Worthy is worthy as rising MMA star

DONORA - Earlier in the summer, mixed martial arts/boxing coach Ryan Rimsek was singing the praises of one of his up and coming fighters, Khama Worthy.

Apparently, Rimsek is a pretty good judge of talent.

Worthy recently moved up to the number one ranking in the nation NAAFS (North American Allied Fight Series) after winning the NAAFS middleweight title belt Saturday in Ohio over Fran Sloan of Chicago, Ill.

"He won by a first round KO with a right cross to the head," Rimsek said. "He is going to be fighting for me in the 2012 Golden Gloves open division. He's getting ready to turn pro."

Worthy also won a belt a few weeks ago in a show at the Penn State-McKeesport campus.

Rimsek said he is not surprised by Worthy's quick rise in the sport.

"He is a terror in the cage and in the ring he's one of only a few people I spar with beside Sammy Vasquez when he comes home. He's a beast," Rimsek said.

Rimsek trains Worthy in stand up fighting, which consists of boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing.

He also works the corner for Worthy.

"He's 24. It's time to go pro. He's tired of doing it for free," Rimsek said. "His time is now."

Worthy, who lives in Pittsburgh, agrees.

"I've been involved with MMA for three years now. I'm ready to turn pro," he said.

Worthy is 8-2 in MMA matches and said once he turns pro in that sport, he will also turn pro in boxing.

"I'll do some boxing, but I'm mostly MMA," he said.

Worthy said he hopes to have his first professional match before the summer of 2012.

"I've been talking to my coaches and we're looking at somewhere around May or June for that first pro fight," Worthy said.