Grey gearing up for MMA worlds
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Photo Courtesy of Catherine Gentile
Growing up in Strathmore, Grey played soccer as a kid and grew into more physical sports like lacrosse and rugby at an older age.
But when Grey stepped in the octagon for the first time two years ago, he had no idea how far he could take it.
“It’s pretty crazy to think that I’ve come this far,” said Grey, a mixed martial artist. “I just wanted to try something different and I fell in love with it.”
Grey got hooked to the relatively new sport after tuning in to a couple of Ultimate Fighting Championship cards.
Eventually, he turned off the TV and made his way to the Dynamic Martial Arts gym in Calgary, where he began training. After eight months working on his technique, Grey began fighting someone other than his usual sparring partner.
Eight fights later with a 4-4 record, Grey entered the Canadian National Championships at the Canadian Combat Alliance in Lethbridge April 11 to 13.
Along with competing for a national title, two berths for the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation world championship were on the line.
Grey had to slug his way through six other competitors in the 145-pound featherweight division over two days.
Reaching the final and earning a trip to worlds, Grey sustained the biggest injury of his MMA career.
Blocking a kick in the second round, Grey’s forearm cracked and forced him to retire from the fight.
“Justin is one of the toughest kids I know. He beat guys in Lethbridge who had much better records than him and he’s been beat up a couple times, but he managed to pull through because of his heart and how tough he is,” said Dynamic Coach Vince Gentile. “You can’t teach stuff like that.”
A plane ticket to Bahrain, a small country in the Middle East, and a trip to worlds helped soothed the pain.
“It’s going to be pretty amazing representing your country. Last year there were 250 fighters at the tournament from 51 different countries. It’s going to be quite the experience,” said the 24-year-old Grey. “It was kind of overwhelming and it didn’t hit me at first, but then a day or so went by and I got pretty excited for the trip.”
Despite being on the national team, Grey’s trip will be entirely funded on his own, which is why he has started selling shirts and is looking for sponsors to help get him to the Middle East. For anyone looking to help Grey get to the tournament, he can be contacted through Facebook.
In the meantime, Grey is fully healthy now and training heavily at Dynamic in Calgary in preparation.
“That’s the other thing about Justin, he’s one of the hardest working kids I know,” said Gentile. “With other kids, you tell them a drill or a technique and they only practice it a few times. Justin works at it until he has it done perfectly and until he can repeat it.”
The international championship kicks off Nov. 11 and runs for seven days. Depending on how Grey does, he could wind up fighting five times.
The tournament is single elimination, and with the whole world converging for the belt, the draw could be very stacked.
“It’s going to be an unbelievable experience. It’s going to be difficult, but I’ll see how it goes,” said Grey. “I can’t even imagine being called a world champion. That would be so crazy.”
Still in the amateur ranks, showing well at this tournament could do wonders and help grow Grey into the professional ranks and help pursue his new passion.