Since Paul Sweda began training and competing in mixed martial arts, he has set goals for himself which become almost like rungs on a ladder. He sets one goal, achieves it, and sets another, higher one.
The latest goal the 23-year-old Shamokin resident plans to achieve will take place Nov. 9, when he competes professionally for the first time, at the Breakdown in Billtown event in Williamsport.
Sweda has had six amateur bouts, posting a 4-2 record since his first fight in August, 2010. Now, he hopes to make money at the sport. What's impressive is that he doesn't have stars in his eyes, and expect to make millions. But the possibility is there, and for now, whatever pay he gets is what he terms a double bonus.
"Now, I'll be getting paid for doing something I enjoy anyway," Sweda says.
Sweda got interested in the sport three years ago. He was looking for a sport which he could do "after high school" and which could channel his more aggressive tendencies.
"I was never in any real trouble but I didn't want to just hang out at bars and get in fights, either," he said. "So I started doing this, and I find it actually calms me down."
He started with basic grappling technique, worked his way into submission holds and eventually got into the boxing end of the sport. That's one of the differences between amateur and professional MMA fighting, according to Sweda. The amateur bouts feature very little, if any, boxing.
Of course, between working full time and training five or six days a week, he kind of naturally gets calmed down.
Sweda works at a fulltime job, gets home at 3:30 and by 4:30 is on his way to Bloomsburg Monday through Thursday. He trains at Crosswinds Karate School there under coach Joel Nott Monday through Wednesday. On Thursdays, he trains at Bloomsburg Health and Fitness and on Fridays he travels to Schuylkill Haven to train at a club there. On Saturdays he works out on his own.
"Sunday is family day," Sweda said. "I need a day of rest."
Sweda weighed about 175 pounds when he took up the sport. He weighs about 160 now and will have to get down to 145 for his bout. That means cutting weight.
"It was (tough) at first," Sweda said of that regimen. "But as you do more weight cuts, you learn what you can eat and when you should eat. I'm at the point where it doesn't bother me."
Sweda eats mostly fruit and vegetables and stays away as much as possible from processed foods.
"I don't eat anything with additives or pre-packaged foods," he said. "When you eat healthy foods and have to lose weight, 10 pounds flows off like nothing."
Sweda will take on Eric Steppe of Williamsport in the November bout.
"He's a hometown boy so I'll be the underdog," he said. "That doesn't bother me."