BY RYAN BEVINS, ON TWITTER @BEVOIS
It was 10 years ago, when Canadian hip hop artist Drake released his hit song “Started from the Bottom”. The song went on to become a certified 6x platinum selling hit that was nominated for two Grammy Awards. 10 years later, you could say it perfectly sums up the four-year LFA career of Jalin “The Gentleman” Fuller. Not only is the rising prospect an aficionado when it comes to pop music, but his career with the promotion literally started at the bottom of the card at LFA 58. He won his pro debut against Andrew Lipp that night and never looked back. Now he is on the cusp of his first world title fight in the main event of LFA 156.
“My time with the LFA has been astounding,” Fuller told LFA.com. “Just being able to continue to fight during the pandemic and keep my career going and not lose out on these years is something I’m grateful for. I’ve been able to test myself mainly against other top prospects in MMA thanks to the LFA, so I have no real padding in my record and know what I’m about. I can’t think of a better way to top off my time with the LFA then to end the tour with the belt!”
Fuller was born in Detroit, Michigan, but moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was 14-years-old. He has been there ever since and is now raising a family of his own in the “Land of Enchantment”. Known for its high desert and natural beauty, New Mexico has emerged as a popular location for MMA training. Several world class facilities and fighters have flocked to the state over the past two decades to further their careers without the distractions of major cities and Fuller took full advantage of this when he decided to begin his own fight career.
“New Mexico is such great fight state. They are rich in fight culture and understanding of the fight game,” Fuller explained. “The training at elevation doesn’t hurt either. These things helped make New Mexico an early MMA hotbed. I train out of Duke City MMA. Frank Gomez is my head MMA coach and I also train under John Dodson.”
Get your tickets for LFA 156: Fuller vs. Waters
Jalin “The Gentleman” Fuller secured a title shot with this submission win at LFA 150.
The fact he was living in an MMA hotbed combined with his natural athleticism and showmanship made a perfect match for the fighter now known as “The Gentleman”. This was a nickname that was affectionately given to him by his co-workers due to his affable personality and the fact he is “always dressing to the nines”. Naturally, he was drawn to other fighters that share his flare for spectacular finishes and overall entertainment for the fans, that begins with a ring entrance and ends with a finish.
“I was 22 when I first started training and what sparked that urge to train was watching my first UFC event where Mighty Mouse (Demetrious Johnson) knocked out Joseph Benavidez,” Fuller explained. “Then seeing the Uriah Hall spinning hook kick after! My biggest influences in MMA are Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Robert Whittaker, Aung La Nsang, and Thanh Le.”
However, the show begins with the walkout and Fuller is now famous for his signature walkout experiences. While many fighters are laser-focused and businesslike during their walk to the Octagon, Fuller has an old school approach a la Genki Sudo, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, and Akihiro Gono to keep the mood light. In a sport where heavy metal and rap songs are popular choices to get fighters pumped up during their walk, Fuller dives into his playlist full of Pop, R&B, and K-Pop to choose some unexpected hits. In fact, his last walkout to “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys had the entire crowd at the Mystic Lake Showroom at LFA 150 on their feet, the ring girls singing along, and even LFA ring announcer Mike Kendall was smiling ear to ear.
“My walkout songs are just whatever I happen to be vibing with at the time and remind me ‘Hey man, it’s just a fight. Nothing too bad is going down. We’re just throwing hands,” Fuller explained. “If people enjoy it, great… but it’s always about setting myself up for the best feeling before the fight!'”
Watch LFA 156: Fuller vs. Waters
While “The Gentleman” ring entrances are fun, it’s all business once the cage door closes… and it didn’t take long for Fuller to find his groove inside the Octagon. In just his second fight for the promotion, Fuller secured an incredible 12-second knockout against Gabe Rodriguez at LFA 80, which still stands as the fourth fastest finish in LFA history. One month later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but Fuller continued to ply his trade inside the LFA Octagon and was able to compete outside of New Mexico for the first time in his career. That LFA tour for Fuller has allowed him to compete twice in New Mexico as well as Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Wisconsin, twice in Minnesota, and now in South Dakota where he will fight Trey “The Truth” Waters for the LFA welterweight title at LFA 156.”
“Trey Waters is dangerous. He is big and has great counter-boxing with his slip counters and a very nice lead switch kick,” stated Fuller. “Winning the LFA welterweight world title against Waters is about showing myself what I’m capable of and that I belong at this level and above.”
You can watch Jalin “The Gentleman” Fuller face Trey “The Truth” Waters for the LFA welterweight title in the main event of LFA 156. The event takes place this Friday, April 14th and it will be available worldwide on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
=====================================================================================================
In 2017, RFA and Legacy FC merged to form LFA, the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts. The combined forces of LFA launched the careers of over 270 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC. In 2018, the promotion joined the Imperial Family Companies group (formerly London Trust Media). In 2019, the promotion announced a broadcast partnership with UFC FIGHT PASS®. In 2021, the LFA expanded internationally by hosting multiple events in Brazil.
Please visit LFA.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Facebook.com/LFAfighting. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.
About LFA:
LFA is a professional Mixed Martial Arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. LFA was formed by the powerhouse merger between RFA and Legacy FC. LFA presents live Mixed Martial Arts events on a monthly basis around the United States including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix , Denver, Dallas, and Minneapolis. Based in Las Vegas, NV, LFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).
About UFC FIGHT PASS®:
UFC FIGHT PASS® is the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Since launching in 2013, UFC FIGHT PASS is now available in more than 200 countries and territories. FIGHT PASS provides its members with unlimited access to live UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims; live mixed martial arts and combat sports from around the world; original series and historical programming; special features; behind-the-scenes content; in-depth interviews; and up-to-the minute reports on the world of combat sports. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers also have 24/7 access to the world’s largest fight library, featuring more than 20,000 bouts from dozens of combats sports organizations, as well as every fight in UFC history. Fight fans can access UFC FIGHT PASS on personal computers, iOS and Android mobile devices, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and Sony TVs with Android TV. For more information, please visit UFCFightPass.com.
About IMPERIAL FAMILY COMPANIES:
The Imperial Family Companies maintains a diversified portfolio with one common theme: bringing power to the people. The IFC is proud to partner with the LFA management team to showcase the greatest talents of tomorrow. Learn more about the IFC at ImperialFamily.com.
About SANFORD PENTAGON:
The cornerstone of the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the Sanford Pentagon, a 160,000-square-foot, five-sided facility featuring nine basketball courts, including the 1950s/1960s-inspired Heritage Court. The venue combines state-of-the-art amenities-including high-definition video boards and executive suites-with period-specific finishes that are a nod to the nostalgic days of basketball. The 3,200-seat Pentagon is home to Sanford POWER Basketball Academy, Sanford POWER Volleyball Academy, the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women’s and Men’s Basketball tournaments and the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. For more information, visit SanfordPentagon.com.
