“I want to take is as far as I can take it and that means the UFC,” says Quaint, who very nearly fast-tracked himself into the big leagues through the Ultimate Fighter tryouts held in New Jersey this past March. Together with fellow Texas fighters Jason Sampson, Johnny Bedford, Daniel Pineda, Steve Garcia, and others, Kempf traveled up to Jersey for a shot to get on the reality show.
“There were a lot of big names there,” said Quaint. “Guys like Wagnney Fabiano, Micah Miller, plenty of veteran big-name fighters, guys with big jacked-up ears. For the first round they (Dana White and Joe Silva) called your name out of a huge random group of guys and you’d hit the mat, start on your knees, and grapple for the first round. I was just praying I didn’t get some scary black belt from Brazil or something, you know… Then it turns out they called this guys’ name and its some Brazilian with messed up ears and I was just like, ‘okay man, let’s do it…” Then I went out there and demolished the guy. I stayed on top of it, was real explosive.”
Going through the following round of pad work and network interviews with SPIKE executives, Kempf made a compelling case to get on the TUF show, fashioning himself as a marketable, outgoing fighter with the appearance and made-for-television story as a part-time hairdresser and full-time father in addition to trying to make it as an MMA fighter.
“I made it all the way to Vegas,” says Quaint, who went through the licensing process, the blood work, and all the prerequisites to get on the show prior to the call that told him he didn’t quite make it at the last minute.
Going through the agony of getting so close to the UFC only to be turned back, this fighter says he’s not about to quit now and will stop at nothing to get to the point of being able to support his wife and young son through his fighting career.
Quaint “KO” Kempf (3-1) will continue his fighting career against Marcus Baldivia at tomorrow night’s “Battle in the Panhandle: Amarillo vs. Dallas” event in Amarillo.
Stay tuned for more on Quaint’s story here on TXMMA.com as we watch his career unfold.
Acknowledgements
“Thanks to my whole team and our coaches Bruno Bastos and Sayif Saud at Octagon MMA. We bust our butts every day. Also thanks to my sponsors, I’m going to be sporting some new shorts at my fight. I believe I’ll be the first fighter rocking shorts supporting deer ranches and I’m proud to represent J Whitetails, Brown Whitetails, Highrollers Whitetails, and Madeira Donuts Ranch. Also thanks to Nutrasoft and a very special thanks to my aunt and uncle who sponsor me. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do so I’m very thankful for my family.
For the fans, I always bring a big fan base to every fight and I really appreciate you guys always coming out and supporting. You may not know it but that’s what keeps the promoters wanting me on their cards. You guys are the ones that make a difference so I hope I can put on a good show for all of you in Amarillo! – Quaint Kempf
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