Alaskan Assassin Fights for Belts and The American Way

Posted on | July 4, 2011 | No Comments

By: Holli Yargo

With the esteemed distinction of being a charter member of The Ultimate Fighter and veteran of the UFC, Sam Hoger has fought everyone from Forrest Griffin to Lyoto Machida. He’s been involved in two of the biggest MMA organizations: The UFC and The IFL. Right now, he’s the Urban Rumble cruiserweight champion. Just another fighter? Hardly.

Born in Baton Rouge, LA, Hoger spent his teens in Eagle River, AK during the era of Alaskan Boxing Great Cody Koch, known as “The Alaskan Assassin.” The boxer died under questionable circumstances in a Michigan bar in 1998. Already training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with an eye on a career in mixed martial arts, Hoger approached Michelle Koch, Cody Koch’s wife, asking for her blessing to carry on the moniker.

“She showed me the gear he would fight in and his write-ups; it was surreal,” Hoger recalls. “At the time, I thought it was kind of like Zorro not letting the name die. When I’m done, I wonder who will be the next ‘Alaskan Assassin.’ I hope the legacy continues.”

The light heavyweight graduated from Louisiana State University, double-majoring in Political Science and Philosophy, founding the LSU BJJ team while he studied. He trained under an extension of the Carlson Gracie Team lead by Roni Salas and Chris Siefert, naming Siefert as a personal hero and his biggest influence. Of Siefert, Hoger says, “The work Chris did with me when I was college helped me decide to focus on a future in MMA.”

Upon graduation, Hoger took possession of his diploma and headed to Iowa–despite his parents’ objections–to train in mixed martial arts with Miletich Fighting Systems. That decision would change his life.

Undefeated in his first four professional bouts as a Miletich Elite Pro Team Member, top-ranked MMA manager Joe Cavallero took notice and escorted Hoger to Las Vegas for a meeting with UFC President Dana White. Zuffa, the mother company of the UFC, wanted to produce a reality show that would put a group of hungry up-and-comers in a house with no television, no radios, no books except the Bible, a lot of alcohol, and no women to see how they would relate while battling each other for the title of The Ultimate Fighter.

Sam Hoger was in. “I saw opportunity to reach my goals, and they saw something that made them pick me,” he reflects. “Being a part of the show was a great move for me, the UFC, and Mixed Martial Arts as a whole. We [the cast of season one] are the reason MMA is where it is today. That feels good.”

But after becoming a reality TV star, competing in what is arguably the most important cage in the industry, and training with Pat Miletich, what’s next? For Sam Hoger, it was becoming a business owner by opening a Miletich Fighting Systems gym in Houston, TX. Then, in July 2009, he was awarded his BJJ black belt by Ted Stickel at Gracie Barra Alaska.

After receiving his black belt, becoming certified as a Gracie Barra jiu jitsu instructor and earning his first degree from Professor Monteiro, he received Pat Miletich’s blessing to open Hoger Mixed Martial Arts in Houston where’s he’s been successfully training up fighters and helping non-fighters get fit for the last two years. But, of course, that’s not enough for the ambitious college graduate.

Sam Hoger, educated in the political sciences, also has a keen interest in reshaping and improving the way our country is run.

“I believe people should be more involved,” he asserts. “The hands off approach most Americans are taking is equivalent to driving a motorcycle with no hands on the steering wheel at 100 miles per hour.”

He compares the current American government to a “modern day Roman Empire” and sees the irony that MMA, often referred to as a “gladiator sport,” is quickly becoming the most popular sport in America today. Paying to watch gladiators fight for their lives in the Coliseum was the most popular spectacle during the fall of the historic Roman Empire.
In addition to running a MMA gym, he’s also involved with Victory Enterprises, helping to pass legislation to provide tax incentives for parents who invest in their children’s education.

Will he ever run for office? “One day I will run for office,” he comments. “I’m an independent right now; it’s part of being an educated political science major. There are more sides to politics than just what the two parties are presenting.”