There are things that come natural in this life and for Joe Solecki it's the most unnatural thing a human can do. Solecki has been going head-to-head with competitors in combat sports for as long as he can remember, and mixing it up in the scrap is truly all he knows
 
Solecki believes he was born to compete and the early foundation in martial arts eventually led to a career in fighting. According to the New Jersey native, he was "choking people out before he learned to read," and that's the product of an early introduction to what would become his future.
 
Therefore it's safe to say before Solecki learned his ABC's he was already becoming versed in BJJ, and it's an education that has remained full throttle since storytime on the magic rug.
 
One could call it destiny, or on a more Earthly realm scale, Solecki's gravitation toward martial arts could be chalked up to a family's relocation, lack of information available and The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers craze of the late 90's.
 
"It's all I've ever really known," Solecki told FloCombat. "When I was four years old I used to love the Power Rangers and I think two of them did Karate. I really wanted to do that because of them. My older brother was a good baseball player but we moved towns and my parents didn't really know anyone so he kind of rode the bench or played positions he wasn't used to so it got my parents looking for another outlet for him. They found martial arts.
 
"They told me if it ended up being a good fit for him they would let me join and that's what happened. This was 1999 so there wasn't really all that much info out there on the different disciplines, and I'm sure they thought they were signing him up for Karate but they actually signed him up for jiu-jitsu. He took to it and the week I started Kindergarten I signed up as well.
 
"I've never played tee ball or anything else," he added. "This is all I've ever known and I love it. It was my first hobby and it became a passion."

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Nearly two decades into the trade, Solecki has become a highly touted prospect on the regional scene with the potential for a very bright future ahead. The 23-year-old grappling ace has notched each of his five victories by way of first round submission, and has found success in all but one of his four bouts as a professional.
 
All of which have happened in a two year span, which has put Solecki's life on whirlwind status throughout.
 
Even though Solecki suffered a setback in his most recent outing back in May, there was much to be found for the young talent in the aftermath. Avoiding all possible cliches, Solecki locked onto the genuine moments following his first defeat in either the professional or amateur ranks, and has carried those lessons learned into his journey onward.
 
His bout against Cesar Balmaceda at CFFC 65 may not have resulted in the best night, but it ended up being the right night in regard to what Solecki needed for education purposes.
 
"The more fights I went through without going through an actual fight or adversity the more worried I would get if that makes any sense," Solecki said. "If I went through a fight without getting rocked, taken down or without losing a round the more I would be waiting for it to happen. Fear only comes from the unknown and I'd gone through a lot of fights without seeing much at all.
 
"It all happened for me in one fight and now I feel free. I don't worry about those other things because they've happened and I've seen them. It sucked for the time being but honestly believe it was the best thing for me. Another quick win would not have made me better. Losing that fight, but more importantly how that fight played out helped shape me into a better fighter.
 
"I remember sitting in the hospital for like eight hours after the fight and looking at my fiancee and coaches. I remember telling them, 'This sucks, but man I love this game.' Sitting there in that moment proved to me how much I love this because even coming out on the losing end of a hard fought fight there was nothing else I'd rather be doing."

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Solecki's path will bring him to back to familiar territory as he'll compete in front of a South Carolina crowd for the first time in two years at Warfare 16 on Aug 19. The event streams exclusively on FloCombat and prospect-heavy card promises to be one of the region's biggest in 2017.

The event holds special value to Solecki as he made his amateur debut under the Warfare banner back in 2015. Solecki is beyond motivated to show and prove the level of fighter he's become in front of a fight-hungry crowd who will turn out strong to watch him compete.
 
A lot has changed in a short amount of time for the young grappling standout, and Solecki plans to make a definitive stamp on his legitimacy in MMA under the Warfare banner where it all began.
 
"It all started less than two years ago and has moved very fast," Solecki said. "I mean I made my debut 18 months ago as an ammy and turned pro within a year. I'm now going on my fifth fight as a professional, and while the focus is always about getting better, it's also about gaining experience as well.
 
"I really do believe I'll get where I'm going when the time is right. I'm not trying to rush things because I really feel that was part of the problem before. The track I'm currently on with my coaches, teammates and lifestyle; I'll get there. The same thing happened in grappling for me. There were times it all felt so far away and I felt as if I'd never get an invite to a big tournament or get a big match, but a month later it'd be right there in front of me.
 
"I'd show up to a tournament last minute and a big name would be there and I'd beat them and get some recognition."
 
And when it comes to measuring the progress made his personal path toward accomplishing his goals, Solecki isn't one to discount even the smallest signs that ground was made. From training sessions in the gym where his ever-improving striking game reaches the point of flow, or sitting down for an interview with a voice he's listened to for years, it's all growth where Solecki is concerned.
 
"I was also thinking this morning because I used to listen to the MMA Weekly's podcast you did with Damon Martin and that was back when I started college and used to listen to the reruns in the cafeteria," Solecki said. "I wasn't even in MMA then just grappling. So I went from never throwing a punch to being interviewed by a guy I loved listening to when I was just a fight fan in such a short amount of time. It's all coming together for me and I'm about to have and win my fifth pro fight. I just have to relax and take it all in and that's what I'm doing."

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