Featured Fighter Profile: Nick "Capt. Chaos" Vaughn

Nick Vaughan

26 y/o

6'0"

185/Middleweight

Fighting Arts Academy

MMA 1-0, Muay Thai 0-1

Newport News, Va

 friend, training partner, and mentor "Sik" Nick Vaughn 

So as we head into a very busy Autumnal MMA season I want to ramp up the featured fighter section.  As is the case with most of my subjects I try to connect with fighters I have met, seen fight, or if the situation is right actually engaged in some form of sparring or training with that person.  In this case I can say that all three apply.  In 2009 I began recovering from my first Bowel Resection and in the course of one summer I became an MMA addict.  My personal trainer, Todd Selva, invited me to see Nick fight for GFL 3 in Manchester, NH.  Until that night I had only spectated MMA bouts from my living room and with no great passion.  Truth be told I don't watch much TV and what little I do see I mostly watched with my children so MMA was not on the radar.  I made the two plus hour drive in my beat up Nissan Altima, by myself, and imagined what it would be like.  I imagined fighters stalking around behind curtains and fans roaring with each blow.  What I found was not far off, but a whole lot more real.  I met Nick, Todd, and The Boss at a local NH mall while they killed a few hours until the Rules Meeting.  Nick impressed me, but I also was equally impressed by the way Todd and Jeremy dealt with Nick's pre-fight nerves.  It wasn't then that I knew I would be a fan of Nick's, but it definitely made him a real person to me.  I connected with that.  That night as I sat in the balcony my jaw agape, I was transfixed on the action in the cage below I started to ask myself why shouldn't I train with Nick and the Team Ravenous crew.  After a few more months training with Todd at the other gym I answered that question. Nick is a man inside and outside of the cage unlike some I have met that turn into bitches as soon as they leave the cage.  His energy and heart were hard to keep up with, but it kept me motivated.  I've shared my story and now it's time to share Nick's.  My thanks to Nick, Team Ravenous, Fighting Arts Academy, and all those who have kept Nick in this game.  I can't wait for his next fight at Warrior Nation Xtreme Fighter's Alliance "The Gauntlet" scheduled for Nov. 19th at The HuKeLau in Chicopee, MA. 

1. Do you have a background in martial arts, boxing , wrestling etc?

I wrestled my junior and senior year of high school down in Virginia

2. When and Why did you get into MMA??

I had just gotten out of the Marine Corps and I've always been a big fan of all combat sports, so it seemed natural

3. What's your nickname, how did you get it?

"Captain Chaos," because the first time I sparred at FAA I used no technique at all but just went toe to toe and brawled with everyone

4. What are your ultimate goals in the sport?

I want to go as far as I can with it, win an amateur title and go pro before I finish college

5. What do you think about your next opponent?

I don't know a thing about him, honestly! I'm just glad to finally have a fight. I'm sure it'll be a great one, all of Nick Newells matchups so far have been really entertaining and competitive

6. How do you see the fight going/being finished?

Knock. Out. I'm going for that big finish.

7. What weight do you walk at/how much do you cut to fight?

A little over 200, about 205 or so

8. What's your favorite part about fighting?

So much... the clarity, the focus is so amazing. It's one of the few times in life where every part of your being is completely, 100% focused on what you are doing that very moment

9. What's the worst part about fighting?

It's hard to focus in school because I'm always thinking of fighting haha. My teachers think I'm taking notes but I'm really writing down lists of techniques I want to work on

10. Anyone locally or in the big's that you really would love to fight, and why?

Man, whoever. I've been out of the cage for a long time, right now I'm just focused on coming back and putting my name on the map with a good performance

11. What do you feel is your best weapon in your fights?

I just cant be giving away trade secrets haha.... honestly, I cant say I have one weapon that I'm relying on. I'm a pragmatist and willing to use whatever works

12. What is your favorite foods that you miss while cutting weight??

Pizza and burgers man. Oh how I miss them sometimes.

Nick atop a battle weary Sean Nichols

13. What is your most memorable moment to date in MMA??

Definitely winning my first fight. I'd been training for about 3 months, and the feeling of standing there getting my hand raised in front of all those people? Indescribable

Nick post fight GFL3 with Sean Nichols 

14. How else do you spend your time when you are not training??

I wish I had a cool answer here, but it's basically all school and work. In my spare time after all that, I relax with my girlfriend and the dog.

15. What do you do for a living besides fighting??

I am a junior at UMass majoring in Middle Eastern Studies, which is my big focus. I also work at GNC and bartend.

I just want to give huge thanks to my coaches and training partners, I get so much confidence just from sparring and rolling with so many bad motherf**kers on a daily basis, and I would also like to thank my family and my girlfriend Sarah for understanding and supporting my crazy ambitions haha

This article was posted by Joe Leonard a writer and photographer for WesternMassMMA.com as well as a student of Team Ravenous MMA located at The Web in downtown Greenfield, MA.  To all my friends, family, and those kind enough to read this article, please leave your comments, questions, and criticisms below using the radio buttons below.  I value your feedback.