On Oct. 17 in Griffin, Ga., two students will be making their amateur debut into the world of Ultimate Fighting or, as it is officially known, mixed martial arts.
 Jay Edwards, a health and physical education major, and Bobby Stiner, a graduate health and physical major, will be representing the White Tiger Martial Arts Academy in a MMA match.
 MMA incorporates all fighting styles. According to Edwards, it requires all aspects of martial arts and allows you to use a variety of punches, kicks and takedowns.
 Both Edwards and Stiner transitioned to MMA from football.
 “I played football all my life; I played a year here at Valdosta state,”  Edwards said. “My passion was with football all my life then it transitioned to this and I plan on doing this a long time.”
 Stiner tried to pursue a career in football but when it didn’t work out, he got into MMA.
 “My strength and conditioning coach [in my last college] got me turned on to Brazilian jujitsu. I started learning a little from him,” Stiner said.
 Both Steiner and Edwards feel MMA has taught them humility and gotten them better in tune with their bodies.