One-handed MMA fighter beats birth defect - New York News | NYC Breaking News

One-handed MMA fighter beats birth defect

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It takes a lot of courage to step into a cage to fight someone -- but imagine doing that with only one hand. That's what one Minnesota fighter does.

Nick Palmer doesn't let anything get in his way, especially when it comes to his mixed martial arts goals because he's wanted "it bad" for as long as he can remember.

Palmer is no ordinary fighter. Hidden inside his boxing glove is a birth defect that doesn't slow him down. Even as a little boy, having only one usable hand didn't stop him from playing football, baseball and basketball -- or much of anything else for that matter.

Palmer's coach, Jim Clark, says fighting with one hand is akin to downhill skiing on one leg.

"Fighting with one hand is a huge disadvantage," Clark admitted.

Clark met Palmer two years ago after he lost a fight to one of the other fighters at Clark's Valhalla Combat Sports, a mixed martial arts studio in Dayton, Minn.

"My fighter had beaten him and he wanted to come and train with us to work on his hands, to get his boxing better," Clark explained.

Clark said he helped Palmer correct how he was throwing with his hand, and Hanson know fights with both -- and a lot of heart.

Watch the video for an interview with Palmer.

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