Santa Maria Sun / Athlete of the Week

Gary Pintor

BY HENRY HOUSTON

PHOTO BY HENRY HOUSTON

Pintor may be fresh to the cages of MMA, but he’s faced off in the ring before. He’s had two kickboxing matches, both of which he won—by decision.

From straight kickboxing, however, he was intrigued by mixed martial arts and decided to explore the sport.

“It’s something I’m interested in. I was never interested in cars, fashion, or music,” he explained. “But I care about competition.”

Pintor still keeps the kickboxing alive for his stand-up fighting; his ground fighting is Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he thinks is detrimental in the cage.

“It’s all about submission and submission defense,” he said. “If you don’t recognize what they’re doing, it’s over. You can’t not know it.”

And, just like a true fighter, home isn’t where the heart is; it’s where the gym is, at the Hitman Training Center in Orcutt.

“I take my kids there while I train, and they play with other kids. It’s a family place,” he said. “If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be training.”