Former retail manager follows dreams to UFC ring

“Crazy” Tim Credeur makes a living putting people in a chokehold and forcing them to tap out.

Not behavior typically expected from someone who once managed a cell phone retail store and a Houston-based geophysical exploration company.

Even as he held those jobs, deep down inside, Credeur knew he wanted to be involved in martial arts.

While in the Navy, Credeur got his start in the sport. Eventually, he reached the Mixed Martial Arts professional circuit. Through 16 fights, the Breaux Bridge native compiled a 12-4-0 record.

He’s held several titles, including Rage in the Cage Champion, Eruption Middleweight Champion and the Universal Gladiators Middleweight Champion. Credeur’s also a member of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

He appeared on UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter 7” on Spike TV, where he advanced to the semifinals as a member of Team Forrest, which was coached by UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin.

The 31-year-old fought earlier this month on Spike TV for UFC Fight Night’s “Fight for the Troops.” He defeated Nate Loughran by technical knockout at the five-minute mark of round two.

Away from the ring, Credeur likes teaching martial arts at BlackList Jui-Jitsu’s Houma location. For years, he’s trained at BlackList’s Lockport site.

SportsNet caught up with the middleweight to talk about mixed martial arts and being in the UFC.

SportsNet: What’s it like coming back to BlackList and teaching classes?

Tim Credeur: Before I’m a fighter, I’m a martial artist. My martial arts instructor was like my Mr. Miyagi (from “The Karate Kid”), he changed my life completely. Part of my job is to spread jiu-jitsu and try to be an example and touch kids’ lives, and bring them into the fold. It gives them something to do rather than go through so many obstacles that we see so many other people in the community go through. I don’t look at it as a task; it’s an honor for me to do this.

SN: What do you hope youngsters gain from martial arts?

TC: I’m just hoping this helps build them into better people. Some people are going to take the pro fighter route, but some people are going to lose weight and have fun and stay off of drugs and things like that.

SN: How did you get interested in martial arts?

TC: My dad was a boxer and I used to watch boxing matches when I was a little kid. I started training with Joe Acona, a legendary kick boxer from New Orleans, when I was eight. My dad and I went to watch him fight and he knocked the guy out. That day, I told my dad I wanted to be a pro fighter. It’s been a life-long dream for me. It’s been something I strived to accomplish since I was a child. So many times in our culture, people tend to let their goals go to waste because they are from a small town and feel they can never make it to the big lights of Vegas.

SN: This was before the UFC even existed?

TC: Yes, the UFC didn’t come out until I was 14 years old. From the first day I saw it, I knew that was definitely what I wanted to do. I enlisted in the Navy at 17 in southern California, joined a team over there and I’ve been fighting ever since.

SN: How did your family handle your decision to become a fighter?

TC: I had a good family structure; they supported me the whole time.

SN: What was “Fighting for the Troops” like two weeks ago?

TC: Going into it, I knew I was going to be fighting for a fund. I was hoping it would be an exciting fight that would get people to tune in and donate money to help those guys. I’m ex-military, so I wanted to be on the card. After that fight, knowing that I’m doing something I love and it’s benefiting our country, how could I ever have gone wrong? I never thought I’d have the honor to be a part of that card and to have it televised. To help raise $4 million for that cause is mind altering, it’s unbelievable. I can’t imagine. People need that money, and we still need people to donate to that fund, the Heroes fund at UFC.

SN: Is there something you still hope to achieve in martial arts?

TC:: I would never do anything if I didn’t want to be the best at it. I want to be the best Tim Credeur possible. In my heart and my thought process, I believe the best Tim Credeur I can be is a world champion. It just takes the hard work and the dedication and I am no stranger to that. I’ve been doing that since I was a kid.

SN: Have you set a timetable to reach this goal?

TC: I’m not looking to rush. I’m not saying I can beat (UFC Middleweight Champion) Anderson “The Spider” Silva, but what I am saying is I’m definitely willing to get in the ring with him.

I’m going to work my way up. I’m willing to prove myself. I’m willing to fight the best and I’m willing to beat the best. Any chance I have to get in the ring with that guy, I’m not looking to lose. I’m going in there to win and bring the title home to Louisiana for sure.

SN: How did you earn the nickname “Crazy” Tim?

TC: I was on the Southern California Jiu-Jitsu Circuit and I was going back and forth training. I would hurt people a lot just by doing a crazy-arm bar or something. Sometimes, people got limbs popped and it just became a moniker. Everyone started saying, ‘Hey watch out for crazy Tim.’ It just stuck over the years. People call me that at Wal-Mart, it’s ridiculous. I’m not really that crazy. I think it’s more of a competitive thing.

SN: You’re doing something you always dreamed of. What advice do you give to others?

TC: My biggest advice is find role models along the way. I try to do that in my community. My gym is an open haven for any high school or college kid that needs some direction.

I try to be more than just an instructor to the kids. I try to be a role model and as much of a point of interest and somebody that they can talk to. I encourage people to do it.

That’s our goal, to turn good people into better people and that starts with martial arts at the ground level. If they have somebody to push him or her in the right direction, it’s amazing.

UFC fighter “Crazy” Tim Cradeur works with his borther-in-law Ross from Lafayette. The Breaux Bridge native made a stop in Houma to teach adult and kid’s classes at BlackList Jiu-Jitsu in Houma. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER