A Drumheller native is taking a swing at the popular sport of mixed martial arts. Andrew Kloot has recently stepped into the ring and came out the victor.
On Saturday, April 14, Kloot travelled to Trail, British Columbia, for his first MMA fight.
“I was extremely nervous. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions the day before a fight. You don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s something you have to work through and prepare for,” said Kloot. “I wasn’t worried about getting hurt. I was worried about letting my coach and family down.”
The match was decided in one minute and one second, with Kloot winning using a triangle choke hold. Kloot received four stitches over his eye after the fight.
“The bell rang and I came out swinging. I didn’t mean to do that, I wanted to focus on clean striking. I kept swinging for the fences and then my opponent was forced to take me down. From there, I used my jujitsu to get him in a triangle choke and choked him out,” explained Kloot.
Matches are decided on a points system based on landed hits, control of the other fighter, and aggressiveness.
Kloot’s parents made the trek to see their son’s first official fight.
“My dad is excited for me, he loves it, but my mom is not the biggest fan,” said Kloot.
Kloot first got interested in MMA after watching the sport on TV and began to pursue it while attending Mount Royal University in Calgary.
“Basically, I used to watch it on TV and was always interested in giving it a try,” said Kloot. “When I came to Mount Royal, I took kicking boxing classes and then a MMA club started.”
There, Kloot learned the basic skills in MMA and kick boxing. He was then told of Brian Daniel Bird, a MMA coach, and decided to take things a step further. Now, Kloot trains at Champions Creed.
Aside from interesting, the sport has a fitness aspect.
“The sport is a great way to stay in shape, people like it just for that reason,” said Kloot.
Prior to going to Mount Royal, Kloot had done little martial arts, citing only taking a little karate when he was a child.
When he was a bit older Kloot played football at Drumheller Composite High School and minor hockey for four years.
Not only does Kloot do MMA, he has been active in both kickboxing and jujitsu circles. Kloot participated in two kickboxing circles and won one gold and a silver. In five jujitsu tournaments, Kloot won four golds and a silver.
He hasn’t scheduled another fight yet, but hopes to do another by the end of the year. Kloot is hoping to one day go professional.
“I would eventually like to go professional, not necessarily as a career, but to step up with the competition,” said Kloot. “I’d like to get one or two pro fights in before I hang the gloves up.”
