Josh Wright wins first pro-MMA fight in Minot

He doesn’t fit the bill of your stereotypical Mixed Martial Arts fighter. No t-shirts emblazoned with the popular name brands of the sport, no issues with getting in fights outside of the ring and no ego. He’s soft-spoken, humble and is quick to discuss using his heart above all else in the octagon.

But Superior native Josh Wright is a fighter and with his first professional MMA victory in Minot, North Dakota on May 4 he is breaking into the world of mixed-martial arts and proving what residents of Superior have always known – that character, small town pride and most importantly heart can produce champions.

“He’s (Wright’s opponent Tony Valdez) originally from North Dakota so this was like a homecoming for him,” Wright said. “People were saying ‘oh Tony you are going to beat the (expletive deleted) out of this guy’ and that happened to be me but I was like ‘no that’s not going to happen.’”

Due to the nature of the bout, Wright was cast in an unusual role – almost a villain in the fight against a hometown hero.

“I hate being the villain but you know there’s nothing I can do against a hometown kid where he has all the support on his side,” Wright said. “All I can do is do what I do and just be nice and humble to everyone and that’s what I did.”

While being “nice and humble” Wright also dominated the fight - taking Valdez down quickly in the first round and gaining side control while unleashing a flurry of blows including an elbow that cut his opponent.

“The next round I took him down again,” Wright said. “He tried some submissions but I got out of all of those and just kept punching and elbowing him. I kept on top of him all round and then in the third round the same exact thing happened.”

After the results of the fight were announced and Wright won by a unanimous decision he was able to speak to the audience in Minot.

“I just asked them if I won them over and told them I came to fight for you guys,” Wright said. “I wanted to put on a good show and I pretty much did.”

On June 1, Wright will bring the show to Missoula for his first ever professional bout in Montana at the Hilton and wants to see a large hometown crowd come out to support him at the event.

“I’m hoping to see a bunch of people there,” Wright said. “They better while they can because I’m not going to be fighting here (in Missoula) pretty soon. I’ll be fighting in bigger cities and places.”

Wright will be fighting against Joe McMillen of Great Falls, a fighter with a great deal of experience who coaches at a gym for a team called “The Wolf Pack” – but the Superior native is ready.

“I’m feeling pretty good because I think I am close to being in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” Wright said. “He’s a stand-up guy so I’ll be able to take him down pretty well hopefully. I actually want to start standing up more and I think he is a good opponent for that. If he is going to want to shoot on me as well then I am just going to sprawl and brawl. I’m excited because he backed out of a couple fights with some guys and it shows that he just doesn’t have the heart like I do.”