`BEAR' IN THE RING SIMI HIGH GRAD ACCEPTS ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHALLENGE FIGHTER BLENDS MARTIAL MANEUVERS.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Although he's a novice at the no-holds-barred sport he's chosen as a career - combining kickboxing with wrestling and submission fighting - Mark Smith relies on his background as a grappler to take him far.

Smith, 26, said he got involved with mixed martial arts six months ago because it allowed him to use the skills he learned on the mat at Simi Valley High School and Moorpark College.

``You have to really work hard because it's not a sport like football, where your teammates can make up for you,'' said Smith, nicknamed ``Bear'' by his pals. ``It's one on one - you have to prove yourself.

``If you haven't prepared yourself you'll get beat. There's no room for mistakes.''

Smith will fight in the main event at today's Millennium Showdown at Dakota's, featuring 16 fighters from training schools across Southern California.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Athletes & Entertainers For Kids, a charity that provides role models for urban children. It also will feature demonstration teams, both adult and children.

The event came to Dakota's Mesquite BBQ & Steakhouse in two ways, through the restaurant's involvement with AEFK and through its sponsorship of Smith in his quest for fighting greatness.

Restaurant co-owner Flemming Larson said he hasn't actually seen Smith fight in person yet, but is looking forward to it.

``From what I understand, he's really good,'' he said. ``I've seen tapes of him and he's a big guy. We like to sponsor local athletes, so why not sponsor a fighter? It's another way to give back to the community.''

At 6 feet and 275 pounds, Smith wrestled and played football at Simi Valley High before graduating in 1992. He went on to play football for Moorpark College before joining its wrestling team for the last weeks of his third year there.

A few years ago, Smith began training in grappling and submission fighting skills with former Ultimate Fighting Challenge fighters Mark Hall and Joe Charles, and took kickboxing under Jimbo Edwards.

Last year, he decided to try his hand at fighting professionally, choosing the hard-core sport of ultimate fighting because it fit with his skills.

``I'm a big, physical guy,'' he said. ``I've always been strong, always been tough. This is something I know I can do. When I'm 30, 35, 40, I don't want to look back on it and say, I could have been one of the best fighters. I want to take that chance now and see if I can.''

Smith said that the fighting done in the mixed martial arts competition can get pretty rough because opponents continue to fight once they've brought an opponent to the mat, rather than backing off as they do in boxing and kickboxing.

But, he said, the street-fighting conditions belie the skill necessary to compete where each move has a purpose and no open-fist hits or kicking to the head are allowed. Elbow hits to the head, face or spine and head butts also are banned.

Smith, who is single, said he is especially excited to be competing in his hometown for the first time because he's always had friends and family in the audience at football and wrestling events.

``It brings back the memories of them coming to watch me,'' he said. ``They get the opportunity to do it again.''

THE EVENT is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Dakota's restaurant, 2525 Stow St. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children.

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Photo: Grappling Mark ``Bear'' Smith has been training as an ultimate fighter for today's Millennium Showdown in Simi Valley.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News