LAS VEGAS – Loud and clear, it was a household affair for Kurt Holobaugh as he received Saturday at UFC on ESPN 60.
As Holobaugh (21-8 MMA, 2-5 UFC) defeated Kaynan Kruschewsky (15-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) by unanimous choice on the UFC Apex, his spouse and two sons had been very audibly rooting him on.’
“I can positively hear them and that’s how they’re within the gymnasium once I’m sparring,” Holobaugh informed MMA Junkie and different reporters at a post-fight information convention Saturday. “My youngest son is all the time making an attempt to holler directions and to do spinning kicks and stuff like that. It’s all the time enjoyable, however I find it irresistible.”
Holobaugh mentioned it was the primary time his kids acquired to look at him combat within the promotion from cage-side, because the promotion lately carried out a brand new coverage the place every fighter will get 4 cage-side seats for his or her combat on the UFC Apex.
The household’s vitality stems from ardour for his or her father and husband, but in addition for the game. Holobaugh says his sons have been within the gymnasium since earlier than they may stroll – actually.
“Our youngest, that’s our four-year-old,” Holobaugh mentioned. “Me and my spouse each personal two blended martial arts gyms. From the very first day he was born, we went again to work. So we introduced his crib to the gymnasium. He’s within the gymnasium each single day. He’s been coaching jiu-jitsu since he might actually stroll. There are movies on the market of him coaching jiu-jitsu when he simply began strolling. He’s nonetheless coaching jiu-jitsu and competing everywhere in the world. He simply competed in Las Vegas a pair weeks in the past.”
UFC 292 Ceremonial Weigh-ins: Kurt Holobaugh’s sons shake arms with Dana White on stage in Boston.
Whereas Holobaugh is the primary of his surname to compete within the UFC, he will not be the final. Holobaugh’s 13-year-old son, Zayden, has already competed in eight youth MMA fights. His four-year-old son, Raiden, is a little bit of a TikTok sensation.
“All of my youngsters combat, even my 13-year-old. He has like eight fights contained in the cage already at 13 years outdated. However my four-year-old, being that he does plenty of competitions. We posted a video and it went viral. There have been fighters like Jon Jones and all the massive names commenting on it. So he went TikTok well-known. He’s acquired like 30,000 followers on TikTok that each one observe his journey as nicely. That is simply one other massive a part of his journey and it’s superb.”
It’s nonetheless years out from one other Holobaugh probably stepping foot contained in the UFC. So for now, Holobaugh goals to maintain making his kids the cool youngsters in school.
“I feel it’s particular,” Holobaugh mentioned. “It’s as soon as in a lifetime alternatives for youths to do this. I really feel like because of this I like doing what I achieve this a lot. It’s due to my youngsters. I really feel like they get to be the cool youngsters in school. They get to go to high school and say, ‘Hey, my dad is within the UFC, or, ‘My dad simply received ‘The Final Fighter.’ He fights on TV.’ Now, my youngsters get to really come and watch a UFC occasion cageside, principally. What number of youngsters at their faculty want they may even go to a UFC occasion. I really feel like we’re so blessed with these alternatives.”
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