He would begin studying judo and at 19 took up Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the guidance of Relson Gracie. After winning a series of tournaments he determined MMA was a natural progression and began training with Egan Inoue (Pictures), under whom he is a purple belt at Grappling Unlimited.
Torres trained alongside Barret Yoshida, Falaniko Vitale (Pictures) and Wesley Correira (Pictures). He also trains at Mixed Martial Arts Development with Leandro Nyza, Kaipo Kalama, Kolo Koka (Pictures) and Brandon Wolff (Pictures). Away from fighting, Torres is a federal corrections officer and member of the Enhanced Disturbance Patrol Team at a prison in Oahu, Hawaii, as well as the security staff’s self-defense instructor.
Anthony is a veteran of the second season of The Ultimate Fighter. He sports a pro MMA record of 3-0 and is 1-1 as an amateur.
MMA CAREER: Torres had his first pro fight in 2001 at Super Brawl 20. He won on a disqualification when opponent Kaleo Padilla’s corner man ran into the ring late in the first round. He would return to Super Brawl in 2004 and stop Sean Taylor (Pictures) with strikes. Earlier this year Torres beat WEF veteran Jerry Hackney.
UFC EXPERIENCE: Debut.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: Anthony has a good overall game but his submissions are his strength.
HEALY: 6’, 170 pounds, 23, St. Louis, Missouri, known as “Bam Bam”
BACKGROUND: Healy fights out of Northwest Elite with his brother Ryan Healy (Pictures) and Anthony Hamlett (Pictures). He has wrestled most of his life and was a fan (and competition hopeful) of the UFC since his early teens. He placed in the Missouri State wrestling finals while in high school. Healy is also a former Full Contact Fighting Federation middleweight champion. “Bam Bam” sports a pro MMA record of 15-9.
MMA CAREER: Originally fighting out of Reinhardt Mixed Martial Arts in St. Louis, he got his start at the same Full Contact Fighting Federation events as the aforementioned his brother. Between 2002-2003 he defeated Sherk Julian, Rich Gueirn and Ryan Pope before losing a split decision to Chris Leben (Pictures).
A fight in the Washington-based promotion Rumble in the Ring saw Healy lose a bout via submission to Canadian standout and PRIDE veteran Denis Kang (Pictures). Derrick Noble (Pictures) subbed Healy at a HOOKnSHOOT show in ’03 and Dave Strasser (Pictures) won a decision at the amusingly titled Madtown Throwdown 1 in ’04.
Unfortunately for Healy he’s one of those fighters who carries a significant number of losses, making him look average, when the fact is he only loses to the bigger names. Healy has also lost to American Top Team fighters Francisco Soares and Dustin Denes (Pictures), Team Quest fighter and Sportfight champion Chris Wilson (Chris Wilson' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures), Third Column jiu-jitsu fighter Carlos Prater, IFL Tigershark Brad Blackburn (Pictures), and UFC veterans Chris Lytle (Pictures) (AFC champ) and Jay Heiron.
UFC EXPERIENCE: Debut.
WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE BOUT: Healy’s base is wrestling and boxing, but the majority of his wins have come via submission. He favors the rear-naked and guillotine chokes and has employed an armbar as well.
MY PICK: Healy. Pat has a miniscule height advantage (which usually translates to reach) and a ton more fights. Plus having competed against Kang, Lytle and Prater I think Healy knows should be able to stay out of trouble with a submission fighter like Torres.