PABLO - When Sheldon Fisher stepped into the octagon last

November at SKC, it wasn't the first time he'd been in front of a

crowd.

The former Polson High School player always had a knack for

clutch situations with people watching. In front of nearly 4,000

people at the Ronan Event Center during last year's Northwestern A

Divisional Tournament, he hit two big three pointers that nearly

toppled the eventual Class A champion Columbia Falls.

PABLO - When Sheldon Fisher stepped into the octagon last November at SKC, it wasn't the first time he'd been in front of a crowd.

The former Polson High School player always had a knack for clutch situations with people watching. In front of nearly 4,000 people at the Ronan Event Center during last year's Northwestern A Divisional Tournament, he hit two big three pointers that nearly toppled the eventual Class A champion Columbia Falls.

Fisher's defensive prowess and excellent play at the guard position helped Polson to a second-place state tournament finish in 2010. Now, he's picked up a different sport, trading a basketball for a pair of martial arts gloves.

When Fisher participated in his first MMA event at SKC that featured local fighters and he quickly put down his first opponent.

"I like the contact and just being disciplined and working to get what I want," Fisher said. "It takes my mind off a lot of stuff."

Fisher did such a great job in the octagon that the promoter put him on call if he needed another fighter for his events. A week after he fought, he got a call from a different promoter to fight up in Kalispell. While his opponent had to bow before the event because he got injured, Fisher is now looking at a fight in Missoula's Adam Center in March.

"I've turned up my training a lot harder," Fisher said. "I've been focusing on my technique and the things I need to work on."

Fisher is part of Fighter's Island in Pablo and trains with many local area fighters, and he credits them with helping him a lot to refine his fighting technique.

"The first fight gave me a lot of confidence but now I'm taking it day by day," Fisher said.

Alonso Bringsyellow, Jonathan Spotted Eagle and Fisher's friend CJ have been instrumental in introducing Fisher to the sport of MMA.

"Those guys have helped me a lot," he said.

Fisher is no stranger to a ring, and won several little guy wrestling championships when he was a kid. He also wrestled his freshman year of high school but then turned to basketball for his remaining three years.

Fisher showed tremendous competitiveness out on the basketball court and was an important part of Polson's team. He was a key player in 2010 when the Pirates needed a spark in the divisional and state tournament. Along with Louis Mohr, Fisher provided a defense and pacing that was instrumental in the Pirates run to the state championship game.

In 2011, he was again an important part of the squad as a senior and the team advanced to the state tournament. Now turning to the ring, Fisher said he's only been to one MMA event as part of the crowd.

"I went to watch Alonso in Missoula near the Osprey's field," Fisher said. "It can get pretty crazy at times, and for most of the fights, it's pretty loud."

Perhaps not as loud as last year's divisional tournament when it appeared Fisher had toppled Columbia Falls with his sharpshooting in basketball, but there is no doubt the former Polson basketball player will be able to please the MMA crowd.

"It's another challenge for me to go up and do," Fisher said. "It's a chance for me to try and succeed."