TAWAS CITY – A former Tawas City resident recently won a title belt in mixed martial arts (MMA) fighting.
Austin Zudell, 23, who now lives in South Branch, grew up in a more violent area. He was always getting into fights, which got him in trouble at school. This then all translated into hitting the bag.
Zudell has been training in MMA since he was 17. Joined by his best friend, he began his training at Huron Sports & Fitness in Tawas City.
He and his friend were then approached by a man from California, who ended up teaching them jiu jitsu after he noticed their training.
Over time, the both of them fell in love with the sport, and they eventually went downstate to an MMA gym in Southfield, called Michigan Top Team. They would make the drive to train there, since there weren’t any nearby MMA gyms in Tawas City.
“It’s been a long journey, especially not being able to train consistently in a MMA gym where most people are,” Zudell said. “They’re getting coaches telling them how to properly punch or kick. They’re just teaching them, and I don’t have that. So I’ve learned everything on my own or with my best friend.”
Zudell’s first MMA fight was in April 2024, which he won by a six-second knockout. The next one was in East Lansing, which went for all three rounds, and resulted in Zudell winning by decision.
The title belt fight was offered to him for Sept. 13 of this year, which he won by a submission in the first round.
Zudell stated that when he was going into the most recent fight, he was feeling calm and determined.
“I was also super excited,” he explained. “I didn’t have any nerves for this fight. I felt really good. My body felt good. I’d honestly say my friends and family were more nervous than I was.”
Zudell remarked that it was a surreal moment for him to win the title belt.
“It felt great to basically show people that it doesn’t matter where you come from, you can still do it,” he said. “Whatever your goal is, you can still do it as long as you stay determined and disciplined towards what you want to do.
“It was a great moment for me and it was definitely a milestone in my life.” he continued. “I’m definitely ready to get on to the next one.”
MMA is a tool that Zudell uses, to help him both mentally and physically, and is something that he describes as a need in his life.
“I don’t always need to punch someone or hurt someone, but hitting the bag or hitting pads or just training with other people, you meet a lot of good people,” he explained.
“A lot of people think these MMA fighters are really just mean guys who really like to punch people or hurt people, but that’s really not it,” Zudell pointed out. “We’re definitely humble and nice, loving people, until we get inside.”
Zudell wants others to know that no matter who a person may be, they can still do it as long as they put their mind to it. “It doesn’t matter what your rage is or who you are, you can do it as long as you put your mind to it and put your faith in God, and He’ll have you follow the path.”