MISSOULA — Thirty-two years old is getting a little late in the game to be starting a mixed martial arts career. On the other hand, maybe it's the perfect time for Missoula's Jake Burritt. "I made a couple bad mistakes about six years ago and it ended me up in prison," said Burritt, who won a split decision over Noah Combs of Missoula Saturday in a middleweight bout during the Fights Under the Lights at Ogren-Allegiance Park.
"I turned my life back over to God and fought through it mentally and physically. I kept in shape, started leading people in prison to get in shape and change their lives around. I came in here wanting to use my shape and get into something I wouldn't get in trouble for.
" Burritt is on a roll out of the octagon as well. His passion for helping others blossomed when he was incarcerated and now it's helping him on the outside. "I have a lot of good friends that are still in there, a lot of good people," he said of prison in Deer Lodge.
"I'm actually a group fitness instructor now at VRTX (Fitness of Missoula). A bunch of beautiful people out there gave me a chance and hired me on. I got my CrossFit certification and wanted to take my physical abilities into fighting.
" Unlike almost all of the fighters competing on Saturday night, Burritt trains independently. It's something he's been doing for a long time. "In prison, I didn't just lift weights and work out, I worked out to keep myself sane," he said.
"It was through the COVID period when they locked us .
