Nick Smiley
Nick Smiley

Hello friends, family and fans of the great MMA world!

My name is Nick Smiley. For those of you who don’t know who I am, I’m a heavyweight pro from the little town of Ellabell, Georgia, a speck on the map between Savannah and Statesboro.

I got my start in combat sports in 2001 through ToughMan competitions and amateur boxing. Fast forward through years of trouble with law, drug abuse and generally just being a liability to society, I found the sport of MMA in 2005 while in Las Vegas with my older brother, Justin Smiley, a National Football League lineman from 2004 to 2011.

Through sheer dumb-luck, I was able to watch Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin fight in the first The Ultimate Fighter finale and was absolutely mesmerized. But it would take another two years before I could actually get into the sport myself.
When I did, oh boy — I was hooked!

After a really good amateur career, starting in 2007, I went on to win an ISKA United States kickboxing title in 2009. After much interest from promoters, I decided to turn pro in February of 2010. I then signed on with Rory Singer of Mammoth Sports & Entertainment and began my professional career.

I went 1-2 in my first three fights, but was able to fight in the M-1 Challenge in Atlantic City, which was a great experience in itself. After a full, solid camp at The Hardcore Gym in Athens, Georgia, I won my fourth fight versus Joe Johnson at AOF9, which aired on Fox Sports South.

I’ve gone 5-0 since then, while winning two professional titles (Georgia Fighters Champion Title in 2010 and Conflict Promotions Heavyweight Title last year).

I’m currently preparing to defend my Conflict title on April 26 in Savannah, Georgia at the Civic Center.

This is a weekly blog chronicling my training and weekly activities leading up to the fight. Sit back, strap in, and hold on — it’s about to get crazy, as I take you through the fast-paced, hard-nosed training of a regional pro in MMA!
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