Washougal grad drawn to mixed martial arts fighting

Isaac Gil had a decision to make after graduating from Washougal High School in 2024 — continue wrestling at the college level or launch a mixed martial arts fighting career.

He chose the latter, drawn to the sport’s intense training and high stakes.

“There’s no sport like it,” Gil said. “I’ve always been a huge fan of mixed martial arts and the UFC, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and all of that. I kind of knew that, if I were to chase this full-on, I could have a chance to do something great with it because I’m super tenacious and bold.”

Gil won his first match in early March and received an invitation to compete with and against some of the best fighters in the world at an international event later this year.

“I love the people that I’m meeting, for sure. I love the connections,” Gil said. “Another thing (I love) is the growth that I’ve seen in myself. There’s nothing like it. Seeing yourself be better than you were yesterday is something that I think every man needs to feel. It’s all a beautiful journey.”

In 2023, Gil started his mixed martial arts training with lead instructor Don Stoner at Washougal’s Lone Wolf Jiu Jitsu Academy as a way to keep his post-graduation options open.

“When he came into the academy a couple years ago, he already had a wrestling background, and that really helped him learn jiu jitsu and the other arts because he was already disciplined,” Stoner said of Gil. “Now, it’s about showing him the different jiu jitsu controls … and just making him a well-rounded fighter.”

Gil started wrestling when he was 6 years old, tagging along with his older brother to the Peninsula Wrestling Club, led by Wrestling Hall of Fame coach Roy Pittman. By the time he graduated from Washougal High School, Gil had developed into an award-winning grappler. He brought home a fifth-place trophy from Mat Classic XXXIV in 2023 and eighth-place hardware from Mat Classic XXXV in 2024.

Gil has continued to build on his wrestling background as a mixed martial arts fighter.

“My ultimate goal in fighting is probably to finish on the ground,” Gil said. “I’ve been wrestling since I was a little kid, so that’s just something I had in my pocket when I went into this. I want to take things to the ground and end things on the ground.”

Competing in the 170-pound weight class, Gil won his first fight at the NorthWest Championship 23 event in Vancouver on March 1.

“It was definitely a great experience,” he said. “I learned a lot about myself because I had never really been in a street fight or anything like that, so I didn’t really know how I would do.”

Now Gil is preparing for his next fight against Keaton Albert on May 10 at the World Fighting Championships 175 in Tacoma.

“I’m definitely going into this one with a good game plan,” Gil said. “My team broke down what I need to work on and what my advantages are. Right now, I have tunnel vision for this fight, and I’m just doing my best to stick to the plan. If I don’t veer off the track, I think I’ll be good.”

Gil has been invited to join a national team that will compete in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation World Championships later this year. He said he was selected based on his high school accomplishments and his connection to Stoner, a former professional fighter.

“He could be going against the best kids from every country,” Stoner said of Gil. “This would be a big opportunity for Isaac if we can figure out how to do it.”

He said the competition has been in Uzbekistan in previous years.

“Sponsorship is the thing that holds back a lot of the opportunities for the fighters,” Stoner said.

Stoner said his MMA developmental program has sponsors for training expenses, gear and tournament fees, but Gil is looking for more sponsors to underwrite the trip.

“We have room on his gear, his rash guard, his fight shorts and his banner,” Stoner said, adding that interested sponsors should email him at [email protected].

Doug Flanagan: 360-735-4669; [email protected]