MartialArtsNomad.com made its way from the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu seminar in Port Alberni to Summer Slugfest IV in Victoria BC. Summer Slugfest is an outdoor fight event organized by Peteric’s Gym, hosted this year on the grounds of Velox Rugby Club. We BJJ students had to blast down to Slugfest IV directly from Port Alberni to meet up with our team, which included two fighters on the card. The blue sky held, the weather was warm enough, the crowd was at capacity to enjoy the 14 fights on the card.

Highlights Reel

I have put together a highlights reel of what I shot with my video cam during the night, with shots from around the grounds, fighters warming up, card girls, and of course some action from some of the fights.

Over the course of the night, I shot 321 pics during the event and recorded fights for Moghaddam vs Downey (mt), McCurdy vs Bergen (kb), Ladki vs Aquino (kb), and Sharma vs Valiquett (mma).

Chase Ingalls

Other fights on the card worth noting was an appearance by Chase Ingalls against Robert Durkenson. Chase Ingalls is looking more and more like a fighter with a promising future after his unanimous win in the ring at Slugfest IV.

Chase Ingalls vs Robert Duerkenson

Sanjeev Sharma vs Andrew Valiquett

Sanjeev Sharma and Andrew Valiquett got together for a 3 round MMA battle. Round 1 went to the ground and Valiquett controlled from the top position. The fighters stayed on their feet during the next two rounds while they clinched, kneed, and boxed each other in a battle of attrition. The split decision went to Sharma.

Derek Mrak vs Nigel Yarjau

The MMA battle between 190 pounders Derek Mrak of Canada’s Best Karate and Nigel Yarjau of Pure Self Defence was in many ways the most impressive fight of the night. Yarjau is a fit and experienced fighter. Mrak didn’t look like your typical fighter, with longish hair and handlebar moustache, a guy you wouldn’t tussle with nevertheless. Mrak took a real beating from Yarjau, complete with lumps, blood, eye pokes, and the most brutal and hideous armbar I have ever seen. Mrak did everything he could to give payback, including dumping Yarjau out through the ropes and on to the judges table at one point. Fight fans watched in horror as Yarjau cranked Mrak’s arm from 3:00 to 9:00. Mrak didn’t tap. I kept snapping photos. People were screaming. The medic beside me said he thought he heard his shoulder pop. Most sane, and insane people would have tapped. Mrak is a stalky tough guy, and managed to slip out of it eventually and almost get full side control. His corner was calling for hammer fist but he didn’t have much of a left arm left. From a technical point of view, Mrak didn’t look, or move like a typical fighter, it didn’t appear he was able to listen to his corner as much as other fighters, and he missed opportunities that could have changed the tally. But such is ring fighting. At the end, Yarjau won unanimously, but the fans were on their feet cheering and applauding Derek Mrak for his exceptional grit and guts he showed against a superior opponent. Osu!

Moghaddam vs Downey

The co-main event of the evening was a rematch and at the same time an ‘ante upping’ between Kiarash ‘The Beast’ Moghaddam and Mike ‘knock ‘em Down’ Downey. These two cruiserweights battled it out in April for the Amateur Western Canadian Muay Thai title. It was a hard fought, intense battle that called for an additional round to determine the winner. The belt was given to Moghaddam. At Slugfest IV they got back together for the open IKF Canadian title in this division. The fight was again a closely called match, but Downey got the upper hand eventually with knockdowns, despite consistent and aggressive volleys from Moghaddam. Fight judging is not a perfect thing, and fighters know they must not leave it up to the judges. Fight fans can expect these two exciting fighters to step back in the ring when Downey has to defend his title.

Links:

Summer Slugfest IV Results

Youtube Videos

Flickr.com Photos

Got some fight news for martialartsnomad.com. Fight night is coming soon to Victoria BC. Summer Slugfest is back for its fourth year of fights on August 21.

Summer Slugfest IV Victoria

August 21 – Velox Rugby Club
3957 Gordon Head Rd, V8N3X2
Victoria, BC, Canada.
Google Maps Link

Facebook Event Page

Please note, last year, the event was held at Western Speedway, this year, the Velox Rugby Club, near University of Victoria.

Tickets Available at:

Club Phoenix - 2122A Government Street (250) 920-0300
Sports Traders – 508 Discovery Street, (250) 383-6443
Canada’s Best Karate – 777 Goldstream Ave (250) 590-6019
Peterec’s Gym – 831 Fisgard St, (250) 389-6166

Fighters interested in participating on this card, please contact Stan Peterec at (250) 389-6166.

Wanna be a CARD GIRL? Slugfest is Hiring (Link).

Here is a video of highlights from last year:

Update: Blake won by TKO with a Spinning Back Kick, in 2nd round. I understand Bebe Elzer backed out for personal reasons but brought one of his best guys from his gym. More info as I get it.

I am adding this alternate poster to my fight blog from my former Sensei, Blake Lirette. He posted this message recently on his FaceBook page. This should be a great matchup.  I know Blake as a great martial arts instructor and a super hard and tough guy to spar with. He is an incredible fighter to watch. Osu!

Check it out fight fans: I’m fighting in a Muay Thai match this Saturday in the Abbotsford sports arena. I will be fighting a guy from Sanfrancisco who has some recent titles…so should be a good one; however I can’t promise that I won’t knock him into outter space! Tix are $50 for …reserve seating and I still have one VIP table next to the ring available -$750 for table of 10. Proceeds go to help Joshua Ismirioglu a young boy with Cancer. You can get the tickets at Tactix gym downtown 1449 Hornby st. Vancouver. 604-719-7745 -c u der!

Join Blake ‘The Blade’ Lirette’s Fan Page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/blakethebladelirette.
OR text ‘Like Blake The Blade Lirette” 32665.

I have lots of new photos to share with you on my martial arts blog. This weekend I was at Tiger Balm 2010. Below are some of the photos from day one of the tournament. The Tiger Balm tournament is a big two day event with competitors from martial arts schools from across Western Canada, Washington State, and perhaps elsewhere.

The day for me started early. I woke up at 7AM and weighed myself to discover that my weight had finally dropped that last pound to 200.2, as a result of a big effort dieting and fasting on the last day, munching on ice cubes overnight. Hungry and parched I made it to the weigh-in at 8:00 at the tournament location at Capilano University, already stirring with people when I arrived. With the official weight ticket in hand, some paperwork completed, I started re-hydrating and putting a few calories back into my system for my Sunday fight.

I came back a little later for photography and to cheer on the competitors from Versus21 where I train. Day one of Tiger Balm was a full day of Kung Fu demonstration forms, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sanshou, Submission Grappling, and Pankration matches. The stands were packed with fans, coaches, and competitors. Its like a school of fish that meet and come together to form a giant swarm. In the gym, the intensity is palpable and action runs all day long on all the mats. I have posted 321 photos to the flickr photo pool for day one. Here are a few I like more than the others from the pool.

Want to see more? Link to 321 photos in this set on flickr.com:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superwebdeveloper/sets/72157623600791109/

Tiger Balm 2010 view from the stands

Flying Kung Fu Girl

Drunken Swordsman

Power and Grace

Warming Up to Fight

submission grappling

The View from the floor

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

submission grappling

submission grappling

Want to see more? Link to 321 photos set on flickr.com:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superwebdeveloper/sets/72157623600791109/

I like to cover tournaments in my fight blog. Tiger Balm 2010 has been very well attended. I have lots of tournament fight photos to go through which I will be posting to Flickr soon enough. In the mean time, here is a shot from the stands to show you how big an event it is.

Tiger Balm 2010

Fight Cancelled

An hour ago I just got an email with a message that just floored me. Gionco International has announced at the last minute that the ISKA BC championship and 5 MMA bouts scheduled for tonight, Friday January 29, 2010, has been cancelled, a decision made by Mr. Gionco. It seems that there was a question related to the pro or amateur status of Victor Wang of Posener’s Pankration & Kickboxing. As such, there is an issue of contention from the City of Vancouver which cannot allow this fight, the main event. Cancel the main event, cancel the night. Gionco regrets having to take this action, and refunds are in the works for all ticket holders.

Update

The fight did go on after all. I hear that the hot fight of the night was Josh Jauncey, with a 1st round TKO.

Today, from out of nowhere came a fight scene in the middle of down town Vancouver in front of the Art Gallery steps. Its a location popular for people selling art, petitioning, playing chess, rapping and breakdancing, or just to sit and eat a snack. But today, the street crowd was treated to a MMA fight. It was all organised to appear out of nowhere, complete with a boxing ring, MC, referee, lovely ladies, and Sensei Blake Lirette and Kirash Moghaddam, two super tough MMA fighters ready to fight to submission.

Here are some pics as the event went down:

The point of all this, if you are wondering, is to show people what MMA is about. Misconceptions abound about this new sport, and the local Martial Arts community is pushing to bring big ticket MMA events to Vancouver. The City of Vancouver was poised to sanction these kind of events, but sidestepped it by deferring to a provincial level authority. Everyone here is hoping the provincial authority will make the right move to officially sanction Mixed Martial Arts events.

So from the grassroots up, people are working to raise awareness about MMA to counteract the conjecture that keeps it from being sanctioned. We have to really show it to people so they can begin to understand better what it is – the future of martial arts. With Georges St. Pierre named Canada’s athlete of the year, we hope that he will be able to practice his sport in his home country.

MMA fans in New York State assembled a webiste for information about this sport, and the information there is just as applicable here as it is there. Hit the site and get the facts about MMA.

Ill be posting the video for this event as soon as it comes available.

—–

Update:

We got some media lovins from Fight Magazine and the Vancouver Sun:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Mixed+martial+arts+fight+breaks+Robson+Street+cause/2025348/story.html

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Mixed+martial+arts+fight+breaks+Robson+Street+cause/2025348/story.html

Now the word is really going to get out there!

TOP RANK MARTIAL ARTS is bringing back the NORTH AMERICAN Challenge # 24

WHEN: Saturday April 4th, 2009
WHERE: Mickey McDougall Gymnasium in North Vancouver, BC
WHAT: LIVE Kickboxing, MMA and Muay Thai!
TIME: Doors open at 7:00PM fights start at 7:30PM
TICKETS: Available now by calling 604-318-1902 OR Reply to this email.

For seating chart, go to ringfight.com

North American Challenge is BACK in North Vancouver following the smashing success of the 23 previous installments. This show has reliably sold out well before the doors even open, so get your tickets soon! NAC 24 will feature an action-packed evening of exciting fights in a venue that offers incredible views from every seat in the house, and this event is supporting the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life!

This is your chance to cheer on some of the most explosive Canadian fighters as they do battle with notoriously talented Brazilians in North Vancouver, BC.

With a collaboration of top-level amateur MMA, Kickboxing and Muay Thai, there is something for every fight fan to enjoy.

The Brazilian team is coached by Morganti Jiu Jitsu expert Cesar Narita and includes:
Heavyweight Adam Godoy (Brazil) VS. Mike Gill (Canada)
Light Heavyweight Kyle Thorpe (Brazil) VS. Kyle Wisniewski (Canada)
Middleweight Lelo Aurelio (Brazil) VS. K the Marshall (Canada)

Local MMA fighters doing battle include:
Part Jenson VS. Matt Dwyer
Emilio Ditrocchio VS. Nael Anderson
Ramy Kadi VS. Alan Day
More local Kickboxing bouts include:
Nigel Miller VS. Adam Blanchette
Marc Bandeursen VS. Nicolas Migrane
Dustin Dickson VS. Logan Marten

**** Plus more exiting bouts **** ( Fight Subject To Change )
Tickets are on Sale Now!
For tickets or info, contact Mike at 604-318-1902 or fightspromoter@gmail.com

Directions to Mickey McDougall Gym:

Heading East or West on Highway #1, take Exit #18 (Lonsdale Exit). Turn down Lonsdale to 23rd St. and take a left at the lights (Centennial Theatre will be on your left). Continue to the 2nd block. Mickey McDougall Gymnasium will be on your left-hand side next to the Court House.

Kai Sinthong Muay Thai in VANCOUVER, BC. Kai Singthong will be hosting a Muay Thai Fight event showcasing Vancouver’s talented local fighters at the Maritime Labour Centre – 1880 Triumph Street.

Doors open at 6 and fights start at 8. Tickets are $30-$40 (save $5 by purchasing in advance). For tickets please contact Master Song at 778.896.1539

Proudly fighting out of Kai Singthong are Sean Kearney, Stanley Lam, Michael Khademi, Osmond Cheung, Cathay Cheng, Jessica Becher, Maylyn Silab, Walter Buse and Tai Lam.

Other fights include:
Scott Shaffer from Maurice Smith Seattle, Victor Wang and Alexandru Aparaschivei from Kel Lees Martial Arts, and John Edward and Colin Silver from KB One Kickboxing

This will be an action packed event with tons of Kicks, Knees, Elbows, Fists of Fury and Stand Up Grappling! This event is sanctioned by the Canadian Muay Thai Association and follows International Muay Thai Kickboxing rules and features some of the finest fighters from the Kai Singthong gym as well as other skilled fighters from Canada and USA. There will also be a special guest appearance by former UFC champion Maurice Smith.