|
Tag Archives: Wrestling
World Class MMA on FITE
This week we have some MMA events from around the world coming to FITE and they are here to show that they have what it takes to compete with the best.
Starting early on the Friday the 3rd of March we have Diamondback Fighting Championships live from Australia. It will feature Shane Mitchell vs. Brandon Ropati. If you can’t catch it there will be a replay.
Later we are going back to Missouri to stream Gateway Fighting Series 8 with Trevon Crawford vs. Jace Kyle Burcham and Brittany Cloud vs. Savannah Shahan.
On the 4th it is Austrian Fight Challenge 5 that will hook you in with the fight between Aleksandar Rakic and Sergio “Kreator” Souza.
Wrestling fans can enjoy the match between Mr. Anderson and Alberto El Patron this Sunday, live from the UK when Big League Wrestling: Gold Rush will stream.
And just to remind you that Kayfabe commentaries are now on FITE – here are some interesting interview excerpts just for you
Ryan Glover Ready to Rock at NEF February 11th
By: Kalle Oakes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (February 9, 2017) – Championships have played a defining role in Ryan Glover’s young life.
That tradition dates back to his junior year at Mountain Valley High School, when Glover achieved the rare double of a team state championship in football and an individual heavyweight wrestling title in the space of three months.
He has continued that tradition as a mixed martial artist, winning the New England Fights light heavyweight amateur strap in only his fourth career foray into the cage.
Growing up in blue-collar Rumford and Mexico also taught Glover that sports aren’t everything, however. That is why his initial title defense against Victor Irwin at “NEF 27: Resurgence” will be his first appearance in the hexagon in 53 weeks.
Glover-Irwin will headline the amateur segment of an ambitious card Saturday, February 11 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
“I was on the road in Florida and Virginia a lot for work all summer and didn’t have time to train with the guys I usually train with,” Glover said. “You have to pay the bills before you can go do this stuff. This is just for fun. I hope (Irwin) knows I’ll be prepared for this one.”
Once the opening bell tolls, Glover (3-1) will have experienced more title bouts in the cage than non-title trials. He also battled in an unforgettable slugfest for the NEF amateur heavyweight belt, one that went to his opponent in that fight by a close but unanimous decision.
His experience is one of the reasons Glover envisions a triumphant return.
“He’s a good athlete, but a young kid who doesn’t have any experience beyond the first round,” Glover said. “When I had my first title fight, that was my first time going into a second round and I was kind of dead in the water at that point.”
Glover won the title with a second round submission via arm lock over Mike Williams.
That rapid ascent through the New England heavyweight ranks so early in his career shouldn’t surprise anyone who has followed Glover’s athletic achievements. He has always been ahead of the usual learning curve.
As a junior on an undefeated 2010 Mountain Valley football powerhouse that featured senior standouts Cam Kaubris and Christian Durland, Glover’s work at linebacker was so impressive that he was named the Lewiston Sun Journal player of the year.
“It helps,” Glover said of his gridiron background. “I’ve seen some of the biggest venues there are when it comes to high school sports.”
State wrestling finals packed in two of Maine’s most hallowed indoor sports facilities – Augusta Civic Center and the old Bangor Auditorium – during Glover’s four years on the mat.
Glover made the jump from the 215-pound class to 285 his sophomore year, even though he tipped the scales far beneath the limit. It was a tradition started by Berserker’s MMA stablemate and fellow NEF star Mike “The Mustache” Hansen about six years earlier.
“Mike was kind of the guinea pig for wrestling against those bigger heavyweights,” Glover said. “That’s the way (Coach) Gary Dolloff sold it to me. I remember him saying that the reason he decided to try that with me was because Mike had been successful at it. And of course he was right, because we got a state championship out of it.”
Senior year didn’t live up to that junior promise. Illness and injury conspired to keep Glover from defending both the football and wrestling titles.
“I was ranked No. 1 going into my senior year and got sick,” he said. “That just goes to show that sometimes life gets in the way.”
Glover didn’t follow the college track, opting for the work force instead, and it seemed that his sports days were over.
He tried auto racing for a while, then turned to boxing and MMA training to get back in shape. That led to his debut in February 2015, followed quickly by three more cage fights and an amateur boxing match for good measure.
Only when his work commitments returned to the River Valley this past fall did Glover consider getting back into the cage. Family obligations came first, he said. And yes, pride in the name he’s made for himself over the years was a factor too.
“It’s definitely a sport where you can get hurt if you try to do it (halfway), especially against an opponent like I’m fighting,” Glover said. “He’s a good athlete. He’s as good at wrestling as I ever was, maybe even better.”
Family and friends in the close-knit, upstart Berserkers camp have Glover better prepared than ever. Ryan’s brother, Matt, also has two NEF appearances to his credit.
“I’ve been rolling with my brother and other guys who are 250 or better,” Glover said. “It’s a game-changer. I feel like I’m lot more of a scrambler than (Irwin) is. And especially where I’ll be cutting weight to get to 205, I’ll have the strength advantage.”
He might enjoy one other distinct advantage: Fan support.
Name recognition has its privileges. Or perhaps it is a case of Glover’s absence making his fans’ hearts grow fonder. In any case, his fight is shaping as one of the most anticipated attractions at NEF 27.
“Right after I took the fight I sold 50 tickets by myself,” Glover said. “When my song comes on, I know the place is going to blow up. Young’s (of Bangor) always brings a big crowd, so we need that support.”
The opening bell for “NEF 27: Resurgence” on February 11 is set for 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Forms Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC., Acquires Control of IMPACT Wrestling
|
||
|
BELLATOR MMA SIGNS THREE-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION ROMERO COTTON TO EXCLUSIVE MMA CONTRACT
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (November 7, 2016) – Bellator MMA is proud to announce the signing of highly sought after wrestling prospect Romero Cotton to an exclusive, multi-fight contract.
The 26-year-old’s focus is currently set on finishing up his psychology degree at Nebraska Kearny University, but look for Cotton to make his professional MMA debut in 2017, where he will compete at 185-pounds.
“Having an opportunity to be part of a promotion like Bellator so early in my MMA career is one that I am thankful for. Being that I’m just starting out in the sport I thought it would be two or three years of grinding and working my way up the ladder before reaching a company of this magnitude,” Cotton said. “Having seen how Bellator’s recent string of wrestlers have been treated and performed, I’m honored to be the latest and there’s nothing I’m looking forward to more than showing the world my skills that I’ve acquired throughout my life not only as a wrestler, but as an athlete. Now, I move onto the next phase of my career and will continue to develop into a well-rounded fighter.”
A three-time NCAA Division II national champion at 197 lbs., Cotton is also a four-time All-American and is the first-ever three-time champion in the 111-year history of Nebraska Kearny University. He finished his collegiate career with a fantastic record of 66-10. Originally enrolled at Nebraska, Cotton also played football in college, redshirting his freshman year for the Cornhuskers, before tranferrring to UNK, where he played football for three years.
Cotton joins blue-chip amateur wrestling prospects: Aaron Pico, Joey Davis, Jarod Trice, Tyrell Fortuneand Ed Ruth on the roster and will compete in the middleweight division, which is currently championed byRafael Carvalho.
For more information on Romero Cotton, take a look at this article on FloWrestling.com.
NEF ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF WRESTLING ESSAY CONTEST
Rumford, Maine (July 20, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number one regional fight promotion, earlier today announced the winners of this year’s contest to attend the University of Southern Maine’s (USM) annual “Brawlin’ Lobster Wrestling Clinic.”
Isaiah Cogswell, a junior at More High School in Bath, Maine and Benjamin Mahoney, a junior at York High School in York, Maine, will both have their tuition costs covered to attend this year’s clinic and will both receive a unique NEF prize package that includes tickets to “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLIANS” to be held on September 10th at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. The contest was sponsored by NEF and NEF professional featherweight mixed martial artist, Brandon “The Dream Killer” Bushaw. In order to enter, applicants needed to submit a 200-word essay outlining how attending the 2016 clinic would help them to achieve their wrestling goals. Cogswell and Mahoney were selected out of over 40 applicants.
“I want to attend this camp so I can achieve my goal of Maine heavyweight champion and this camp will help me not only keep my skills but to improve upon them,” wrote Mahoney, who has placed at both mid-states and the Atlantic Invitational tournament since he began wrestling on the varsity team his freshman year. “I would like to show to my coaches that I am willing to take the extra step to show leadership and experience, so that I could also be a team captain this year.”
“This camp would give me an opportunity to be exposed to more coaching styles and learn more about who I am as a wrestler,” Cogswell, a varsity wrestler and KVAC Champion, wrote in his essay. “I am not done, I still have work to do to reach my goals.”
This year’s dual sponsorship to send two wrestlers to the clinic was made possible by the contribution of Brandon Bushaw, a two-time state wrestling champion and member of the Maine Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame. After a successful career at Westbrook High School, Bushaw went on to wrestle at Michigan State University alongside teammates and UFC-standouts Rashad Evans and Gray Maynard. With almost 20 fights under his belt between his amateur and professional mixed martial arts careers, Bushaw has never forgotten his wrestling roots and the lessons he gained from competing in the sport.
“Wrestling has molded my life on and off the mat since my freshman year of high school,” said Bushaw. “I look back and am so thankful to this day that Coach Walsh wouldn’t leave me alone about coming out for the Westbrook wrestling team all those years ago. If I can give back even one percent of what I got out of wrestling, it would be monumental to me. That’s why when I saw NEF was paying for a young wrestler to go to camp, I called Matt and told him I would like to send someone as well! I’m glad he accepted my offer and I hope that wrestling has the same impact on this young man’s life that it did mine!”
“Wrestling is one of the oldest and most effective martial arts in the world,” stated NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “Participating in the sport of wrestling has the potential to improve one’s performance in all areas of life. We’re proud to send these two deserving young men to the USM clinic this summer and hope this plays a part in helping them to achieve their goals both on and off the wrestling mat next season.”
“Myself and our coaching staff appreciate NEF and Brandon for sponsoring these wrestlers and giving them an opportunity to attend our camp,” stated Mike Morin, USM Head Wrestling Coach, himself a two-time All-American, when reached for comment. “We are the only NCAA program in the state and will have coaches from all over the Northeast as clinicians. These sponsorships are allowing these wrestlers to participate and learn at a high level. In turn, this only helps the state as a whole grow and get better.”
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF Presents Dana White: Looking for a Fight” takes place on Friday, August 5, 2016 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine. Tickets are on sale now at www.CrossInsuranceCenter.com or by calling the box office at 800.745.3000.
For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA andwww.flocombat.com, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
SPORTS TECHNOLOGY STARTUP SET TO REVOLUTIONIZE ATHLETE SAFETY
|
||
|
BELLATOR MMA SIGNS FOUR-TIME NCAA DIVISION II WRESTLING CHAMP JOEY DAVIS
Newest Bellator MMA acquisition Joey Davis
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 15, 2016) – Bellator MMA is thrilled to announce the signing of NCAA Division II wrestling star Joey Davis, to an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight contract. The signing was first reported by FloWrestling.com’s Jeremy Botter.
Davis joins a string of recent signings by Bellator president Scott Coker including standout wrestlers the likes of three-time All-American Jarod Trice and Olympic contender Tyrell Fortune. The 21-year-old standout wrestler competed at Notre Dame College, where he accumulated an incredible undefeated 131-0 record and four consecutive NCAA Division II Championships during his college tenure, becoming the only Division II wrestler to ever win four national titles and go unbeaten in a career. Davis will look to compete in Bellator MMA’s stacked welterweight division and will make his professional debut before the end of this year.
“With God you can achieve anything, and I’m gonna do it with high fashion,” Davis said. “Joining Bellator is my latest achievement to date. I don’t remember what it’s like to lose, and I’m not planning on finding out any time soon.”
(L to R) Joey Davis, Antonio McKee and A.J. McKee
Named 2016 “Man of the Year” by Wrestling USA Magazine, the Compton, Calif., native began his stretch of domination as early as the ninth grade, when he attended Sante Fe High School. Davis was crowned the California State champion at 152-pounds in his junior year and followed that impressive campaign with a second State Title at 160-pounds in his senior year.
Davis will train at Antonio McKee’s Body Shop Gym in Long Beach, Calif. alongside childhood best friend and Bellator featherweight wrecking machine AJ McKee. Davis joins a budding roster of Bellator MMA talent, with recent signings that include: Matt Mitrione, Benson Henderson, Jarrod Trice, Sergei Kharitonov, and recent re-signings the likes of Darrion Caldwell and Michael Chandler.
MIKE HANSEN: FACING FEAR HEADFIRST
Lewiston, Maine (June 15, 2016) – Fighting anyone, anywhere, anytime and under any circumstances has become Mike Hansen’s calling card with New England Fights.
No surprise, then, that the 30-year-old father of three from Rumford, ME will gladly entertain the idea of a mixed martial arts contest … against an opponent about whom he admittedly knows precious little … on the eve of Father’s Day.
Hansen (4-4) will take on Robert Laroski in a heavyweight clash at “NEF 24: Promised Land” on Saturday, June 18 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
There is no fear of the unknown in a man who has carved out his reputation confronting substantially bigger foes since his days as a state champion wrestler at Mountain Valley High School. During his relatively short time in NEF, Hansen has fought as a middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight.
“When I took the fight (at NEF 23 in Massachusetts) against Brendan Battles, people were saying, ‘You’re crazy! He’s going to bust your head!’ I understand why the weight classes exist, and I respect that it’s about safety and all that, but I’ve always felt that a fighter should be ready to fight anybody, no matter what,” Hansen said. “In high school, I would drink two gallons of water and put lead in my uniform just so I could get to the minimum weight for the unlimited class.”
That’s the attitude of a fighter whose skill and talent level far exceed his current record as a professional.
Hansen’s docket includes a stoppage win over former NEF “Fighter of the Year” Crowsneck Boutin. His record also includes TKO losses to Battles and Cody Anderson and a choke-out at the hands of Zach Elkins.
When he reflects upon his unique life story, Hansen, who fought twice for the World Fighting League as a 20-year-old college student, marvels that he ever got back into the cage at all.
“I started the winter of 2004-05. I started training because I had gone from 187 to 242 pounds in a few months. I was seeing stretch marks,” Hansen recalled. “I was pretty upset with myself for allowing that to happen. I started doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu two nights a week to get in shape. Then I went home for the summer and ended up with my first fight in August. My friends got me the fight without my coaches knowing about it. They told me it was a good thing I won, or they would have kicked my butt.”
Hansen kept a promise to his father to quit the sport after a knockout loss to Alexander Chianurashvili in 2006. He was studying at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, with intentions to enter the medical field.
He was stabbed and attacked with a baseball bat by three men in a case of mistaken identity not long thereafter. “I walked out of the hospital the next day, and all three of them were still in there from the beating I gave them in self-defense,” Hansen said proudly.
That dogged determination served Hansen well in the United States Army, where he studied in the elite Combatives program.
“They ask you ‘Who wins the fight?’ and the answer is, ‘Whoever’s buddy gets there first to help him clean up.’ That’s what Combatives taught me: How to survive that extra 30 to 60 seconds,” Hansen said. “Work ethic is what it taught me. It helped me grow and do things I might have questioned mentally whether or not I could do. Not many people find that extra little motivation. The Army taught me how to find it and utilize it.”
A few years later, Hansen found that inner fire again. Even as he returned to coaching wrestlers in his hometown, his own physical fitness suffered as work and fatherhood took precedence.
Hansen vividly describes sitting in a bean bag chair, eating snack food, watching TV at 2:11 a.m. when his phone rang. He assumed it was a friend in trouble.
“It was (NEF co-owner) Matt Peterson. Our families grew up maybe 200 yards apart. My high school wrestling coach had called him, unbeknownst to me, to tell him he needed to get me back in the cage,” Hansen said.
Three weeks later and 20 pounds lighter, Hansen dispatched super heavyweight fixture Artie Mullen at “NEF 16: New Blood Rising,” and the comeback was on.
In the 15 months that have followed, Hansen has been instrumental in launching Berserkers MMA and building his reputation as both a fighter and an instructor.
Life is blossoming at home, also. Hansen is the father of two girls, ages 5 and 2, and a boy of four months. His older daughter, Kaydn, often accompanies Dad to the gym at Greater Rumford Community Center. He returns the favor by chaperoning field trips for her kindergarten class.
“She and her friends will be on the playground practicing boxing stances and stuff,” Hansen said. “Her teacher says it’s adorable. Hopefully she is learning to take care of herself so I don’t have to.”
Kaydn’s parents are making plans to take her to her first live NEF show after she turns 6. For now, she is content to watch her Dad’s fights on YouTube.
“If we’re watching TV together,” Hansen said, “we have a thing where I get two shows and then she gets two shows. If I put in a fight tape, she’ll say, ‘Daddy, I know this doesn’t count as one of your shows, because this is your work.’”
The opening bell on June 18 is set for 7 p.m. Tickets for “NEF 24: Promised Land” start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the events and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
National Wrestling Hall of Fame celebrates 40th class with grand re-opening of its renovated facility in Stillwater, Okla.,June 3-4
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is turning 40 years old in 2016. The Hall of Fame will be inducting and honoring the 40th class at the 40th Anniversary Honors Weekend on June 3-4 with a grand re-opening in its Stillwater, Okla. location.
The current $3.5 million complete renovation will allow visitors to experience the rich history of wrestling in a new way, including interactive exhibits. There is a vast and expanded use of digital technology to preserve photographs, videos, and other historical items. The Hall of Fame has a striking new layout, which has been modernized to offer an even more stunning experience for guests.
Much has changed since America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling opened its doors on Sept. 11, 1976. The first class enshrined was Raymond G. Clapp, Fendley Collins, Tommy Evans, Edward C. Gallagher, Art Griffith, Danny Hodge, Clifford P. Keen, Dave McCuskey, George Mehnert, Hugo Otopalik, Rex Peery, Myron Roderick, Billy Sheridan, and Jack VanBebber.
The interior of the Hall of Fame and Museum building will be all new, but it will not change how Distinguished Members are honored. The four Distinguished Members in our 40th Anniversary Class will be enshrined with granite plaques like the original 14 members in the Class of 1976.
The Class of 2016 includes
Distinguished Member William B. Harlow
Distinguished Member Carlton Haselrig
Distinguished Member Brandon Slay
Distinguished Member Dick Wilson
Medal of Courage – Randy Bortles
Outstanding American – Joseph Galli Jr.
Meritorious Official – Marcia D.W. Haise
Order of Merit – Ron Good
Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award – Mark Hall II
Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award – Katie Brock
This year’s Distinguished Members each had tremendous careers. Slay was a 2000 Olympic champion in freestyle, two-time NCAA runner-up for the University of Pennsylvania and current Assistant National Freestyle Coach with USA Wrestling. Haselrig won three NCAA Div. I and three NCAA Div. II heavyweight national titles for Pitt-Johnstown. Harlow was a three-time NCAA finalist and an NCAA champion for Oklahoma State and won a World silver medal in freestyle. Wilson was a three-time Olympian in Greco-Roman and a three-time NCAA runner-up for the University of Toledo.
Another constant from that first day is the life-size green marble statue, which not only greets visitors to the museum, but is also commemorated in the Hall of Fame logo. It is a copy of the classic Greek statue “The Wrestlers” by Cephisodotus in the Uffizi gallery in Florence, Italy. The statue in the Hall of Fame is the only one in the world in green marble, and was first seen by the late wrestling legend and past Hall of Fame president Myron Roderick when he was in Europe for the Olympics.
The NWHOF has developed countless exhibits, books and other projects in the last 39 years. It has showcased great moments and individuals, but more importantly we’ve highlighted the diversity of the sport with special-themed exhibits featuring females and ethnicities including African Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans.
The first time the public will have the chance to see the new National Wrestling Hall of Fame will be on Friday, June 3 at its Reception and Presentation of Plaques at 6 p.m. at 405 West Hall of Fame Avenue. The Class of 2016 induction will be on Saturday, June 4 at OSU Student Union, South Hester St in Stillwater starting at 6 p.m. with a reception in French Lounge, followed by the 40th Honors Banquet in Student Union Ballroom.
Media is invited to these special activities and can attend by contacting Jack Carnefix of National Wrestling Hall of Fame at 732-213-2121. Those wishing to interview any of the inductees during the weekend by phone should contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-659-9637.