Lakotan Chato Wiest is looking for a thunderous KO at Throne MMA

“The Native Nightmare” Chato Wiest is coming into his next fight to make a statement. The 33-year-old Lakotan will be facing off against Chris Renwick in an MMA match that has a lot of bad blood brewing between the fighters. When the bell rings at the Spirit Lake Casino, expect lots of fireworks.

Wiest is from Mandan and grew up on the Standing Rock Reservation. Currently training out of Ice Dragon Academy in Bismarck, he is also an army veteran that includes two combat tours overseas. “I’ve always been a fighter,” Wiest said. “I always wanted to fight but my parents wouldn’t let me do it.” After returning home from his tour of duty in 2016, against his parent’s wishes, he started training and eventually fought in the amateur circuit and won a championship as a cruiserweight. “I just grew up fighting growing up in the res. It’s a tough life,” he said. “Myself I come from a warrior culture… To us we try to live every day in fear. Every day is a good day to die.”

Sporting a 1-3 pro record, he will be taking on a familiar foe in Chris Renwick. The two faced off in an amateur fight with Wiest winning by a guillotine choke submission. They meet again and the words between the two have been less than cordial. The two were scheduled to fight previously in November but that fight was canceled due to Wiest receiving a medical suspension for a previous knockout. Medical suspensions last anywhere from 60 to 90 days. Renwick wrote on Facebook “Wiest you are a coward back out on a fight after they send you the contract.”

Wiest didn’t take too kindly to Renwick’s harsh words. “He was bugging me for years. Asking for a rematch,” Wiest said. “He decided to play victim on social media and said I was scared of him… I’m a humble person. I don’t go online and talk about anyone like that.” Despite the harsh words, Wiest said he wishes any “ill will” to his opponent. “I hope his training is going well. It will just make this fight even more sweeter.”

Wiest is setting his sights on bigger opportunities for his fight career. He is happy and comfortable working his day job customizing cars but if the opportunity to train full-time comes up he will take it. “If I could I would drop everything and train. We’re working towards that,” he said. “I’m 33. I’m still getting older. I want to actually take this further.”

Chato Wiest takes on Chris Renwick for Throne MMA on February 24 at Spirit Lake Casino.