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"The fulfillment in life that I've found, I found in God. It's beyond happiness. It's joy."

(Oklahoma City, Ok.)—35-year-old Sam Crilly, who was a champion of the Toughman Contests of the 1990s, traded in a lifestyle of barroom brawls, drinking and carousing for a life of faith about 10 years ago, according to a report in The Oklahoman. This week Crilly will compete in the Toughman contest again—this time as a saved man.

"Sam spent most of life trying to beat people down. He's just as intense now, but it's about building people up, not ripping them apart," said Rev. Dale Justice, pastor of Kingsview Free Will Baptist Church. "He's a legend because people knew him as a bad guy. He's still impacting people now but in a good way."

After a short stint in prison, Crilly notes that he got saved when his son was invited to Kingsview church. It wasn't long before the whole family started going.

Soon Crilly says he started noticing differences in himself. "I'm waking up on Sunday morning without a hangover, without any bloody knuckles, without any regrets."

Through Rev. Justice's mentoring, Crilly adds, "God really changed my life and I realized that it's not just about going to church on Sunday. The fulfillment in life that I've found, I found in God. It's beyond happiness. It's joy."

As for his upcoming fight, Crilly is quoted as saying the fight has already been won.

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