S P O R T S & R E C R E AT I O N
FA N N I N G THE FLAMES Paul Passmore has spent a lifetime searching for avenues through which to stoke his competitive fires. Nearly a decade ago, he settled on professional arm wrestling. by CHRIS BRIDGES Paul Passmore admits to having an unusually strong competitive nature. It drove him into a variety of sports, from wrestling and football to boxing, karate and even mixed martial arts. Passmore has never been able to shake the desire to test himself. In a quest for a new challenge, he eventually turned to the sport of arm wrestling. He threw himself into the endeavor and, as one of the few competitors who excels both right-handed and left-handed, has spent the better part of a decade building a resume and involving those closest to him. “My whole life I have been extremely competitive,” Passmore said. “Arm wrestling has now become a family thing for me.” He took a circuitous route to the table. Passmore, who was a 189-pound state wrestling champion in high school, went to Valdosta State University to play football. However, he suffered a torn ACL in college, which prompted him to take a new turn. Passmore worked as a bouncer, and the bar that employed him hosted regular cage fighting events. After watching others compete, he decided to give it a go.
38 The Newton Community Magazine
“This was before anyone really knew about MMA,” he said. Passmore climbed the ladder and ultimately captured a championship in a regional promotion. By the time he reached his early 30s, he new he needed to step away from combat sports. His job as a Newton County firefighter ate up much of his time and cut into his training, and he was now married. Passmore’s wife, Cathy, was supportive of his pursuits, but when he elected to leave MMA in his rearview mirror when the couple’s oldest son, Daniel, was born. While his goal of someday competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship never materialized, Passmore takes pride in what he accomplished as a mixed martial artist. However, his competitive thirst remained unquenched. Passmore entered his first arm wrestling tournament in 2014. “I needed something to push me,” he said. “I needed to be motivated to stay in shape and to eat right. I seemed to have a knack for arm wrestling. I will say it is a giant step going from amateur to pro. I compare it to going from high school football to the NFL.”
