Biff, a LionHeart student, Phil Davis, Ricardo de la Riva, Jeff Rockwell and Lou Armezzani.

Local lightweight pro Biff Walizer has been soaking up the MMA like a sponge in preparation for upcoming fights in Kentucky next Saturday and one on Sept. 12 in Atlantic City.

Biff gets wrapped.

Last week, Biff and some of the other fighters at LionHeart Fighters in State College attended a seminar led by Ricardo de la Riva and Tony Passos. De la Riva is a BJJ blackbelt who holds wins in BJJ tournments over three Gracies.Passos is a black belt under de la Riva.

Biff and some of the LionHeart Fighters also drove to Pittsburgh to train striking with K-1 fighter Mark "The Shark" Miller: