Former LSU player sets to make mark on MMA

• By MATT RAMSAY
• Special to 2theadvocate.com
• Published: Aug 8, 2008 - UPDATED: 1:25 p.m.

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As Shawn Jordan reflected on his days in El Paso just over four years ago, he realized that he has come a long way both figuratively and literally, having graduated from LSU with a degree in kinesiology and now working full time for a local cardiologist in Baton Rouge.

Jordan was the No. 7-ranked fullback in the country and accepted an offer from then-coach Nick Saban to play football for LSU. Jordan was a four-sport letterman in track, basketball, football and wrestling, for which he was two-time state champion in Texas.

Along with playing football Jordan was looking forward to wrestling, but was a little disappointed when he found out that LSU didn’t have a wrestling team.

“This is a great school with great support, so I just played football and had a great time with it,” he said.

After completing his football career, Jordan turned his sights on Mixed Martial Arts. He works full time during the day and trains by night seven days a week as a heavyweight mixed martial artist.

Jordan felt right at home and his wrestling and grappling background transitioned nicely into his MMA training.

With no serious training focused only on Mixed Martial Arts, Jordan got off to a rough start, breaking his hand throwing his first punch. He lost his first bout and then immediately began preparing his sights on the NFL trying out for scouts for the NFL Pro-Day. Jordan was limited at the Pro Day event with a broken hand and was disappointed when he was not drafted.

Jordan refocused on MMA training full time at Gladiators Academy with renowned boxing coach and trainer James Georgetown. He is also now working with jiu-jitsu coach Tim Credeur, who is back from Las Vegas after training with current light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin.

Jordan’s training paid dividends as he won his latest fight against a much larger and stronger opponent by TKO in the second round.

Local Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter and fellow Gladiator Academy training partner Kyle Bradley has said that “Jordan has real potential. He’s big, strong, athletic and fast as hell.”

Jordan said he found it difficult to say whether he would prefer a career as a pro football player of UFC fighter. It appears that he is taking MMA as seriously as he did football, so expect to see a pro circuit MMA championship in Jordan’s future.

Jordan will compete in his second fight in less than three weeks at the Gladiator Academy promotion “Summer Knockouts” event at the Texas Club at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

As the fight draws near look out for several other local fighters who will be trying to make names for themselves, such as Ben Kristonis, Matt Brown, Robert Auzenne, Brock Kerry, Derrick Hood, Hank Hughes and Andrew Staples.