Fresno MMA Fighter looks to settle unfinished business

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno's Josh Koscheck Bellator MMA debut was derailed earlier this month when he sustained an injury, But another fighter out of the Dethrone Gym in Fresno will have his fight go on as planned as part of the main card in Bellator 148 on Friday, January 29th at the Save Mart Center.

Chris Honeycutt's journey from Cleveland to Central California has featured many stops along the way.

"I wrestled up until I was about 23, won a couple state titles in both Massachusetts and Ohio and went to college, 2-time all-American, senior year I was a national finalist," said Honeycutt.

Honeycutt wrestled at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania the same school Koscheck attended paving the way to the west coast.

"I actually came out to California, worked out with Koscheck for about a month or so to make sure fighting is what I wanted to do and that's what I wanted to pursue. It was either that and try and keep wrestling and go for the Olympics. I find it a lot more enjoyable to take people down and punch them in the face," said Honeycutt.

The transition from wrestling to MMA wasn't without bumps in the road.

"Big stiff guy, wrestler. He had no rhythm, stiff honestly I didn't want to work with him. I thought it was just too much work," said Honeycutt's boxing coach Marcos Padilla. "He made me a believer. He wants to learn so bad, I can't say no to somebody that wants to learn that bad."

For Honeycutt, there is one overriding major factor that motivates him every day he steps in the cage.

"To never have that feeling of loss again in my life. That feeling of unfinished business, that fuel will never die out."