We all have dreams of what we want to be growing up as kids, but for one Jefferson native, his dream was to be a fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Johnny Case graduated from Jefferson-Scranton High School in 2007. Shortly after graduating, Case says he wanted to train to be a mixed-martial arts fighter. Case was undefeated as an amatuer, with a 13-0 record and as a UFC fighter, his record is 22-5. The 26 year-old now lives in Phoenix, Arizona and all of his family, including his two sons, live in Iowa. With an established career, Case tells Raccoon Valley Radio that it’s difficult coming back to see his family.

“It’s really hard man. That’s the biggest burden that I have right now in my life is being away from my family. It’s a little easier now that I have the income that I can afford coming back and forth. A weekend here and a weekend there isn’t really ideal, it’s not a full week together or whatever. But yeah, we make do.”

As a UFC fighter, Case has traveled to Japan, Mexico and even Australia for fights, but he points out that there’s nothing like coming home to Iowa.

“Yeah, it’s awesome, just coming home and seeing the people that knew me and that I grew up with before the success and nobody going to treat you like the people that you grew up with. It doesn’t matter where you are at in the world.”

Case has been back in Iowa for over four weeks as he recoups from a broken foot in his last fight.

He anticipates his next fight will be sometime in August or September.