They’re never too young to fight.
In mixed martial arts, that is.
Students train Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Strength and Honor Mixed Martial Arts in Upland. They are preparing for a weekend competition in Orange County. (Photo by Stan Lim, Contributing Photographer)
Jessie Kelly, 12, of Orange County, tries fighting techniques with owner and head instructor Jeff Frater on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Strength and Honor Mixed Martial Arts in Upland. The students are preparing for an upcoming competition in Orange County. (Photo by Stan Lim, Contributing Photographer)
Christian Teran, a 15-year-old Redlands resident, left, and Isaac Martinez, a 13-year-old from Victorville, train Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Strength and Honor Mixed Martial Arts in Upland. They are preparing for a competition in Orange County. (Photo by Stan Lim, Contributing Photographer)
Ocean Ramos, 10, of Santa Clarita, left, and Jayden Zapata, 10, 0f Fontana, fight during a Sunday, March 22, 2026, practice at Strength and Honor Mixed Martial Arts in Upland. (Photo by Stan Lim, Contributing Photographer)
Jaedyn Martinez, an 11-year-old Victorville resident, left, and Sky Ramos, a 14-year-old Santa Clarita resident, train Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Strength and Honor Mixed Martial Arts in Upland. The students are preparing for an weekend competition in Orange County. (Photo by Stan Lim, Contributing Photographer)
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Students train Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Strength and Honor Mixed Martial Arts in Upland. They are preparing for a weekend competition in Orange County. (Photo by Stan Lim, Contributing Photographer)
Inside an Upland strip mall, youths are doing just that.
Young fighters at Strength and Honor Mixed Martial Arts are preparing for a weekend competition in Orange County.
On Sunday, March 22, MMA students — some of whom are between 11 and 15 years old — were there, kicking, punching and grappling as they practiced.
They’ll be battling others inside an octagon Friday, March 27, to Sunday, March 29, at the United States Fight League’s Youth MMA Nationals in Orange County.