Chris Cariaso

TRAINER: As always, I am training at home at my gym Rise Combat Sports in Tucson, AZ. But I am doing a bit of traveling for this fight as well. I am training with my Muay Thai coach Neungsiam Samphusri in San Francisco at Fight and Fitness gym. For my grappling I am training with Alexander Crispim at CrispimBJJ, and helping me put everything together is my longtime MMA coach and training partner Darren Uyenoyama from FTCC. My main sparring partners are Anthony Birchak, the fight teams at Fight and Fitness, Rise Combat Sports, CrispimBJJ and FTCC. I also worked at Tristar Gym in Montreal.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I have been in martial arts since I was five. I saw some Bruce Lee films and I wanted to do what he was doing. When I was 11, I started training Muay Thai, and a few months later I had my first fight. Since then I have been hooked. I want to be the best that I can be.

What ranks and titles have you held? I have been the IKF US SanShou Champion, ISKA California Champion, SF Golden Gloves Champion. The Current ICSF MMA World Champion.

Do you have any heroes? Muhammad Ali is my all time hero. 

What is your favorite technique? My favorite technique is the kick to the leg.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Fighting in the UFC is a dream of mine. I didn’t think that I would be able to do it in my career. I am definitely going to make my family and the UFC proud.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I never went to college. I learned business by working for the late Alex Gong and now I own one of the top Muay Thai gyms in the nation. I didn’t need to go to college. I have always known what I wanted to do and I have never doubted my decision.

What was your job before you started fighting? The only job that I have ever had (since 16) was teaching Muay Thai and working in gyms.