American mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division David Branch has an exception road to the MMAs. World Series of Fighting middleweight champion, Branch said that a "crackhead" has led him to the fighting scene which helped him become the champion.

Branch will defend his title against Yushin Okami on Nov. 15 and if not for that "crackhead" he won't be inside the octagon at all.

He said "It was actually a crackhead on a 157th Street and Crotona Avenue. I bought a UFC 3 tape from a crackhead at a chicken store, and I bought it for eight dollars, or six bucks, something like that, and I went home and watched it with my brother and I said this is what I want to do."

But before he was inside the octagon, Branch was going in and out of trouble.

He lamented "I grew up poor, no food, very little to eat, wearing the same clothes, being picked on sometimes. No dad, mom raising four kids on her own. Having to fend for myself, being out on my own since I was 15. I've just been through a lot. A little too much, but a whole lot."

But the road to MMA was not s atraight path for him. He said that he had to face jail time before he even went serious in to fighting. And his breaking point happened right after he pick up an old UFC video tape and watched it.

He said "I went home to get a six-pack of beer, and I sat down and watched the UFC with my brother. And we're smoking a joint, and I said I want to do this, and he looked at me and said 'get the hell out of here, you're being weird.' Six years later, I'm inside the Octagon at the MGM Grand."

Branch began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the tutelage of MMA veteran, Renzo Gracie. He gained his black belt after learning from Gracie for about 10 years. Branch turned professional in MMA in 2007. Branch has also competed in (and won) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu titles in nationwide competitions.