A lot can happen in a year-and-a-half, and if you want proof, examine the budding MMA career of Fort St. John fighter Brad Stewart. Despite having only begun training in martial arts earlier last year, the 26 year-old-fighter has wasted little time demonstrating that he’s a quick study in fighting, going 3-0 since he began competing professionally last September.

“About a year-and-a-half ago I started training,” said Stewart, who after training for approximately 4 months, fought Lee Lepoidvin at KOTC Canada’s “Disturbed” event and won by second round TKO. “I met Clint (Parker), who had been grappling for a while, he entered the NAGA grappling championship in Vegas; he knew quite a bit of stuff and we started training. Then I decided to take a fight.”

Most recently, at KOTC Canada’s May 28^th, “Combustion” event, Stewart extended his winning streak to three by stopping Allan Hope. The 5-7 veteran was unable to continue into the second round, due to a cut Stewart had opened in round one, with a flurry of strikes.

“We were clinched up against the cage for a little bit and I ended up getting the single leg and taking him down,” said Stewart while recalling the bout. “From there, he wasn’t really able to get out from under me and so I just kept pounding; ended up landing a couple of good elbows, nice short shots, and he wasn’t able to come out for the second round.”

“I like fighting at 185 a lot better,” Stewart added, while discussing the bout with Hope, which was contested in the light-heavyweight division. “I usually walk around right around 205 so if I was to compete there again I’d definitely want to put on some more weight.”

Up next, at KOTC Canada’s upcoming July 30^th, Rexall Place event in Edmonton, Stewart will face Elmer Waterhen. The resilient veteran, who has fought some of Canada’s more notable competitors in Gary Wright, Rory MacDonald, T.J. Grant and Jesse Bongfeldt, is coming off a first round stoppage of Aaron Drewniak in April.

“He’s a gamer; he’s a real tough guy,” said Stewart when asked to assess the abilities of Waterhen. “I think it’s going to be a really, good fight. I think he might be smaller than me as he’s usually fought at welterweight. I’m really excited about it as he’s fought a lot of really good guys.”

“I’d like to keep it standing more but it’s never worked out for me thus far,” said Stewart while discussing possible game plans. “I’ve been working a lot on my stand-up because that’s what everyone wants to see. We train in everything.”

When not operating a Screw Pile truck in Northern B.C., Stewart hones his skills at the aforementioned Iron Rhino MMA facility, under the watchful eye of the team’s head instructor Parker.

“I feel really good about it,” Stewart noted when asked about his home gym. “We do have a really good group of guys there and it really is the only MMA gym in town. We have a good 20 guys that we train with regularly.  A lot of people are into it now.”

And as far as Stewart’s aspirations for the sport?

“It’s still a hobby right now, but if I keep doing well, obviously I’m going to stick with it.”

“To train all day, do it as a full time job; that would be awesome.”