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A 2000 graduate of Mountain Point High School in Phoenix, AZ, Richie Hightower had a very traditional athletic background - he played fullback and middle linebacker for the football team, wrestled and was a state discus champion for the track & field team. However, after high school, Hightower took a job as a mortgage broker and stopped exercising. His health suffered, and by the age of 21, the 5'8" Hightower weighed 265 pounds. That is when he decided to do something about his health, giving up smoking and drinking while taking up plyometric strength training with a physical therapist. He also found Brazilian jiu jitsu and soon Hightower was training in Phoenix with the UFC's Eddie Sanchez. An MMA career was born, with Hightower losing almost 100 pounds to get down to the 170 pound welterweight division.