Back Lewis Bruton's Journey to Team USA

Hello everyone, I'm Lewis Bruton, a mixed martial arts fighter hailing from Birmingham, England and currently living in Clarksville, MD. In the upcoming 2024 season, I'm gearing up to represent Team USA in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF). In March I will be traveling to Big Bear, California for team trials, which would then be followed by a challenging competition year, including the July Pan American Games in Trinidad and the grand finale at the November World Championships in Mexico, where 500 athletes from 62 nations will compete, enduring five fights in a week. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to compete alongside and against elite international talent, and to test my skills on the world stage. I am also humbled to represent a country that has provided me with incredible opportunities, including the ability to build a home with my family.

To unravel the tale of how a guy from Birmingham found himself on Team USA lets rewind to 2008. I crossed paths with my now wife, a native of the USA, who coincidentally stayed at the same hotel where my high school prom was taking place. What followed was a decade-long commitment to a long-distance relationship, involving many flights, MySpace and Skype chats, immigration hurdles, university life, work challenges, and the demands of martial arts competition. In 2018, I finally made my permanent move to the States where we have been building our life together ever since. Fast forward to 2022, my wife and I welcomed our daughter, Effie, and I stepped away from my career as a strength and conditioning coach to be a stay at home dad. Effie has been a regular at Crazy 88 MMA since she was just three months old, accompanying me to fight team practice every day. While bringing her along to my training sessions has presented its share of challenges, the rewards are immeasurable – not just in terms of spending time with her, but also in showing her firsthand how to chase after your dreams.

After five years of living in the US and competing on the North East regional circuit, I've now earned eligibility for American citizenship and secured the opportunity to compete for a position on Team USA. However, financial constraints are a reality without sponsors. Since this is an amateur competition I will not receive any payment for participating, and I am personally responsible for all associated costs. My objective is clear: to raise enough funds to help cover travel and lodging, competition fees, training, equipment, and medical costs. Every dollar raised helps fuel the campaign and makes a tangible impact to ease the financial burden for my family. To everyone supporting this campaign, I am very grateful. Thank you for investing your time, for reading, and for spreading the word. You can follow me on instagram @unprofessional_athlete

Let's go get the gold!