The Advance

Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Darren Photography Base Basvic, Jeremy Feist, after a win.

Media Credit: Darren Photography Team Supercell.

Media Credit: Darren Photography Base Basvic before fight.

Bruce Lee's voice resonated throughout the room of an impressionable
12-year-old boy: "A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come. And when there is an opportunity…
I do not hit. 'It' hits all by itself," said Lee. Staring intensely at a 27" screen, Base Basvic dreamt of a world not yet known to him, but one desired so greatly that in time would become reality.

Growing up, Basvic didn't go looking for fights. "I grew up with very little confidence and got made fun of quite a bit. Just having the name Base and being a skinny, poor, white boy was enough," said Basvic. Learning to protect himself early on became essential for Basvic's welfare.
Basvic recalled a pivotal point in his life, "This kid kept picking on me, and one day I decided to not take it anymore, so I took him to the ground." After this incident, Basvic no longer seemed like such a good match to those who had previously provoked scuffles.

When the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) made its debut in the early 90s, Basvic took an earnest liking to the sport. Basvic quickly noticed a theme, "These guys are all wrestlers and dominating."
Basvic had no experience with wrestling, so when he saw Brazilian Light Heavyweight Vitor Belfort fight, he gained confidence. "Wow, it isn't just wrestling; this guy can fight and he has never seen a mat. He has lightning-fast, powerful punches!"

At the age of 22, an inspired Basvic joined the Salina Boxing Club. After competing for a few years, he then ventured into the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with Master Ron Young, owner of Master Young's American Fighting Arts Academy. It was here that he achieved his goal of becoming a black belt.

Young, who taught Basvic kicking, taekwondo, MMA, and grappling, describes Basvic as a "talented" individual whose strengths include "boxing, kicking and striking." While still training under Master Young, Basvic met MMA owner of Team Supercell, Jaymon Hotz.

"He is smart in everything he teaches and everything else," Basvic said of Hotz. Trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, Savate, Greco and freestyle wrestling, as well as the psychology of fighting, Hotz is a highly influential individual in Basvic's life.

Since joining Team Supercell nearly a year ago, Basvic has managed to keep contenders at bay with a 4-0 record, winning every bout in the first round. "I train real hard MMA three times per week, and do sprints and lift weights two times per week," said Basvic.
Mental preparation for Basvic is of equal importance, "Before each fight I say to myself, 'I train hard; I'm good; there's nothing to be scared of,' and then I think of my kids. I then picture myself really going at it, going full force and going right through him. I beat him the best I can, then I picture the ref holding my arm up at the end of the fight."

Clearly, both the physical and mental discipline has paid off, as Basvic holds two light heavyweight title belts.

Aspirations for Basvic include fighting as long as he can and one day entering the UFC octagon. With surmounting determination and dedication Basvic believes that "if you train hard, it builds confidence in every aspect of your life; you become stronger as a person." So far, it is this philosophy that has transformed the skinny boy with little confidence into a remarkable fighter.

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