Inside Fighters: Kody “Big Bird” Hrastnik – Inside the World of Power Slap

Kody “Big Bird” Hrastnik is carving his own path in the fight world, balancing Power Slap, MMA ambitions, and a busy life as a family man. Originally from Safford, Arizona, he made the move to Maricopa in 2016. At 18, while working as a busboy in an entertainment centers restaurant, Kody found himself drawn into combat sports. He bought a Wavemaster bag, trained with tips from friends back home, and studied what he could on YouTube.

When RUF MMA hosted an event where he worked, he spoke directly with the promoter about what it would take to step inside the cage — and from there, the journey began.

Now training under Bryan Scambler and alongside names like Deon Clash, James Cannon, and Anthony Birchak at 10th Planet / Toro Tech MMA, Hrastnik is sharpening his craft and looking at what’s next — whether that’s Dirty Boxing or a Power Slap return.

Q&A

1. How’d you first get into fighting/Power Slap?

"To be honest I was bored, and it’s something I’ve always been interested in, so I got some gear and started punching a bag in my backyard."

2. What’s training like for you just now?

"Now I’m training at 10th Planet / Toro Tech with Deon Clash, James Cannon, and Anthony Birchak".

3. What’s been your favorite moment in the sport so far?

"My favorite moment would probably be my amateur debut. I beat a guy 50lbs heavier than me".

4. What do you like to do outside of fighting?

"Outside of fighting, I’m a big family man. I have 6 beautiful children and a smokin’ hot fiancée — they are my world. But when I finally get free time, haha, I love to go fishing’."

Final Message from Kody :

"Big Bird is back, baby, and I’m here to take over. I’m done being the nail for everybody — time to be the hammer. I’ll be eyeing Dirty Boxing and hope to make my Power Slap return soon"

Kody’s story is still being written, but one thing is clear: with his resilience, family-driven motivation, and training pedigree, he’s not just showing up — he’s ready to make a statement. And with Toro Tech MMA continuing to push out rising talent, “Big Bird” is one to watch as he looks toward the next stage of his combat sports journey.