Former wrestler Britt an MMA competitor

Antwain Britt, a former standout wrestler at Indian River High, now is a professional in mixed-martial arts. His next payday is Saturday at the Patriot Center. Few think of high school wrestlers as some day going pro, but the possibility exists.

Take Antwain Britt for example. He was a Southeastern District and Eastern Region 215-pound wrestling champ for Indian River High School.

Now, the 30-year-old known as "The Juggernaut" is chasing ample paydays in the professional mixed-martial arts (MMA) octagons and cages.

Managed by Richmonder Rick McCoy, Britt will fight Jamal Patterson of New York on Saturday night in the co-main event of the Man 'O' War Challenge at the Patriot Center in Fairfax.

"I'm not giving the details of the contract," Britt said. "But I'll tell you this: It's enough to put a smile on your face."

McCoy suggests there is "about a $6,000 purse" for the bout, with the winner taking a larger share and better chances of landing sponsors and endorsements.

Britt and McCoy are hoping another convincing victory in Fairfax might propel Britt to the UFC series, essentially the big leagues of MMA.

Britt's record as a pro is is listed at 8-1, officially, though he insists his one loss (April, 2008, by decision to Bryan Vertell) was an exhibition. All his victories have come via TKOs.

"Antwain is one of the hardest hitters out there, and he is deceivingly quick," said McCoy, a pro fighter himself who operates MMA Academy on Jahnke Road. "And once you go down on the canvas, he's a handful."

Britt trains about twice a month with McCoy in South Richmond and also at Hybrid Academy in Virginia Beach.

Last spring the 205-pounder was selected into the "Tuff House" for the Ultimate Fighter Challenge (UFC) - won the previous year by Richmonder Amir Sadollah.

Britt won his first UFC televised fight, but in so doing, he cracked a hand bone and was sent home.

Now, he's on the bounce-back trail with TKO victories over Terry Cowens (October, 2008) and Robert Turner (November, 2008) at ODU's Constant Center.

McCoy, a former high school wrestler, and Britt concur former wrestlers have the edge in MMA.

"The wrestlers are the easiest to train," McCoy said. "They have a strong work ethic, for starts. Plus, they have a ground base."

Britt wrestled high school folk style, and also freestyle and Greco-Roman as a teenager.

"My biggest advantage is my wrestling background," Britt said. "A lot of my good balance and reaction started with the wrestling."

Thanks to wrestling, Britt was solid with a ground-and-pound strategy from the get-go. Now he's added jaw-breaking punches on foot.

"When you're able to take a wrestler and teach him to punch, you've created a monster," Britt said.