Mark Shopp came from a long line of fighters in his family, his grandfather and father were both pro boxers. At 12 years old, Mark began boxing at the Middletown boxing club under Bill Ballback, Vinny,  Mr. Davies and a pro boxer by the name of Freddy Boyton. By 1978 Mark had won his first fight in an exhibition against Sean Brown of Trenton, the end of that year he went on to win his first Junior Olympics and two more wins in 1979 and 1981. In 1983 Mark also won the New Jersey State Gold Golden Gloves. In 1983 Mark left for the military serving in the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, serving with the elite and training for over 7 years. Leaving the military Mark started Mixed Martial Arts training, which at time was called NHB (No Holds Barred). On February 26, 2000 he fought in the first commissioned MMA event on the East Coast- Ring of Combat at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City under a promoter by the name of Lou Neglia. Mark has trained with some of the best fighters in the world including; Bas Rutten, Coban, Gokor, Gene LaBell, and Renzo Gracie. While also attending seminars with Pete Williams, Guy Metzger, Oleg Taktra, Burt Valle, and Tito Ortiz. With teammates like "Big" Dan Miragliotta, Dan Fisher, Eddie Cruz, and leg lock Dave Lopez. In his 34 years of experience, expertise and knowledge he is still training new and upcoming fighters everyday with schools located in NJ, FL , NC, and TX under his Pitts Pen Submissions Team, and is constantly looking for new fighters.