Is what\u2019s taking place down the street at the Delta Center on Saturday night antithetical to the gospel of Christ? Or is there something about the sport that makes fighting and discipleship perfectly compatible?<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a strong commitment in my own personal life to being a peacemaker, and I also really enjoy the sport of fighting,\u201d said Cade Alvey, who co-hosts the faith-themed podcast \u201cAll Those in Favor\u201d<\/a> and also trains in mixed martial arts. \u201cSo if there was a tension between the two that I didn\u2019t think could exist, then I would give up one. … But I think it is obvious to anyone that knows peace and knows how to have a peaceful relationship with the world around them, and who also knows fighting, that these two concepts don\u2019t really brush up much against one another.<\/p>\n \u201cI find it\u2019s easier to be a peacemaker in an MMA gym than it is to be in an intramural softball game.\u201d<\/p>\n We wanted to know what\u2019s in the minds of fighters who declare their Christian faith. From the highest levels of the sport to the local gyms, here are insights from:<\/p>\n Natalia Silva: No. 1-ranked flyweight who will be fighting for the vacant title on Saturday in Salt Lake CityAnthony Wint: Undefeated heavyweight and former NFL player fighting as part of the prelims this weekendRoberto Soldic: Croatian welterweight who is 18-1 and is featured on Saturday\u2019s main cardKauai Thompson: Professional MMA fighter and Latter-day Saint known as the \u201cThrowin\u2019 Samoan,\u201d who was featured in the YouTube series \u201cSaints Unknown\u201d<\/a>RJ Wilgar: A mixed martial artist from Utah and a Latter-day SaintDalton Williams: Former amateur mixed martial artist out of Utah and a Latter-day Saint apologist known on social media as @unashamedtruth116<\/a> \u201cI cannot imagine a life without God. I have spoken to him many times and said: \u2018God, I can lose everything, but please don\u2019t leave me, stay by my side,\u2019 because I cannot imagine that. He is everything to me.\u201d<\/p>\n On using MMA as a platform:<\/p>\n \u201cI know that the place that I talk about God is very improbable. People don\u2019t expect me to talk about it there, but I couldn\u2019t go without saying the role that he has in my life and why I would not be here if it wasn\u2019t for him. He brought me to the place. He\u2019s given me the strength and really the energy every day to do what I do. <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe that stage that I have reaches people that otherwise would never hear about God.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd maybe some people in this improbable place, maybe they see me and they may be in a situation that they may need to be reached and they wouldn\u2019t be reached otherwise. But maybe that stage that I have reaches people that otherwise would never hear about God, so at least they\u2019re hearing it from me and I\u2019ll never stop telling it.\u201d<\/p>\n On if it\u2019s possible to love your opponent:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a fight. It\u2019s just business. You can definitely go about your business fighting, and you can definitely love. And honestly, these are work matters. You go out there and you do your job.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Anthony WintOn following God\u2019s plan for him:<\/p>\n \u201cI think fighting is stupid. But God says, \u2018The foolishness of God is greater than the wisdom of man.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n On using UFC as a platform to share his beliefs:<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t fight for the belt, man. I fight for the fact that either I\u2019m going to get the mic or you\u2019re going to get the mic, and what you\u2019re going to say more than likely isn\u2019t going to be better than what I\u2019m going to say because I\u2019m not saying what I want to say. I\u2019m propelling God\u2019s message forward to the masses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFighting, in a sense, is my ministry.\u201d<\/p>\n On his decision to use worship music as his walk-up songs:<\/p>\n \u201cFighting, in a sense, is my ministry, and I think it allows, if there\u2019s a room full of 20,000 people, even if it\u2019s two people, if they hear that song, it\u2019s like, \u2018Wow, what\u2019s going on? I heard Lil Wayne, I heard this, I heard that, but this guy\u2019s coming out to worship music.\u2019 All I need is one soul to be like, \u2018OK, maybe I\u2019m going to reevaluate how I live my life because this guy walked out to a worship song.\u2019 And even if they don\u2019t, it allows me to know that, \u2018Hey, we\u2019re going to war and we don\u2019t plan to lose.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n On what comes next after fighting: <\/p>\n \u201cGlorifying God. At the end of the day, I think I\u2019m called to be a warrior, not just in the cage, but in my community, in my family.\u201d<\/p>\n Roberto SoldicOn being a peacemaker and a fighter:<\/p>\n \u201cI believe this is all for a reason. I don\u2019t hate my opponent. It\u2019s only sport and that\u2019s it. I was born for this. I believe this, you know? So, it\u2019s all from God, talent and everything. Hard work also, but with God, you go on top.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kauai ThompsonOn being both \u201cmean\u201d and \u201cnice,\u201d shared during a podcast interview with Ward Radio<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s an avenue to be both. \u2026 Sometimes it\u2019s good to get punched in the face, and sometimes it\u2019s good to step up and stand up for what we believe in.\u201d<\/p>\n On the camaraderie shared between fighters:<\/p>\n \u201cYou can punch someone in the face. You can break their nose. And then afterward if you can go out and get a burger with them, that\u2019s peacemaking.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/BUXTOOBBT5ANJOBCDXLZTR7WLY.jpg\")
Natalia Silva celebrates a win against Andrea Lee during a UFC 292 mixed martial arts fight, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Boston. Silva won via unanimous decision. | Gregory Payan, Associated Press Natalia SilvaOn the role faith plays in her life as a fighter:<\/p>\n