Last year, Jamal Galehdari was Minnesota's best amateur. This year, he's hoping to become the state's best professional.

Galehdari is set to make his pro debut during Saturday night's Savage Entertainment show entitled "Blizzard Bash" at Neisen's Sports Bar in Savage.

Galehdari, who is a former high school wrestler from Brooklyn Center, went 6-0 as an amateur, fighting at both 135 and 145. He's climbed all the way to No. 6 in the 135-pound rankings.

Since just his second amateur fight, Galehdari has been fighting for amateur straps. And he's never had a setback. He most recently took out tough Canadian Brock Peters with a slick armbar in October.

On Saturday, Galehdari, who trains with the MN Militia, will be making his pro debut against M.J. Gayton (2-3), who's an experienced fighter out of North Dakota. Gayton mostly has fought at 155, and he's won two of his last three fights (both by submission).

The fight will be at 135, where Galehdari said he plans to stay.

We tracked down Galehdari this week to find out his game plan for the pro debut.

Jamal thanks for the time. So you're not an amateur any more, are you ready for this?

GALEHDARI: Oh yeah. It's been a long time coming. I'm ready to get after it.

What do you know about Gayton?

GALEHDARI: Not much. I know he's from North Dakota. I've looked him up a little, and I know he's submitted a few guys. But he's been submitted, too, so I know he's susceptible to the submission. From what I've seen, he appears to be a ground guy.

You started your career mostly at 145, but then you dropped down to take out Blair Gutta at 135. How's the cut to 135 and is that where you plan to stay?

GALEHDARI: The cut isn't too bad at all. When I was fighting at 145, it really wasn't a cut at all. When I

was practicing hard and in shape, I was walking around at like 148. So 145 really wasn't cutting anything. But yeah, 135 is not bad at all. It's never easy, it's never fun, but 135 isn't too bad of a cut for me. ... I'm right where I need to be for this fight. The weight has come off nicely.

The Gutta fight was an incredible performance against one of the most exciting and violent 135ers around. Was that your best performance?

GALEHDARI: Yeah, I'd probably say that was one of my best performances. I felt like I did really good against Brock (Peters), too. I pretty much did exactly what my game plan was, and then I caught him with that slick armbar that I don't think he saw coming. Those were both good performances, but I'd still say my toughest fight yet was against (Ryan) VanPuymbrouck. He was very tough.

Just a hunch you're going to say Stephen Watt, but what was your worst performance?

GALEHDARI: Oh yeah, for sure. That was the worst. It was the Target Center, and it was my first real big show. My nerves got to me. After the first round, I was so tired. I gassed, I think just from the adrenaline. He was much, much stronger than I anticipated, too. ... I've never been swept like that. But yeah I think that was the first time I really let my nerves get the best of me.

But do you feel like you're better for going through that experience?

GALEHDARI: Absolutely. It was very good for me. I will be much more comfortable if I fight there again or on any bigger stage. I just don't see it getting to me as much if I ever get back there. You know at the time Target Center was pretty much the biggest show around here, and I just let those nerves get to me backstage. It was my first time fighting outside of Savage, but I learned a lot from that.

You're turning pro, but is there an amateur fight you felt you left out there? Anybody you wish you would have fought as an amateur?

GALEHDARI: Not really. Right now, I'm just working very hard, trying to challenge myself and get better and better. I'll fight anybody Ozzy (Judge) puts in front of me. I like that he's always putting guys in front of me who he thinks have a chance to beat me. I like being challenge. I want each fight to get tougher and tougher. If you're fighting on these smaller shows, you need to be fighting all the best guys around, so when you do get the call from a bigger organization, you're ready. I know Ozzy is preparing me for that. He's giving me the toughest guys so if I get the call, we'll know I'm where I need to be. ... As for wanting to fight anybody, pro or amateur, I don't care. I'll fight who Ozzy wants me to fight, or if the fans want me to fight someone, I'll do that.

Are you nervous or excited for the pro debut?

GALEHDARI: I'm actually really excited. I like to throw knees and elbows, and I wasn't able to do that as an amateur. I was actually a Muay Thai champion down in Iowa, so I love using those knees and elbows. I think being a pro is actually going to help my game a lot.

You're with the MN Militia, where Melvin and Marvin Blumer also train. How much does it help to have the No. 3- and No. 4-ranked fighters at 135 training with you?

GALEHDARI: It's so nice to have people at my weight training with me. That way when one of them throws me off, I know I'm facing someone of the same size, same speed. It's just a great thing. It's great to grapple with someone the same size because I know that's what I'll be facing in the cage. We're rolling all the time, and it's always fast-paced, with all those 135ers.

And it has to be nice to have the supplemental training down at American Top Team of Savage?

GALEHDARI: Oh yeah, I wouldn't have it any other way. We have a good thing going. It definitely helps, and we go down there one day a week. Getting to go with some of the best in the state like Ashkan (Morvari) and Mitch (Jackson) helps so much. And Ozzy's a great guy, and he's always challenging me. And Eric (Aasen) is a great promoter and coach.

How did you get into MMA?

GALEHDARI: Well I wrestled all through high school, and then after high school I didn't do anything for about a year. Then I jumped right into MMA. We all started training together in that barn, and then we met Denny Anderson. Denny was already friends with Marvin and Melvin, and we've been training with him ever since, at the facility we're in now in Taylors Falls. Denny doesn't get a lot of credit, because he's always kind of behind the scenes. But he deserves a lot of credit. Denny is awesome.

Until that Target Center show, I'd say most of the state had no idea about the MN Militia. You're getting a little more well-known now with all of your success. Did you guys like being in the shadows or is it more fun now that you're more of a known commodity?

GALEHDARI: Well it's always nice for people to know who you are. But we're fine with it either way. But it is cool that people are starting to recognize what we're doing, and obviously if you want to make it to a bigger show, it's good to have that exposure and to have more fans. The more fans you get I feel like the easier it will be to get to that next level. And obviously having (Minnesota MMA News) writing about us helps. I think that exposure has been great for all the fighters in Minnesota.

You seem to be pretty comfortable on your feet for a former wrestler. Did that come naturally?

GALEHDARI: At the very start, no, not at all. My kicks were horrendous. I always had decent head movement, but I really had to work hard on my hands and my kicks. Now I feel really comfortable on the feet. My foot work continues to improve, so that's nice. But yeah it was definitely something I had to work hard at.

Would you still prefer to have the fight on the ground?

GALEHDARI: Right now, yeah, that's usually the game plan. I will watch my fighter and see if he's susceptible to the takedown, and I'll go from there. As I progress in my career, I'll look to stand and bang more. I'll be more and more comfortable doing that with each fight. Right now, I figure why stand if I know I can beat the guy on the ground.

Is there any specific game plan for Saturday's fight?

GALEHDARI: Well, I know he likes to drop his left hand, so I'll look to counter that. But not much else. I'll go in there and feel it out, and we'll see where it goes.

Do you still get nervous before a fight?

GALEHDARI: Yep. I don't get as nervous as I did at Target Center, but I'm nervous before every fight. I think it's good to be nervous.

How's your chin? Has it ever been tested? Ever been knocked out in practice?

GALEHDARI: Nope, never been knocked out yet, knock on wood. I don't think it's really been tested yet, but I've been rocked in practice several times. And I had a brother growing up, so he smashed me in the face plenty of times with bats and other things.

And finally, who would you like to thank?

GALEHDARI: I'd like to thank Eric (Aasen), and I need to thank everyone on my team, including Melvin and Marvin and Denny Anderson. I'd like to thank Ozzy, my manager, for always giving me tough opponents and helping me climb the ladder. I'd like to thank my family and friends, and everyone down at ATT Savage. And finally (Minnesota MMA News) for giving me and other fighters this exposure.