Atlas Fights 54 brought about the much anticipated return of combat sports on the Gulf Coast in spectacular fashion! In spite of the great difficulties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, fighter, fan and staff safety were held to the utmost regard, and 8 mixed martial arts bouts rocked the cage, reverberating the echos of a return to some piece of normalcy. Atlas Fights looks to repeat that success with Atlas Fights 55, Saturday August 22nd, from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. As usual, Atlas has put together a stud of a fight card, culminating in two title fights (the Atlas Fights Amateur Flyweight title and the Atlas Fights Professional Welterweight title).

Fighting out of Gladiators Academy by way of Youngsville, Louisiana, is Tyrek Malveaux. Tyrek is a 3-2 professional Lightweight, and his young career has had a tumultuous pace. In just over 3 years, Tyrek has fought 13 times (8 amateur). Having last fought on January 17th of this year, the Covid pandemic has caused the longest lull in Tyrek’s short yet consistent tenure. He returns to the cage this Saturday night, August 22nd, for Atlas Fights 55, in Biloxi, Mississippi, so we decided to help share his story!

Every superhero has an origin story.  What’s yours?  What got you into fighting?

I started wrestling at the age of 6, all the way through high school. I had some success and that pretty much fed into MMA.

What’s a typical week like for you? 

Mondays I have practice at 9 am, then I’ll go home to feed my animals, eat, then rest. I’ll run take a shower and go to work – 3 to 11, then pads or cardio after work. Tuesdays wake up, feed the animals first, practice at 11:30 – that’s usually a live day, and run then work. Wednesday is just like Monday except I do strength and conditioning at 9, and then  bag work.. Thursdays are the same as Tuesdays. Friday is like a random – we name a time and place and do some something. Saturday rest, and Sunday 9 am practice.   Of course, there’s film and running in between all this.

“MMA is hard, it’s grimy, it’s unforgiving, and it’s truth.”

Where are you training? 

I train at Gladiators Academy, and I definitely want to thank my team for the preparation and my family for their patience.

What do you like most about fighting?  What do you feel is your biggest strength?

My biggest strength is by far my grappling because I have been doing it for so long. What I like most about fighting is putting people on there back against the cage and beating them up. MMA is hard, it’s grimy, it’s unforgiving, and it’s truth. And, it’s kind of all I know, and I don’t care to know anything else! I could do a lot of other stuff with myself. I’m smart, and I could be doing something else, making some money, but this is it for me, man! I like seeing myself progress and how far I can push myself. And, if I do good enough I could make some money!

What was it like the first time that you stepped into the cage? 

The first time I stepped into the cage I think I was the least nervous. The kid (I fought) was scrappy and it went 3 rounds. I was the most exhausted I think I’ve ever been in my life, I ended up throwing up and laying on the floor a few hours. I even told the guys to get my mama!

“I’m just trying to prepare for a hard 15 minutes because you never know what’s gonna happen!”

Who has been your biggest challenge in the cage thus far?

My most challenging fight was probably my first pro fight, main event, facing that New Orleans crowd! My family was about to fight with his in the stands! One of my guys got into it with a spectator on the way out, it was a mess, but we stayed cool and got the job done!

Man, I was at that fight! You went against Jewell Scott (Bayou Fighting Championship 36).  The atmosphere for that fight was insane!  You obviously have a heck-of-a-lot of support behind you!  Where does all of that support come from?

This is how it has been! I have support from different places, different lifestyles, different races, but they all come together to watch me do my thing and help me!

This Saturday at Atlas 55, you’re fighting Carlos Espinosa (4-3).  Do you know much about him? 

I don’t know much about him! The only thing I know is his record. I’m expecting him to be game and fast, though my preparation is as it’s always been – hard. I’m just trying to prepare for a hard 15 minutes because you never know what’s gonna happen!

How have you been staying sane during the Covid-19 pandemic and the quarantine? 

Covid didn’t stop nothing for me! I lived how I’ve always lived, but with my mask on! Training kept me sane! I never stopped, and that unemployment check wasn’t too bad either!

After Atlas 55, what’s next for Tyrek Malveaux?

After the fight it’s back to training. I’d like to fight 2 more times this year, but I’m just focused on the 22nd for now!

Any shout-outs?

Thank everybody that kept supporting me through this crazy time, we got us a fight!

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If you liked this article, don’t forget to share, like and subscribe – and go ahead and like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram @fightsportfocus. You can catch Tyrek in his upcoming fight with Carlos Espinosa at Atlas Fights 55 on Saturday, August 22nd, from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. To purchase tickets, please visit http://www.atlasfights.com/  or  http://www.mscoastcoliseum.com.