Airman fights to remain unbeaten at MMA event

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  During his first amateur mixed martial arts fight, Staff Sgt. Steve Burks was knocked unconscious twice, but still earned a victory.

Burks, an avionics Airman with the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, is now on the eve of his second professional fight at the Strike Fight MMA event, here Dec. 8. His impressive record stands at 10-0 amateur, 1-0 professionally, but his three-year fight career started with a "bang" of a lights-out punch to the face.

"My trainers told me 'when that cage door shuts, your arms are going to feel like jello and you won't be able to move," said the 27-year-old, 145-pounder from Texas. "I brushed it off thinking it'll never happen, but sure enough, I was frozen."

That's when the darkness came with a punch, followed quickly by a kick to the head.

"I basically went blank after those two hits," said Burks. "I don't remember grabbing his leg, but I woke up somehow on top of him. That's when it all clicked, 'I'm in a fight. I better do something or he's going to kill me.'"

Burks said he didn't get hit anymore after that and he ended up winning by submission. What began painfully for the wrestling and submission specialist has flourished into an undefeated record. A feat made even more impressive while serving in the Air Force.

His fight preparation is a five-day-a-week workout for an hour and a half to three hours. The workouts occur after an eight to 10-hour shift on Hurlburt Field's gunship flightline.

"The time commitment you have to make is a difficult part of this sport," admitted Burks. "Running three miles a day won't get you in fighting shape. It's the sparing and rowing and more, and then you do it over and over again."

Daniel Silva, Burks' Brazilian jiu jitsu trainer, thinks if anyone can handle the pressures of the Air Force and MMA, it is Steve Burks. When he joined Silva's gym, he was so eager to get involved, he skipped the first-week-free trial and signed up for membership.

"Steve is the kind of person who can accomplish anything. He finds a way to get it done," said Silva. "He fights the same way. He finds a way to win. It may not be pretty, but he comes out on top."

To remain at the top, he'll have to take down Michael Roberts, who is also undefeated with a 1-0 professional record. Someone's winning streak will end Dec. 8.

"I've put a lot more work into this fight and I'm ready for war," said Burks. "I love to compete. I want to push myself every time I'm in the cage. I don't want an easy opponent."

Silva has made sure of that. He's handpicked the most challenging opponents Burks could bear to ensure he grew as a fighter.

"Steve is still young and he's got a lot to learn," said Silva. "With his heart and determination though, I definitely believe he could be a big star if he wanted to be."

Burks is must more humble about his prospects. He plans to make the Air Force a career and understands his commitment to service will always limit his fight ambitions. In January, he'll take on a new career challenge as an Air Force recruiter in the neighboring area.

"I just love fighting in MMA," said the soft-spoken Burks. "If I only ever fight locally, I'll be okay with that."

The fighting and the training are the easy parts for Burks. The diet and the mental aspects are the areas he says he struggles with the most.

"It's tough watching everybody else eating those big lunches and there I am with my tuna fish sandwich.  The holidays only add to the torment," he said. "MMA is so much more of a mental battle than I ever thought. I've had fights where I knew I was in the best possible shape I could be and then I hit the ring. The nerves kick in, and I'll dump all of my adrenaline and end up exhausted and weak early in the fight."

The goal is to remain as relaxed and clear-minded as possible so the adrenaline is there when it's needed.

"You have to remain calm and know you're going to be nervous," he said. "When you walk out, there is a lot going on. Your friends and family are there screaming your name. People are cheering or booing you. You have to somehow block it all out."

That scenario will be amplified Dec. 8 at Strike Fight. With the event on an active-duty Air Force base, and only a short drive from his unit, the crowd will be primarily military, full of Burks' friends, coworkers and supporters.

With the crowd behind him, he'll enter the octagon showcasing the Air Force and try to earn win number 12 and remain undefeated.