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Jake O'Brien

With three wins at heavyweight, including one over longtime contender Heath Herring, it was clear that former Purdue wrestler “Irish” Jake O’Brien was on his way to big things in the Octagon. But despite this success, surgery for a ‘stinger’ and two setbacks against Andrei Arlovski and Cain Velasquez prompted him to drop to his optimum weight of 205 pounds, and a win over Christian Wellisch got him off to a good start.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I’ve wanted to fight in the UFC since I was 12, 13 years old. I haven’t missed a UFC fight since then. I wrestled my whole life and I’ve known for a long time that fighting is what I’ve wanted to do. I started doing jiu-jitsu and boxing when I was about 18.

What ranks and titles have you held? United Fight League champion, winner of the Chicago NAGA grappling event, second place at the Arnolds grappling tournament, Three-time State champion in high school wrestling.

Do you have any heroes? None

What is your favorite technique? Double leg takedown

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? My whole life, probably my biggest dream is to fight in the UFC. Everything I’ve done, I’ve always had that in the back of my mind. That’s what all the hard work was for.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Wrestled at Purdue for two years.

What was your job before you started fighting? Just got out of school and went straight to fighting.