Joanne Williams
Editor

(Courtesy photo – Brandon Mroczek will be bringing his MMA expertise to the world kickboxing championship in Spain this fall and appreciates the support he has been receiving.)

With a nickname like MadDog, well, you’d be a bit intimidated, as Brandon MadDog Mroczek’s opponents on the mat must be.

But behind that functional name is a Teddy bear of a man who loves God, his family and his fighting family as well.

He loves it so much, that he aspires to bring home a world championship kickboxing title from Spain this October. He will be traveling with his coach and a 15-year-old teammate who has also qualified.

This mixed martial arts athlete grew up in Lake Odessa and joined the Marines out of high school. After the Marines he transitioned into trucking where he has a 550-mile-a-day gig.

When he is not working, he spends time with his family, two boys and a girl, and his wife, Dana, who works at the Eaton County Courthouse. She was not sure about his growing passion until she saw what he did to improve and engage with other like-minded athletes. His children not only support him but can be found training with him and engaging in other school sports.

Next year, his youngest son plans to join him at world competitions.

Mroczek trains “a lot – one to two hours a day, five to six days a week, so 10 to 12 hours a week,” he said, around his work schedule.

He has already purchased his ticket for the Oct. 24-30 event. “If it comes to it, I will sleep on the streets…but I am going to make it happen,” Mroczek said.

This is the first time in his career that he is seeking sponsors to help him accomplish his goal. “I am not gonna put myself on hold any more,” he said. “I expect to come home with a world championship, or two. He will be competing in two division matches.

Mroczek started training in 2020 and fighting in 2022. Mroczek found his fighting family in a number of places.

Mroczek has worked with other dedicated MMA athletes in mid-Michigan, including 16-time world champion Grand Master Harris A. Edwards Jr., from Grand Ledge, his main coach. A friend, now deceased, has also been an inspiration. They fought in the style of GO-TI. Mroczek now trains with his son. There is also Capital City Kickboxing in Lansing, where Kris Bruno is his Muay Thai and kickboxing coach.

At Deep Water MMA in Hastings, coaches Calvin and Tara Harbaugh and Phillip Joseph, train and encourage him.

Mroczek said he “lives by three Fs: Faith, Family and Fighting,” and promises to “fight hard for family and supporters.”

For information, or to support, find Brandon Mroczek online or through Bmroczek07@gmail.com.