Today’s guest is a lifelong athlete whose competitive spirit carried him from the wrestling mats of small-town North Dakota to the bright lights of the UFC Octagon.

Chris Tuchscherer was raised in Rugby, North Dakota, where he built his foundation in wrestling, a discipline that would shape not only his athletic career, but his approach to life. After a standout high school run, he continued competing at North Dakota State University before transferring to Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he became a two-time NCAA Division II All-American.

That same relentless drive propelled him into mixed martial arts. Known to fans as “The Crowbar,” Chris became a feared heavyweight with crushing wrestling, unshakable toughness, and a reputation for outworking anyone standing across from him. His impressive professional career earned him a spot on the sport’s biggest stage, where he competed in the UFC against some of the division’s most formidable names.

Beyond the cage, Chris has remained deeply invested in the growth of combat sports in his home state. He founded Crowbar MMA and promoted regional MMA events in North Dakota, events I was lucky enough to be involved with as a judge.

But stepping away from fighting didn’t mean stepping away from competition.

Staying true to his blue-collar roots, Chris shifted gears, literally, into IMCA dirt track racing, where he now brings the same intensity and passion he once showed in the cage. Alongside racing, he runs his agricultural businesses and remains closely connected to the communities that shaped him.

A wrestler.
A fighter.
A racer.
A businessman.
A husband and a father.

Please enjoy my interview with my friend Chris Tuchscherer.