Most NOVA graduates eventually work in such areas as in offices, in selling, as nurses or perhaps in an auto shop. Not Kris “Savage” McCray, 28, who smashes bodies and bangs heads in a cage ring in mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts includes striking and grappling techniques and appears to be a combination of boxing, wrestling, kick boxing, and jiu-jitsu. MMA fighting has become popular on network and cable television, such as on Spike TV, and on pay telecasts.

McCray was born the middle brother in a career Army family and is of a diverse background, including Caucasian, African-American, Mexican, Russian and Austrian origins. He has always excelled in athletics and enjoyed bodily contact activities. He was brought up in Germany, where he played soccer, football and basketball. McCray wrestled for three years in high school and studied kick boxing, karate, and tae kwon do.

Growing up, he enjoyed watching fighting shows and trying the latest techniques on his two brothers. His brothers, however, did not give in easily, especially the oldest, who grew to be 6 foot 5 inches tall and 230 pounds heavy.

His family returned to the U.S. in 1998 upon his father’s retirement, and McCray wrestled during his senior year at Woodbridge High School. He enjoyed a good relationship with the long-time wrestling coach and assisted with the Woodbridge wrestling team in its training and practices, including learning new holds and conditioning, and with competitor advice during matches over the next five years.

After graduation, McCray held a number of jobs, including working on a military security contract and as a bouncer and a butcher.

He attended classes at the Woodbridge campus from 2001 to–2004 and came close to receiving a degree in General Studies, with biology being his favorite class.

He also joined the active Army Reserves, where he received his nickname “Savage” for the ferocity with which he attacked his duties, like digging foxholes, while in training.

Continuing his interest in combat sports, he studied jiu-jitsu while also instructing at Gold Medal Grappling in Woodbridge, an affiliate of the Lloyd Irvin Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness Academy.

His work there helped spark his interest in mixed martial arts, and he began fighting amateur MMA competitions all over Virginia in 2007 and 2008, compiling a perfect 9-0 record.

McCray then moved up to professional bouts, with his first fight in October 2008 in the Ultimate Warrior Challenge series. His first four fights were in that series, often staged at GMU’s Patriot Center. He has won all five of his pro fights, the last one in November 2009, all in the first round and four by submission holds when the opponent gave in when locked in an untenable hold, such as the rear-naked choke or the shoulder lock hold.

With his successes, McCray tried out for The Ultimate Fighter 9 and 10 challenge series, which appear on Spike TV, but it turned out he was not in the desired weight classes.

Finally, TUF 11 tryout was for the middleweight class he was in. He was selected and won his preliminary bout in Las Vegas to progress to the final 14 fighters and is on Team Ortiz.

The fighters go through an elimination tournament, with the winner receiving an Ultimate Fighters Challenge contract as well as a cash prize. The fights, which began airing March 31, are shown in one-hour segments on Spike TV at 10 p.m. on Wednesdays.

McCray lost his first fight in TUF 11 on a third-round decision, but was given new life when he was chosen as one of two wild cards who will fight for a chance to reach the quarterfinals.

In that fight, he won after one minute of the second round when he forced his opponent to submit with a wrestling hold.

Wrestling appears to be McCray’s strong point. After the win, McCray explained, “It’s good, you know? A lot of people, when they get second chances, they perform like they did the first time around. And I wanted to show at least a change in my performance. And that’s what I did.”

With the win, McCray moves to the quarterfinals. He was selected to fight in the third bout, which appeared on Spike TV June 9.

Though the MMA bouts appear to be very violent, the generally soft-spoken McCray said that he has never seriously hurt anyone. He said the lesser fighting time compared to boxing decreases the chances for serious injuries, as the competitors fight three five-minute rounds. Also, the referee can stop any fight when a fighter appears unable to defend himself or is injured badly, and a fighter himself can retire if he is caught in a submission hold.

McCray now trains full-time at the Lloyd Irvin Academy in Camp Springs, Md., where his lives in a fighter-occupied house. He trains three times a day for two hours each and twice on Saturdays. He plans to fight every several months, but only against quality fighters whose defeat would move his career along. He is under contract to the UFC, which pays him a certain salary and rewards him further for victories.

In his spare time on Sundays, he enjoys visiting his family in Woodbridge, where the competitive family often engages in badminton. He has a daughter, Octavia, 15.

McCray’s father is very supportive of his career, and his mother hopes that he keeps his pretty face intact.

Looking at his future, now that he has progressed to a profession he truly loves, McCray hopes to fight into his 30s and then perhaps become an athletic director or sports teacher.

Though McCray can only fight in UFC events, he made a guest appearance at UWC 8 Judgement Day extreme cage fighting event at the Patriot Center on May 22, where he signed autographs. The event, part of a series which takes place every several months, included fighters such as “The Hulk,” “The Magician,” “The Choir Boy,” “The Mountain Man” and “The Butcher.”

information on these events is available on UWCMMA.com and www.Facebook.com/UWCMMA.

By: Arch Scurlock

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