New father fights for pro contract

Parnell Davis is a busy man.

“I’ve been crazy busy,” he said, “between training, working and being a new dad.”

The amateur MMA fighter has a full time job, trains for his sport, is launching a new clothing line, and is the father of a seven-week-old baby.

Now, he’s adding one more thing to his to-do list: go pro.

On Jan. 14, Davis, 29, of Mt. Pleasant, will fight in the first round of an eight-man, mixed martial arts tournament at the Memorial Auditorium in Burlington.

The winner of the single-elimination, heavyweight tournament will earn a professional contract with ProElite.

“The winner has an opportunity to do new, exciting things,” Davis said.

The tournament will likely last from six months to even a full year, giving winners a chance to recover between rounds.

“At this point, I’m fighting first and foremost for my God, but also to provide for my family,” Davis said. “Really good fighting can pay off, and if you’re taking time away from your family, there has to be compensation somewhere.”

Davis’ family has just gotten a little bigger, as he and his wife, Norma, welcomed their first child, Jeremiah James, less than two months ago.

“Of course, there has to be a balance. I can’t put (a professional career) above my family,” Davis said. “I’m just going to have to finagle something, like getting up at 4:30 in the morning to do my cardio. It will be a challenge, but it’s worth it.”

Davis is also still working a full-time job at Christamore Family Treatment Center in Mt. Pleasant. And, while it?s tricky, he has found ways to fit everything in.

“Some guys use their hobbies for training, like triathlons,” he said. “I’m not a triathlete by (any) means.”

Instead, he trains while spending time with his wife.

“My wife just got the Zumba videos and I’ve been using those,” Davis said. “She does it with me. She has way better moves than me, though.”

Davis quotes his friend and trainer Gabe Lemley as saying that if you want to be an effective stand-up striker, you have to learn to dance.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not getting fully ready for the fight by doing Zumba, but it?s a tool,” Davis said.

In his spare time, Davis has also been working on a new clothing line.

“Last year, God put on my heart the idea to open my own business,” Davis said.

It will be called Manhood Fight Wear, a name that has special significance for the fighter.

“There’s a misperception that fighting makes you a real man,” Davis said. “But manhood is about seeking God, and putting God and your family first. I want to bring to light the issue of manhood,” Davis said. “It?s an opportunity to share my beliefs in this sport, and let people know why I fight.”

Davis hopes to sell t-shirts, hats and fighting shorts, among other things.

His brother-in-law, Rod Montoya, has already worn the clothing line in a fight; a fight in which he was cornered by Pat Miletich, an MMA legend.

As far as promotion, Davis has also been in contact with a Bellator fighter and a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) about wearing the line, but nothing has been officially worked out yet.

However, there are a few people who will be sporting customized apparel as early as Saturday: friends and family will don the clothing to support Davis in his first fight of the tournament.

T-shirt designs are posted on the Facebook page that is dedicated to the line, and Davis is in the process of setting up a website, which can be found at manhoodfightwear.com or manhoodfightwear.net.

The website, Davis said, will feature more than clothing, he hopes to post fighter profiles and interviews as well.

“This is more than apparel,” Davis said. “It’s a movement.”