Lucas Armand

What does it mean for you to fight for the UFC? It means a lot to me, man. Five years ago I was an alcoholic 400-pound bum and now I’m fighting on the biggest stage in the world. It’s a surreal experience.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training about 4.5 years ago. I had just gotten sober and honestly was trying to rediscover what I was interested in before I fell into addiction. I used to box a little in high school but there weren’t any boxing gyms near me as an adult. But there was an MMA gym. Walked in and became obsessed.

Who is your favorite fighter and why? Hard to say. I love Mike Tyson for his mentality. Don Frye is a GOAT, just off of the Takayama fight alone. And Mighty Mouse is an all-time favorite for me as well.

Do you have any heroes outside of fighting? Both my grandmother and my grandfather are both personal heroes of mine.

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? Undefeated. 2 Piece Promotions heavyweight champion, twice defended.

What fight do you consider to be the key fight in your career and why? My fight against Lawrence Phillips was a fight for me that stands out. Lawrence is a hell of an athlete, has fought for some big promotions, trains with a bunch of UFC athletes. So a win over him to secure my first professional championship really helped me solidify that I truly belong in this sport and can compete with some of the best.

Is there a cause that you want to use your platform for? Mental health, sobriety and Jesus Christ.

Beyond a championship or money, what motivates you? My wife and being able to provide a life for our future family.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Partially. Never got a degree. Some credits towards a business degree and at one point was interested in engineering.

What was your job before you started fighting? Blue collar. Worked in a factory as a hydromat operator for a while. Currently employed as a fabricator in a metal shop making custom manufacturing framework out of mostly aluminum extrusion.

Favorite grappling technique: Ground and pound

Favorite Striking technique: Punch

Tell us about your life outside of fighting: I just got married to my beautiful wife, Madelyn. I got the call from my manager, Jason House of Iridium Sports Agency, while on our mini-honeymoon about a possible short notice fight opportunity. We have no kids but want some in the future. We have two cats named Tobacco and Aoli. I don’t really have many hobbies besides fighting. When I’m relaxing I watch YouTube. I am five almost six years sober and have lost more than 100 pounds within the last couple years. I have rediscovered my faith in Jesus Christ. I am currently signed up for classes to convert to Catholicism.