Cutting hair by day, Windsor's T.J. Laramie on track to be an MMA ultimate fighter

T.J. Laramie is abarber in Windsor who is passionate about cutting hair.

He takes his time, snipping away and chatting withclients many of which probably aren't aware that despite his love for fresh fades, he's a top professionalmixed martial arts fighter in Canada.

In December, Laramie won the 145-pound featherweight division title in the TKO Canadian MMAleague. On March 16, he defended that title against Brazil'sJoao Luiz Nogueirawith a technical knock out in the fifth round of the match.

"This fight was even bigger than the last one," said Laramie. "Iwas able to just beat him everywhere on feet and on the ground so it really showed my dominance and how much I improved especially being only 20-years-old in the sport."

Family affair

Laramie grew up in theFontainebleauarea of Windsor. When he was very young, his mother and brother died, leaving Laramie with a young brother Tony and his father.

Laramie said the sport brought the three men together. Tony is also a MMA fighter.

How Iget motivated to go to thegymishow Iget motivated to go to the barbershop to cut hair.- T.J. Laramie

"My dad was a fan and he got me into the sport kind of as a fan too," said Laramie. "I just started training for fun ... I just started getting good and started getting better. Istarted competing and winning and I just fell in love with it after that."

At 17-years-old Laramie won a match in Japan that got him to the pro level. Through that success he kept with his other passion for cutting hair.

"I actually enjoy cutting hair to the point where I want to try new things," he said, sitting in a chair atPadroneBarbershop where he works. "How Iget motivated to go to the gym is how Iget motivated to go to the barbershop to cut hair."

One more win maybe and I'll be in theUFCfighting alongside with a lot of the people I train with, just one step closer to my goal.- T.J. Laramie

He splits up his day, training in the mornings and after work, especially when he has a fight coming up.

The next one which could be a big one for Laramie is expected in June.

Ultimate fighting spot

"One more win maybe and I'll be in the UFC fighting alongside with a lot of the people I train with, just one step closer to my goal," said Laramie.

He anticipates that after one more win he'll be qualified for the UFC, taking on top-ranked opponents in the biggest MMAorganization in the world.

But for Laramie, just getting there isn't enough.

"A big fight in Las Vegas it's really a dream come true, but at the end of theday for me it's not about getting there it's about accomplishing more than that," he said.

"The end goal for me isn't money, isn't fame nothing like that. Ijust want to be the best fighter."