‘Ultimate Fighter’ gives Springer platform

With eight wins, Austin Springer has enjoyed a solid start to his professional mixed martial arts career.

But bigger things might be ahead for the Vancouver fighter.

Springer is one of 32 contestants on this season’s The Ultimate Fighter reality television series. The first two-hour episode airs at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Fox Sports 1. The season champion earns a Ultimate Fighting Championships contract.

“It’s kind of a springboard to a bigger stage. I could get a call tomorrow to fight in UFC, but most likely it’s going to be one of the first fights of the night that nobody’s going to see,” Springer said. “Going through Ultimate Fighter, you start out on that main stage, you start out under the bright lights. It’s a huge platform.”

Just how far Springer advanced on that platform remains a secret. To participate, he had to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

But he can talk about the audition process.

Held in Las Vegas, the audition drew hundreds of applicants and started with 90 seconds of grappling. Springer said he quickly submitted his opponent there. Next was 30 seconds of kicking and punching against a pad. After those two physical tests came the interview, which Springer said was the key to the whole process.

“They don’t want a stale person,” Springer said.

This season’s Ultimate Fighter features 155-pound fighters. Springer, 27, has mostly fought at 145 pounds — his ultimate goal is to be a 145-pound world champion. “But I’m not going to let 10 pounds stop me.”

Plus, he didn’t have to work hard to make weight.

“Where most of the guys were having to cut 10 or 15 pounds, I’m having a coffee, walking up with a smile on my face because I’m not suffering. They have more muscle than me, sure. But I had a lack of stress.”

A 2005 graduate of Southridge High School in Kennewick, Springer got started in MMA after he failed to reach his goals as a high school wrestler.

“I didn’t reach the goals that I had set for myself. I still had the itch to compete,” he said.

In 2008, Springer moved to Vancouver when UFC champion Randy Couture opened a gym in Salmon Creek. In November of 2011, Springer opened his own training facility in Vancouver, Gladiator MMA.

His gym recently relocated to space inside the former Apex Training Facility at 3000 Columbia House Blvd., and is now called Vancouver Elite Martial Arts.

Springer also helps coach wrestling at Mountain View High School.