UFC Contender Mark Munoz Talks Faith, Family and Being Drug-Free

It's always nice to spend an evening with a kind, soft-spoken man who could crush you with his bare hands. 

Mark Munoz, Ultimate Fighting middleweight championship contender, signed autographs, posed for pictures with fans, and talked about his life, his faith and his commitment to being drug-free on Monday night.

About a dozen people attended the event at the Norman P. Murray Community Center to hear the “Filipino Wrecking Machine” speak.

“Thank you for coming,” said the 33-year-old Munoz, a Mission Viejo resident. “It doesn't matter if it's a thousand people or 20 [attending]. For me, it's about one person. If I affect one person in a positive way, it's all worth it.”

The event came on the heels of Munoz's appearance at the city's 23rd Annual Walk Against Drugs on Saturday and was aimed encouraging people to stay off drugs.

Munoz, a father of four, spoke about the five drug-free D's: desire, direction, diligence, discipline and dedication and how they can change lives.

“You apply those five D’s, and they will pave your way for the future,” Munoz said. “I promise you guys, you'll be successful.”

As for those who use steroids or growth hormones to succeed?

“There's no substitute for hard work,” Munoz said.“They can cut corners, but those corners are going to catch up to them in the long run.”

Munoz, who said he's never touched performance enhancing substances, has a record of 11-2 in MMA and his next big fight is Nov. 5 against Chris Leben at UFC 138 in the LG arena in Birmingham, England.

For Munoz's full biography, click here.

Throughout the evening Munoz also detailed his meteoric career (scroll to the bottom to see some of his awards) and talked about his chances at becoming the world champion.

“I feel great,” Munoz, “All I gotta do is make weight.”

He added, “It's crazy. [If I win] I'll be a trivia question. I'll be immortalized.”

After talking about his life, he took questions from the attendees, including queries about what it's like to train with some of the MMA greats, how to battle a friend in the octagon, or what to do to fight off negative thoughts like despair and worry.

“Your mind is very, very powerful,” Munoz said. “It's like a machine: input-output, negative, negative, positive, positive.

“Instead of drowning … in negative thoughts, say positive stuff out loud.”

During the Q and A session, Jim Therrien, whose son Dylan attends Munoz's Reign Training Center in Lake Forest, spoke about Munoz's skill and integrity, calling him a “gentle giant.”

“You guys couldn't ask for a better role model,” said Therrien, a Lake Forest resident.

Munoz credits his team, his parents, his wife and his children for helping him get this far.

But, Munoz said, it's not just those around him that keep him going, it's the one inside in him.

“I have the spirit of my lord and savior Jesus Christ,” Munoz said. “And I [have] faith that he has put me in this position.”

Nine-year-old Dylan Therrien, who attended the event and goes to Munoz's gym, says that he loves to wrestle around with the champ.

“He's awesome,” Dylan said.

But his favorite thing about Munoz?

“He's always so kind to you,” Dylan said.

Some of Munoz's awards

2000-04 Olympic Trials Qualifier

2000-04 4x US National Senior All-American

2001 NCAA Division I National Champion (197 lbs)

2001 NCAA Division I All-American

2001 Big 12 Conference Champion

2000 NCAA Division I All-American – 3rd Place

2000 Big 12 Conference Champion

1999 University National Runner-up

1998 FILA Junior World Championships – Silver Medalist

1998 Big 12 Conference – 3rd Place

1996 FILA Junior World Championships – 5th Place

1996 FILA Junior World Team Member

1996 Junior Nationals – Silver Medalist

1996 NHSCA High School National Champion

1996 California State Wrestling Champion

1996 Regional Section Wrestling Champion

1995 High School National Champion

1995 California State Wrestling Champion

1994 Cadet World Wrestling Championships – 5th place (Moscow, Russia)

1994 Regional Sub-Section Wrestling Tournament Bronze Medalist

1992 School Boy State Champion