Recreation: Fighters set their ETA for UFC

FORMER PREP ATHLETES GLASS,

WICKER HAVE SIGHTS SET

ON PRO MMA CIRCUITS

BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

Brett Glass was an all-Northern Region wrestler at Lorton’s South County High School.

But after graduating in 2008, Glass didn’t pursue the sport in college. Instead, he began charting a path toward the Ultimate Fighting Circuit.

After graduation, Glass moved to Stafford County to train in mixed martial arts. He completed an amateur career with a 6–0 record (five knockouts), so he recently announced his intention to compete on the professional level.

His first pro fight will be in October. One of his trainers said Glass could become the first fighter from the Fredericksburg area to break through to UFC.

“He’s got all the skills to become a great fighter,” said Marc Deutel, who trains Glass at The Cave, in a warehouse off of State Route 17 in Stafford. “I expect him to be in the UFC in the next two to three years.”

Deutel said the UFC is the “granddaddy” of all the professional circuits. But Glass will have to start at a lower level and work his way up.

His training partner, Jeremy Wicker, is doing the same.

Wicker is a former football standout at North Stafford High School. He played wide receiver at Norfolk State University and graduated in 2011 with a degree in business management.

He works at Quantico Marine Corps Base at night. By day, he trains with Glass, Deutel and Matt Douglas.

“It’s the competition,” Wicker said of what motivated him to take up fighting after his football career ended. “You don’t want to get beat, just like in football, you don’t want that defensive back to lock you down with everybody watching.”

Wicker has a 2–1 amateur record. He will fight for a championship on June 30 at Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. His goal is to turn professional soon afterward.

“Jeremy is another phenomenal athlete,” Deutel said. “He’s a Muay Thai fighter that has turned himself into an MMA fighter.”

Muay Thai is a combat sport that focuses on stand-up striking. It originated in Thailand.

Wicker said he was enrolled in Norfolk State when he noticed a business that taught Muay Thai classes. Instructors allowed Wicker to train free of charge, and he fell in love with the thrill of fighting.

Douglas said the different backgrounds of Glass and Wicker, who both fight in the 170-pound weight class, make them ideal training partners.

Wicker excels in stand-up fighting, while Glass is at his best when wrestling.

“The both of them together,” Douglas said, “is a unique combination.”

Glass will train for four weeks at the Tap-Out Ranch in Albuquerque, N.M., beginning June 5. When he completes training, he will return home to focus on his first professional bout.

He said while amateurs can turn pro whenever they want, he plotted his path strategically.

“I wanted to be as prepared as I could be,” Glass said. “And I feel like I am.”

Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526

tcoghill@freelancestar.com

Permalink: http://news.fredericksburg.com/sports/2012/05/03/recreation-fighters-set-their-eta-for-ufc/