Kevin Burns looks like the average “Joe”…dresses like the average “Joe”…holds a full-time job like the average “Joe”.  However, Kevin “The Fire” Burns is not so average…he is a professional MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter, living and working in greater Des Moines.  I had the opportunity to interview Kevin this week, and here is what I learned… 

Kevin “The Fire” Burns had his first professional MMA fight in August 2006.   He says, “I became interested in the sport as it got more involved with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai.  I had competed in an amateur event,  loved it and never looked back!”.  

Kevin received a UFC call (May 2008) to compete against Roan Carneiro…a well known black belt MMA fighter.  He had ONLY 9 days to prepare for the fight, make arrangements to take off work (at Wells Fargo) and fly to the UK –where the fight was to take place.  With only 9 days Kevin thought,”I knew I was competing against one of the best ground fighters at my weight in the world, I prepared to keep the fight standing and take him out of his element.  My thoughts were pretty simple.  I had nothing to lose and the world to gain so going in I planned on going for broke leaving everything in that cage.”  Kevin won the fight with 1:10 left in the second round… Carneiro tapped out.

His next fight is July 19th in Las Vegas at the Palms.  Burns states, “My opponent,  Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, is a huge welterweight with serious knockout.  Johnson is a dangerous striker with KO power in both hands.  He will for sure want to keep the fight standing and look for an early KO.  Rumble has not really been tested to date and I plan on doing just that.  It will definitely be a fight for the fans!” 

This is definitely a DREAM come true for a local fighter…as Walt Disney said, “All our DREAMS can come true-if we have the courage to pursue them.”  Keep up the courage Kevin “The Fire” Burns…pursue your Dreams and make them a Reality!

Kevin Burns on UFC.com (click here for bio, photos, videos, interviews, fight history)
Burns article from MSNBC.com
Another article in Sports Illustrated

Update 07/15/2008: I was finally able to find a video of this fight.  Watch the Kevin Burns vs. Roan Carneiro video here.  It is incredible!

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