Name: Christopher “Kumite” Rowley
Height:5’7”
Fight Weight: 135
School: Northern Aggression Fight Squad
City/State Born: Born and raised Malden, MA and fighting out of Portland, ME
1. When and Why did you get into MMA??
I had wrestled in high school and then in college and loved it. A few years after I stopped wrestling one of my friends invited me to the gym to roll and from day one I knew I wanted to fight. I started fighting this past July and am already going to be having my seventh professional bout on May 6th.
2. Do you have a background in martial arts, boxing , wrestling etc?
My original background is in wrestling. I wrestled for Malden High, Malden Catholic and then the University of Southern Maine. My jiu jitsu and boxing has come a long way since I started. Now I consider myself a complete mixed martial artist and not just a wrestler.
3. What's you nickname, how did you get it?
It is KUMITE! I love it. I love hearing it chanted at my fights. There is no feeling like having the crowd behind you. I got it in the gym just horsing around. People started calling me it and it ended up sticking. Plus I am a sucker for a good old Jean Claude Van Damme film.
4. What are your ultimate goals in the sport?
Right now my goal is to win this fight. My eventual goal is to make a living fighting. It’s my passion and I am doing alright at it right now. I have so much to learn and I believe that I have the tools to do it. I just need the guidance.
5. What do you think about your next opponent?
My next opponent is Trevor Stone. I don’t know him personally but I hear that he is a very tough fighter and has pretty good jiu jitsu. He is also a seasoned fighter who comes to scrap. I am looking forward to it. It is a great match up for me and will look great in the W column.
6. How do you see the fight going/being finished?
with my hand raised. I feel comfortable and have the tools to finish it on my feet or the ground.
7. What weight do you walk at/how much do you cut to fight?
155-160… eating is my second passion
8. What's your favorite part about fighting?
The Glory… Getting your hand raised after all of the sacrifices and dedication is the best feeling in the world.
9. What's the worst part about fighting?
Cutting weight. It sucks but it is necessary.
10. Anyone locally or in the big's that you really would love to fight, and why?
Bob Sapp. It would be an EPIC stare down photo. Definitely a facebook profile pic. But seriously, losses do not sit well with me. The one fight I would like to have is against Johnny “cupcakes” Campbell. It’s my only loss at 135. I respect him and think he is a great fighter. I just know I was very green during our first fight and would like to have another shot at some point.
11. What do you feel is your best weapon in your fights?
It is probably my strength. Once I get a hold of someone I can usually send them for a ride if I want.
12. What is your favorite foods that you miss while cutting weight??
All sorts of Carb whether it’s pizza or Chinese food. It sounds childish but I gotta have my gummy bears. I miss them the most.
13. What is your most memorable moment to date in MMA??
July 17th, 2010. My pro MMA debut. I had a huge crow of all of my friends and family from home rocking KUMITE shirts. There weren’t very high expectations from anyone for me except from me. I fought Shaun Marmas and I took it to him for the whole first period and most of the second. I ended up getting caught in a heel hook in the third but I knew after facing a kid as tough as him that I had a future in this sport if I put in the work.
14. How else do you spend your time when you are not training??
I go out with friends. I like clown around. Most people that know me know that I am not very serious and am always trying to have a good time.
15. What do you do for a living besides fighting??
I am working on getting my bachelor’s degree in marketing and I work part time.
Give a Shoutout to your coaches, family anybody...and also let us know what picture you want featured in the article and thank you for your time.
I want to give a shout out to the rest of Northern Aggression Fight Squad. We got Mike Morin, Tony Collins and Ernesto Ornelas fighting on the GFL card in Portland with me. I have to give a shout out to all of my family and friends from Malden, Mass and Maine. I have had 6 fights in 8 months and they are not cheap to go to but somehow I always have a huge following of dedicated fans. I want to thank my Sponsors- Bellum Sports Management (I wouldn’t be fighting if it weren’t for them); Dragon Fire Martial Arts; Cugno Boxing; Portland Hardcore; Infinity Tattoo; Parisi Speed School. I also want to thank the American Fighting Organization and Cage Titans for giving me chances to put on a show. Look out for me this Friday in the Global Fight League. If nothing else I promise copious amounts of violence. Thanks Westernmassmma.com for the interview.
-KUMITE
Those who know Chris know he is a great down to earth guy. I met his dad at an AFO show and I can see where he gets it from. His dad was just simply trying to figure out what fight number we were on to see when his boy is fighting. That is awesome that his parents are as pumped for his fights as we at WesternMassMMA.com are!!! I gave him our business card so he could check out the site and I was impressed that he has heard of us before. If you are in the Maine area or want to make a nice road trip to see some great fights including Kumite head on up on May 6th this Friday to GFL as they invade Maine!!
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