Episode #57
From Fugitive & Prison to UFC Top 10 | Ian Heinisch’s INSANE Story
He Fled the Country… Then Became a UFC Top 10 Fighter | Ian Heinisch Prison, Addiction & the UFC: Ian Heinisch’s Incredible Comeback Story From Prison to the UFC: The Ian Heinisch Story | Zach Smack Show He Was a Fugitive at 19… Then Became a UFC Star | Ian Heinisch I think “He Was a Fugitive at 19…” could be killer for CTR. YouTube Description Former UFC Top 10 middleweight Ian Heinisch joins Zach Smack for one of the wildest conversations we've had on the show. Before fighting some of the toughest middleweights in the world, Ian's life looked completely different. He opens up about addiction, getting arrested on drug charges at 19, fleeing the United States with roughly $2,000, living as a fugitive in Europe, eventually being arrested and serving time in a Spanish prison. But prison wasn't the end of Ian's story. Ian explains how faith, discipline, wrestling and MMA helped him rebuild his life. After returning to Colorado, he walked into an MMA gym and began a journey that would eventually take him all the way to the UFC, where he competed against names including Derek Brunson, Kelvin Gastelum and Nassourdine Imavov. Ian also gets candid about the darker side of professional fighting, including the brain injury and symptoms that ultimately forced him to step away from competition. Today, he's building his next chapter as president of Ice Wars — a combat sport built around three one-minute rounds of hockey fighting. Ian breaks down the vision for the sport, its viral growth, potential former NHL involvement, and where he believes Ice Wars can go next. From addiction and prison to the UFC and entrepreneurship, this is a story about hitting bottom, rebuilding your life and refusing to quit. Subscribe to The Zach Smack Show for more conversations with athletes, fighters, entrepreneurs and personalities from across the sports world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
