Check out my latest interview with Steve “The Creepy Weasel” Montgomery, a professional MMA fighter fighting out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fl.
We discussed his recent win at Titan Fighting Championships 29, his upcoming fighting opportunities, the quality of his training, and other interesting topics pertaining to his fight career, such as how he skipped his senior prom night to have his second amateur fight.
I had the opportunity to interview with Professional MMA fighter Kenny “Good2Go” Gaudreau, conducted at his gym, Disciple MMA in Dulles, Virginia.
We discussed his career, outlook on fighting in general, his upcoming fight close to home on June 7 at Glory Fights in Woodbridge, as well as his next fight at the Victorium III on July 12.
I’m proud to present this interview with Professional MMA fighter Johnathan “The Scarecrow” Hughes. Conducted at his gym, Disciple MMA in Dulles, Virginia, we discussed his most recent fight, his upcoming fight on May 31 for Draka MMA, and his next scheduled fight against local Virginia MMA standout Brett Glass at the Victorium III on July 12, and where he sees his career going in the near future.
I am super excited to present my interview with longtime Professional MMA standout Dustin “The Disciple” Pague.
Interviewing him at the tail end of a training session at his gym, Disciple MMA in Dulles, Virginia, we discussed his career, recent relocation, his upcoming fight July 12 at the Victorium III, and his plans on working his way back into the UFC.
I had the opportunity to interview longtime Professional MMA fighter Nick Rossborough, after his fight at Bellator 119. We discussed the controversial result of his most recent fight, what led him to discover MMA, the genesis of his unique nickname (The Slim Shady of MMA), the state of MMA in Utah, and his views on his place in Bellator’s Heavyweight Division.
While I realize that I only included five fighters on the previous list, I was confronted with a moral quandary that made me unable to publish this list without including all of the fighters mentioned below. Please enjoy the following list, and feel free to share your thoughts on it on The Doombeard Report’s Facebook page.
Six Fighters Who Have greatly benefited from an exciting fighting style:
Photo courtesy of http://SBNation.com
1. Chris Lytle – This entry shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Chris “Lights Out” Lytle was (and still is) one of the most beloved fighters in the sport. After losing his fight (and a guaranteed title shot against Georges St. Pierre) on the finale of TUF 4 against Matt Serra, Lytle believed that fighting conservatively lead to his loss. After that, he vowed to never have that happen to him again. Lytle went on to win eight of his next 14 fights in the UFC, achieving an overall UFC record of 10-10.
While this may not strike you as a highly successful record, it’s in the way he went about establishing his legacy in the latter half of his UFC career that gets him on this list. Chris Lytle is the living embodiment of “gameness” if there ever was one; winning bonuses for Fight of the Night a record six times, Submission of the Night three times, and Knockout of the Night once. When being interviewed about Lytle’s career before his last fight with Dan Hardy, Dana White was quoted as saying that Chris Lytle had earned almost a million dollars in post-fight bonuses alone in the course of his career, not counting discretionary “locker room” bonuses that White also said Lytle routinely got whether he won or lost. Chris Lytle’s fights through the latter half of his career were routinely amazing, whether he won or lost. Whether it was his Triangle/Kimura submission win over Jason Gilliam, or his Inverted Triangle/Straight Armbar finish of Matt Brown, Chris Lytle’s name further became synonymous with awesome fights and even more awesome and esoteric submissions. Lytle’s retirement fight saw him go out on a win with a thrilling third-round submission victory over Dan Hardy that netted him the ever-elusive “double-bonus”, where he was awarded both Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night. Needless to say, Chris Lytle definitely deserves to be on this list for his numerous fights that were crowd pleasers and instant-classics. If anyone were to ever say that Chris Lytle wasn’t one of the most exciting fighters to ever grace the sport of MMA, I’d readily accuse them of blindness!
Photo courtesy of www.bleacherreport.net.
2. Dan Hardy – After a standout career in various British promotions, Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy made his UFC debut at UFC 89 against Akihiro Gono, an entertaining, striking-heavy affair that Hardy won via Split Decision. An awesome knockout of Rory Markham and thrilling stand up victories over Marcus Davis and Mike Swick propelled Hardy into a title fight against Georges St. Pierre, a bout that he ultimately lost. Carlos Condit then knocked out Dan Hardy in a thrilling stand up war that ended in under a round. Hardy was subsequently, despite Johnson’s pre-fight claims that he desired a stand-up war, outwrestled by Anthony Johnson in a fight that was largely panned by MMA fans everywhere, as Johnson favored a wrestling-heavy style that was very light on action. Hardy then faced Chris Lytle in a thrilling back and forth bout that saw him lose via submission in the third round. With Hardy having dropped four straight fights at that point, UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta was quoted as saying, “I ain’t cutting Dan Hardy. I love guys that war!”
Dan Hardy’s next fight was a first round Knockout victory over highly decorated striker Duane Ludwig, followed up by a convincing Unanimous Decision win over Amir Sadollah. Hardy was scheduled to face Matt Brown at UFC on Fox 7, but was forced out of the fight due to being diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a diagnosis that has since kept him out of competition. I personally cannot wait until Dan Hardy is able to return to competition, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that regard. A Dan Hardy fight has become associated with excitement and great standup technique, traits that can are never bad to have!
Photo courtesy of MMAJunkie.com
3. Matt Brown – After introducing himself to MMA fans on Season 7 of The Ultimate Fighter with an awesome head kick knockout win over Jeremy May, Matt Brown was defeated by the eventual winner of TUF’s seventh season, Amir Sadollah. After rattling off four stoppage wins in first five fights, Matt Brown saw himself go into a 1-4 slide that saw all of his losses come by way of submission. Brown was given one last chance to try to right the ship, and right the ship he did!
On February 4, 2012, Matt Brown defeated Chris Cope via TKO with a barrage of strikes, and hasn’t lost since. In his next contest, Brown derailed the hype train of the highly touted Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson by never allowing him to have the space to use his vaunted karate skills, and beating him up for his troubles. Brown then rattled off a TKO win over Luis Ramos, and a Knockout win against Mike Swick, with both of the aforementioned wins coming in dominant fashion. In his next contest, Brown fought late-replacement Jordan Mein. While the first round of the fight was very competitive with both fighters trading hard blows on the feet, Brown ended up stopping Mein via TKO with punches to the face and then elbows to the body once Mein dropped to the ground, pretty much ending the fight with sheer manliness and brutality. In his latest win, Matt Brown knocked out respected veteran Mike Pyle in just 29 seconds, defeating yet another opponent who was on an impressive winning streak.
I am positive that the UFC knows that they made the right decision not cutting Matt Brown, as he has utilized the opportunity to go on an absolute tear through the UFC’s Welterweight division. Matt Brown’s next fight is against Carlos Condit on December 14 at UFC on Fox 9, which certainly looks like a fight that, aside from potentially determining the next contender to get a shot at the Welterweight title, will certainly have it’s fair share of awesomeness.
Photo courtesy of www.scifighting.com
4. Joe Lauzon – Making his UFC debut on September 23, 2006 with a 48 second KO of former UFC Champion Jens Pulver, Joe Lauzon has since become a staple in the UFC’s Lightweight division, and an exciting one at that. With an overall UFC record of 9-6, Joe Lauzon has never fought for a title, but has been a longtime fan favorite due to his immense propensity for finding himself in exciting fights that routinely end in spectacular and/or brutal fashion, whether he is on the winning side or not.
After competing on Season 5 of The Ultimate Fighter, Lauzon submitted Brandon Melendez via Triangle Choke (where he also won the Submission of the Night bonus), and the previously undefeated Jason Rinehardt via Rear Naked Choke shortly thereafter. Following a Fight of the Night TKO loss to Kenny Florian, Lauzon went on to get a TKO win over Kyle Bradley and a Submission of the Night win over Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens via Armbar. From 2010-2011, Lauzon went 3-2 in the UFC, winning a post fight bonus in every single contest. While he faced setbacks with a widely panned Decision loss to Sam Stout, and a submission loss via Kimura to George Sotiropoulos, his victories during this timeframe most definitely cemented him into the hearts of MMA fans worldwide. Lauzon’s victories during this time period were all first round submission victories that won him the Submission of the Night bonus in every contest. Lauzon absolutely obliterated Gabe Reudiger, submitting him via Armbar at UFC 118 in Boston, defeated Curt Warburton by submission via Kimura at UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry, then submitted the highly touted Melvin Guillard via Rear Naked Choke in under a minute after dropping him with a punch.
Despite Joe Lauzon’s obvious prowess in the realm of submissions, he has often engaged in thrilling stand up wars to preface either his submission victories or his defeats. This has only further endeared him to MMA fans everywhere. While Lauzon is currently mired in a two-fight losing streak, including a recent lopsided Decision loss to Michael Johnson, I firmly believe that his upcoming fight against Mac Danzig should see him return to form. After all, being tied with Anderson Silva for having the most post-fight bonuses in UFC history generally means you have a profound propensity to find yourself in awesome fights. Let us hope that his upcoming match at UFC on Fox 9 on December 14th sees “J-Lau” return to his entertaining ways!
Photo courtesy of www.sbrforum.com.
5. Chan-Sung Jung – After amassing a 10-1 record fighting in South Korea and Japan, Chan-Sung Jung was introduced to the majority of MMA fans when he fought Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia at WEC 48. The fight ended in a widely decried Split Decision win for Leonard Garca; but saw both fighters win the Fight of the Night honors, as well as spawning Jung’s future moniker, “The Korean Zombie”, due to his ability to take damage and keep advancing forward. After suffering a second round head kick KO loss to George Roop at WEC 51, The Korean Zombie then made his way over to the UFC upon the official merger of the WEC’s roster with that of the UFC.
Filling in for an injured Nam Phan, Chan-Sung Jung stepped up to face Leonard Garcia in a rematch, and step up he did. After thoroughly handling Garcia on the feet, Jung ended up submitting Garcia with a Twister in the final second of the second round. Aside from winning Submission of the Night from the UFC, Submission of the Year from the World MMA Awards, and being the first person to ever utilize the submission in the history of the UFC, Jung stated that he had learned the technique from watching Eddie Bravo videos on YouTube. If the aforementioned fact doesn’t make Chan-Sung Jung awesome, I don’t know what does! Generally speaking, if you are able to utilize knowledge gleaned from YouTube to submit a fighter at the highest level of MMA, you are pretty awesome!
The Korean Zombie’s next opponent was Mark Hominick, who was fresh off a loss (with a particularly gruesome hematoma therein!) to UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Jung promptly tied the UFC record for the fastest knockout, dispatching Hominick in just seven seconds, netting him the Knockout of the Night bonus in the process, however short it may have been.
Jung’s next opponent was the uber-talented Dustin Poirier, in a match where the winner was all but assured a title shot against Jose Aldo. In a Fight of the Night contest, Jung ended up submitting Poirier with a D’Arce choke in the fourth round, netting him Submission of the Night as well. After an injury to Anthony Pettis, Jung was pulled from a bout with Ricardo Lamas and faced Jose Aldo for the UFC’s Featherweight Championship. Jung and Aldo were absolutely neck and neck after a full three rounds of action, but Jung dislocated his shoulder while he threw a punch in the fourth round. Aldo saw Jung wince in pain and favor his shoulder, and subsequently pounced on him and hit him with a barrage of strikes to secure the TKO victory.
Despite the unfortunate ending to his latest contest, I’m sure MMA fans the world over are looking forward to the next time they get to watch The Korean Zombie fight. I know I most certainly am.
Photo courtesy of the UFC.com
6. Ian McCall – Last but not least, I could not write this list without including Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall on it. I will concede that I may be slightly biased due to the fact that Ian McCall has an awesome mustache, but I believe that such a thing makes him even more exciting and awesome. Sporting a look that is reminiscent of an old-school prizefighter, Ian McCall has been one of the most entertaining fighters on the UFC’s Flyweight roster since the division’s inception.
After a 1-2 stint in the now defunct WEC at bantamweight, Ian McCall signed with Tachi Palace Fights, which at that time was the main promotion that was showcasing the Flyweight (125 lbs.) division. After a three fight winning streak in TPF that saw him defeat a whose-who of flyweight fighters en route to winning the Tachi Palace Fights Flyweight Championship belt, Ian McCall was finally called up to the UFC to take part in their inaugural Flyweight tournament to determine the initial UFC Flyweight Champion.
In McCall’s first UFC contest, he faced Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. The fight was very competitive throughout, but it seemed like McCall was pulling ahead in the third round, going so far as to imitate riding a horse as he ended the round having taken Johnson’s back. McCall was then heartbroken to be on the wrong end of a Majority Decision that was later found to be miscalculated and was changed to a Draw. Despite the anticlimactic ending to the fight, Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson received Fight of the Night for their entertaining bout, and the UFC immediately set about scheduling a rematch in order to readily crown a UFC Flyweight champ. While Johnson beat McCall in their rematch, “Uncle Creepy” put on an entertaining fight, routinely chasing Johnson about the Octagon. McCall next faced Joseph Benavidez, losing by Unanimous Decision but still putting on an awesome show, with McCall and Benavidez sharing some entertaining banter during the fight. Despite being 0-2-1 since joining the organization, the UFC gave the perennial fan favorite another fight, where McCall faced Illiarde Santos. The bout itself was a stand up battle for the ages, with both fighters exchanging lots of heavy leather and refusing to give ground. After a barnburner of a fight that also netted the two combatants the Fight of the Night bonus, Ian McCall’s hand was finally raised for the first time in the UFC, as he won the fight by Unanimous Decision.
While his fan friendly, brawling style has netted him more defeats than victories in the UFC, it has certainly entertained the masses and UFC brass alike, meaning that we still have the privilege of watching “Uncle Creepy” compete in the UFC’s Octagon and engage in thrilling fights with a sense of style and panache that is rarely seen in MMA today. I will always root for an awesome guy with an even more awesome mustache, as that is most definitely in spirit with the motives of this website in general. In short, Ian McCall rules!
Honorable mentions for other fighters who fall under this category include: Leonard Garcia, Chris Leben, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, Ben “Killa B” Saunders, and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor.
The Doombeard Report speaks with Tom Lawlor regarding his recovery from knee surgery, his recent move to the city of Richmond, his MMA career, Pro Wrestling, horrid stenches, declining property values for homeowners in Richmond, and a message to his fans.
Question: What brought you to MMA?
Answer: I wrestled my whole life. I was a competitor early on. I found it as an escape from the real world… I controlled my progress in wrestling and no one could stop me but me. When I graduated high school, I had been undefeated in wrestling for two years and I still had my drive. At first I had some personal issues that kept me from taking advantage of a D1 scholarship to VMI and without competition my life fell apart a bit. I felt lost without the goal setting and motivation that the sport brought.
Where did you finish your collegiate wrestling career? Did you graduate? If so, what was your degree?
King University in Bristol, TN. Yeah I graduated with a degree in History and a minor in coaching and secondary education. After moving to Harrisonburg I pursued a Masters Degree in Secondary Education at Liberty University but never finished. I dropped everything when I moved to Richmond to “shoot for the stars” as they say. I can go back to school at any time. I can’t say that about MMA.
Where did you begin your training?
I found a small team in my hometown and began training in Jiu-jitsu. About three weeks into training, I jumped right into MMA competition and never looked back. I met Beau Baker at my first amateur competition and began traveling to Harrisonburg (then Valley Chute Boxe) five or six days a week along with training Jiu-jitsu, Judo, and boxing at VMI and BVFC (gym in my home town). I eventually went back to college to wrestle competitively and to finish my degree. I would continue training MMA in my wrestling off season and competed as well.
When I graduated college I moved to Harrisonburg (at the time had moved to MMA Institute) and began my professional career.
So you had your first MMA fight after only three weeks of training?
Yes sir. I was young and naïve but very motivated. I was an elite athlete already and this carried me through until I began to evolve as a mixed martial artist. I started training at 18… That means I’ve put in almost 10 years.
Your nickname is “Tailor Made”. There is usually a story behind how nicknames come about. What is yours?
No big story—I believe that my life experiences and ventures have “tailored” me perfectly for this sport; I was made for this. Also my style is “tailor-made” for any opponents. Plus it rhymes dude, you know?
My nickname in college was given to me by a kid named Patrick Spano. He called me the “buffet” short for “buffet of manliness”. He said when I fought I would “give them an all-you-can eat” buffet of beat down. He was a trip and I loved that kid. Another dude named Quinton “KB” Brown used to call me M-dot because my signature is M. Wade for everything.
Personally, I think you should use “The Buffet” as a second nickname, that’s pretty awesome. Ever thought of rocking a supplementary nickname like only the best (insert sarcasm here) rappers do?
No thanks, I thought Mike Wade was enough. My dad is Mike Wade too and together we have built somewhat of a badass reputation in our own respects. But I’m sure Patrick Spano will always call me “the Buffet”.
Was your first Amateur MMA fight a Submission loss against Andrew Zai? If so, what did you take away from that fight, and how did it impact your mindset going forward in your career?
Zai was my second and I learned a lot. Sometimes a loss teaches you more than a win. Wait you are right Zai was first… It was a long time ago. Most of my influential fights for me came as a Pro.
After racking up eight Amateur MMA fights in under two years, you finished with a record of 6-2. At what point did you make the move from MMA Institute in Harrisonburg to MMA Institute’s Richmond location?
I competed as an amateur for three years off and on…. I was 8-2 as a few fights were unsanctioned. I had a “difference of opinion” with the current coach in Harrisonburg and had been planning to make the move to Richmond eventually. I moved to Richmond after being in Harrisonburg for a little over a year. I took some time off after my last amateur fight (guy was 10-0 amateur and I TKO’d him) to finish school and finish strong in wrestling
How do you like training under Rick McCoy at MMA Institute, as well as living in the city of Richmond?
The only thing I like about Richmond is the people I’ve met and work with and the gym. I love training at MMAI in Richmond. Rick is a great coach. Lots of coaches teach technique and Rick is one of the best I’ve seen but his devotion to the fighters is what makes him great. I’ll end my career here I’m sure of it. There are always tough guys in the gym and I get better all the time. Now if I could just stay a little more active then my career would be perfect.
You happen to be a part of an experienced group of fighters at MMAI. You train daily with guys like Terrell Hobbs, Brian Nielson, Donny Ooton, and Keith Bell. MMAI has also recently added UFC fighter Tom “Filthy” Lawlor to its roster. How do you feel about the level of training that you get in the gym from your teammates?
We are getting better all the time. We are one of the best and it’s time to show the world. With the addition of the new equipment and space that Rick is working on, we will have everything we need to compete with any gym and any level of fighters. I’m glad to do my part in proving our worth in the overall MMA scene.
Tom Lawlor joined an already successful and experienced team and he will only add to the stable of badasses we already had. I’m excited to work with him to prepare him for his UFC fights and to get my ass in there.
Tom Lawlor has established himself as a very entertaining fighter with a colorful personality. How have you found your experiences training and interacting with him so far.
He is still recovering from knee surgery so he hasn’t been training so far but he is definitely a character. He is a great guy and fun to be around. He will make a great fit here in Richmond and is already making friends. Last conversation I had with him is how he can sneak in the UFC fighter thing to get girls…his ideas are funny!
Since beginning your Professional MMA career in November of 2010, you have only logged six fights that appear on your record. Given your statement on how you’d like to fight more often, what do you think is the reason for you having trouble getting fights?
Since the beginning of my career I’ve been taking really tough fights against tough guys. I believe I’ve accrued too much “street cred”. Fighters just won’t take fights against me. I’ve beaten fighters that have competed for all the “big” shows. There are some political issues as well but mainly fighters just won’t put their name on the dotted line versus Mike Wade. I don’t even think I’m that scary. I have holes in my game but I’ve proven to be tough and fearless. I guess that’s scary to some.
The first opponent that has “big show” experience that you beat was recent World Series of Fighting competitor Ozzy Dugulubgov. What are your thoughts on the outcome of that fight, and what it meant to you?
Beating Ozzy D. was huge for me mentally because I went in not knowing how I could beat him and I found a way. I think he looked good and the more he wins the better I look. He is a pretty good guy actually and I wish him the best. However, WSOF currently employs two fighters I’ve beaten and several “forfeit” wins (meaning they wouldn’t fight me so to me I won without even touching them). So no matter how nice they are I believe it should be me in there. McCray competed for WSOF directly after I beat him. Granted he took a tough fight and lost a split decision but I’m still a bit envious. Same with Chris Mierzwiak and Bellator, he had competed for Strikeforce before I fought him. Mike Winters was M-1/Strikeforce and Bellator vet. McCray won on Bellator before I fought him on top of TUF/UFC and went to WSOF right after. I think I’m ready to shine in the “big” shows myself soon… It’s my time. My turn…but it’ll come soon enough. As long as I’m active I’m happy.
Your most recent fight was a victory in CFFC against former TUF Runner-Up Kris McCray. After surviving adversity earlier in the fight, you came back and dominated him in the third round, doing enough for the judges to award you the Split Decision. What are your thoughts on that fight, and what it means for your career going forward?
It was a great fight. With every storm you survive you get stronger. My confidence has skyrocketed since. I specifically remember McCray having a tough fight with top 20 Welterweight John Hathaway in the UFC. Just shows me what level I’m on and how close I am to achieving my goals. I had 28 days to prepare for the McCray fight. I like to think about the fight had I prepared a full 8-10 weeks. Not to take anything away from McCray because I highly respect the guy and he is one tough SOB. In fact I think McCray is more well rounded and tougher mentally than my upcoming opponent.
I actually believe that I am a much better fighter since the McCray fight as well. My stand up has improved three fold and I am making leaps and bounds since starting with Danny Clark and Spartan Nutrition Systems.
Your next scheduled fight is a recently announced match-up against recent UFC and Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon Burrell. What are your thoughts on how you are going to train with MMAI’s sterling team of Pro’s to prepare for this fight?
Actually nothing will change. My cardio will be phenomenal and I’ll be ready where ever the fight goes…..as far as game plan goes I do have one but he doesn’t scare me in any discipline. He is a tough guy but I’m much tougher…bigger and stronger and I guarantee you I want it more. I can’t wait.
If you had to make a prediction for how the fight will go, what would it be?
TKO win for me. First or second round depending on how quick I break him mentally. I just want the W and I feel I’m well rounded enough to stop him a number of ways. I sure do miss those TKO wins though. I will however (like always) be prepared mentally and physically for a 15 minute war.
Do you have another occupation besides fighting?
I bounce in a few bars and though I love the people I work with I am not a fan of bouncing. At Metro Grill and Society (previously Lucky Buddha). Soon I will be working for Rick at the gym with one of the new programs that will be offered.
Given that I have met my fair share of bouncers who claim to “fight UFC” and enjoy their jobs, what makes you not like being a bouncer?
I don’t have anything to prove. I literally spend all day beating up guys that know what they are doing. I have no desire to pick on drunken, wanna-be-tough-guys. I am good at it but I’d like to think of myself as a nice guy and I don’t like the drama involved. The bouncers that claim to “fight UFC” have already lost the intimidation battle in the eyes of anyone who knows anything about the sport.
How would you assess the state of your career at the present time? Where do you see your career going in the next few years?
Present time it’s hard to say… I have definitely made some noise and proven my worth in the sport. I would definitely like to fight for the UFC and that is my goal. Once I’m there my goals will obviously adapt and career goal is to become world champ or die trying.
What is your favorite method to end a fight?
By far TKO and I can’t really explain why. I haven’t ended a fight like this as a Pro (I was close several times) but had a few as an amateur. In the end though my goal is to win and I don’t care how it happens.
If you could fight anyone, whether they are currently active or retired, who would it be, and why?
Definitely GSP because it’s my goal to be world champ. Outside of that, all fights lead to that.
The career of a professional fighter can be an arduous one. Between the rigorous daily training, fights, the fights that don’t happen, and injuries..Some would consider such a career path a daunting one. What inspires you to be a fighter?
There is in fact a lot of B.S. that people don’t hear about and there is most definitely more to it than meets the eye. I fight because it is something that makes my family, my friends, and most importantly myself proud. The key in fighting is self-development and I feel like a stronger overall person with every obstacle I overcome…..and there aren’t too many obstacles worse than get punched or eating a knee on the button.
Fighting is my chance to make a mark and be remembered for something I think.
Would you like to thank anyone who has or is currently helping you in your career as a fighter?
Wow yes… The list is pretty long. A lot of people have and still do believe in me. I’ll stick to the current and all others know how I feel: MMA Institute, Rick McCoy, Pete Hatcher, GX Supplements, Rac-e-tol-ogy (Mike Cheatham, Mike Cullather, Shane, and the rest), Kevin Knight and other trainers at Crossfit Midlo, Jeff Evans and Fluid Fightworx, Beverly and the fam over at Investors Land Co. (a brand new sponsor), Metro Grill, and I can’t forget you and your site man. Appreciate your time.
Also my striking trainers John Ward, Tiger, and Dave S. over at MMAI for the extra work over the last few months.
Left Hook Entertainment Inc. is excited to announce the Richmond Rumble, an MMA event, coming to the Richmond Coliseum on September 28. This all-pro card will feature 13 fights, including exhibitions from local MMA fighters, as well as a UFC veteran.
“I am very excited that Left Hook Entertainment has finally reached this level, and is going to be at the Richmond Coliseum with such a great card that will most definitely leave fans talking about Richmond’s MMA talent,” said Craig Yerkey, owner of Left Hook Entertainment Inc. Yerkey, who has partnered with FaceJay Promotions for the venture, is excited to be bringing this all-professional MMA event to Richmond, to help bring attention and appreciation to MMA, and it’s expanding presence in Richmond and throughout Virginia at large. In addition, Yerkey promised the Richmond Rumble fight card will live up to Left Hook’s history of organizing action-packed events, hopefully making future Richmond Rumble events a regular occurrence in Virginia’s capitol city.
The main event and co-main event are probably the most anticipated fights of the card. The co-main event will feature local MMA Institute (MMAI) fighter Mike “Tailor Made” Wade (4-2), who has already defeated numerous big-show veterans, and will take on another one as he fights Nah-Shon Burrell (9-3), who previously competed in the UFC.
“It should be the best pro-show yet in Virginia,” said Wade. “I can’t wait to shine in my backyard.”
The main event will also feature an MMAI fighter Terrell “Hollywood Hobbit” Hobbs (8-5) versus Jeremy Myers (4-10). Terrell has also fought for Bellator MMA, and is currently on a six-fight winning streak.
“It means a lot to me to be the main event on this card,” Hobbs said. “Ever since I have been on a winning streak people are starting to realize how good I’ve become, but some people still don’t know how much I’ve progressed. I’m excited that they will get to see me with their own eyes on September 28. We’re going to show people that we have real, world-class fighters right here in Richmond.”
Besides the main events, the additional 11 pro-fights are sure to be entertaining, and feature some up-and-coming pro-talent, such as undefeated Mark Strickland (2-0), and Virginia-native Ryan Hall (2-1-1), who is world-renowned for his BJJ skills.
Tickets are currently available through TicketMaster or RichmondColiseum.net. The fights will begin at 7 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to see the action-packed night!
Left Hook Entertainment Inc. is a Richmond-based promotional company, specializing in amateur and professional MMA events. Their mission is to bring the best MMA to RVA, and to promote real fighters with heart, discipline, determination, and talent. Besides Richmond Rumble, Left Hook Entertainment is also the company behind the popular amateur fight promotion, Downtown Ground and Pound.
The Doombeard Report is proud to announce it’s official sponsorship of professional MMA fighter Mike “Tailor Made” Wade. Mike Wade fights out of MMA Institute in Richmond, VA, and has an overall professional record of 4-2. He holds victories over WSOF vet Ozzy Dugulubgov, Strikeforce/Bellator vet Chris Mierzwiak, and UFC vet/TUF Season 11 runner-up Kris McCray. Wade is currently preparing for his September 28 fight against another big-show vet, Nah-Shon Burrell (formely of UFC/Strikeforce) at the Richmond Rumble.
Mike Wade has become renowned for his otherworldly toughness and his highly-developed grappling abilities that he crafted while he put together a very successful high school and collegiate wrestling career. Wade’s accomplishments and victories over top competition in MMA have caused more than a few potential opponents (who shall remain unnamed) to refuse to take a fight against him due to a lack of confidence in their ability to achieve victory. The aforementioned facts make Mike Wade the perfect fighter to be the first to join the Doombeard Legion, which encompasses The Doombeard Report’s sponsored fighters.
Going forward, The Doombeard Report will be conducting regular interviews with Mike Wade, showcasing some technique videos, and giving viewers a greater glimpse into his personality and lifestyle. Along the way, we will also be doing our best to provide some funny and enjoyable content as well. The Doombeard Report is greatly looking forward to showcasing all of the awesomeness that Mike Wade has to offer, and is glad to be supporting him in his endeavors as his career continues to progress.
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