I remember telling my dad when I was a little kid watching the original UFC’s that I was going to do that someday…he laughed me off back then.”

Rob ArnettFor Rob “No Leftovers” Arnett, wrestling was his first avenue for athletic competition but he since has decided to jump on the mixed martial arts freeway.

The 2005 graduate of Greenwood High School and 2010 Wabash College graduate has wrestled since his freshman year at Greenwood. But after becoming a fan of UFC at a young age, Arnett wanted an opportunity in that sport.

“I’ve wanted to get into MMA for a long time,” Arnett said. “I remember telling my dad when I was a little kid watching the original UFC’s that I was going to do that someday…he laughed me off back then.”

After successful wrestling careers at Greenwood and Wabash College (100-56), Arnett saw a chance to enter his favorite sport.

“Through wrestling, I had a friend who told me about his participation in it, so I jumped at the opportunity to get on a card,” said Arnett, who is 5th in all-time career wins in Wabash history.

Upon breaking into the sport, the 250-pounder has won each five of his amateur fights. Four of the victories have come via TKO and the other by knockout. After the early success, it was time to see what he could do on the pro level.

“I have been wanting to be on the pro side of things for a while, even though I probably wasn’t ready, but couldn’t due to collegiate wrestling,” Arnett said. “In my last fight I ate some punches and didn’t fade away from the fight at all. I responded exactly how I hoped I would and finished the fight. It was time for me to make the jump.”

The wrestler-turned-MMA fighter will be making his professional debut this Friday against Harley “The Headhunter” Hiner (1-1), a 6-foot-2, 260 pounder.

“He probably did a little bit of research and knows I’m a wrestler, so I expect him to be prepared to try and stuff takedown attempts,” Arnett said. “He looks to be a tough guy and I’m certainly not taking him lightly. I’ll get a better feel for what he is all about after I start hitting him.”

Anthony Ferguson, who has worked as a fighter, trainer, corner man, gym owner and promoter, is Arnett’s uncle and MMA mentor. Ferguson has experience training and coaching with UFC veterans Chris Lytle, Ian Freeman and Jason Godsey.

Ferguson has seen Arnett transform from a wrestler to an MMA fighter in just a short span of a few years. But he continues to help him grow and improve.

“I have opened Robert’s eyes that learning to be a MMA fighter is a lifelong process and you never stop learning,” Ferguson said. “At first he was just a very good wrestler. Now he is starting to develop into a complete MMA fighter with striking, submissions and wrestling.”

Because of his background, Arnett will look to his wrestling skills to help him win fights in MMA.

“It is the martial art that you can impose your will on any opponent with the greatest success,” Arnett said. “It goes a long way to determine positioning and positioning often determines who is going to win a fight.”

With all of the different skill sets required to be successful in MMA, wrestling is one of the most important.