I was born in Medellin, Colombia, and my family later relocated to Miami, Florida for better opportunities. My journey as a grappler began in high school at Miami South Ridge High School. After graduation, I headed to California for college and rediscovered my competitive spirit, participating in Pankration tournaments in Anaheim in 2008.

Following my college years, I made my way to Honolulu, Hawaii, where I trained at the Ultimate Fight School under owner Chris Leben. It was there that I developed a deep passion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and embarked on MMA training. In 2010, I entered my first competition at Triple Crown Hawaii, winning the tournament with my signature head and arm submission. Since then, I've been dedicated to perfecting this technique and honing my skills every day.