I am honored to be receiving this induction. I stand on the shoulders of giants that have come before me in the storied history of martial arts. There is little that ignites the human spirit like combat and I have been blessed to have been able to make a life centered around doing what I love and to share this lifestyle with my brother Mikey as a training and business partner. My career as a professional MMA fighter has been in many ways a rollercoaster. Within a few short years of my first amateur fight in AC, I was competing as a professional on the UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter”. As fast as my career began, it came to a screeching halt when illness put me on the sideline for a number of years. When I finally was able to step back into action I had a realization that this career was fragile and could be cut short at anytime. I focused my efforts on chasing experiences, one of which was a goal to compete in the motherland of martial arts - Japan. The next 5 years would be multiple journeys out to Tokyo with my coach Brian McLaughlin to compete for one of MMA’s oldest and most prestigious organizations, Pancrase, and eventually capturing the legendary world title “King of Pancrase”. I am proud to be one of only a handful of Americans to have held this title. I’ve been fortunate have an amazing supportive family, to have learned and trained with the best fighters and coaches across the United States and around the world, and I am grateful for the opportunity to play a role in NJ’s MMA storybook. I don’t take it for granted. Thank you.