Pastor Tim Ramsden ‘understands the paradox’ of being an MMA fighter

Some at Community Bible Church in Rockford might be surprised to find out that one of their pastors, Tim Ramsden, spends his off hours throwing punches.

In a cage.

Eight years ago, he and his wife were working out at a local gym when he wandered into a grappling class and “started asking questions.”

“I had never heard of the UFC or mixed martial arts,” he said. “I decided to try it and fell in love immediately.”

Eventually that class turned into DeLaRosa Submission Wrestling, owned and head-coached by Aurelio DeLaRosa, a Rockford police officer. Ramsden kept with it and worked up the stamina to move on to the next level: competition.

“After about a year of training I went to my first of many grappling tournaments. The more I learned the more I loved it. Eventually, at the ripe old age of 52, I had my first MMA cage fight. I’ve had one every year since then.”

In addition to the close-knit, fighting “family” that he acquired at DWS, the Farmington, New Mexico, native has better health thanks to MMA, listing tennis, wakeboarding and three-hour fight seminars among activities in which he’s agile enough to participate.

“At age 50, I was 20 pounds heavier, had lower back problems and got winded pretty quickly. At age 55, I’ve had three cage fights. That’s a big difference!”

Ramsden understands that some might think MMA is too violent, but he argues that it has emotional and psychological benefits that other sports don’t always provide.

“Some people thrive in it. It gives them an outlet, a purpose, a controlled environment and coaches who help them find direction. As a pastor, I understand the paradox MMA presents.”

And, as a Christ-follower, Ramsden believes that his involvement in MMA has opened opportunities to help others “fight the good fight.” Praying with fighters before matches, officiating the wedding of a fellow fighter and leading a missions trip to Haiti with three members of his DSW team are ways in which he’s used the sport to spread the Gospel.

“From one-on-one conversations to Bible studies, the opportunities to combine my love for God and my passion for MMA have been an open door. ... Ten years ago, MMA wasn’t even on my life’s radar. Now, because of MMA, I get to know and love people I might not have ever met.”