 Sam
Hoger :
(www.samhoger.com)
One is inspired to do things by the people one
would least expect. Sam Hoger got started in
martial arts around the age of six, when his
Grandmother took him to watch The Karate Kid
at a movie theater in Panama . After seeing
Daniel LaRusso learn martial arts and fight
his way though the tournament under the guidance
of Mr. Miyagi; Sam knew he too could become
a fighter.
From
there Sam's mother enrolled him in karate classes
in Panama . He disliked the classes at first
because they were not like the movie. But, it
didn't take him long to realize that fighting
was for him because it felt natural to be in
the karate classes where he found a sense of
peace. He continued karate until earning his
black belt from Tom Okamoto in Alaska .
Then
one evening Sam caught a glimpse of real fighting
from an UFC show that was on TV. Somehow the
karate tag tournaments he used to do seemed
like child's play. He enrolled in his first
Brazilian jiu-jitsu class at the age of 14 and
got the life choked out of him by many of the
students. He continued BJJ training while living
in Alaska and then kept at it when leaving for
college at Louisiana State University .
In
order to keep training Sam founded the LSU BJJ
team and trained under an extension of the Carlson
Gracie team lead by Roni Salas and Chris Seifert.
According to Sam, Chris is an awesome instructor
who could relate to any pupil on any level and
bring the sport to them in a manner that was
friendly enough not to be intimidating, yet
intense enough to command respect. Albeit Chris'
awesome instruction he told Sam if he wanted
to move up in the MMA world that he needed to
train with a professional team.
Then
one night at 3 AM, Sam called Pat Miletich before
his last spring break and told him he wanted
to try out for the Miletich Fighting Systems
team. Iowa was where Sam spent spring break
with the guys from MFS and held his own. Sam's
grappling was good, however once the night of
stand up training came the game became quite
different. He was beat to a pulp by a lot of
the pros, (i.e. Tim Sylvia) but he knew that
he could grow with this team.
Before
leaving Iowa to return to school, Sam asked
Pat if he could claim MFS before his next fight.
Pat gave him the blessing on the condition of
Sam coming back to fight for his team after
graduation. The second he graduated he drove
up to Iowa to keep his word and start training
with the best in the MMA business.
After
fighting amateur for about year in Iowa , Pat
turned Sam into a professional heavyweight fighter.
After a few fights, Sam was discovered by Joe
Cavallero that told him if he could cut about
30 pounds, there was a possibility for him to
be on a reality TV show featuring the sport
of MMA. Being part of a TV reality show on Spike
definitely was a once in a lifetime opportunity
for Sam. He definitely learned a bunch from
two of the top fighters in the business, Randy
Couture and Chuck Liddell.
Now
that he has fought professionally, been on a
hit reality TV show, and continuing to fight
in the UFC, Sam can say all the sacrifices and
hard work is worth it. He is very thankful for
those who have helped and supported him in his
endeavors. Sam would like to thank God, Mom,
Dad, Pat Miletich, Chad Nuzum, Collin Carney,
The Ferttitas, Dana White, Gene Joanen, Tom
Okamoto, Ted Stickel, Chris Seiefert, Alea Hunter,
Mandy Halling, Kim Kelsoe, and Team MFS.
New:
During
a Christmas vacation (Dec 2006) back home in
Alaska: Sam "The Alaskan Assassin"
Hoger was awarded his Brown Belt in Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu by Gracie Barra Black Belt Ted Stickel.
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