The word you're looking for here is "calm" — unlikely but unshakable calm.

Local mixed martial arts fighter Anthony "The Crush" Torres holds a solid top position over jiujitsu trainer Leandro Nyza as the two grapple noiselessly alongside two other pairs of fighters in the humid confines of the 20-by-30-foot box they call their gym.

Though his face is flushed and contorted from the strain of the conflict — not to mention Nyza's gloved fist pushing against his neck — Torres' eyes betray nothing but quiet confidence.

His breaths come evenly, even with Nyza's legs scissored around his rib cage. Their hands engage and disengage, arms corkscrewing as they probe for the tiny opening that will break what has been an exhaustive physical and psychological stalemate.

"Anthony is very aggressive, but he's also very mellow," says fellow fighter Kolo Koka. "Usually at the same time."

Finally, an electronic buzzer sounds and the fighters take a much-needed one-minute break. Torres uncoils his body and stretches toward the fluorescent lights above.

"A lot of people think this sport is just a couple of barbaric guys going at it and trying to pummel each other," says Torres, one of 18 mixed martial arts fighters selected to appear in the Spike TV reality show "The Ultimate Fighter 2."

"Mixed martial arts is more like a chess match. When two fighters have the same skill level, experience and endurance, it comes down to who makes a mistake, or who can induce the other person to make a mistake and then capitalize on it."

Torres, one of the most promising prospects in a rising community of local fighters, hopes to give mainstream America a greater appreciation for the finer points of mixed martial arts — starting with tomorrow night's season premiere.

"It's an honor to be able to represent Hawai'i on the show, but at the same time I just tried to go out there and have fun and enjoy the experience," says Torres, 27. "I knew the show was going to change my life, but it's important to stay grounded, to stay humble."

"The Ultimate Fighter" was one of the surprise hits of last season, drawing nearly 2 million viewers each week. The final episode scored a 3 national household rating — 3 percent of all TV households in the United States — a strong showing for a cable series. (The finale got a 6 household rating in Hawai'i.)

This season, nine welterweights (170 pounds) and nine heavyweights (over 205 pounds) will share a house and train under the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization's champions, Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin. They'll compete for a shot at a UFC contract and the title of "Ultimate Fighter."

Divided into two teams, the athletes will compete in physical challenges to determine who will square off in the ring (octagon, actually) each week.

The show concludes Nov. 5 when four semifinalists fight in a live TV broadcast.

Torres can't reveal how he did in the competition, which was held over a six-week period earlier this year, but he said the experience gave him an important perspective on his sport.

"For six weeks we were totally cut off from everything," he says. "It was eat, sleep, train, fight. That was it. And what I realized is it's the balance — your friends, family, training partners, loved ones — that make it fun."

While he normally doesn't like to get close to people he might have to fight, Torres said he became friends with a few of the other fighters on the show.

"We bonded, but when it comes time to fight, you have to disconnect yourself," he says. "Business is business, and afterwards you can be friends."

Torres says he brings the same simple approach to his sport that he does to his job as a federal corrections officer.

As a member of the Enhanced Disturbance Patrol Team — sort of an in-house SWAT unit — he is accustomed to real-life danger and the firm but fair hand needed to mitigate it.

"My big thing is you have to treat everybody with respect," Torres said. "When you're in a unit and it's 120 inmates and just you, it's mutual respect that keeps things under control."

Torres, who is Chamorro, Spanish and Irish, was born in Saipan and moved frequently before his family landed in Hawai'i when he was 12.

A natural athlete, Torres played football for Roosevelt and was the state power-lifting champion in the teen division as a senior.

Torres' interest in martial arts developed when he took up jiujitsu at age 19. After winning a few tournaments, he shifted his focus to mixed martial arts, training under Grappling Unlimited's Egan Inoue and alongside fighters such as Barrett Yoshida, Falaniko Vitale, Wesley "Cabbage" Correira and others.

Torres has an undefeated record and has twice competed in Icon Sport (formerly Super Brawl).

These days, Torres trains as a member of Mixed Martial Arts Development, a collective of local fighters including Nyza, Kaipo Kalama, Kolo Koka, Brandon Wolff and other Grappling Unlimited alums.

Torres and his training partners are hitting their prime just as the sport — spurred by the success of UFC — is gaining widespread popularity.

"Mixed martial arts is so different from boxing," Koka says. You never know what the other guy is going to bring to the fight. You could be worried just about the kicks, but the guy might punch you or wrestle you or slam you on your head, or break your arm or your leg. It's more extreme than any other sport."

On this night, the gym — constructed by Kalama — fairly pulses with the heat of six dead-serious fighters; the air is swollen with their exhalations. Near the entrance a large floor fan whirs with more noise than effect.

It's the typical end of a typical day for Torres, who awoke at 5 a.m., worked at the prison from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and put in an hour of technical, strength and coordination training before coming here to the gym for another two hours of sparring. He does this four or five times a week.

The time and dedication required of the sport don't leave much room for anything else. Torres has put off the last few classes he needs to finish his degree in criminal justice at Chaminade. A four-year relationship recently ended, partly the result of his rigid schedule, he says.

Still, Torres says, the sacrifices have been worth the rewards — especially in the case of "The Ultimate Fighter 2."

"It was an awesome experience," Torres said. "Having that chance to test myself and see where I'm at took me to a whole other level."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.