SALEM, N.H. — Now 20 years old, Jared Dumais serves up fried clams, a mean lobster roll and a heck of a fish and chips by day.
It's at night in the gym, though, when this Methuen native really cooks.
Now living in Derry, and fighting in the mixed martial arts professionally out of Extreme MMA in Chelmsford, Dumais fights in one of the showcase bouts tomorrow night as Combat Zone 29 takes over Rockingham Park.
Dumais, who won his pro debut at 145 pounds in just 47 seconds, takes on 2-0 Zack Burhans of Cortland, N.Y. In all, there are five amateur fights and eight pro bouts slated at the Rock, beginning at 8 p.m.
"I'm pretty excited, because everybody is going to be there," said Dumais, who works the kitchen at the Lobster Claw in Derry. "They pack the place, so it should be rocking."
Dumais got his start early in the mixed martial arts, thanks in part to his cousin, Dave George, the founder of Combat Zone MMA.
"I started with him when I was about 12 or 13 and loved it," said Dumais. "I always had the tough cousin there to keep me going at it."
Dumais grew up playing hockey and then wrestled some at both Greater Lawrence Tech and Methuen High School.
"Nothing can compare to (mixed martial arts). I could jump out of a plane and wouldn't get the same kind of a rush," said Dumais. "It's definitely the coolest adrenaline rush ever."
Dumais, who calls himself a boxer who is fast and hits hard, actually won his first pro fight via an arm-bar submission, not his specialty. He's hoping to prove that these first couple steps can soon translate into a career in the cage.
"This has helped keep me out of trouble and it's taught me a lot," said Dumais. "Now, I want to push it as far as I can go."
Chiseled at 145 pounds, Dumais hasn't been afraid of the work, or the fact that the other guys can hit pretty hard, too. He works out four hours a day, nearly every day.
"Work and working out at the gym, that's pretty much it," said Dumais. "I really can't say what pushes me that hard. I take a beating every day, and every day I feel better and better."
Tomorrow night's card
Tickets: $40-$120, can be purchased at the door on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
The main event: A pro bout at 195 pounds, 8-1 Nate Kittredge of Vermont faces New Yorker Ryan Contaldi, who is 4-1.
Local favorites:
Garrett Morrow: The amateur 205-pounder from Plaistow, N.H., will tangle with West Roxbury's Jesse McElligott.
Peter San Antonio: The 175-pounder from Haverhill will clash with Atkinson's David Spero.
James Soucie: The Methuen 150-pounder who dropped his only other pro bout, looks to make amends when he challenges James Levasseur in his pro debut.
Eddie Brito: 1-2 at 170 pounds, the Derry resident looks to even his mark when he knocks heads with Billerica's John Ortolani.
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