From A Prison Cell to an MMA Cage

From A Prison Cell to an MMA Cage
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(Kas Xhema)

Although Kastriot (Kas) Xhema (pronounced Jay-ma) was born and raised in idyllic Greenwich Connecticut, growing up there was anything but serene for him.

"Life is funny," said Xhema. "You never know what's going to happen. I was young and hanging around with the wrong people and getting in a lot of fights. I eventually caught an assault charge and ended up in jail." After two stints in prison Xhema is currently out on parole and at 24 years old he is determined to never return to his old way of life.

Early on in Xhema's troubled youth the court ordered him to participate in a boxing program and that has ultimately led to his salvation. "I grew up with a boxing background but I recently switched over to MMA," he said. "People are calling it the fastest growing sport in the world so I wanted make the move."

I saw Xhema's last MMA bout -- an amateur match in June -- and it was more an annihilation than a fight. The crowd was filled with his supporters who repeatedly chanted his nickname, "Slaughterhouse" as he entered the cage and once the fight was underway, it ended more quickly than the referee's instructions. I was extremely impressed with Xhema's skill and determination in the cage.

After seeing Xhema fight I got to speak with him twice and his story really grabbed me because boxing and martial arts were a big part of my youth. My father fought in the Navy and taught me how to box before I learned how to throw a baseball and much to my mother's dismay, we even had a speed bag hanging in our gazebo. My father also owned a judo school and I studied Tai Chi for 10 years after college. I told Xhema that no matter how much training and skill someone has, it truly takes a unique type of person to succeed in MMA fighting and he agreed.



"I look at other fighters and I know that I want it more," he said. "They don't have as much heart as I do."

Xhema is about to make his professional debut at the Mohegan Sun on November 4th and he clearly has a real affinity for MMA fighting and the skills necessary to be a champion. "MMA is very exciting. It's different than boxing. You never know what's going to happen. One punch or one mistake can cost you the whole fight."

MMA involves both striking (fists and feet) and grappling so it's a much faster and deadlier sport than boxing, and offers a much quicker outcome. While I enjoy the strategy and technique necessary to be a great boxer, I also understand that MMA is reflective of our current times and serves the instant gratification we've become accustomed to today.

Friends and family have been a tremendous help to Xhema. "I have a great support group and I wouldn't be here without them," he said. "My family has been fantastic and Mike Vranos of Ellington Management has been an unbelievable sponsor."

During our second phone conversation, I mentioned to Xhema that I felt he had that something extra I've seen in all great fighters.

"Some people have just got it," he said. "And I believe I do too."

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