By JACK PALMER
palmer@crescent-news.com
Strong. Athletic. Aggressive. Focused.
That's Luke Zachrich, one of the rising young stars of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), more commonly known as "Ultimate Fighting."
"My goal is to be world champion," said the former Defiance resident and 2000 Bryan High School graduate. "It's what I'm working toward -- every day."
In the meantime, he's not opposed to getting his name out on national television.
Zachrich was recently selected for the immensely popular reality television series "The Ultimate Fighter," which opens a new season Wednesday at 10 p.m. on the Spike TV network.
"I see this reality show as the first step toward my goal," he said. "I don't want it to be my '15 seconds of fame.' Being on the show is great, but I want to learn and grow. I want to be the champion."
Zachrich is prohibited by contract from discussing specifics of the new series (taping was completed in early March in Las Vegas), which involves a group of top-flight UFC fighters who reside in a house together. The athletes spend each day training in the different styles of MMA including boxing, Muay Thai (kick boxing) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, plus weight training and conditioning.
Two fighters will be eliminated each Wednesday night until only two cast members remain. The final duo will fight June 21 in Las Vegas in a bout carried live by Spike TV, with the winner receiving a $100,000 UFC contract.
"I've worked my butt off since I got into this sport in 2005," said Zachrich, who currently trains out of the Jorge Gurgel MMA Academy outside of Cincinnati. "I train six days a week and teach MMA classes, which blend in well with my training."
Zachrich, 26, is the son of former Defiance residents Jon and Jan Zachrich, now of Hilton Head, S.C., and Clear Lake, Ind. He attended Ayersville Local Schools through seventh grade before moving to Bryan. He was an all-state linebacker for the Golden Bears and also excelled in track and field.
An injury ended his dream of playing college football, but Zachrich stayed in college and graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2005.
"Shortly after graduation I moved back to Defiance and began working out with Dave Morris, who got me started on Mixed Martial Arts," recalled Zachrich. "I never had any boxing or wrestling experience, so this was something totally new."
Morris, a MMA veteran, quickly saw Zachrich's potential.
"Luke was raw, but he was so athletic and strong," said Morris. "I knew he had the right work ethic, too. He's one of those guys who works hard on his own without someone telling him what to do."
Morris introduced Zachrich to the legendary Dan Severn, a former Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestler who became an early UFC champion in the mid-1990s.
"I spent that first year training and fighting and literally living out of Dan's gym in Coldwater, Mich.," said Zachrich. "That's where I learned the basics of Mixed Martial Arts."
Zachrich became a quick learner. Since turning pro two years ago, he has fought throughout the Midwest in organizations such as King of the Cage, Fightfest, and the Illinois-based Xtreme Fighting Organization. His current pro record is a sparkling 9-1.
"The most impressive thing to me is the way Luke picked everything up so fast," said Morris. "I've been to three or four of his fights and worked his corner. He's always been aggressive, but he's got more skills now.
"To come as far as he has in two years is amazing," added Morris. "It really makes me proud to see someone coming from a small town to where he's at today."
Zachrich, who is 6-2 and weighs 185, has also spent time in Las Vegas working under legendary Muay Thai instructor Master Toddy. Currently, Zachrich is the training partner for three-time UFC world champion Rich Franklin of Cincinnati.
"Rich is 33 and he's still fighting," said Zachrich. "Since I didn't really start this until I was older, my body hasn't taken the abuse as other guys my age. I think I can keep doing this into my early 40s, if not longer."
The UFC is comprised of five divisions: lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. Zachrich competes as a middleweight. In contrast, there 17 recognized weight divisions in boxing.
"It's much tougher than boxing to be a world champion because there are only five divisions," he stated. "But knowing that it's tough makes me want to work even harder."
Zachrich was recently signed by Monte Cox, the top promoter/agent of MMA fighters, who calls his stable "Team Extreme." Team Extreme has produced seven UFC world champions.
"No matter what happens with this reality show, Luke's name is going to get out and he's going to get better," said Morris. "If he keeps doing what's he's doing, there's no doubt in my mind he can be UFC world champion."
Zachrich, in turn, praised Morris for introducing him to MMA and serving as his first coach, and lauded Severn for being his first trainer. He also gave credit to Jorge Gurgel, his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coach and Paul Bowers, his Muay Thai coach.
"Those guys got me where I'm at today," said Zachrich. "I can't thank them enough."