Uniontown’s Browne ready for jiu-jitsu debut
Uniontown resident and Laurel Highlands graduate Nick Browne will take a break from competing in mixed martial arts to make his professional no-gi jiu-jitsu debut on Friday in Fight To Win Pro 42 at Center Ice Arena in Delmont.
Browne, who trains at the Uniontown Fight Club under Bill Bosley, faces Ryan Arreola in a 165-pound bout. Browne, who is 7-0 as a professional in MMA with two knockouts and two submission victories, recently earned his brown belt in the art of jiu-jitsu.
“It is a pleasure to be on the card and to show the crowd the fine art of jiu-jitsu,” Browne said. “It is predicted to be the fight of the night.”
Browne’s teammate and Bosley’s brother, AJ, will represent the Uniontown Fight Club in a 165-pound no-gi bout against Bredd Dodd. The event is expected to have 30 fights with the first bout scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
The bouts are seven minutes long and the rules are not as strict in no-gi competitions as bouts with the gi on. The fights are won by submission only and go to the judges’ scorecards if the time-limit elapses.
The no-gi bouts are popular with mixed martial artists, and Browne has used the discipline to help him become a more rounded MMA fighter.
“I started working in jiu-jitsu to help myself become a better MMA fighter,” Browne said. “Most of the MMA fighters prefer the no-gi bouts. I have taking a liking to it and am learning many different techniques and submissions.”
It took Browne five-to-six years to earn his brown belt, and will begin working towards his black belt. Grappling with the gi is quite different than no-gi but the former Mustang is focused on learning both disciplines.
“It usually takes about 10 years to get a black belt so I am happy with where I am at,” Browne said. “The gi is a new can of worms but I am interested in learning and competing in both. You earn your ranks while wearing the gi.”