Anthony "Bubba" Norton: Buffalo NY Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing & Women's Fitness Member Feature

This weeks featured fighter from WNY MMA & Fitness is ANTHONY "BUBBA" NORTON

Buffalo NY Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing & Women's Fitness Member Feature

November 1, 2013

by Cara Nassar

Bubba, above all else, is a fighter.

They always say "be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

This couldn't be farther from the truth for Bubba, and he has a hard story to tell, but it explains the motivation behind the true dedication of this kid.

It explains why I see him come in here day after day, fighting through it all, and why he finds such solace in this sport.

And it's the reason why we all know that he is going to make it, and not only that, that he's going to own it. 

I'm just happy to say I got the first official interview, and so it goes..


What is your story? How did you get into MMA?

I was always very athletic. In high school I started over seniors in varsity football as a freshman. I saw MMA on TV all the time and about 5 years ago I was watching Tito Ortiz and I took an interest. It made me want to fight and I wanted to try it. At the time I felt like I had heavy hands. I had been in street fights before. I felt like if I hit someone as hard as I could, I could knock out anybody. That’s not the case now, but it’s what I felt like at the time. Anyway, I researched on the internet, Googled events in Ohio, and called a matchmaker. I ended up winning my first fight, at 230 pounds, with no coaches, no team, and no training behind me. After that I trained in Jamestown, NY with Jay Wadsworth. I dropped from 230 pounds to 205 for my second fight. After that I switched to Knockout Factory and had two fights at 185 pounds. At that point my record was 1-3. I took some time off after that. About 8 months to a year. Then I came to WNY MMA & Fitness wanting to fight. At this point I was pushing 230 pounds again. Dub cut me down to 170 pounds and made me train a year and half. He made me wait until he thought I was ready.

So he wouldn’t let you fight?

He didn’t say I couldn’t fight, just that he would not represent me. But I wanted them in my corner, so I waited. I ended up with a 3-2 MMA record with this gym after waiting and 1-0 kickboxing record. Now I’ve been fighting for 4 years. My record now is 4-5 MMA and 1-0 kickboxing and my style has totally changed. Instead of trying to stand and hit people like I used to my experience has taken over and I’ve learned that anything can happen, so that wasn’t the best game plan for me.

I know that you answered this in a way before but, why WNY MMA & Fitness?

Like I said I was training in Jamestown and the Knockout Factory was like an hour from my house. I took a break and didn’t want to stop, but I was sick of traveling. I started looking more local and I was shopping around a bit. But when I came here and fell in love with atmosphere and people. I felt like ‘this is where I belong.’

What do you love about it here? Is there anything you don’t like?

Everything from cleanliness, to equipment that we need to train right, and the skill level of the guys here in both jiu-jitsu and kickboxing.  The amount of training partners and the fact that I always have someone to work with no matter what. Really there is nothing I don’t like.

What is your favorite fighting style and why?

Kickboxing and jiu-jitsu. I’m a mixed martial artsit and need to be able to stand on my feet and be on the ground.

How would you describe your own fighting style?

More freestyle. Whatever happens, happens either standing up or on the ground. I’m more of a ground and pound style. I like to ‘take ‘em down, beat em up.’ But whatever happens, happens. I’m ready for it.

What does it mean to you to be a fighter?

It means a lot. I had my first fight when my sister Jamie was around. She brutally murdered while I was training for my second fight. After I lost her I went 1-3. Most people would have quit. I stuck with it. I always think of her when I’m out there training. I think of how no one could hurt me as much as she was hurt. I’m always thinking of her. That’s what drives me. It gives me rage.

Tell me about winning your belt this past month!

I won it fighting for TNT. I won my first two TNT fights for them by submission in the first round. I didn’t have the greatest record, but I had tough fights and lots of experience so I deserved a shot at that title. I felt I was underestimated because of my high weight class and crappy record. But I proved everyone wrong. We went all 5 rounds and I won by decision. When they called my name it was a huge relief. It was such a war. I didn’t know if I had won or not. I thought I might have, but when you are caught up in the action you kind of forget the rest of the fight. Going into fourth round I wasn’t sure if it was the fourth or fifth round. I just remember Corey screaming at me “I NEED TWO MORE ROUNDS OUT OF YOU!” I just heard everyone screaming from my corner “HOW BAD DO YOU WANT THAT BELT?!” And I remember the crowd exploding every time I hit the guy.. that is what carried me through.

What was the first thing that went through your head when you won that belt?

I just felt so good. But it felt even better to have that belt put on my mother. When I won I called her into the cage and put it on her. For all she’s been through with my sister and every way she’s been there for me. If this all was hard on me I know it was ten times worse on her.

Do you have any rituals when getting ready for a fight?

I like to go see a priest and have a prayer said for both people. So I don’t get hurt. The last couple times I had Pete Meso’s dad say it. He’s a priest and a champion at 155 pounds. I’m not religious, but I do believe in God. I also like to watch home videos of my sister. And I often watch that Youtube video of my first fight and I can hear her screaming for me in the background.

Where did Bubba come from?

My grandfather named me that as a child because I was always a big, heavy guy. They always called me that as a kid. It stuck through football and sports into fighting. It never left me.

What is something about you people here don’t know?

About my sister. What drives me to be here every day. People know how hard I work, they just don’t understand why I do what I do, and why I am who I am. She was there for my first fight. While I was training for my second fight I lost her, then I lost 3 fights in a row. But it made me stick with it. Even though I lost three in a row I couldn’t quit I’d do anything I needed to keep my dream alive.

How was your relationship with your sister?

We were really close. She was a party animal, I’m more of a father figure, but we had a close bond. Growing up she idolized me, she was younger by six years. As she grew up we got closer and it was more like a friendship bond between us, but I still was father figure over her.

So rumor on the street is you want to go Pro?

That’s the plan. I want to make money. It’s fun and all, but I want to make a name for myself, travel, see the world and get paid to do it. The more I got into I progressed and got better and better month by month. Four years later and 70 pounds lighter, in different weight class.. I can just feel it inside. It came naturally with having fun with the training. Desire came after my first heavyweight fight at 230 pounds and I knocked someone out with no training. I’m lucky I got the matchup I did though. If I lost that fight might have never fought again. I got lucky. He was in a similar place, no training, just wanting to try it.. I might have quit if things didn’t go as they did who knows? For me to go pro I’ve got to go 155 and I’m fighting in a higher weight class right now.

Who here has influenced you the most?

Dub by accepting me as a teammate and not just some ‘Joe Schmoe’ coming in. He saw something in me others didn't and gave me a chance to do something in my life. Corey, Todd and Josh too. I look up to these guys. When I first came I said I just wanted to cross train.. be in and out. They said “no, this is not what they do, we are a team.” I got Dub on the ground, Corey for stand-up work, Josh with my wrestling and stand-up techniques, Todd as my boxing and conditioning.. and I have everyone to my advantage. There are so many people here willing to help with everything. I've made a lot of friends here.  Bayo, Steve, Sean Hennesey, Jeremy, Jordan, Mike Ruopoli, Paul Mercado, Niilo.. I apologize if I forgot anybody, I consider everyone here a friend.

What was the hardest thing for you to overcome in your training?

Dieting. It’s hard to stay on a strict diet and I eat foods that aren’t good for me. Especially because I was a heavier guy I always feel like I can eat more than I really can.

What is your plan to cut weight?

To diet I eat meats and veggies, salad and greens, lots of fruits, and I drink mostly water. I usually taper down about a month out and the closer I get to the fight the less water I drink.  I’m at 170-welter weight right now.

“When you look up commitment in the dictionary there is a picture of Bubba” – Coach Dan “DJ RoundHouse” Dorfman

“When Bubba came here he was overweight with a losing record, but after years of commitment and dedication, he dropped over a hundred pounds and now holds a 170 pound championship belt and will soon be challenging for the 155 pound title. That speaks for itself, actions speak louder than words.” – Coach Corey “The Story” Webster

"Bubba is the "scrapper". I love this man. Since I started at the gym he as been one of my main sparring partners. He helped me out a lot and pushed me to be my best and let me know I could do things I didn't know I could do. I can tell he has the warrior's spirit. He will never quit this sport, I am sure about that. Keep an eye on this guy!" - Bayo "Bacon" Torres, Kid's MMA Class Assistant Coach

"Bubba is my brother. That is to say I love the guy like the brother I never had. Tough as nails. Refuses to quit. Loyal. Determined. A great student, training partner and friend. He also has big, brass Cojones! Never backing down from a fight. He's proof that hard work beats talent every time. Nothing makes me more proud as a coach then watching guys like Bubba go out there and represent WNY MMA." - Coach Michael "Dub" Dauenhauer

Bubba would like to thank all of his sponsors for all the help along the way. AAA Trash Be Gone (Lancaster, NY), Catt-Rez Smoke Shop (Irving, NY), 4Play Nightclub (Downtown Chippewa), Whitey’s Pub (Hamburg, NY) Lil Guys Pizza (Silvercreek, NY), Razors Brakes and Mufflers (Angola, NY) and Edie's Pizzeria (Hamburg, NY) and of course WNY MMA & Fitness!

Hope you enjoyed this weeks Buffalo NY Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing & Women's Fitness Member Feature!