T.J. Brown had to make the tough decision of leaving behind his home state. Born and raised in Arkansas, Brown (16-8 MMA, 2-2 UFC) grew up training with rising star Bryce Mitchell, but he felt the best move for his career was to seek a bigger gym. The 31-year-old now trains out of James Krause’s Glory MMA in Kansas, a move that has resulted in him snapping his losing skid with a two-fight winning streak. Mitchell has found a way to make Arkansas work by emerging as a featherweight contender, but Brown believes it was a necessary move for him personally.