| Born in Mooloolaba, Australia, Kyle Noke grew up playing basketball and rugby, earning varsity letters at Dubbo High School in both. Upon graduating, Noke played semiprofessional rugby for New South Wales in Rugby Union before giving it up after his brother broke his neck playing football.
Noke's day job at the time was abattoir, slaughtering sheep by day and, after quitting rugby, taking up MMA by night under the tutelage of Dan Higgins at the Integrated Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Brisbane, Australia. Noke participated in his first bout in 2002, winning via TKO, a feat he replicated in his next 3 contests. He currently boasts 16 wins to 4 losses on his fight resumé, including victories over George Sotiropoulos and castmate Kyacey Uscola.
Aside from MMA, Higgins introduced Noke to perhaps Australia's most famous MMA fan, the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, for whom Higgins worked as a security officer. Irwin trained in MMA recreationally and wanted to add another mixed martial artist to his security team so he would have more training partners on the road.
Noke jumped at the chance and served as a bodyguard for Irwin from 2003 - 2007 while spending time on and off stateside with Greg Jackson's MMA camp in Albuquerque. The two became very good friends; Noke taught Irwin new MMA techniques and Irwin taught Noke how to surf, scuba dive, jet ski and to appreciate nature and animals in a way he never had before. (On a side note, Noke maintains that Irwin would have been a monster in MMA due to his immense strength).
Noke was stateside training for a fight at the time of Irwin's untimely death, and was devastated when he heard the news. He continued to work for the Irwin family doing security, but gave it up to pursue his dream of fighting in the UFC.
Now living stateside, Noke trains full time with Jackson MMA in Mew Mexico alongside the likes of Keith Jardine, Joey Villasenor, Jon Jones, Nate Marquardt and Rashad Evans.
|
