne Week, June 28.
U.S. Marines receive autographs from various mixed martial arts fighters during the Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Military Appreciation Day on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif., July More
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Roger Pence, an aviator with 306th Aerial Exploitation Battalion, Task Force ODIN-A, practices a front kick during a hand-to-hand combat class on Bagram Airfield, Oct. 15, 2012 More
Airman 1st Class Markus Williams, right, Spangdahlem mixed martial arts team member, faces off against his opponent Nov. 17, 2012, at Kombat Komplett 7 in Baumholder. Williams, a Phoenix native, is a member of More
Wesley Barnes (far right) stares down Dan Martinez as their mixed martial arts bout begins at the Strike Fight event Dec. 8 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Barnes won a unanimous decision over Martinez in one of More
Rick “The Reach” Van Seters approaches the octagon before his fight at the Buckley MMA Fight Night, Feb. 9, 2013, at the Buckley Air Force Base Fitness Center, Colo. Van Seters, an Airman with the 460th Space C More
Sean Madden, left, punches Thailand Clark while blocking a kick at the Buckley MMA fight night Feb. 9, 2013, at the Buckley Air Force Base Fitness Center. The fight night, hosted by the 460th Force Support Squa More
Staff Sgt. Zachery Rayburn, 460th Space Communications Squadron radio frequency system crew member, sings the national anthem during the Buckley MMA Fight Night, Feb. 9, 2013, at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. R More
Staff Sgt. Brian Telinda made his mixed martial arts debut at the King of Jacksonville fight series in North Carolina, March 16, where he won by decision after nearly scoring a knockout in the first round.
Marines with Recruiting Substation Columbia hold a pull up challenge during Shogun Fights VIII at First Mariner Arena in Baltimore, April 13. Marine Recruiting Station Baltimore sponsored one of the 11 bouts du More
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Oscar Pineda (right), a native of Miami, Fla., observes Soldiers practice Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP), level 1 techniques during a class he taught at the gym on Forward Operating More
Obinna Njokuani, left, a mixed martial artist who fights in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), takes part in a foot race with Senior Airman Gabriel Gebhart, from the 35th Figh More
Former captain and professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter Brian Stann poses for a picture with Sgt. Caleb Patton at the Wounded Warrior Battalion aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 21. Stann said the More
Lance Cpl. Oscar Kush, mortarman, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Chicago, trains in Mixed Martial Arts during his personal time away from duty in Oceanside, Calif., Oct. 3, More
Lance Cpl. Oscar Kush, mortarman, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a native of Chicago, demonstrates a knee strike during a Mixed Martial Arts class in Oceanside, Calif., Oct. 3, 2013. K More
Sidney Silva came to train some of our local mixed martial arts fighters within USAG Wiesbaden. They demonstrated classic and new moves in MMA and other combative fight styles. The USAG Wiesbaden boxing and com More
Spc. Anthony Quintero (blue), 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, attempts to soften his opponent, 1st Lt. Andrew Fant (red ), 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat More
Tim Kennedy, middle, a professional mixed martial arts fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, takes candid pictures with soldiers and their families during a free seminar Dec. 12 at the 82nd Airborne More
Competitors competing in the 2013 Fort Bragg Army Combatives Championship on Dec. 13 went head-to-head in a semi-final round to see who would advance to the finale held at Sports USA Dec. 14. The semi-final rou More
With just under 300 competitors who are competing in the 2013 Fort Bragg Army Combatives Championship, essential personnel to include instructors, "red shirts," referees, judges, medics and a supporting crowd, More
The official kickoff to the 2013 Fort Bragg Army Combatives Championship started with the elimination matches at Rittz-Epps Physical Fitness Center Dec. 13. More than 300 competitors were scheduled to compete i More
Ultimate Fighting Championship Mixed Martial Arts fighter Tim Kennedy speaks to the audience at Sports USA during the 2013 Fort Bragg Army Combatives Championship Invitational finals, Dec. 14. Kennedy complemen More
The finale of the 2013 Fort Bragg Army Combatives Championship Invitational was held at Sports USA, Dec. 14, and featured 21 matches including 3rd place finals, 1st place finals and exhibitions. Team Bragg won More
Sergeant Misha Nassiri, an ammunition technician with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, wraps her hands before her first mixed martial arts match held at Valley Center, Calif., Jan. 18, 2014. Nassiri More
Sergeant Misha Nassiri, ammunition technician, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, won her first professional mixed martial arts fight Jan. 18, 2014 at Valley Center, Calif. Nassiri, a native of San Di More
Spc. Rahman Gholston, of Pullman, Wash., with the 301st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, grapples with Spc. Jessie Clements, of Lafayette, Ga., with the 390th Engineer Company, at the modern Army combatives tourna More
Sgt. Juan Jackson, Tacoma resident, with the 493rd Military Police Company, grapples with Staff Sgt. James Thornton, of Inman, S.C., with the 323rd Engineer Company, at the modern Army combatives tournament dur More
Mike Dolce, creator of the Dolce Diet, nutritional coach for numerous Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters and UFC Fit trainer, speaks to service members during a seminar aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeun More
Kelly Grissom, a Brazilian Jujitsu instructor, demonstrates a technique on a Brazilian Jujitsu student at his martial arts school, KOA, in Stafford, Va., June 6, 2014. Kelly Grissom co-founded the Lion Heart In More
Master Sgt. Stanley Iakopo, Air Force Reserve Command recruiter with the 944th Fighter Wing, poses with (left) Cesar Peraza, trainer of Iakopo and (right) Col. Kurt J. Gallegos, 944th Fighter Wing commander, J More
Col. Peter Buck, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, welcomes former NFL icon and mental health advocate, Herschel Walker, aboard MCAS Beaufort, Aug. 5. Walker, who was diagnosed with D More
Sgt. 1st Class Ronnell Foster, a 21st Theater Sustainment Command combatives instructor and native of Detroit, grapples with Mixed Martial Arts fighter Chris "Lights Out" Lytle during his visit April 15 to Kleb More
Uriah Hall, professional fighter, Ultimate Fighting Championship, gives Marines fighting tips at the West Gym during the UFC Clinic and Fight Night Viewing, April 18, 2015. The event, which was open to all Comb More
Cpl. Josue Funes, Light Armored Vehicle repair technician, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, has practiced martial arts for more than six years and has recently taken up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the Yuc More
Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy, an accomplished veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Champion and native of Nottingham, England, explains his philosophy on fighting during a mixed martial arts seminar June 2 on Ramstein Airbase.
Summer Altice, host of the fight night, interviews Randy Couture, Hall of Fame inductee, Ultimate Fighting Championship, during the Leatherneck IV Mixed Martial Arts Fight Night at Del Valle Field, June 5, 2015 More
Mixed martial arts fighter Tom Lawlor demonstrates a technique on Lance Cpl. Kyle Kurschner, a field artillery sensor support man with Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, and native of Ma More
Mixed martial arts fighter Gray Maynard signs autograph cards during the “For the Leathernecks IV” viewing party at Kahuna’s Bar and Grill, July 11, 2015. Headquarters Marine Corps’ Single Marine Program and MC More
A posted advertisement for the Armed Forces Entertainment MMA Summer Tour Aug. 18, 2015, in Southwest Asia. AFE is a Department of Defense agency that provides entertainment to deployed U.S. service members aro More
U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma Marines, Sailors, family members, and veterans enjoy a "For The Leathernecks IV" Mixed Martial Arts tournament provided by the Single Marine Program aboard MCAS Yuma, A More
Sgt. Maj. James D. Willeford, sergeant major of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, addresses Marines and sailors attending the Leathernecks IV Mixed Martial Arts Fight Night event held at the gymnasium aboard More
Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell sings “Georgia on my Mind” to service members during the USO’s 75th Anniversary Spring Tour at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, March 15, 2016. Cantrell said she plans to use the Miss Amer More
Cpl. Jose O. Osario, a rifleman, practices a tactical knife technique on French Armed Forces Sergt. Hlemu Jean, a paratrooper with 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment, during Exercise AmeriCal 16 at Camp Broche, New C More
170907-N-BD308-243 NORFOLK (June 17, 2017) Featherweight fighters in Spartyka Fight League battle for the title belt during a championship bout. Spartyka is a local mixed martial arts organization that hosts mo More
A judge raises Spc. Vic Richmond’s hand in victory as special guest Royce Gracie affixes the championship title belt after the main event at the 1st Special Forces Group’s (Airborne) Gladiator Challenge on Join More
CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan - 1st Sgt. William Radebaugh, left, and 1st Lt. Christian Lara take a break during the clinic held by mixed martial arts Cage Crusaders at the House of Pain Sept. 6 aboard Camp Hanse More
From left to right: Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Wright assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Capt. Andrew Alterman, chaplain for HHC, 9th Engineer B More
Left, Salina Rowland and Victoria Leonardo, mixed martial arts athletes, fight during the Legacy Fighting Alliance live broadcast at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, July 27, 2018. Fort Eustis hosted the LF More
Left, Adi Alec, mixed martial art fighter, celebrates his win during the Legacy Fighting Alliance live broadcast at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, July 27, 2018. Fort Eustis hosted the fight night, open h More
A coach mentors his fighter during Fight Night at Del Valle Field, Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. on October 12, 2018. Fight Night is an annual event hosted by Marine Corps Community More
Several active and retired mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters visit, teach, and grapple with service members at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, during the MMA Holiday Tour across the Middle East, Dec. 18, 2018. (U.S. Ar More
New Cadet Brian Dawson, Echo Co., braves 100-degree temperatures to learn modern Army combatives as part of his Cadet Basic Training at Camp Buckner, New York, July 29, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Matthew Moeller)
U.S. Air Force Airmen conduct a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class Nov. 7, 2019, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes are offered on the base for free, and benefits participants by improving their p More
Jessica Penne, mixed martial arts fighter and Cage Fury Fighting Championship commentator, tours a patrol boat at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Nov. 21, 2019. Penne and other CFFC representatives visited More
Dakota Dyer, Cage Fury Fighting Championship fighter, knees Matt Thompson during the CFFC 80 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Nov. 22, 2019. The CFFC event featured preliminary fights and six main card f More
Mixed martial artist Josh Thomson tours an amphibious assault vehicle with U.S. Marines with Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 16, 2019. Bellator MMA and USO have par More
191217-N-MH811-1346 PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 18, 2019) U.S. Air Force Airman Kannon Phobes is picked up by fellow Airman Landon Lee while practicing mixed martial arts moves during an MMA clinic at the Joint Base Pea More
Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton, left, shows, U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Bill Daniels, a supply sergeant from the 652nd Regional Support Group, how to authenticate the game-worn jersey Eaton gave the Sol More
The mixed martial arts community visited Camp Foster’s field house Feb. 15, 2019. The event promoted healthy competition between international fighters; building relationships between the U.S. military and inte More
U.S. Army Sergeant Brandon Vashon, a native of Waterville, Maine (background, left) and a Soldier assigned to 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bli More
Putting his dreams of becoming a professional mixed martial arts fighter on hold to deploy with 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Lance Cpl. Sean E. Varriale spends his off time staying in shape and training More
Airman 1st Class Markus Williams, Spangdahlem mixed martial arts team member, puts his opponent into a guillotine Nov. 17, 2012, at Kombat Komplett 7 in Baumholder. Williams, a Phoenix native is a member of the More
Heath Herring, a professional fighter from Amarillo, Texas, with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, shows hospitalman Andrew Chase, a 22-year-old corpsman from Eugene, Ore., with Regimental Combat Team 1, the More
Professional mixed martial arts fighter Dustin Hazelett coaches participants at a grappling techniques workshop hosted by Hazelett and fellow MMA fighters Rich Franklin and Joe Stevenson on Camp Shields, Aug. 21.
Spc. Casey Steffani, of Nampa, Ind., 3rd Bn. 29th FA Reg., gets advice from his trainers in between rounds during his match at the Fight Night event at Memorial Hall on Camp Adder Nov. 29. Fight Night is the Mo More
Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Mosley, electronics technician, from Los Angeles, arm wrestles with mixed martial artist Dustin Poirier during a mixed martial arts fighter's tour aboard the aircraft carrier More
Marines on Camp Hansen practice techniques taught by professional mixed martial arts fighters, a part of the MMA Fighters to Fighters tour, sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment and Marine Corps Community Ser More
Staff Sgt. Ferdinando Acerra pounds his opponent after taking him down at the Caged Chaos mixed martial arts competition at Jamil Temple here Feb. 26. Acerra is an F-16 crew chief maintenance instructor for the More
A soldier gets bloodied up while wrestling his opponent during the opening round of the Warrior Challenge combatives tournament at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, Calif., May 9.
Sgt. Tobias Dupre (left), an infantryman and team leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, and a Shelb More
Jorge Laguna (right), gets his hands taped before he fights in the flyweight championship round of the 2011 Korea Modern Army Combatives Tournament at Camp Carroll, South Korea, Aug. 6.
On duty, U.S. Navy Seaman Chris Mesnard, a 22-year-old corpsman with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, from Omaha, Neb., tends to sick and injured Marines at the battalion ai More
Tech. Sgt. Steven Pina, 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, spars with his training partner at a local mixed martial arts gym June 7, 2012, Wichita, Kan. Pina has developed his Jiu Jitsu skills through tr More