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Dan Barrera unknowingly began his MMA
career at Minico High School in his
hometown of Rupert, Idaho. He
started out wrestling for his high school wrestling team and made
it all the way to the state championships in 1999. After
graduation, Dan enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he became
one of the military's best boxers, earning a record of 13-3 with
one of those losses being a hard fought loss to Olympic Gold
Medalist, Andre Ward in 2004. He even went to the nationals a few
times.
After six years in the military, Dan was honorably
discharged in 2005 after a tour in Pakistan. He came home to his
girlfriend, Amber, in Ft. Knox, Kentucky and they were married.
Soon afterward, Dan tried out for and was accepted onto The
Ultimate Fighter Season 6.
When he told the his boss, the Chief of the Fire
Department, he was told that if he left, he wouldn't have a job to
come back to. It was a scary decision, but Dan knew he had to go.
When the show started, Dan was coach Matt Hughes' first
pick. His first fight was against Ben Saunders. Dan was able to
demonstrate his hard hits and his "never quit" persistence
fighting an awesome fight with a previously injured hand. He ended
up losing by a controversial decision and both fighters were
rewarded the $5000 bonus for an incredible fight.
After the show, Dan came home and found a job swinging a
sledgehammer for a construction company ten hours a day. It's hard
to find the time, but he still trains whenever he can. I expect to
see Dan in future UFC events.
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