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MACAU - FEBRUARY 27: Jumabieke Tuerxun holds an open training session for media at Venetian Macao on February 27, 2014 in Macau. (Photo by Mitch Viquez/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Jumabieke Tuerxun

TRAINING: Mornings are cardio and conditioning. Afternoons are striking and ground game. I have been doing the same routine for past eight years, however, due to my last loss, I have also incorporated a bit more Jiu-Jitsu into my training.

When and why did you start training for fighting? Wrestling is part of our culture. My ethnic identity is Kazakh, thus I have been doing wrestling. In high school I also wrestled, and in 2008 I was recruited by the ShaanXi provincial wrestling team. During this time I noticed that the Sanda team was doing MMA and I decided to have a workout with that team and then did some sparring. Before, I watched UFC on video, so I knew what MMA was, and after trying out with the Sanda team I immediately requested to stay on the Sanda team so that I can fight MMA.

What ranks and titles have you held?

-2009 Beijing Sanda Championship 65KG

-2008 Xian International Freestyle Wrestling champion 66KG

-2007 Fujian Youth Freestyle Wrestling Championships 60KG

I am an athlete that trained in competitive martial arts - Freestyle Wrestling and Sanda. We do not have ranking in that by belt. Our ranking is based on performance in competitions. I have won Provincial Championship in Sanda and also in Freestyle Wrestling. I have excelled in both sports at the provincial level before I moved on to fight in MMA. For Sanda in my weight division there are close to ten thousand professional fighters that register to fight from all over China and we fight in every province for titles. For freestyle wrestling we compete in provincial events and the next step up is the national team, which is one level below Olympic and World game teams.

Do you have any heroes? Bruce Lee

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? I watched UFC for many years and it is a great achievement for me to be able to fight in the UFC. If I win, I will bring pride to the Chinese people and to Kazakh people.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I am in the Xian Sports Institute and my education is in sports.

What was your job before you started fighting? I am professional athlete

Favorite grappling technique: Double leg takedown

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