Mike Swick plays online at Full Tilt Poker.

When Mike "Quick" Swick, a welterweight Ultimate Fighter with an impressive 12-2 record, asked if he could be a Friend of Full Tilt Poker, who was going to say no?

In fact, we are proud to have Mike as a friend. Not only is he a dedicated competitor who overcame a career-threatening condition to rise to the top of his sport, but he’s a role model to young athletes, and a man who puts his boundless energy behind humanitarian causes.

A native of Houston, Texas, Mike's life changed forever after he saw "The Karate Kid." When he started to karate chop the stuffing out of his family’s furniture, his mom decided to enroll him in a Tae Kwon Do class. He was just eight years old.

As Mike got older, other movies inspired him to try new martial arts. After he saw "Kickboxer", he wanted to train in Thailand, but because he was still in high school, he settled for hitting the gym even harder. By 18, Mike was skilled in kickboxing, Thai boxing, and mixed martial arts. He fought in amateur bouts for a year, and then made his pro debut, which he won.

Mike's career took a detour shortly after it began. His mother got him a job working security at the U.S. embassy in Moscow. Having never been out of Texas, Mike jumped at the chance to experience another culture. While in Russia, he stayed in shape by training with the Marines stationed at the embassy.

While in Russia, Mike learned he had an irregular heartbeat. Doctors told him if he wanted to live, he needed medication. The side effects of the drugs, however, would make it impossible for him to compete professionally.

Stung by the news, Mike did something he wanted to do since he was a teenager – he went to Thailand to train. Realizing that he couldn't hide from his problems, he returned home soon after and underwent surgery, knowing that one small mistake could mean even more damage or even death. None of that mattered, however – he just wanted his chance to compete.

The operation was a success, and Mike went back to Thailand to get in fighting shape. While there, he was overwhelmed by the poverty he saw, and has since promoted the work of UNICEF to help improve childrens' health conditions in Third World countries.

Mike eventually returned to professional fighting in 2002. He got his nickname "Quick" because his first two bouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship both ended in knockouts and lasted less than 30 seconds each.

Next to fighting, poker consumes a big portion of Mike’s life. From the first time he watched professional poker on TV, he was inspired to play in the big games. Throughout the years, he’s continued to play successfully in ring games and various tournaments. Mike plans to make his mark on the poker world, so be on the lookout for him in upcoming tournaments. In 2008, he was ranked in the top 4% of online poker players.

Be sure to chat and play with Mike next time you seem him at Full Tilt Poker, but be warned because he usually hits the tables as hard as he hits his opponents inside the octagon.