MUSCATINE, Iowa — To true professional fighters the skills used during a match are an art form they strive to master.

For Muscatine’s Ramiro Junior Hernandez, being prepared mentally and physically to take on a challenger has become a career.

Hernandez, 22, will compete in his second professional mixed martial arts bout tonight during the MMA Adrenaline 2 cage match event at the i wireless Center in Moline, Ill.

“You can’t really look at it as a fight, as much at it is, but to me it’s an art, a physical chess match,” Hernandez said of the sport.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact sport that allows a variety of combat techniques such as traditional and non-traditional martial arts, striking and grappling, or gripping, and wrestling with an opponent.

Hernandez had his first professional fight in October, which he won against Eric Wisely, who was 26-2 at the time. Tonight, he’ll take on Pat Curran of Crystal Lake, Ill., who has won four professional fights and lost one.

Of his opponents, Hernandez said he saw Wisely as more of a wrestler and that he sees himself as more of a boxer. Hernandez has been a member of the Muscatine Boxing Club since 1998, and is now a coach there.

“I feel confident and my coaches are confident in me. I think I have the best team to train with,” said Hernandez, who trains five days a week at Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf.

“In a cage match, all of the training and the mileage you put in (it is) all for that one moment ... it’s just you and him and it’s either win or lose. That’s when it gets real,” he said.

Hernandez, who weighs 155 pounds, has been watching what he eats so he will make weight before the bout tonight. He said he’d really like to eat a huge meal, but the career he’s chosen means making sacrifices and being committed to a diet.

His days are filled with a lot of running, boxing, wrestling, circuit training, Brazilian jujitsu practice and live sparring. A combination of hills, sprints and distance training as well as other unconventional fitness workouts keep him flexible and prepared for challenges that are uncomfortable.

“There’s one person who is always there for me. She sits at the bottom of the hill as I run it; she’s been there with me through some ups and downs through this career,” Hernandez said of his girlfriend Cassandra Clark. “She’ll sit in the car while I push it for strength and conditioning exercise.”

His parents, Ramiro and Jan Hernandez, are also very supportive.

“They keep me grounded and keep me level-headed,” Hernandez said.

Even though he’s reached the professional level and gets paid to fight, Hernandez still gets nervous, and says it’s good to go into a fight with confidence, but not without some concerns or worries.

“I have to keep up the work to make sure I am a good fighter. Every fight I win, my value goes up. Every fight I lose, my value goes down,” he said.

Hernandez said the sport is a hobby, but the growth in popularity of the sport has made it profitable. Another aspect of making a career out of MMA fighting is marketability.

“Nobody likes boring fights. My style is to try to finish the fight every time I go out there because I never want to leave it up to the judge’s decision,” he said.

Hernandez said tonight’s event will be exciting because a lot of his teammates are fighting; and his coach, five-time world champion Pat Militich, will compete for the first time since retiring in 2007 to focus on coaching.

“At this level of fighting its hard to say who’s better, but whoever follows the game plan, is level-headed, and is in the best shape will come out on top,” Hernandez said.

Reporter contact information

Melissa Regennitter: 563-262-0526

mregennitter@muscatinejournal.com

Details

What: Adrenaline MMA 2

Where: i wireless Center, Moline, Ill.

To get there: Take Interstate 74 East (to Davenport/Bettendorf).

Cross the bridge into Illinois.

Take the first Illinois exit (River Drive).

Take a left on River Drive (at the stop light).

Travel 1/2 mile — the i wireless Center is located on the right hand side of the street adjacent to the Radisson Hotel

When: 8 p.m. today

Broadcast: HDNet at 10 p.m. eastern time today. Contact your local cable or satellite provider for the networks availability in your coverage area.

Tickets: $33.50 and up; available at the box office

Details: Five-time world champion Pat Miletich comes out of retirement to headline Adrenaline MMA against longtime King of the Cage champion Thomas Denny. Muscatine’s Ramiro Junior Hernandez will fight his second professional match. The co-main event also features Quad-Cities area heavyweight Ben Rothwell against Texas standout Chris Guillen. Included on this card are Ryan McGivern, Mike Ciesnolevicz, LC Davis, Gabe Lemley and Jesse Lennox