MMA fighter "Ragin" Kajan Johnson one takedown closer to dream

"Rajin" Kajan Johnson already has 30 professional fights under his belt . The 29 year oldis fighting his way to become amixed martial arts champ.

If anything will boost Johnsons career it could be the American produced show The Ultimate Fighter, reality TV thatfollows professional MMA fighters as they train and compete.

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I wanted to be a ninja my whole life, he laughed. Or like the Karate Kid watching Bruce Lee movies, it really appeals to my inner child said Johnson,who is getting fairly close to being a real life ninja.

The 29-year-old welterweight fighter grew up in Burns Lake, B.C..

I wanted to be a ninja my whole life, or like the Karate Kid watching Bruce Lee movies, it really appeals to my inner child- "Ragin" Kajan Johnson

I got kicked out of LDSS[Lakes District Secondary School]when I was like 14...they made it a bigger deal than they needed to.I kind of bumped the shoulder of a staff member...so I moved to Prince George, said Johnson.

After that he channelled his energy into skateboarding and break dancing.

He foundhis passion when he followed a high school friend into a Prince George B.C. gym, called The Fight Club.

His debut fight

His first fight came less than two months later at age 17. He took down a 24-year-old in that bout.

We didnt really know that much, and wed go compete with people in other towns, Vancouver... it was a fun time for me, said Johnson who studied martial arts like jiu jitsu and muay thai,boxing and wrestling through the Club.

Johnson packed up and moved to Vancouver to take his fighting to the next level.

I never thought it was going to be a career, I thought 'OK, I just want to do this because its fun a big adrenaline rush, Im an adrenaline junky, I loved it' , says Johnson who at the time saw a fighting career only as a vague possibility.

But Johnson kept going hard until he had his first major injury in 2005. During a fight in Lethbridge, Alberta, he suffereda tripod orbital fracture, where his eye socket broke in three places. He alsobroke hisnose in several places.

Despite these injuries, Johnson kept on.

Keeping his focus

I like the competition, I like the mental test that you have put yourself through, I really like the lifestyle, I like to learn things, to move with my body," explained Johnson. "Ive always been good at movement and you really need a lot of coordination for this sport."

MMA taught Johnson was focus and discipline.

I was a little bit crazy at this point.I would head stake my opponent, get in their face and it was a way of dealing with my own fears, so people nick-named me RaginKajin, and the nickname stuck,"said Johnson who was 17 at the time.

I was a little bit crazy at this point, I would head stake my opponent, get in their face and it was a way of dealing with my own fears, so people nick-named me RaginKajan"- Kajan Johnson

As a nod to his aboriginal heritage, Johnson has abear paw tattoo across his heart to represent protection.

Standing at 511, his normal weight is 180 pounds. Johnsondiets toabout 165 pounds, and thenhe cuts water by sitting in a hot bath and sweating until his weight drops to its lowest at 155.

The only part about MMA that Johnson doesnt like is dropping weight, with a diet that restricts carbs and consists of mostly salads.

The rising MMAnowfights out of Montreal and keeps in touch with family andfriends from back home.

Im glad I can be a motivator for some people, a beacon of hope for others,"says Johnson.

He's already won his first match onThe Ultimate Fighter.He's got his eye on the prize a contract with theUFC.

With files from CBC's Daybreak North