Since this is a Maryland-based blog and news source, I was thinking that we should talk about the top MMA talent coming from this state. It shouldn’t be shocking that most of if not all of the top MMA fighters are coming from the Team Lloyd Irvin camp and its schools located all around the Maryland/DC/Virginia area.
One such fighter is Jon Delbrugge.
Unless you’re a true MMA aficionado, you may not know his name right now but give it time and you will. Jon began training with Master Julius Park and Crazy 88 BJJ back in 2008. I remember on the questioner he filled out he wrote under goals “become UFC fighter”. Judging by what Jon has done, he’s on that path for sure. You see, many people write on the paperwork that they would like to be a “UFC” fighter, but so few are willing to pay that price. Jon is in the top 3%, he can talk the talk and walk the walk.
Jon Delbrugge grew up in Maryland and was always playing sports. Jon had played football in college down in Florida and wrestled a little back in high school here in Maryland. Jon was always a fan of the UFC and when he settled back home in Clarksville he started to look for a place to learn the MMA game. He arrived at Crazy 88 and his life was changed….
Jon started classes and went from white to purple belt in BJJ in a little over a year. Just to fill you guys in, that’s ridiculousness fast! Jon was spending the bulk of his time working on his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) skills but was also diving head first into Muay Thai Kickboxing and Wrestling training, all of which are big pieces of the puzzle for winning in high level MMA. Between Master Julius Park, Jason Farrell and the many top fighters training with Team Lloyd Irvin it’s no wonder he got so good so fast.
Fast forward to 2010…on to MMA
Jon won his first test in MMA via a smoker fight in NJ. *Side note A smoker fight is a small show that a local academy will put on that pits academy vs. academy in the spirit of good fun and gaining experience for future “big” shows.
Jon has gone on to win all his fights by either choke, tko or unanimous decision. I’m not shocked at all seeing how Jon trains. He works out 3 times a day. He runs, lifts, does circuits, BJJ, Kickboxing, MMA and still finds time to teach classes. Amazing is one way to put it.
Jon and his wife Jen live in Ellicott City, MD. Jon is working at Crazy 88 and at the same time training hard for a title shot in a top event in Virginia. It’s only a matter of time before the belt belongs to him and the UFC calls…stay tuned!
–Master Danny Ives