By TXMMA Staff | Photos by Mike Calimbas (Texas MMA Photographer)
“Small town kid from Idaho” banking on blue collar work ethic to carry him through in LFC 24 main event
Looking at this LFC 24 main event fight, there are some similarities between the two combatants. Both are ground specialists with the wrestling-raised Chris Feist going up against the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist in Carlos Diego Ferreira. Another thing they have in common is that they’re both the type of pros that prefer to let their performances talk for them without adding any unnecessary fuel to the fire. And with the UFC conceivably on the horizon for either or both men, they’re both definitely chasing that dream.
“I’m just a small town country kid from Idaho,” said Chris Feist to TXMMA in describing himself for this article. Now living in Arlington, he would go on to say he loves the outdoors and is an avid hunter. He has a little brother serving in the US armed forces, which he’s proud of, and he also says he’s a fan of working hard.”
It’s fair to say he’s a “salt of the earth” type of guy looking to succeed in a tough sport using his blue collar work ethic.
A state champion wrestler at Sandpoint High School who also went on to wrestle in college at Portland State, Feist went on to join his high school teammate Jake Rosholt to Team Takedown which also based in Arlington. It’s there at that facility that he trains with the Rosholt brothers, Jake and Jared Rosholt, along with UFC vets Shane Roller and Johny Hendricks. The crew is trained by a prominent coach in Marc Laimon and expectations always run high.
“My goals are to be a UFC and compete at the highest level. I’m training hard and smart and I’m fighting to see how far I can push myself. I feel I left some chips on the table as far as my wrestling career went and I won’t let that happen again.”
Regarding the fight with Carlos Diego Ferreira, one would assume that Chris might be training specifically for the BJJ black belt’s ground strengths but that’s not necessarily the case. Chris respects his opponent but as far as he’s concerned, he’s training for it just like it’s any other fight.
“I think it’s (Carlos Diego Ferreira) a great match up and I couldn’t have asked for a better opponent for both myself and for the fans to see but I never really specifically game plan for my opponents as they are always changing and improving as well. My coaches tell me strengths and weaknesses of opponents so I’m aware of those but I’d rather focus on my skill set than theirs. Once we step into the cage he’s just the guy on the other side of the cage that’s trying to hit me. Whatever I need to do to get my hand raised is fine by me.”
“Thanks to the fans for coming to support us on October 11th and thanks to Team Takedown for allowing me to chase my dream!”