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LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 31: Daron Cruickshank makes weight during The Ultimate Fighter Live weigh in at the Palms Casino Resort on May 31, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Daron Cruickshank

Daron Cruickshank

TRAINING: My typical day of training goes like this: I wake up and hit the tanning bed and get coffee. I do drills and mitts with my dad, Dean Cruickshank. Then, after a snack break I head over to East West martial arts and work on my grappling with black belt John Toth. Other days I may spar, or condition. I like to relax with a few games of Call of Duty on XBox before I pop in my alphamindtraining CD before bed.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I’ve been doing martial arts ever since I could walk. My mom was a professional kickboxer and my dad’s a mixed martial artist with a black belt in basically everything you can talk about. I’ve been around the game my whole life.

What ranks and titles have you held? 8-1 as an amateur, and I held the XCC title and TXC title in Michigan. As a professional, I hold the Ringside world title.

Do you have any heroes? My parents

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means a future for me. It’s a career and prosperity

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Olivet College. Bachelors degree in Fitness Management

What was your job before you started fighting? Student

Ranks in any martial arts styles: Black belt in Taekwondo

Favorite grappling technique: Triangle

Favorite striking technique: Ball kick – it’s a real thing, you hit with the ball of your foot instead of the shin