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.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
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 =)
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 =)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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."
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."
Monday, November 9, 2009
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)