Samuel Earl Hoger (; born June 28, 1980) is an American retired mixed martial artist, poker player, and an actor, most notable for appearing on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television series produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship and broadcast on Spike TV. Hoger has trained with Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, Iowa and is belted in the Miletich Fighting Systems. Background Hoger was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to a Panamanian mother and an American father. Before his first birthday, Sam moved with his family to Germany where his father – a major in the US Military – was stationed. From Germany the family moved to Panama due to the United States invasion of Panama. Hoger has two sisters. Hoger got interested in martial arts as a kid when he saw Karate Kid in the movies, and subsequently his mother placed him in karate lessons in Panama. The family moved to Alaska when Sam was a teenager, where he got interested in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and started training under Ted Stickel around the age of 13. Sam graduated from Chugiak High School and got a senatorial nomination to United States Military Academy. However, Hoger attended New Mexico Military Institute from where he dropped out. He then received a merit-based scholarship to LSU from where he graduated with two Political Science degrees (Theory and Government) Class of 2002. Afterwards he studied for his MBA at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. He was also the founder of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu Club at LSU. Mixed martial arts career Early career Hoger made his amateur debut on January 27, 2001, when he faced Robert DiMarco at Reality Combat Fighting 9. He won the fight via rear-naked choke submission. He then faced John Accardo at Reality Combat Fighting 14 on March 15, 2002. He won via referee stoppage TKO. Hoger would turn professional in June 2003, and compiled a professional record of 4–0 before being signed to compete on The Ultimate Fighter. The Ultimate Fighter Hoger made it to the semi-finals on the show without having to fight. His comments at the time suggested a calculated and Machiavellian effort on his part to win the show by fighting as late as possible. In the show, he maintained a distance from others and made it a point to keep everyone confused, including his own teammates. He was eliminated by Forrest Griffin