Nick Urso will be stepping into the cage as the co-main event at Jackson's MMA Series X, this Saturday, December 1, 2012, at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, NM. This will be his second professional fight at 135-lbs, as he faces Silver City's David Ruelas (1-1).

Originally from Chicago, IL, Urso (4-1 of Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA) and his family moved to Florida when he was still a teenager.

Already accustomed to being the smallest in any of his classes, Urso had been taught how to defend himself by his father, well versed in old-school boxing and kickboxing, "my father is very knowledgeable, and doesn't train by conventional methods", who drilled it into him from the time he was a child.

Although he wasn't usually the one to start any fights (strongly discouraged by his father), he often found himself in the position to defend himself (being small usually is its own target, plus he was new in town), which he did and always finished the fight.

After graduating high school, Urso took a semester of college and continued for a Florida law firm, where he began employment at the age of 14. He grew apart from his father, and although he was interested in fighting – he and his friends were avid fans of the UFC – he had already determined that he wouldn't do it unless his father was in his corner.

So at 21, when he and his father had grown close again, he approached him about training, and his father agreed; Urso also began training with Pauly, a friend of his father's, who possessed a blue belt in BJJ. He trained with them for a couple years, taking four amateur Muay Thai fights and a couple grappling tournaments, as there was no amateur MMA at the time, until he decided it was time to take his game to the next level.

He came to visit Jackson's about 4 years ago, for about a week, and after that, went to train in Thailand for 3 weeks. For the next year or so, he travelled back and forth, training with his father and brother (who taught him all he knows about wrestling), Tampa Muay Thai (with coaches Ray Cole and David Gogichaishvili), and Jiu Jitsu with the legendary Robson Moura, while in Florida; he then commuted to New Mexico to train with Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn.

About the end or 2009, he decided that Jackson's would be his home gym and spent ¾ of the year there until February 2011, when he finally "drove my car out and officially moved here. It was the best decision I ever made." He fought and won both amateur MMA fights for Jacksons, and, when everyone at the gym agreed that it was time, he made his professional debut, winning in the first round by rear-naked choke.

He lost his second fight by the always-agonizing split decision, after a difficult and injury-laden camp. However, the fight was ruled Fight-of-the-Night, and, as with any fighter loss, he is anxious to face him again whenever and wherever. His current 3-win-streak includes his recent match, taken on 5-days' notice at the higher weight class of 135, where he took home the win by unanimous decision and another Fight-of-the Night.

Urso's battle buddy, who works with him for every camp and vice versa, and who is most comparable in size, style and power, is none other than TUF winner and UFC fighter, John "The Magician" Dodson. Therefore it is no surprise that the ultimate goal for Urso, is of course, the UFC; now that the organization has finally incorporated the Flyweight belt, currently held by Demetrius Johnson, who will be facing Dodson on January 26, to defend his newly acquired belt.

When he is not training, he gives private lessons at Jacksons and continues to telecommute to work for the same law firm he began with as a teenager. In his free time, his hobbies are COD, cars, motorcycles, guns and animals, especially pitbulls and his own dog, who stays with his mother in Florida.

Urso would like to thank "primarily my mom, she's my main sponsor, without her, I couldn't do this.", his sponsor, Dextrus Fightwear, and Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA.