Light finds success with MMA career

Zach Light has carved his niche into the professional sports world.

The Lisbon two-time state champion parlayed his wrestling background and physical nature into a successful career in Mixed Martial Arts, becoming one of the top trainers in the sport.

Light's skill will be on display as a fighter, however, when he faces unbeaten welterweight Tyron Woodley in a Strikeforce Challengers Series event Friday night in Tulsa, Okla. The card begins at 7 p.m. and five of the fights will be televised on Showtime.

Light, a member of the heralded wrestling family from Lisbon, has become renown for training some of the top names in UFC. They include champions like Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Michael Bisping, Cheick Kongo and Razor Rob McCullough.

“My success came as a trainer and corner man,” said Light, who enters the fight with a 6-8 record. “That's what made it for me. I feel blessed. I wanted to stay in the sport so bad that I would do anything.”

Light's road to glory has had its share of bumps. He built a reputation as a troublemaker, getting into trouble with the law as early as his senior year in high school.

After he was an All-American at Ellsworth Community College and his wrestling days over, things, especially fighting, became worse.

“I thought athletically that was it for me,” said Light. “I think that kind of upset and started driving me in the wrong direction.”

Light, now billed as the “Lisbon Outlaw”, left his home and relocated to California about 14 years ago. He still lives in Huntington Beach, Calif.

While watching a fight on television, Light said he put his beer can down and proclaimed he'd embark on an MMA career. He started working out the very next day, finding a club to combat with soon after which led to him meeting up with UFC star Tito Ortiz.

“I knew it was for me,” Light said. “That's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Ultimate fighting helped Light straighten out his life. It gave him an avenue for his aggressiveness and competitiveness and he's excelled.

“It changed my whole life,” Light said. “I get so much more respect than I ever got because of that. I'm considered a down-to-earth, legitimate guy.

“It's that Iowa work ethic that I have inside me that makes me who I am here.”

Watch Light's old interview while at Rampage's camp about his experience in Asia and his plans for The Ultimate Fighter reality show.

Light, 5-foot-8, 170 pounds, always had a tendency to be rough, during childhood quarrels with his brothers, Shane and Ike, and bouts on the mat.

“Zach was the more physical kid,” said Rudy Light, Zach's father. “He liked to pound on (opponents). After he got older, he'd get in fights and that's what he liked to do.”

Fighting and training allows Light to do something he loves on his own terms, visiting at least five other countries. He spends a lot of time training fighters in England. Rudy Light compared him to a movie star, associating with the most famous of UFC fighters.

“It's awesome,” said Rudy Light, who chartered a bus with about 60 people to Zach's first MMA fight in Waterloo. “It's made a life for him now. I'm very proud of what he does and he's followed a dream that he's always had.

“It's great for him,”

Rudy Light provided much of the inspiration for his son, who praised his dad. The fight has a family theme with Shane and Ike in attendance, likely escorting Zach to the cage.

It's the first time all three have been reunited for a competition since they combined to win nine state titles.

“That's one of the best feelings about this fight,” Light said. “It's going to be a big motivating factor for me too. Having both of them there with me I'm going to fight my (butt) off.”

Light will have his hands full with Woodley (5-0), a two-time All-American wrestler at the University of Missouri. Woodley placed eight in 2003 and seventh in 2005 at 165 pounds for the Tigers, and he's generated a lot of buzz early in his MMA career.

“I've never been more physically prepared for a fight,” Light said. “Mentally, I'm definitely where I need to be. I'm as confident as ever.

“I'm pretty excited for the fight.”

Former University of Iowa All-American Paul Bradley also will be on the card in a nontelevised bout.

Bradley (10-1) will face Levi Avera (12-5) in a three-round match at 170 pounds.