Malcolm “The Machine” Wellmaker donned the No. 94 jersey with “The Machine” emblazoned on the back for the Augusta GreenJackets Sunday, July 13, and took the mound, throwing one straight down the chute.
But no worries to UFC fans, the MMA star isn’t trading the ring for the diamond. He was at SRP Park to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the GreenJackets 5-4 victory over the Salem Red Sox.
Fresh off his first-round knockout of Kris Moutinho in Atlanta on June 14, the undefeated bantamweight fighter, who trains at Faglier’s Mixed Martial Arts, said he doesn’t have any fights lined up and is currently focusing on training.
“My managers are working on something for later in the year — maybe a bigger card,” said Welllmaker who spoke to fans, signing autographs and taking pictures with them on Sunday after his appearance on the field.
Wellmaker started MMA 12 years ago as a way to get into shape. About six months in, his main coach asked if he wanted to compete.
“I won and got addicted,” he said.
He made his UFC debut on April 27, winning in a knockout. With a 2-0 UFC record, he’s riding high after the most recent win and hopes for bigger things to come.
“I’d like to be a UFC champion,” he said is his ultimate goal.
When that success comes, he said he’d like to be able to give back to the Augusta community.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
