Growing up in Martinsville, Virginia, as one of the smaller kids in his neighborhood, Tony Gravely had no other choice but to be scrappy. Initially following in his father’s footsteps, Gravely trained in Taekwondo until he discovered wrestling.

The combination of skills and discipline he learned from each sport allowed him to help many of the kids who, like him, experienced challenges with bullying. His grinder-mentality and wrestling acumen eventually led him to a D1 slot at Appalachian State, where he appeared in two NCAA tournaments and won the Southern Tournament Championship.

In 2016, Gravely quit his day job as a construction project manager to focus on his burgeoning MMA career. He won his debut bout on Dana White’s Contender Series, captivating the crowd with both his performance and down-to-earth post-fight interview. A true underdog who has risen above the odds, Gravely emulates perseverance and dedication and looks to bring those qualities to any brand he partners with.