UFC vet Nate Quarry fights teenager with Down Syndrome in incredibly touching gesture

Nate Quarry made 19-year-old Jake "The Snake" Beckmann's dreams come true when he took him on in an exhibition bout at the weekend.

Beckmann, a high school senior with Down syndrome, has been training in MMA for four years. However, simply hitting pads and rolling behind closed doors just wasn't enough for "The Snake", he wanted to experience the real deal and compete in a bout in front of a live crowd. The only problem was finding a worthy opponent.

TUF 1 veteran and former UFC fighter Nate Quarry stepped up to the plate and agreed to give Beckmann the opportunity to fulfill his dreams. Quarry explained his reason for accepting the fight to to Bloody Elbow.

"Here's a young man trying to accomplish his dreams. Why shouldn't he be able to do that? Why should anyone tell him he can't do that?  And if I can help him accomplish that dream then why wouldn't I help?"

The fight eventually got booked and the two warriors squared off in an exhibition fight at ‘Rumble at the Roseland’ event in Portland on Sunday night. Beckmann was supremely confident in the build up to the bout, despite the fact that he was matched up against a former UFC middleweight contender for his debut.

 "I’m not afraid of him. I can take him.”

It turns out that Beckmann's confidence was justified as he upset the odds and submitted Quarry in the second round. Hat-tip to BJJEE