Interview: Bellator’s Nathan Ghareeb ‘on the right path’ with MMA

Bellator featherweight Nathan Ghareeb didn’t even know what mixed martial arts was a decade ago as a high schooler in Southampton, Massachusetts. A self-described sports junkie with a mohawk that drew comparisons to Chuck Liddell, Ghareeb’s career path wasn’t realized until midway through college.

After multiple injuries that sidelined his wrestling career, Ghareeb hit a low point.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Ghareeb told Fight Night Picks’ John Hyon Ko in a 20-minute interview recently.

Ghareeb found a brazilian jiu-jitsu gym and quickly fell in love. After transferring to West Virginia University, Ghareeb’s desire to train only grew. He skipped classes to train. Weeks before his graduation, he took his first two amateur fights, the latter resulting in a broken foot and a crutch-aided walk with cap and gown.

“I just knew it was for me,” Ghareeb said. “I love the art of it. I fell in love with training techniques, new ways to attack, the kicking and punching, knees and elbows. All of it.”

Ghareeb, 27, now faces the toughest test of his budding career. He fights talented prospect Cody Law in a featherweight fight at Bellator 256 on Friday in Connecticut. He is a heavy underdog.

“I think it’s going to be great fight,” Ghareeb said. “I’m definitely being overlooked by a lot of people. But I like that. It fuels me. I feel like my entire life I’ve been overlooked; I’ve been underestimated.”

Ghareeb admitted even he doubted himself at times. He was always good at sports, but never realized his full potential, he said.

That was until he found MMA.

“I feel like Im right where I belong,” Ghareeb said.