Mixed martial artist and former LSU fullback Shawn Jordan claims ownership to two BCS National Championship rings.
And now he’s gone down under to begin the quest to add a UFC championship belt to his collection.
Jordan (12-3) will take on fellow heavyweight and UFC newcomer Oli Thompson (9-2) today at UFC on FX 2 in Sydney, Australia.
In two years as a wrestler for Riverside High School, Jordan won two state championships and had to turn down several collegiate programs to commit to LSU for football.
“[Playing football for LSU] was a great experience,” Jordan said. “Football will always be my first love.”
At LSU, Jordan redshirted on the 2003 national championship squad. He played on special teams and rotated at fullback until he graduated in 2007 with degrees in kinesiology and chemistry and a second BCS title.
He still holds LSU lifting records, having benched 600 pounds in his time at the University, and he developed a tight-knit bond with strength and conditioning coordinator Tommy Moffitt.
“I talk to Coach Moffitt all the time,” Jordan said. “He’s one of my favorite teachers, coaches and friends. … He is a huge reason why LSU does so well on and off the field. He’s a mentor and really teaches you what’s important to be a man.”
Moffitt taught him power and explosiveness that would make the transition to fighting easy, and it was in that weight room where Jordan would begin his MMA career.
He started working with Trey Beall, a 1990 LSU business graduate, friend of Moffitt and owner of Beat-2-Sleep MMA apparel, after he saw Beall working out in one of his T-shirts.
“He has a competitive spirit,” Beall said. “He really didn’t know if he would be able to play professional football. It was a way for him to continue to compete, work out and challenge himself.”
Beall used his connections to unite Jordan with a local fight promoter, and he competed in his first amateur fight Feb. 9, 2008 — just a month and two days after the 2008 BCS game.
He broke his hand throwing his first punch and lost in the first round by way of technical knock-out.
After seeing Jordan so underprepared, Beall took him under his wing and began guiding his career. Under Beall’s tutelage, Jordan won his next 10 amateur fights and 11 of his first 13 pro bouts.
Beall said he thought Jordan didn’t realize his marketability as a former Tiger until he began fighting around southeastern Louisiana and was heralded as a hometown hero. In 2009, he headlined a card billed as former LSU athletes fighting former Florida athletes.
“When I was at home fighting, it was always welcoming,” Jordan said. “It was a very similar to Tiger Stadium but on a much smaller scale.”
Jordan relied on his athleticism and wrestling pedigree to manhandle opponents until he took a fight on three days for Strikeforce, which is owned by UFC parent company Zuffa, LLC. He lost the decision, but was invited back to the organization.
He went to Mike Winkeljohn, a world champion kickboxer who coaches the striking at the renowned Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA. Winkeljohn immediately noticed Jordan’s explosiveness but saw room for refinement.
“His right hand was throwing really hard, but his left hand was non-existent in the fight I saw,” Winkeljohn said. “We just started working on his left hand so he could use both hands. … He’s come a long way.”
Beall said Jordan had “evolved tenfold” and looked much more comfortable on his feet. At his next match, 22 seconds into the first round, Jordan caught his opponent with a left, swelling his eye shut.
He won by submission with 3:08 left in the second round.
“I felt much more comfortable,” Jordan said. “When you’re fighting you can feel it. You’re more confident.”
After the impressive victory, Zuffa called Jordan up to the UFC to face Thompson. The former Britain’s Strongest Man may be Jordan’s first opponent who can exceed his strength, placing even more emphasis on the recent improvements to his striking.
“He likes to stay on top of you and try to control you,” Jordan said. “As long as I don’t let him control me, I think I’ll be fine.”
Jordan’s fight can be viewed at 4:30 p.m. on the UFC Live Streaming Facebook page.
 
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Contact Alex Cassara at [email protected]