For years, Tyson Akl has been called psycho. And that’s OK with him.

When your job is to step into a caged-in ring and punch, kick and grapple your opponent into submission, it’s actually not a bad nickname to have.

The 36-year-old Akl, a Salem resident for the last four years, makes his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut on Friday, Sept. 11, at Icecenter in Salem.

The middleweight fighter began MMA training about 15 years ago in Montreal, and in the time since became an underground street fighter on the Internet.

Near the beginning of his MMA career, the 185- pound “Psycho” took on a 400-pound opponent, pulverizing him and leading those in attendance to give him a nickname he’s had ever since.

“I’m not a person who is going to run their mouth outside the cage, I do work inside,” said Akl. “I explode inside, not out.”

Like most involved in the sport, Akl’s goal is to reach the MMA pinnacle and fight in an Ultimate Fighting Championship bout.

“The next two fights will tell the story,” said Akl’s promoter and friend Sal LoNano. “After this fight everyone will be able to see if he can go to the next level. We’ll know just how good he is.”

LoNano said Akl brings a scary skill set – and mindset – to the cage, ready to outlast opponents as well as outwork them with his boxing and wrestling skills.

But it’s his mental makeup that Akl said gives him confidence he can achieve his goal of fighting in the UFC.

“I’m a little older, but I know I can make it,” said Akl, who plans to open a mixed martial arts school in town. “If you decide you want to accomplish something, you can, no matter what it takes.”

During the Sept. 11 fight, Akl takes on 23-year-old Team Bomb Squad fighter Collin Schrader, who doesn’t have much familiarity with his opponent.

“It’s tough to prepare for someone you don’t know anything about, but I’ve fought before when I didn’t know much about my past competitors,” said Schrader. “My last two opponents have been 22 and 27. He’s definitely older, so it will be a little different.” LoNano said while Akl is at an advanced age in MMA terms, he believes “Psycho” is a force.

“Don’t let the age fool you,” said LoNano. “If I had to fight him, I’d be scared to (death).”