Bellator MMA veteran Ian Butler reveals that he almost pursued Jiu-Jitsu as a full-time career before becoming a professional MMA fighter.
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Bellator MMA veteran Ian Butler reveals that he almost pursued Jiu-Jitsu as a full-time career before becoming a professional MMA fighter.
Bellator veteran Ian Butler shared his approach to his professional MMA career and his transition to competing in professional Jiu-Jitsu.
Ian Butler is a former professional MMA fighter and an active professional Jiu-Jitsu competitor. Ian has fought for multiple regional MMA promotions and had a lengthy career fighting at Bellator, before retiring from the sport in 2020. He has since thrown himself into a career in grappling and has stepped on the mats for many of the world’s biggest promotions like Polaris and Who’s Number One.
Jits Magazine spoke to Ian about his upcoming match with Victor Silverio at Who’s Number One 26, and his experiences competing for several major promotions. We discussed the earliest days of his MMA career as well, including his time living and training with Dean Lister. He also explained his decision to retire from the sport and the work he does as the founder of Silverback Wrestling Club.
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0:00 Why Ian transitioned from wrestling to MMA
2:44 The start of Ian’s love for Jiu-Jitsu
3:47 Meeting and living with Dean Lister
8:20 Training with legends
10:57 Teaching at Silverback wrestling club
12:47 Life after fighting
16:07 Why Ian retired from MMA
17:59 Returning to Jiu-Jitsu
20:33 Ian’s favorite grappling event
24:41 Who’s Number One 26
26:24 Future opponents
29:17 Thanks & signing off
Pat Downey is an NCAA Division I All-American and a US Open National champion in wrestling before he transitioned to other combat sports. Pat is a Bellator MMA veteran and he has recently started to invest more time into his professional Jiu-Jitsu career, including an appearance at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational. Pat is also currently preparing to compete at the IBJJF no gi world championship as a BJJ blue belt.
Jits Magazine spoke to Pat about his time in both wrestling and MMA, and whether he would ever return to either sport. We also broke down his appearance at the Craig Jones Invitational and how it felt to compete on such a big stage, along with his upcoming appearance at the IBJJF no gi world championship at blue belt. We spoke about his debut match against Gordon Ryan, his desire to face Nicky Rodriguez, and even his plans for the future with Polaris and other promotions.
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0:00 Introduction
0:24 IBJJF no gi world championship at blue belt
4:38 Debut against Gordon Ryan
7:04 Future matches at other promotions
10:38 Other wrestlers at no gi worlds
11:56 Returning to wrestling?
13:22 Returning to MMA?
15:45 The Craig Jones Invitational experience
19:19 Nicky Rodriguez
22:23 Other matches Pat wants
24:19 ADCC 2026
25:29 Coaching wrestling at Fight Sports
26:07 Thanks & signing off
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