The year in Fight Path, Part 2: Gymnast, ex-drug dealer, chef, world-traveler and more

The year 2013 was the fifth during which we have produced our weekly column on prospects, up-and-comers and unique characters in the MMA world, which we call Fight Path. As we have in past years, we’re reviewing our subjects from 2013.

The series concludes today (check out Part 1). Here, we have the highlights from July through December:

July 11: Miriam Nakamoto

Many fighters who have appeared in this column faced family questions or misunderstanding. That includes Nakamoto, whose family saw a burgeoning interest in martial arts and thought they could help with gifts: Billy Blanks workout videos.

“I told them, ‘You’re not seeing who I am,’” the Invicta FC fighter said. “I said, ‘I wanna do muay Thai, and this is what you got me?’”

She went 1-1 after that interview and stands 2-1 as a pro.

July 25: Mike Davis

Another common theme that has often shown itself is a strong support system for fighters. That’s the case for Davis, a premier flyweight whose brother has been a major help to him.

That included reminding him, years after their backyard battles, that he loved fighting when they saw each other after about a year at their sister’s wedding.

“He just attacked me,” the Canadian fighter said. “I hadn’t seen my brother in about a year, and that’s just what we did with each other.

Aug. 2: Brandon Hempleman

MMA requires agility and strength. Hempleman went a route to gain them that not many have taken: world-class gymnastics.

From a young age, he was dedicated to the sport, and he even represented the U.S. on a world level before he was a teenager. He has since gone 9-2 as an MMA pro, though he lost his only fight of 2013.

Aug. 22: Walter Gahadza

Gahadza has made a habit of finishing his MMA fights quickly, as 11 of his 13 victories on his undefeated record have come in the first round. That’s a habit he started early as he trained to be a high-level sprinter with quick starts.

That has certainly matched his MMA career.

“Everything came around working to finish at that line first,” said the fighter, who went 3-0 in 2013. “That meant getting off to good starts, so that’s what I do. I fight to finish fights.”

Sept. 5: Victor Henry

Because this column focuses on many younger fighters, the stories are filled with instances of older, more experienced veterans reaching out to help the up-and-comers. Henry’s life changed one day when he got a call from Josh Barnett inviting him to train.

“I looked at it like he saw something in me, because he didn’t call everybody when the team fell apart; he called me,” Henry said. “It was exactly what I needed.”

Still undefeated, Henry won three times in 2013 to improve to 6-0.

Sept. 12: Ozzy Dugulubgov

Growing up in Russia, Dugulubgov (pictured above) heard bedtime stories of warriors and fighters. But they weren’t just make-believe; they were the stories passed down among his people, the Circassians. They consider themselves the true natives of Russia, and they’re known as fighters.

He has made good use of the DNA, improving to 5-1 in 2013 with two WSOF victories.

Oct. 11: Lee Morrison

Morrison is from Okanogan, Wash. That’s not usually a prerequisite for being a world traveler, but MMA has made it possible for Morrison, who signed a contract with M-1 Global and won his debut with a split-decision victory in October to improve to 13-3.

Many of these younger fighters face big decisions with their contracts, and Morrison was among them.

“The way I look at it, I’m 28, and after two years and six fights (with M-1), I’ll be even more seasoned,” he said. “I’ll be as prepared as I could be, so I’m not worried about that. I’m focusing on the goal right now, which is to win fights, and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Oct. 18: Mehdi Baghdad

Most younger fighters are searching out some publicity so their name gets known.

Baghdad was different. He pleaded for people to take down YouTube videos of his fights because he said they were keeping him from finding future opponents.

“It’s on YouTube, and people Google me, and no one will fight me,” Baghdad said. “I can’t understand.”

He was indeed able to fight again in 2013, winning to improve to 9-3.

Oct. 31: Eryk Anders

Anders has been on plenty of big stages, as he played football at Alabama and has a national championship on his resume.

“(From head coach Nick Saban) I learned film study and how to prepare,” he said. “But in being one of the hardest workers in the gym, I got that from my father. From a young age, he told me I wouldn’t be the biggest, the strongest or the fastest, but I could control how hard I worked.”

Nov. 15: Benny Madrid

Madrid was once making bundles of money by selling drugs, but the murder of a close family member prompted him to leave that life. That meant much less money (especially while trying to take care of his children), but it also meant he could channel his aggression in other ways.

“A lot of people thought it was for me,” he said of the bullet that killed his family member. “For like a month, I didn’t leave the house. I didn’t shower. I didn’t do anything. I was used to seeing him every morning. Before that, I guess I didn’t know what love really felt like. Then he was gone. That changed things for me.”

Madrid is 7-1 as a lightweight.

Nov. 28: Charles Rosa

Not only did Rosa learn his early fighting passion and techniques from hockey locker room fights in Massachusetts, he gained another passion as the years went on in the form of culinary arts.

He sacrificed both passions to enter fighting, using his athletic skills differently and moving to another part of the kitchen at the five-star steakhouse where he works to protect his hands.

“I can do a great chicken parmesan, with the sauce from scratch and the chicken just perfect,” he said. “I love doing it.”

Rosa won five times in 2013, and he is 6-0 as a pro welterweight.

Dec. 19: Ricky Legere

Legere grew up in a house with a father who was constantly in the gym, eating right and competing in bodybuilding competitions. His mother was involved too, appearing in some bodybuilding magazines.

Even though he wasn’t involved in that world himself, his father remains one of his closest confidants when he needs to cut weight.

That has helped Legere go 18-4 as a pro, including three wins in 2013.

Award-winning newspaper reporter Kyle Nagel pens “Fight Path” each week. The column focuses on the circumstances that led fighters to a profession in MMA. Know a fighter with an interesting story? Email us at news [at] mmajunkie.com.