I met with Travis inside Jeremy Horn’s Elite Performance Gym. Though the gym is not fully completed, it still feels like a warriors lair, the battle essence floating through the air and you can smell the blood and sweat; my kind of place. I made my way to the mats and watched for a few moments as a few sets of guys were rolling together. DaMarques Johnson approached me and in that special way of his gave me the “What the hell do you want look?” I said I was there to meet with Travis and with that he just pointed. I got the point. Funny thing is I spent six weeks the previous summer training at the gym before I went on vacation and started back at school in the fall. DaMarques was just one of a bunch of guys who I got the special privilege of getting my head caved in and my ligaments ripped off by; especially James “Birddog” Birdsley. He helped me to many a sore face and stomach. I have nothing but respect for these guys even though I was hardly worth remembering to them. Continued Below...



Travis came over and with a big smile shook my hand. I love to see that, fighters smiling. He finished up his workout and we made our way to a little office where I got the honor of getting to know this up-and-comer. It was nothing short of that and I’m not saying that just because I weigh sixty lbs. heavier and I know he can give me the beating of a lifetime. He is the fighter who doesn’t have the fighter stigma, he’s polite and humble and full of passion for the spirit of fighting. He’s not a thug just looking to make people bleed because he didn’t have anything better to do - and I know they’re out there and I love them - but he’s not one of them. Travis works for the Utah Highway Patrol, which is funny because he may be the first cop that I ever met that didn’t fit the cop stigma as well. He has two kids and is a dedicated family man. He also lives in Tooele, which makes traveling to train in Sandy a challenge because of time, but he finds a way to do it through the support of his family, friends, and other fighters at the gym.

CN- What is your background?

TM- I graduated from Union High in 1996. I went on to wrestle at (then known as) Ricks College in Rexburg Idaho. I wrestled a year there and then went on an L.D.S. mission.

CN-Did you wrestle in High School then?

TM-I did. I was a little guy. I wrestled at 103 lbs. my sophomore year, 112 lbs. junior, and 125 lbs. my senior year. At college I wrestled at 126 but I was cutting from about the high 140’s. Then I went on a mission for my church, and for two years I was in Argentina taking a break. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to wrestle anymore - I was so sick of cutting weight. I came back (from the mission), caught the bug and red-shirted my first year back. I wrestled at 146 and now I am a few lbs lighter than when I was at college so I don’t have to cut weight now. If I wanted to I could cut down to 135 but there’s not much around here locally at that weight. I used to fight at 155 but things got more competitive and more fighters started to cut weight to open the 145 lb class and I’ve had five fights in this division.

CN- I know that the WEC. has a 145 lb. weight class while the UFC does not, what are your goals, where would you like to fight?

TM- The WEC I think I would fit right in there. I would have to gain weight to fight in the UFC’s lightweight division. I would give my (certain body part) to fight in the W.E.C.

CN- Do you prefer one-on-one competition as opposed to team sports?

TM- Absolutely! That’s why I ‘m here.

CN- Earlier you mentioned that you went on an L.D.S. mission. Did that experience help you in fighting or in any other aspect of your life?

TM- I wouldn’t attribute it directly to fighting. It matured me a lot mentally, physically. I was in the southern most tip of Argentina and I was away from family and friends and I just had to challenge myself to see what I could take and what I could do. A lot of people don’t make it, a lot don’t have a problem with it, I think I did fine dealing with it and it was definitely a growing experience.

CN- Do you think there are any spiritual aspects to fighting?

TM- Absolutely, I do. The spiritual and the mental tie together for me. It’s not necessarily on a religious level, but your sprit or character says a lot about who you are and it determines where you’ll go as a fighter. My senior year was a defining moment for me. I had just won my third state championship. I thought I had accomplished a lot but I did not feel fulfilled in what I had accomplished like I thought I would. There were a few months there when I was questioning what I wanted to do. Did I want to continue wrestling, did I want to go to college and was I doing it for me or for my parents and others who were there? I finally came to the realization that if I’m going to do this, it has to be for me. I can’t worry about the pressure from everyone else and what they expected of me. I wasn’t sure about whether I wanted to go on a mission, but after I was away from my hometown, that first year of college away from home helped me grow up and realize what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go.

CN- Did you have any ambitions to become a fighter before your mission?

TM- I did not. I didn’t think I was a fighter. It wasn’t until later on that I was drawn into it.

CN- What happened post mission, post college to draw you into MMA?

TM- I met Jeremy Horn through Justin Ellison. We ended up riding dirt bikes together numerous times, I worked for the athletic commission part-time, and just being around the fights and Jeremy I decided to start training so last February (2007) I quit my part time job.

CN- It’s very addictive, isn’t it?

TM- Very.

CN- Do you follow the big show’s like UFC and WEC at all and do you have any favorite fighters you like to watch?

TM- I do. I try to stay in tune with what’s going on there. Urijah Faber is one that I love to watch. He’s an exciting fighter, he’s one of a kind. He’s an absolute animal. I love watching him fight.

CN- Would you like to fight him?

TM- I would love to fight Urijah Faber!

CN- I think everyone would.

TM- Obviously I have a lot to do, but if that opportunity came along, it would be a lifelong dream come true.

CN- Any thoughts on the Jens Pulver- Urijah Faber fight?

TM- It’s got the potential to be a great fight. Jens Pulver is no pushover. He’s very talented and been around a long time and he has a vast knowledge of all aspects of the game. However, I think it’s going to go in Urijah Faber’s favor. That’s a tongue-twister. But yeah, I think Urijah will come out on top of that one.

CN- I would like to know about your deal with Tapout. How did this come about?

TM- It was totally random. Jennifer Howe, Jeremy Horn’s girlfriend who also helps with the gym, called me one day saying “Tapout is coming around Christmas time. They are going to be interviewing a couple of guys from the gym; I put your name down to be interviewed. Are you interested?” I said ABSOLUTELY! A few weeks later they sent a camera crew and I did not think in a million years they would choose me to be their featured fighter, I just didn’t think I was what they were looking for. I’m ecstatic about it and it’s a great opportunity finally. It was postponed. It was originally supposed to happen in February, but now it’s here and I’m really excited.

CN- Can you tell me a little bit about this gym and why you’re here?

TM- Jeremy Horn’s Elite Performance, I think the name says it all. Like I said before, I have a friendship with Jeremy that goes beyond the fighting world, I knew him before I started training. He’s a wonderful guy, an awesome friend, and a one-of-a-kind. I just don’t know why I would go anywhere else. He’s an amazing instructor. Some people call him a legend in the sport, but he’s still in it and still fighting. Overall, he’s just a down to earth kind of guy.

CN- What do you think you’ve learned from him that has really helped you’re fighting game?

TM- Everything. (Chuckles) I came in here so green. I still am green and I’ll openly admit that. Wrestling was my only foundation, but he’s now molded that into a ground game and also my stand-up.

CN- What have you learned from the other fighters in the gym that you train with?

TM- There’s been some people who have influenced me more than others. DaMarques Johnson has helped me and taken the time on numerous occasions to meet me in here to work with me on my hands and my BJJ, especially the first time Tapout was coming. Others like Birdog….

CN- James Birdsley?

TM- Yeah. Sorry, he does have a real name. Him and Dustin Collins, Craig Ross, they are all guys who are better than me in certain aspects who help me. One guy I can’t leave out is Justin Ellison. He was my original contact to Jeremy. I’ve known him for years through I mutual friend I had on my mission. He’s cornered for me for many of my fights and has mentored me. Cory Turkelson, who can’t fight because of a problem with his leg, but is one of the best Jiu-jitsu guys around, has helped me tremendously as well.

CN- Where do you see yourself five years from now?

TM- Well, I’m thirty. People say there is a long life in this sport, and I believe that. I feel great and I’m in great condition mentally and physically, but I know that there’s still only so much life expectancy in the sport. One year from now, I hope to be competing in the bigger shows, not just at the local level. Five years from now, it’s hard to say. I want to still be involved in the sport and making money doing it. I’ll probably train for as long as I can do it, until I’m hunched over and can’t walk. As far as fighting goes, if something doesn’t blossom in the next few years, I can tell you that doing the local fights isn’t going to happen forever.

Through it all, Travis Marx still has to find time to face the challenges of everyday life. He is no different in this particular aspect. He struggles to make time for his family. He wants to do well at his job. He thinks he fails at things he wishes he didn’t; yet it’s the fighter’s spirit that carries him on and on. “Some of us find our way of deciding spiritually, emotionally and physically, how much we can fight through in life. For me, it’s just one of those things I’ll continue to do. Some people may not have it inside of them, some may roll over and play dead, but for me, I want to develop my fighting spirit. The sport may not always be there, but the fighting essence will last.”