Michael 'The Hybrid' Billups Rises To Top 25 In North American MMA

A Tulsa MMA fighter is now ranked among the top bantamweights in North America after a victory over the weekend against the number-one-ranked fighter in Kansas.

Michael "The Hybrid" Billups spoke to News On 6's Dave Davis about his career and what's next.

Davis: If people are thinking, "Michael Billups, I know that name," you were a Union Redhawk wrestler. You were really good.

Billups: Oh yeah, we were the Redskins back in the day, but yeah, I was pretty good, made All-State.

Davis: That's awesome. After your All-State wrestling days, take me through how you transitioned to fighting and eventually ended up in XFN.

Billups: Fighting was always what I wanted to do as a kid, like every kid says they want to be a pro at something. My mom and dad had me in karate at an early age, and I got good at that. But when I found wrestling, I thought, "I think I can really do this." Right out of high school, I was going to be an engineer, but one day I just thought, "Man, either it's now or never." I went home, told my mom, and she was like, "That's a great idea, but where are you gonna live?"

Davis: So supportive, but also keeping it real.

Billups: Absolutely. My mom is 100% my reality check, but she's also my biggest supporter. It's a good balance.

Davis: Take me through your fight this past Saturday—what happened, and how did you come out on top?

Billups: Shoutout to my coach, Ken Jason Watson. Between him and my team, we knew exactly where the guy was gonna be, what his weapons were, and where he was dangerous. Once we isolated all of his weapons, it was pretty much mine for the taking. Glory to God, we came out on top.

Davis: You're looking for your next fight. Is it common at this level to stay ready because sometimes you don't know when your name will be called?

Billups: Absolutely. My coach told me, "As soon as we hit the national scene, we've gotta be ready to go." So now, I just stay ready. It gets tough balancing being a full-time adult and a full-time fighter, but I try to handle it with grace. Stay ready for the next opportunity because you never know when it’s your time to shine.

Davis: UFC, not yet, but that’s the goal, right? How do you think you’ll get there?

Billups: Realistically, it’s just about keeping my focus, staying humble, and winning. I think staying humble in all situations has really helped me progress as both a fighter and a person. Even when things get tough, I remind myself, "You asked for this life." All you can do is your best.

Dave: When your next fight comes up, how can people find out where to watch you?

Billups: Definitely follow me on Instagram and Facebook. I post about my fights and try to stay involved with the community. Word-of-mouth works, too. You can find me on Instagram @hybrid_ billups135.