BAMMA USA Hosts UFC 108 Viewing @ Hooters

Date: Saturday, January 2, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Hooters 3041 E Garvey Avenue, North West Covina, CA 91791



BAMMA USA is moving the UFC viewing party to the West Covina Hooters. VIP tickets are $10.00 a seat, no waiting in line, a VIP seat in our private area, you will also receive a $10.00 coupon good anytime at any Hooter location and 3 raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes provided by our sponsors. Come out and hang out with us and support your local fighters.

This is a great fight card I am excited about the Lauzon fights. I enjoy watching both brothers fight. They are always very entertaining. It will be good to see Joe Lauzon back in action. Joe Lauzon’s second-round armbar vs. Jeremy Stephens on February 7 was ranked #5 by the UFC's top 10 best submissions of 2009. And I agree. He is a force to be reckoned with.

And I am going with Rashad Evans on the main event. It will be an exciting fight night for sure.

Pay-Per-View Televised Fights:

Rashad Evans (18-1-1) vs Thiago Silva (14-1) - Light Heavyweight - UFC 108 Main Event

Paul Daley (22-8-2) vs Dustin Hazelett - Welterweight

Joe Lauzon (17-4) vs Sam Stout (15-5-1) - Lightweight

Jim Miller (15-2) vs Duane Ludwig - Lightweight

Junior Dos Santos vs Gilbert Yvel - Heavyweight

Spike TV Televised Fights:

Martin Kampmann (15-3) vs Jacob Volkmann - Welterweight

Cole Miller (15-4) vs Dan Lauzon (4-0) - Lightweight

Preliminary Fight Card for UFC 108 Fights:

Rafaello Oliveira (9-2) vs John Gunderson - Lightweight

Mike Pyle (18-6-1) vs Jake Ellenberger (21-5) - Welterweight

Steve Cantwell vs Vladimir Matyushenko

Mark Munoz (6-1) vs Ryan Jensen (15-4) - Middleweight

Muay Thaimes Interview with Romie Adanza

December 21, 2009

Romie vs. Kunitaka Fujiwara at the WCK World Championship Muay Thai Dec.5


For more information check out www.MuayThaimesNation.com

Muay Thai- More than a sport

December 4, 2009

Muay Thai- More than a sport
By Breanna Armstrong

For Joey Pagliuso, Muay Thai is more than just a sport; it is his lifestyle. He is the owner and trainer of the United States Karate Organization in Riverside. He has been an active martial artist from his early childhood and is a professional Muay Thai fighter.

He competed in Karate matches all throughout his childhood and earned his black belt in Karate. Pagliuso started training Muay Thai when he was in his early twenties. His father, Joe Pagliuso, founded USKO in 1972, it has been a family ran organization ever since.

His father, mother, Sandy and sister, Shawn El all has their black belt in karate as well. Pagliuso has found much of his inspiration from them.

“My mom was always a really aggressive fighter. When she was in her twenties, she would go to Hawaii to fight, and there were no girl divisions then so she would fight against the guys. So growing up with her and having her teach me, really made me want to fight and get out there to do it. And by watching the fights and training with my dad, it really brought us all together,” said Pagliuso.

Now, at thirty-two years old, he has implanted that same dedication into his family life. Pagliuso and his wife, Desiree have three children, Dominick-7, Malia-3 and Kiana- 4 months. As a family, a big part of their life revolves around Muay Thai and martial arts. Dominick is already an aspiring martial artist, as he won first place in his last sparring tournament and Malia is just learning her basics in karate.

“I would suggest Muay Thai and the lifestyle for anyone. From Karate training as a child I learned a lot of self-discipline, respect and confidence. And as I grew up I could relate the hard training before a fight to business because it is so intense and you have to devote so much to it. It is empowering but it also translates into our family life and everything that I do. It brings us closer as a family and everyone comes together for support,” said Pagliuso.

Pagliuso (11-2-3) is currently training for his next fight against Scott Leffler (17-2) for the IKKC Muay Thai Welterweight bout in Dennis Warner’s World Championship Muay Thai event at the Buffalo Bill’s Casino on Dec. 5.

Pagliuso has fought in 15 of Warner’s World Championship Kickboxing shows all around the world. The WCK is the largest Muay Thai organization in North America and holds the largest international fight cards as well; his goal is to have a World Boxing Championship title in 2010.

Training for a title fight against his opponent Leffler, who has had 14 career knockouts so far, keeps this family man busy.

“At this level, these fights are not that different, Scotty is very aggressive and likes to clinch and move forward. It’s not like I’m just fighting another person, my work goes towards improving myself more than fighting an opponent,” said Pagliuso.

To prepare for this fight, “I have been doing a lot of cardio and running sprints along with that, Muay Thai training sessions on the pads with my dad or master Tom. And I teach classes Monday thru Thursday, at the same time we have other fighters that go to our gym that I need to spend time with as well. The last few weeks before my fight, other trainers really step in to help out,” said Pagliuso.

“I have been training Joey for seven years. And this time around, this is the hardest that I have ever trained him because he is training for the belt,” said Master Tom Khamvongsa, USKO’s Muay Thai instructor.

Also on the fight card for Saturday’s fight night are USKO’s Shelia Telliard (2-1) and Michelle Percival (3-0). They have been training and conditioning alongside of Pagliuso to prepare for their fights four to five times a week.

Percival will be fighting against Kristin Shepard for the IAMTF Women’s Lightweight title and Telliard will be matched against Tandi Schaeffer for the IAMTF Women’s Super Featherweight title.

In the main event of the night is WBC International Super Welterweight Champion, Malaipet “The Diamond” Sitarvut (138-28-5) who resides in Chino Hills and trains out of his gym, Sitarvut in Highland. Malaipet reclaimed his title from England’s Richard Fenwick earlier this year and will be defending it against James Cook (41-13) from San Francisco.

“So many people want the WBC title because its not easy to get so I feel good knowing that I am the two-time WBC champion. The best thing about Muay Thai to me is respect. There is a lot of respect in Muay Thai for your culture, family, teacher, fighters, and friends. I also like it because it makes you into a real man,” said Sitarvut, who has never been knocked out.

The WCK’s World Championship Muay Thai event will be in celebration of the King of Thailand with weekend-long festivities to represent the culture with food, massages and dancing to go along with the 16 Muay Thai fights on the card.

For more information go to: www.kickbox.com

Fontana's Green wins at MMA event

05:35 PM PST on Monday, November 23, 2009
By BREANNA ARMSTRONG
Special to The Press-Enterprise

Fontana's Bobby Green defeated Sevak Magakian in the headline bout of the Respect in the Cage II mixed martial arts event Friday night at the Fox Theater in Pomona.

Green, a Fontana Miller High grad, won by TKO by knee strikes to the head, 2:42 into the first round to improve to 11-2.

Also, Aaron Arana improved to 3-1 with a first-round victory. Arana, a Redlands High grad, defeated Vincent Martinez by submission with a triangle choke 1:57 into the 135-pound bout.

www.PE.com

Redlands' Arana wins at MMA event

Redlands' Arana wins at MMA event

10:00 PM PST on Friday, November 20, 2009
By BREANNA ARMSTRONG
Special to The Press-Enterprise


Aaron Arana improved his record to 3-1 with a first-round victory at the "Respect in the Cage II" MMA event at the Fox Theatre in Pomona on Friday night.

Arana, a Redlands High grad, defeated Vincent Martinez by submission with a triangle choke 1:57 into the 135-pound bout.

The headline fight between Sevak Magakian and Fontana's Bobby Green in the 155-pound bout was just starting at press time. Read the final result at PE.com/sports.

www.PE.com

Local MMA talent is Called Out- The lost article

Local MMA talent is Called Out
By Breanna Armstrong

**This fight has been postponed until January 9, 2010 & this article was intended for print in the Press Enterprise Newspaper right before the show was postponed**

Called Out MMA is putting on its second show at the Ontario Citizens Bank Arena on Saturday, Nov. 14. Two of the Inland Empire’s professional Mixed Martial Artists will be featured on the fight card along with MMA superstar, Hector "Sick Dog" Ramirez, the Ultimate Fighter Coach from season ten, who will be going against Lodune Sincaid.



Riverside’s Georgi Karakhanyan (12-1-1) is going against Vince Ortiz (9-2) in the main 155-pound bout on the card. Karakhanyan, who was originally matched up against MMA vet, Bao Quach, was thrown for a loop when Quach fractured his hand four weeks before the fight resulting in a two month recovery. Karakhanyan eagerly prepared himself for the fight against Quach. “Bao is a really good stand up fighter, so I was doing a lot of Muay Thai training and wrestling to prepare for this fight. After he was injured, Vince Ortiz stepped in to take his place,” said Karakhanyan.



Ortiz, fighting out of Body Shop Fitness in Bellflower rightfully earned his nickname as “The Sergeant” for his five years of service in the Marines. “I started training MMA while I was serving in the military,” Ortiz said. “ I'm feeling really good about this fight, I've been training hard. He is a credible opponent and this is a great opportunity for me.”



Karakhanyan, who fights out of Millennia in Rancho Cucamonga and USKO in Riverside, is not taking this fight lightly. “This fight is different for me because I look at it as a big fight. I do not underestimate my opponent, I am ready,” Karakhanyan said.



Also on the card in the 135-pound division is Greg Guzman (7-3), who trains out of Pinnacle Jiu-Jitsu in Redlands. Guzman, who is from San Jacinto, Calif., was inspired to fight professionally after being a top competitor on the San Jacinto High School’s wrestling team. “I started fighting professionally three years ago, with my wrestling coach, Stan Holmes as my only source of training. I trained out of my garage,” Guzman said. “I didn’t have a team or a gym to train out of until I started at Pinnacle. It’s really great over here, it’s nice gym and has tough guys.”



Guzman fought against his now teammate Reuben Duran in the King of the Cage Superstars fight for a unanimous decision defeat, in August. After the fight, Jake Benhey, Duran’s trainer and the owner of Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu, invited Guzman to join their fight team. He has been training with the Pinnacle team ever since.



“Greg has a positive attitude and great work ethic, he never complains and he puts everything he has into training. He is a very well-rounded fighter and is a pleasure to work with.” Benhey said.



Guzman is fighting against Chad George (10-4), who has won his last five fights straight. “Pinnacle has been pushing me with my training and I know what to expect from my opponent. He is a big 135 pounder, and I am looking forward to beating him,” Guzman said.

Making his name in the MMA community has been top priority for Guzman, who according to Behney, has already made huge improvements in his skills with just the few months of training on a fight team. From his high school wrestling mat, to the professional MMA ring, Guzman is representing what the sport is all about.

Not Random-Just Happy

A boy asked a girl who has never been in love this question: "How would you describe love?"

She answered: "Always being Happy, always knowing u are going to be with that person, never having a doubt in them. Like, If you were out in public without that person, someone would notice something different about you."

He replied, "I wouldn't see it any different."

She is still smiling =)

Respect in the Cage

My article for the Press Enterprise Newspaper
www.PE.com

Fontana fighter a showman

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
By BREANNA ARMSTRONG
Special to The Press-Enterprise
Fontana's Bobby Green is a fighter. It appears that's always been the case.

This former foster child who once participated in fight clubs when not wrestling while at Fontana Miller High School has now become a headliner.

A rising Mixed Martial Arts fighter, Green is in the main event on Friday's "Respect in the Cage II" MMA event at the Fox Theatre in Pomona.

Green (10-2), who fights out of Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu in Redlands, is scheduled to face Sevak Magakian (7-2) in a 155-pound bout that headlines the card.

Aaron Arana, of Redlands, and Green's teammate at Pinnacle, is also on the card. Arana (2-1) is scheduled to face Vincent Martinez (0-4) in a 135-pound bout.

"I'm excited for this fight, and to be the main event," Green said. "This is a big fight, and I want this fight to show the new me."

Green is most known for his fight against Dan Lauzon on January's Affliction card. Green lost but has remained a memorable contender in the sport with his confidence and showmanship.

"I don't care about getting the win; I just want to put on a show," Green said. "I want to be your favorite fighter, and if I'm not, I want to know why."

At Miller, where he graduated in 2004, Green was a wrestler good enough to advance to the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet. But it seems Green was always a fighter.

"In high school, my friends and I would start these backyard fight clubs," he said. "I was doing what I do now for free and without gloves back then."

Green, now 23, said he was in foster homes as a youth until Shana Vasquez and her son Jesse, now 19, took him in.

"Then when I turned 15, I met these really great people, they have become my family ever since," Green said.

Green started training in MMA two years ago and has taken many of his 12 professional fights on short notice. He took his previous fight on 20-minutes' notice for the King of the Cage-Jolted event in October when he defeated Jeff Torch (1-4) by submission in the first round.

"The training alone has been preparation for Bobby," said Jake Benhey, owner and trainer of Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu. "He has already had 12 fights and (Friday) is his first fight that he has actually been training for. There are only a handful of people that have the athleticism that Bobby has, so over the next six months, be prepared to see a different Bobby Green."

When Green used to train, it would consist of a series of broken workouts just two weeks before a fight. Now he has increased his training to five days a week and makes training his job.

"We all now know that his career is going to take off," Shana Vasquez said. "He is everything to me. And even though he is gone training a lot, we know that it is going to be worth it in the end. Bobby will be a star."

Arana, 22, is a 2005 Redlands High grad and former varsity wrestler who is taking his fourth fight since his professional debut in February.

"I am feeling really good about this fight," he said. "I have been training really hard and I am ready."

Said Benhey: "Aaron is a very well-rounded fighter; he has great work ethic and is easy to coach. He is hard working and is a very pleasant kid to work with."

Called Out MMA- Postponed

My article for the Press Enterprise Newspaper -
www.PE.com

Saturday's MMA card at Ontario postponed

Thursday, November 12, 2009
By BREANNA ARMSTRONG
Special to The Press-Enterprise
UPDATED

This is an updated version to reflect the correct title for Called Out MMA CEO Steve Miller and to include Miller's statement.

The "Called Out MMA" card scheduled for Saturday at Ontario's Citizens Business Bank Arena has been postponed. No makeup date has been set.

Fighters on the card, including two locals, learned of the postponement Tuesday night via text message from Mike Rush, a matchmaker for Called Out MMA.

George Bastmajyan, an official with Called Out MMA, said that the show was postponed because of lack of funding.

Riverside's Georgi Karakhayan (12-1-1) and San Jacinto's Greg Guzman (7-3) were among those on the 11-fight card headlined by Hector "Sick Dog" Ramirez, the coach from season 10 of Spike TV's "True Ultimate Fighter."

"I look at this in a different way," Karakhanyan said. "I'm very frustrated, but I will take it out on my opponent when I actually do fight. I'm going to keep training and eating healthy because all things happen for a reason."

Sue Oxarart, the director of marketing for the Ontario arena, said she didn't have a chance to talk to Called Out MMA CEO Steve Miller and that potential reschedule dates have not been discussed.

"We all put so much time in training and sacrifice so many things to get ready for a fight and prepare ourselves mentally and physically," said Karakhanyan, who trains out of Millennia MMA in Rancho Cucamonga and United States Karate Organization in Riverside. "I have been training hard every day on top of that dieting to go down to my weight class since August.

"There are so many expenses for gas, for food, for supplements and as a fighter, I spend that money thinking that at the end I will get it all back after I get paid for the fight. One of my friends, Chad George, was on the same card with me and went all the way to Japan to train for the Nov. 14 fight. He spent all of his money to go train and prepare for a war."

The Citizens Business Bank Arena Web site refers questions to CalledOutMMA.com. That site only says that the show has been postponed and they are currently working on a new date and will post any new information as soon as it becomes available.

Later Wednesday night, Steve Miller, the CEO of Called Out MMA, issued the following e-mailed statement to PE.com: "I appreciate your interest in helping to possibly bring clarity to the chain of recent events concerning Called Out MMA II. In consideration of certain deadlines involving the California Athletic Commission, our matchmaker, and designated capital, we did not meet a couple of deadlines and had to choose the least painful of two decisions. Postpone the event, giving ourselves a little bit more time to pull off a successful show of this magnitude ... or try to continue without the proper funding and risk leaving a whole lot of people unpaid. The decision was painful and difficult to make, however, it was the necessary one. We are very much aware of the inconvenience and even hardship a postponed show creates for different people, it touches my own staff as well. We have committed to making it up to those particular people.

"We are meeting with the arena tomorrow to try and work out a new date so we can put the show back together and give our great fans the kind of excellent fights and production they have already come to expect.

"In a long-term consideration, our company's vision, staff, and overall condition is very healthy. We will be back on track in a very short time.

"The feedback and criticism from most everyone has been fair. Disappointed in the postponed show but understanding of the huge costs involved in putting on a show of this magnitude, with little room for mistakes. To put on a successful big show like we are committed to, there are many components that have to come together synergistically; ticket sales, sponsors, a fight card that stays in tact, and sufficient up-front working capital. When one of these components fails you can possibly recover and continue the show. If two or more fail, however, it becomes extremely difficult to proceed without irreparable damage. In these cases it is less damaging to take a very short time-out, regroup, and come back stronger than ever. That is precisely what we will do.

"Again, thank you for your interest and coverage."

Adrenaline Boxing Tournament (October 18)

USA Boxing Inc. held an open amateur boxing tournament at the Adrenaline Fitness Club in San Bernardino on Sunday, Oct. 18.

With over 500 in attendance, the Inland Empire’s boxing community came out to support and showcase new talent. The 20-bout tournament allowed ages 8-35 to participate in the event, and providing the necessary USA boxing passport, a corner and a trainer to qualify.

Training out of Riverside Lincoln Boxing Gym, 9-year-old Jose Torres, who attends Fremont Elementary School, has a 5-0 amateur record and took first place at the tournament. “Boxing is my favorite thing to do because it’s my favorite sport. I like winning,” said Torres after his victory.

“My husband is a professional boxer, so our son took an interest in boxing at a young age and has been excelling in it since,” said Alejandra Torres, Jose’s mother. “This is our first time at Adrenaline and it’s a very good family atmosphere.”

More Than Conquerors (MTC) teamed up with Adrenaline’s gym to provide a successful tournament that was officially sanctioned by USA Boxing Inc. MTC is a non-profit organization based out of San Bernardino that provides the funding for underprivileged kids to learn the sport of boxing. A percentage of proceeds from the event went to More Than Conquerors.

Chrystal Noriega, who trains out of MTC, also competed at Sunday’s event. Noriega has been training for 5 months and has fought in two amateur fights. “I felt like I tried really hard today and I had to give it the best I could,” said Noriega, an Arroyo Valley High School freshman.

“Our gym holds these tournaments bi-monthly, to expose new talent and give back to the community. The next USA Boxing tournament will be held on Nov. 1, and will be Adrenaline’s inaugural toy drive for the community,” said Jose Ponce, owner of the Adrenaline Fitness Club.

LUKE 10:27, Since 4th Grade

I have always been a very active member of my church. I was put in Vacation Bible school the first moment that I was old enough to register. My parents taught my Logos class and I did logos from elementary to jr. high. I went to all of the summer and winter camps and I considered myself a champ for Christ.

In 4th grade, the most exciting part of being in logos bible camp, was the fact that we got to paint a tile with our favorite Bible verese some where on it. I was really big into art, so this meant everything to me.

The lesson that week was on Luke 10:27. I painted a bright sunset on the tile and wrote Luke 10:27 in cursive on it. I was so excited to present it to my parents. "Then the man answered, 'Love the Lord your God, with all of your strength, with all of your heart, with all of your soul and all of your mind. And love thy neighbor as you would yourself.'"

I have since tried to live my life by that verse, treating others the way that I would want to be treated. And fully committing my love to God in every area of my life.

The little tile that I created still is displayed proudly in my parent's kitchen, it is a constant reminder to me and my family. And although it is washed out now and the colors are not as bright as it once was, it stands as bright as ever on some of my darkest days.

The Price of a Puppy

So currently I am in the market for a puppy. My roommates and I all decided that it was time to invest in a lifelong friend. So today was the first day of our search. We need the following in order for this to work with our living situation: Completely silent, Potty trained, neutered, straight, well-kept, likes to go shopping, doesn't mind hanging out in a purse for a few hours, likes minorities, knows when it's time for homework and time for play. And it must play hard to get. 

These simple tasks are more than easy to come by, I mean honestly, it's all I ask for. It's not that hard. I was sitting around my living room, deciding where I could obtain this perfect breed. It all came down to my favorite movie of 2009, or was it 2008? Any who, it all came down to my obsession with the puppy from Beverly Hills Chihuahua. 

So after being set on the breed, I went on a search. But every white chihuahua in the state of California ranged from $800-$1500!! A price that is uncalled for in any college student's bank. My man friend then suggested the penny saver. After all 5 of us roommates had a good laugh at him, I eventually decided to give it a try. After searching for a few minutes on the penny saver's website, I came across affordable puppies in this area. So tomorrow I am going to pick out my first real baby puppy!!! I can't wait!!!

Summer Time

This summer I realized that love is not what it seems. Love is not what I thought I wanted and it is definitely the cause to the ache that replaces all loneliness, and then some. 

 

I have never really been in love, I didn't even start dating until I was 18 and in college. I was the girl in high school who had to hold out for the "mature" men in college. When I got to college... all of the sudden the "mature" pool of males were just older version of the same boys that I went to high school with. Nonetheless, I gave in and gave it a try.  

 

So I started to go on group dates, pretty much maturing relationship wise at the level of a giddy fifteen-year-old girl. So everything was a HUGE deal to me. I mean holding hands for the first time ever with a guy at the age of a legal, was all I could think about for weeks. Of course, my closest friends around me were and have always been in long term relationships, so news like this was pretty lame. But that's what I loved about it and how much I would treasure the small things.

 

I went on to date a handful of bad guys, this is not me being a man-hater, literally, I knew that they were not good guys, but I wanted to see the good in them, because I believe that I can see the good in everyone. I learned quick.

 

When it came to the heart, I should have been careful and more picky about who I let in. Because one's first encounters with surrendering the heart to another's hands, shapes that person and molds that person's expectations of what a relationship is. Looking back about 2 years later, I wish that I would have been more picky. I could never see past looks, until this summer.

 

This summer I realized that I really didn't need a man to fulfill my heart. I didn't need his acceptance, I was fed up of always trying to look my best, wear my best, walk my best wherever I went. Just trying to keep up with the Orange County lifestyle that I have grown up around. This town will rock you if you even think about wearing a pair of Crocks if you are not a nurse!

 

But I mellowed out a lot, my sister got married, and I have never been so happy for my family. My parents are happy and I realized that instead of concentrating on getting that guy, that this is what life is all about. Taking in the life moments like I did this summer.

The Show Goes on for Javier "Showtime" Vazquez

Photo credit: Millenniamma.com

The Show Goes on for Javier “Showtime” Vazquez
By Breanna Armstrong

After defeating JC Pennington at ShoXC: “Elite Challenger Series” in October 2007, Javier “Showtime” Vazquez (13-2-0) announced his retirement claiming that he wanted to pursue his MMA career further as a coach.

Now, almost two years later, Vazquez is back and better than ever. “The more I coached, the more I ended up wanting to get back into it again.” said Vazquez.

On June 27, Vazquez clearly got right back into his fighting career, as he made his comeback at Ultimate Chaos, where he defeated Mark Kergosien with a guillotine choke just 19 seconds into the first round.

His nick name “Showtime” was given to him by his coach, UFC veteran, Romie Aram, because Aram said that every time Javier gets into the ring its “Showtime.” And this statement stands true as Vazquez has been noticed as one of the best technical MMA fighters in the world.

After wrestling at Mt. San Antonio College, Vazquez’s eye caught onto MMA and he started competing in tournaments, and started winning them, which resulted in his career. Betiss Mansouri, the owner of Millennia MMA gym, came along side of Vazquez and trained him to become the champion that he is today.

At the age of 33, Vazquez still stands as a tough competitor because “The older you get, you train smarter,” he says, “At 20, you can do whatever you want, but as you get older you have to taper your training. It has kept me wanting to keep training because I am not burned out. I’m happy, I’m in a better mood and I have the desire to train because I am not burning myself out.”

Vasquez has seen the rise of MMA and recalls a time when Millennia was one of the only gyms around the area. “The old gym started out as this large rectangular room and we put mats in it of course. After a while, practices started to get so big and we were running out of wall space so we thought of caging it off. It was really funny because we had an actual fencing company come out to cage it off. It wasn’t like the rubber cages today, it was an actual cage. And that was one of the best facilities around at the time. We called it the dungeon.”


Originally, Vazquez was one of the first owners of the Millennia gym, but he went on to start a gym of his own called “Showtime Jiu-Jitsu” as well as going back to his old college to teach Jui-Jitsu at Mt. SAC for five years.

Vazquez is now back at Millennia as a respected instructor. “As far as in the Inland Empire, I think that coaching wise, there is no one better than our gym, not even close. And even if someone has better athletes than us, if you give us those athletes we will turn them into super athletes.” said Vazquez.

“I want to compete at the elite level to just show how grateful I am for everyone who has watched my career and supported me from the beginning,” said Javier, “I just want to leave my mark on this sport. I think that I could get the opportunity to do that if I get in the WEC, that’s what I would like to do if the opportunity presents itself. Maybe I will.”

Just a month after this interview with Vazquez, right before his Ultimate Chaos victory, Javier “Showtime” Vazquez was signed to the WEC. It is looking like his mark is clearly being made on this sport and the show goes on.

TKO in Las Vegas

July 25, 2009
Las Vegas Hilton


For 20 years, the World Championship Kickboxing has been a prestigious organization in the Muay Thai community across the world. Dennis Warner, the founder of the WCK, has created some of the most renowned shows in this rising sport.

Warner, has held World Championships all over the world under his promotion company, In Sync Productions Inc., and has brought the most international fighters to North America than any other American Muay Thai organization. Warner holds an event every month, holding a promising fight card to satisfy fans at each match.

For the WCK's 89th production, Redland’s Jared Lara, defeated Vaughn Lucas for the WBC Muay Thai National Title as well as the US Middlewieght Title at the World Championship Muay Thai in the Las Vegas Hilton on July 25.

Lara and Vaughn went five, three-minute rounds, until Lara ended up on top with his endurance clearly defeating Vaughn’s. Lara's win was a unanimous decision. This was the first bout of the evening; Lara wore his Title proudly and set the packed Hilton show off with high expectations from the crowd.

Baxter Humby, (35-5) from Los Angeles gave a great performance, as he defeated Chike Lindsay in the Welterwieght bout. Humby, who was born without his right arm, put on a great fight and took the win with split decision. After his victory, Humby addressed the audience and said, “The only limits that you have are the ones that you put on yourself.”



Also on the fight card was Thailand’s superstar, Malaipet, (138-28-5) who went head to head with England’s cup of tea, Rich Fenwick (28-8-1) to take Fenwick’s WBC International Super welterweight title, which Fenwick earned by defeating Malaipet in a close point decision earlier this year.

The Thailand native came out on top this time, sweeping Fenwick’s title from him and making the bout an unforgettable match. The crowd could see the smile on Malaipet’s face as he threw each punch at his opponent. With a unanimous decision, it was a sweet victory for Malaipet and his fans and was a great ending to the memorable evening.

Randy Couture and son, Ryan, made it out to the Las Vegas event as well, adding to the excitement of the night. Warner put on an unforgettable show and is holding his next event in Las Vegas as well on August 30.

Full Results: (from The Las Vegas Sun by Hepi Mita)

Malaipet def. Richard Fenwick via unanimous decision — WBC Muay Thai Super Welterweight International Championship.

Kevin Ross def. Justin Greskiewicz via TKO (head kick) Round 3, 1:49 — WBC Muay Thai US Welterweight Championship.

Jeri Sitzes def. Christine Toledo via unanimous decision.

Romie Adanza def. Paulo Da Silva via TKO (leg kicks), Round 4, 0:26 — IKKC International Championship, WBC Muay Thai Bantamweight US Championship.

Baxter Humby def. Chike Lindsay via split decision.

Scotty Leffler def. Shane Oblonsky via KO (knee to the head), Round 1, 2:23.

Jared Lara def. Vaughn Luca via unanimous decision — WBC Muay Thai US Middleweight Championship

Muay Thai Sweeps the Inland Empire

Muay Thai Sweeps the Inland Empire (version of the Press Enterprise article that I wrote for June 13, 2009)
by Breanna Armstrong

Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand that has been practiced since 1702. This form of martial arts consists of two fighters using punches or kicks of the shins, elbows, hands, feet, and knees to defeat the competitor.

This ancient sport is a stand-up game that sets the foundation for Mixed Martial Arts. It is a sport based on technique and core principals. Muay Thai is practiced all over the world, and is becoming a popular sport in the United States.

For 20 years, the World Championship Kickboxing has held Muay Thai competitions internationally, bringing in the best Muay Thai fighters from across the world to its shows.

The World Championship of Muay Thai, is the WCK’s 88th fight, which takes place at the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood on June 13.

With an impressive fight card, bringing in several international athletes, this display of Championship level Muay Thai will be one of the most highly anticipated shows that the WCK has ever hosted.

On the fight card are two of the Inland Empire’s toughest competitors, Sheila Telliard(1-1) and Michelle Percival (3-0). The duo trains out of United States Karate Organization in Riverside, with a dedication to the competitive side of Muay Thai.

Telliard, who went to Colton High School, has been training out of the Riverside gym for eight years, “My son started taking karate at USKO, and so I became a Karate mom. And then I got involved and started teaching classes and jumped right into fighting.” said Telliard.

“I started kick boxing ten years ago and I loved it from the first moment. I have been training at USKO for five years and it has taught me the focus of Muay Thai.” said Percival, who graduated from Notre Dame High School.

Telliard and Percival have been training together for the World Championship Muay Thai fight, and will be the two most anticipated female fights of the WCK show. “These two fighters get a lot of respect around our gym. Most of the guys here will not even get into the ring with the ladies, because they are such fierce competitors.” said Joey Pagliuso, owner of USKO and trainer to the ladies.

They spare together, train together and condition together which has not only helped them prepare for Saturday’s fight, but has also been a major support to both ladies who will be representing the Inland Empire in the World Championship of Muay Thai.

“My number one support through this training process has been my training partner, Michelle. It is so pushed that this is an individual sport, but through my trainers and training partner, to me it has become a team sport. I feel good about this fight, I am ready,” said Telliard.

• Results: Sheila Telliard took out her opponent, Anna Danielyan, in the first round. Telliard took the win and gave an incredible performance.
• Percival's opponent, Maria Morales, backed out of the fight after Friday night's weigh-ins. Percival, as well as the USKO team were recognized in the ring after Sheila's victory.
• Over 2,000 in attendance at the Hollywood Park Casino on Saturday June 13, 2009.

Retiring my Pom Poms

Today, June 14, 2009, I am officially announcing the retirement of my cheerleading career. For those who know, know that for over a decade, cheerleading has been a huge part of my life. I started dancing when I was 4 years old and joining cheerleading in elementary school, just felt necessary.

I have strained my voice, had girls dropped on me, broken a few limbs, endured a few black eyes and cheered my heart out for some of the most deserving teams in Southern California. Cheerleading has made me the peppy, high energy leveled woman that I am today. From this high-endurance sport, I have sharpened my communication skills and had a positive outlook on life as well.

I cheered for my jr. high, high school and college... and I can truly say, that through this sport I have created some of the best memories of my life. Hands down.

Many people do not see the side of cheer that a cheerleader does, the practices are grueling, focusing on conditioning, but instead of weights, we use people as our strength builders. Whether you are on the ground or in the air, you are responsible for your teammates life. It sounds really dramatic, but it's not, at any given time a girl could be dropped the wrong way and end in disaster. I have seen a lot throughout my 10 years of experience. This sport should not be taken lightly.

Being put in such a position of responsibility has helped me to become a woman of integrity and maturity. I have grown so much, because of my responsibilities that cheer has endowed to me. And I am so thankful to my coaches and teammates along the way.

Without the girls that I have cheered with over the years, I don't think that I could ever survive this sport. It is truly a sisterhood, nonetheless a sport. Because you are with each other for days at a time, it creates this camaraderie like no other. I can say in confidence that I will never forget any girl that I have ever served on a squad with. Each girl has contributed to my life.

For my senior year of high school, I had choreographed the homecoming dance routine to be preformed on the football field of Saddleback Community College. The bleachers were filled with hundreds of people. People who have seen me cheer a million times before. (I went to the same school from 6th grade-12th grade) But for some reason this time was different. I was on homecoming court that year and I was the only cheerleader on homecoming court who chose to change out of my gown and into my cheer uniform for the halftime show. There was no way that I was about to leave my girls hanging for our biggest performance of the year. I was so rushed for time, and almost panicking that I would not be able to change back into my gown for the parade. And I was nervous that the crowd wouldn't like the dance, but as son as that music came on, our varsity cheer team was on and I have never seen our fans cheer louder for us when we hit our ending stunt. It was one of the best routines that I have ever done and I will just never forget the feeling of accomplishment that came with it.

Another moment that I will never forget is going to the NCA National Cheerleading Collegiate Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida this April. It was an experience that every cheerleader dreams of. I had never worked harder to be on a squad in my life until I started cheerleading for my University. We were pushed to the limit and our hard work had paid off as we accepted our bid to Nationals. When we competed on the National floor for the first time, it was unlike and feeling ever, just the lights and the sea of judges and cheerleaders. Wow! You will never see anything like it. Just the experience of being there and getting second place in challenger's cup and hearing our coach, say "we left out hearts on that floor," all of those things made a year of hard work and high stress pay off.

I have had the text book cheer career, it does not get better than the 10 years of memories that I have to forever hold on to. So today, announcing my official retirement, is no easy task. But it is one that has been in the making for quite some time now. I realized that as my last year of college cheerleading was coming to a wrap, that I needed to focus on my career and let go of my favorite pastime. After all, it's not like I am going to become a professional cheerleader. I am a writer, I have just become the managing editor for my publication and I am focusing on a big dream that has just started to take off. I need to focus on that for now.

It's been fun, it's been peppy, it's been pink and frilly with a lot of ribbons and hairspray and pom poms. I am excited for the next chapter in my life and I owe so much of my motivation to this sport that has taught me so much.

Long Road To MMA (featured in the Press Enterprise Newspaper) May 14, 2009

For further reading check out: http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_karakhanyan_mma_14.3ed3b28.html

And After a great fight, lasting 3 rounds, Georgi "Insane" Karakhanyan defeated Alber Rios, taking the featherwieght title.

If Pro is a No Go

By Breanna Armstrong

 

So you are a senior collegiate athlete that is just about to graduate? Either you’re going to be signed to your favored pro team or you’ll have your degree and job offers will be thrown at your feet! The “real world” should come as second nature, right? This is usually never the case for any college graduate. After the graduation cake is all eaten, what comes next for the typical college athlete who has just entered into the working world?

 

According to Sports Illustrated, “You have a roughly one in 12,000 chance of becoming a pro. The average career lasts in the vicinity of five years.”

 

So now what? Sure if you don’t make it pro after graduating there’s always that degree to fall back on. But research has clearly shown that making the transition from college athletics to the "real world" is a difficult, frustrating and oftentimes painful experience for student athletes. The reason for this is, unlike most traditional students, athletes are focused on practicing and competing in their sport well into their senior year. This significantly reduces the time available to participate in career fairs, campus interviews and other programs designed to help them find gainful employment. But how does one begin to transition from an athlete to business?

 

CBU alumni, David Odien, thought the same thing after he played three seasons on the men’s soccer team at California Baptist University. The coach recruited him while he was playing soccer at MT. SAC. He graduated in 2003 and after graduation, David explained, “For me, like many student athletes, athletics was a huge part of my life. I decided that I would coach soccer because it was what I knew. I coached at the high school level for five years while looking for a solid career. It was a tough transition for me and I luckily found Athletes to Business.”

 

“Athletes to Business is a privately owned company dedicated to coaching, counseling and placing highly talented student athletes into the corporate world. Working in harmony with educational institutions and America’s top companies, Athletes to Business helps student athletes make a smooth transition from the playing field, to their vocational field, and find rewarding employment.” Said Odien.

 

Odien first heard of Athletes to Business from a friend who had used their services to start a great career after college.  “After speaking with Athletes to Business, I became extremely excited and passionate about helping student athletes who were struggling with the transition from College to Corporate.  Then an opportunity opened in the Inland Empire for a Career Coach and I quickly accepted the position.”

 

Odien and other career coaches meet with the students during their Junior and Senior year.  “We sit down and discuss the importance of making good decisions their first year out of college.  We then help them use all of our resources to position themselves to make these decisions.  We work on their resumes, we help them with interview preparation, and we can help them set up interviews with corporations they are interested in.”

 

Athletes to Business has helped many student athletes transition and prepare for life after college.  “A2B” is working on almost every college campus in California, including Point Loma, Westmont, UCLA, UCR and many others.  They have helped many students on each of these campuses, and many of these students are 2 – 3 years into their careers and are extremely happy with the guidance that A2B provided.

 

For Odien, “A2B has provided me the opportunity to have a positive impact on my students lives.  It has enabled me to become a positive mentor and resource for  many great people.  It is an unbelievable gratification to see students that we with successfully transition from the playing field to the working world.  The positive feedback and gratefulness we receive everyday makes this opportunity that much more exciting.”

 

Athletes to Business is not just offered to athletes but to all students looking for guidance into the working world after graduation. It is important to develop a career consciousness early on and therefore Athletes to Business is open to anyone who is looking for guidance and help in finding and preparing for their career.  They provide help with resume development, interview preparations, and if the student is interested in Business, they can be set them up with high quality interviews with great corporations who are excited about seeing them.

 

This program has changed many students’ lives and provides a very practical transition into the working world. To get involved with this successful program, visit: www.athletestobusiness.com or to contact David Odien, an Inland Empire Career Coach, you can contact him at: dodien@athletestobusiness.com

 

Only you can choose your future, and Athletes to Business will be there to help you to reach for your goals. 

I am Living out of my house!!

Some people live out of a few suitcases, some live out of their cars and some people live out of their dorm rooms. Going back home to my parent's house in San Clemente this spring break, I realized that I was living out of my house.

Let me put this into a better perspective for you... I am literally living off of three piles of clothes in my unrecognizable room. My room has been taken over by my mother... who insists on keeping her clothes on my once very used desk.

My place at the kitchen table has been replaced with my sister's wedding invitations, and I am constantly trying to remember what channel is MTV. Is it channel 42 or channel 49? Everything in my house is kept in a different place and therefore, the only thing that I can think of is this is how it feels to live out of my house. 

Even my city feels different! There use to be a Pinky Wear apparel store down the street from my house in the same shopping center that has always been there. But alas, as the theme of change takes over my spring break, Pinky Wear has closed down. A disappointment in my wardrobe purchases for sure.

Everyone in my family is going crazy with planning my sister's wedding extravaganza. My entire family is on edge about the smallest things. For example, when my aunt rsvp'd for the wedding and included all 5 of her children in the count, my mom practically blew a gasket on my dad, bringing up the fact that kids were not invited and that she was never invited to their wedding. 

But nevertheless, planning this fantasy, over the top, dream wedding for my sister has brought all of my family members together. And then there is me. The only underaged maid of honor in the world, who supposedly has to plan this unforgettable bachelorette party for her sister. Everyday someone in the wedding party asks me the update on the party planning. And everyday my response is less and less. I am just trying to maneuver around my house, and trying to get to know it once again, nonetheless plan a bridal shower, a bachelorette party and a joint bachelor and bachelorette party. My brother in-law-to-be's best man is a marine, who doesn't have a clue about party planning either. I just want to fit in with my family again, and provide big time for this wedding as they all have.

It's even to the point where my family has these inside jokes and even though I have no clue what they are laughing at, I always try to catch it on the coat tails of the joke... It's quite humiliating really. 

My spring break was like an easter egg hunt, I was discovering not only my house, my city, my maid of honor duties but my family all over again. 

ONE LOVE, Her Love, love her

Three days ago my Grandma would have been 90 years old. It will be five years on March 28, since she has passed away. It will be five years that my heart has not fully been restored and it will be five years since I have loved whole-heartedly. 

I know that I have discussed my Mimi in previous blogs, but this particular blog is solely devoted to her. Mimi was unlike any person that I have ever met, or will ever come to meet. She loved so hard and with every second of her life she devoted to those who loved her in return. 

Mimi was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when I was a little girl. She lived with us all of my life and was therefore more like a mother to me without the discipline. :) We would get into all kinds of mischief together and because of her dementia, play time became more and more because as I grew older,  she seemed to be growing younger. Now understand that this is not "The Curious Case of Marjorie Frampton" by any means, but as the Alzheimer's took over, so too did the failure of her memory. 

There was never one second in my life where I questioned the love that this woman had for me. If there was ever perfect love one this earth, it was hers. Her unselfish, patient and everlasting love. As a young teenager, I remember going to her room to check on her and finding her writing her letters to each and every one of her relatives and friends. She would just be sitting at her desk, content in her own company. 

She was the funniest lady that you will ever meet. Even at the age of 84, she was "sharper than a whip." as she would say. Because she was an amputee of one of her legs, Mimi was confined to a wheelchair for the last quarter of her life. But as my mom says, who never parted from my grandma's side, "She never complained, not once, she would be patient and said that the wheelchair gave her character." Even in the most frustrating times, she would never complain or play the blame game, which would be so easy for most to do. 

Instead she would make the best out of it. She would let us have rides on the wheelchair, play shopping cart around the house with it, and her most famous joke of all, "If anyone hurts your feelings, tell them that I'm going to roll over them with my wheelchair!" It was just comedy to see this precious little old lady have the most outrageous things to say.

Life without her has been hard. Really hard, still hard every day of my life. I was the happiest, carefree little girl when she was in my life. And after she passed, I would struggle to find happiness. I still do. I am having a hard time finding that happy little girl that I once was, I guess that when my Mimi passed, I grew up. 

But I have found growing up to be too hard, too difficult and virtually impossible. I have discovered that one really never does fully grow up. It's just a matter of how someone reacts to situations that defines their "maturity." I have been struggling so much lately because I feel that I am trying to wrestle this fine line of who I am. 

I don't need others telling me who I am, and I have learned that I need to stop listening to others. It's about me and my heart and how God speaks to me. I found my self almost screaming at the top of my lungs in tears today begging God to show me love... this love that I have no idea about. I relate any kind of love to the one that my grandma gave me unconditionally.  I thought I knew what love was, what contentment was, what being a grown up was, but what I failed to do was to let another person determine my thinking. 

I can't put my happiness in someone else's hands. That's something that I will never do again. For it is only God's hands that can fill me. Because if you are doing it for God, your heart will always be content.

I am so sick of thinking that I am depressed and having others suggest counseling, I am just more than ready to be free and dependent on God. I wish that this blog could solve all of the problems that I have addressed but for now, I know that I need to leave this open, and determine the answers on my own.

Mimi's love has set the bar high, in many ways I think that I have the same love that my grandmother had. I just wish that she was here so I could ask her how she dealt with someone she loved not loving her back. I wish I could ask her how she handled hurt. Because when you love so hard, hurt comes at such a heavy cost.

For now all I can strive to be is like my grandma... Because her love lives on in me.

One Love, her love, love her

Not Just Another Mom

"Octo-mom", native of California, rightly owns up to her media given nick name as she is a mother of 14 children. Originally she had 6 kids and recently she had octupletes! Nadya Suleman is truly the  super mom of California. 

The Suleman family has been flourished with media since the octuplettes were born. The media has been obsessed. Productions like US magazine has covered the family in almost every issue of theirs since the "octo-mom" discovery. TMZ of course, has even found a way to cover the family in a negative light. Exposing their insufficient funds all over the internet as well as their news show. The family really has not been able to take a break and enjoy themselves since Nadya gave birth. 

I think that the Suleman family should be able to enjoy their privacy especially in this very important time in their lives. They should be able to enjoy the small moments that has been taken over by the media. The media should in my opinion, back off and let this family, living under such unique circumstances, live their lives. 

I think that having 14 children is as difficult enough as it is and having the media there to capture every moment seems to present a more challenging surrounding. I can only hope that the Suleman family is adapting to their new family and are having an amazing time as new parents of 14. 

Personally, I know that I could not be in the same position, but from a Christian perspective I support the Suleman's multiplication to our planet. For advise, I would strongly suggest that they make special time for each of them as they are growing up.

Cheer Nation

This is my cheer squad at California Baptist. I have been a cheerleader for almost a decade and I have been dancing since I could walk. I love being apart of something that encourages others. It takes making one person smile at a game or a competition to make all of the hard work that I pour into this sport, worth it. 

I never thought in a million years that I would continue doing cheerleading in college, but after my best friend that I cheered with in high school convinced me to try out for the team, I had to do it.

It's a very time-consuming sport, and naturally, as with any women's sport, it's very emotional as well. But I am loving it so far! I have learned so much in just this year that makes me not regret taking on this "part-time" job. On top of that, I love the girls, I would have never met them if it wasn't for cheer. I am so entirely thankful for all of them.

We are a competition squad and we have an entire list of competitions coming up. Our next one is next Saturday. If you want to check us out any further go to www.cbulancers.com.