Christian Mayen, 16-year-old Nevada Union High School sophomore, enjoyed playing football and wrestling for the Miners, but he said he's now found his sport of choice in mixed martial arts.

Mayen won his first two bouts during a Muay Thai kickboxing tournament at Inderkum High School in Sacramento earlier this month. Sports Editor Brian Hamilton sat down with Mayen Monday before his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class began at Powerhouse MMA Training Center.

Q. How did you get started with mixed martial arts?

A. “I had a friend who was doing this, and he told me to come in and check it out. I had been watching it on TV and I wrestled for eight years, so I thought about mixing it up by doing some Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing with wrestling.”

Q. So where does this rate among your favorite sports?

A. “I'll focus more on this, because I picked up on it really easily.”

Q. Why do you think it was an easy fit for you?

A. “Mainly, because it was really fun for me. When I started, I was kind of a natural at it. I had a lot of power to my kicks and punches. I started sparring two to three days after coming here and not of a lot of people do that.”

Q, What was it like when you made your debut?

A. “When I did the tournament, I was really nervous and I was excited. The adrenaline was really going. I was intimidated. But I stepped in and threw a jab out just to see what he would do. And then I wasn't scared anymore, because he wasn't coming at me. And then it went pretty well.”

Q. Are you hoping to make a career out of this?

A. “I'll do it both for the competition and to keep me in shape. And, yeah, I'll do it as a career, if I can. But if this doesn't go for me as a career, then I want to become a police officer.”