This is where every beginner mixed martial artist would love to be. Greg Nagy has been handed his dream just two fights into his professional career with a slot on tonight’s Showtime/Strikeforce card and he gets to face legendary football star Herschel Walker.
Nagy’s story is pretty similar to many other MMA beginners. Now based out of Phoenix, Nagy played high school football in New Jersey at East Brunswick High School. He played tight end and defensive. After school, his family relocated to Arizona and he hooked up with Rage In The Cage Training Centers. After just less two years of training and only two pro fights, Nagy was surprised to get a shot at fighting someone of Walker’s stature.
"It was a little bit surreal," Nagy on receiving the call to fight the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner. "I’m ready for the fight. I have the utmost confidence in my trainers."
Nagy said he got lucky because Walker’s trainer and former Strikeforce matchmaker Bob Cook knew RITC’s Roland Sarria, and the rest is history.
Nagy said his family has only seen him fight on tape.
"They’re all excited and supportive. No one told me I shouldn’t take the fight," said Nagy.
Nagy, who graduated high school in 2001, told Cagewriter that his favorite football player was Barry Sanders.