Setting up the Takedown With Striking Coach Gabe Charboneau

Video Courtesy of Fight Life Media, Fight Life Las Vegas Professional MMA and Striking Coach Gabe "Kuya" Charboneau shows how to integrate strikes with clinch and takedowns. Kuya has worked with elite level athletes in Boxing, MMA, Muay Thai and more for over 20 years, is a frequent coach at CBD Tuff Camp alongside Matt Lindland, All American and Team Noguiera coach Eric Alberricin, Keith Wilson and more.

Musgrave and Grelck Collide at Rumble 10

Promotional Powerhouse Rolls on in Pueblo

Musgrave Courtesy of CMO Photo

Pueblo, Colorado May 2nd 2013-At a time when most professional fighters struggle to remain consistent, Ricky Musgrave has had a whirlwind last couple of years racking up an impressive 10 fight resume in the process.  The 29 year old who fights out of Pariah MMA in the Springs is a rising star on the Colorado MMA scene and rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with at 145 lbs.   

Musgrave who started his Colorado career as a welterweight has found a home in the lighter divisions and while he’s known for his dynamic Muay Thai which was honed in it’s homeland he has come full circle with wins over talented grapplers including Bryant Craven and Travis Coyle.   Musgrave credits his success largely to his trainers and teammates at Pariah MMA which plays host to a multitude of world class talent.

Talent level notwithstanding, Musgrave will be taken to task when he faces Kickdown and Cage Wars Champion Brad Grelck as the main event for Steel City Rumble 10 May 18^th in Pueblo.  Grelck, a Wyoming native will enter the cage the larger of the two at 6 feet and a catch weight of 152.5 from his normal 155.   According to Kickdown president Steve Ally, “You couldn’t ask for a more exciting main event, Grelck sets a fast pace and never disappoints.” 

Brad Grelck

 Grelck has been on a tear as of late with his last two wins coming by way of submission victory in the first round.  Grelck will look to derail Musgrave’s rise in the ranks when they meet as the main event of Steel City Rumble 10 at the Colorado State Fair Events Center in Pueblo, not just another show.. It’s an experience!

For more information log on to www.steelcityrumble.com tickets available at the Colorado State Fair Box office or via the website link. 

Ries Returns to Rumble Ten

Amateur veteran comes full circle 

Bruce "The Moose" Ries

Pueblo, Colorado May 1,2013- Moose sightings are not uncommon in Colorado as recent efforts to protect the species have made headlines as of late in Southern Colorado.  For Bruce “The Moose” Ries however, it means returning to his roots at the show he started on five years earlier; Steel City Rumble.  The burgeoning pro will face fellow Coloradoan Santana “Sol” Martinez as the co-main event for Steel City Rumble 10 at the State Fair Events Center in Pueblo.

Ries now 24 years old is coming off wins over veteran Jose”Luis” Murillo at Mayhem 3 in Lamar and Pueblo's Kevin Carter previously and will be looking to garner a repeat performance at Rumble.  “It was a big fight for me because Murillo has fought wars in the ring.” stated Ries.  I have a ton of respect for Jose, knew that he would come forward and would not quit so we put together a dirty boxing strategy to beat him in the clinch and not on the ground where he thought we would want to go and it worked.”   Work it did, as the Moose battered and bruised the aging warrior for 3 rounds with a combination of knees elbows and dirty boxing tactics. 

Enter Santana Martinez who enters the cage with almost as many fights as Murillo and is known for the same tenacity and drag out brawls as the former and you have a recipe for an amazing co-main event.  Martinez will no doubt seek to add another plus to his current record which reads like a who’s who in both columns of Colorado mma with wins over Grudge fighter Vinnie "The Assault" Lopez and Bellator veteran Aaron Romero and losses to Ramico Blackmon and Josh Cavan.

“I expect Santana to come in every bit as tough and prepared as Murillo states Ries.  The last couple of years have really been a struggle to dial myself in, get my diet in check and conditioning right.  

Santana Sol Martinez

We took some fights at different weights that proved I need to be back at 155 and possibly even lower. I guess we will see but for right now I feel better than I ever have!”

One thing is certain we will see at Steel City Rumble 10 and that is fireworks when Bruce Ries and Santana “Sol” Martinez collide.

For more information log on to steelcityrumble.com Tickets available at Colorado State Fair Box Office.

Press release courtesy of:

M&L Landscaping, Print Pros, Anderson and Lopez attorneys at law and Wicked Paint in Pueblo.

The Importance of Drilling and “Proper Sparring” in MMA

I have said it before and often that one of the biggest downfalls of the popularity in the sport of mma is that it grew too big too fast. What ensued after the popularity boom of the late 90’s (and still continues today) was a mass race to cash in on popularity, perceived cash flow, and social status. The end result was a mix of good and bad with the bad being largely unregulated less than credible instructors, trendy wanna-be tough guys, non-standardized curriculum and sometimes greedy promoters looking to make a buck.  To this end, the fact that anyone can rent a storefront, hang a sign and say they are an mma school can make finding a place to train a sometimes daunting endeavor. 

GO HARD OR GO HOME?

I have seen gyms that base their entire syllabus only on sparring and rolling hard every class. These are the knuckleheads I often hear coaching cage side who's idea of corner instruction is relegated to: “BE STRONGER” or “TAP HIM OUT!”  Now, let me follow the aforementioned statement with my affirmation that yes, sparring is important but of even more importance is where it lies within your overall training regimen and how it’s structured.  If you take one thing from this article take this “Sparring without proper drilling is useless.”  Let me expand by taking for a second Manny Pacquiao or any other high level boxer during a pre-fight camp where making a living is on the line.  Sparring is purposeful and pre-planned with each session focusing on individual attributes, defense, or offense that is being emphasized for the upcoming opponent. It is based upon controlled drilling, specific pad work to reinforce the behavior and solidified by starting slow and building the response in a free flow environment i.e. sparring.  If the fighter is worried about getting his head taken off every session, he will revert to what is natural for him to do and never absorb the new behavioral patterns. This becomes even more apparent in the world of mma where trainers are often faced with the task of transforming wrestlers into strikers and vice versa.  If the fighter in question enters every sparring session with a “balls to the wall” mindset he will always resort to his base and will largely remain the same fighter over the course of his career, one dimensional and predictable. When you couple this with the injuries that tend to result as part of this teaching method it becomes painfully apparent that neither participant is learning, merely only testing their manhood to the enjoyment of fan boys turned coaches who believe sparring is the fight and not a tool.

Drill the Skill

Technique sessions should beget drilling sessions which should in turn be broken up into various scenario options with variables on ways to lead into the desired behavior.  

Example:

As part of my program I often teach the left hook sets up the double leg with the penetration step to the left side of the body. Now, upon breaking down the individual technique of left hook, change levels, step through and turn the corner I will begin the drilling process.  This often looks like:

1. Jab, Cross, Hook Go.

2. Then, Hook Cross Hook Go.
3. Then adding defense I may add in the context of pad work jab, slip his cross, hook and shoot etc. breaking the technique into different lead ins to get there.

4. The fighter should reinforce the pattern with a live partner loose and lightly adding the normal prefixes like exchanging jabs or kicks before hitting the new technique set.  You can round robin this approach with different partners to get different feels with the end result being that by using platforms and building intensity slowly the fighter will gain newfound confidence and comfort using the sequence in real time.  Also, a good segue into hitting the combination is to ascribe a codename for it that only he knows cueing him in sparring to hit the go button when as a coach you see opportunities arise while in the 3^rd party perspective  of the corner.

The resounding lesson here is that sparring is not a fight, it is a tool that should be used to reinforce desired behaviors, work functional cardio, gain experience, dissect shortfalls and prepare you for success.  Pissing contests belong in barroom brawls, not in the sport of mma. Train smart, fight hard and succeed!

Colorado Pro All Stars Set For War!

The minds behind SCR bring Fight Brigade full circle Pueblo, Colorado August 9th 2012-The Final Pro roster for Fight Brigade’s anticipated Colorado vs. New Mexico II at the 140th Colorado State Fair was unveiled Wednesday. The event, slated as one of the hottest mixed martial arts tickets in Southern Colorado memory will take place during the Fair August 24th and features a slew of pro veterans and exciting newcomers.” stated matchmaker Gabe Charboneau. This is the quality of card one could only expect to find at such a historic event for Pueblo. Below is released Pro lineup. The General leads the way Ramico Blackmon vs Martin Sano In the exciting 170 lbs main event former Olympic wrestler standout turned fighter Ramico “The General” Blackmon of Colorado Springs will meet the talented Martino Sano of Team New Mexico.

“I’m so stoked for this bout” stated Charboneau. “It is very timely with the recent Olympic coverage and especially now with Blackmon’s team mate Clarissa Chun bringing home bronze in England.” “Having had the opportunity to cross train with Ramicos camp many times over the last year I can say that he is far beyond the one dimensional image that his wrestling stature might have you believe, his game is very tight.”

And tight it will have to be to beat Sano. The 915 MMA champion currently maintains a 90% TKO average and will seek to nullify the relentless takedown attacks and pace of The General to launch some vicious strikes of his own. The Captain and Aide de camp Jeremy Kimball vs. Richard Villa

In the exciting co-main event, SCR veteran and knockout artist Jeremy “the Grizzly Kimball will match hands with veteran Richard Villa of New Mexico. In his last Steel City Rumble outing, Kimball bested Shark-fights and Strike-force veteran Artenas “Chico” Young for a decision victory that left the fans clamoring for more. Villa, a very talented striker in his own right is not to be judged by appearance. At 5 foot 8 and 185 lbs he looks a far cry from his normal 55 lbs weight class, tell that however to middleweight Rocky Ramirez of Jacksons MMA who suffered defeat at the hands of Villa on the Jacksons series 8 show June 2nd.

“I became an instant fan of Richard the moment I saw him fight Diego Brando, stated Gabe Charboneau,” This is the guy who won the last TUF series and this little cholo looking kid was giving him all that he could handle!” “Once I began looking further I saw that he had a good record of 12-5, was a King of the Cage feature fighter and had competed against a lot of talent holding wins over Drew Fickett and Danny Davis.” One punch can end it all in this fast paced co-main event. Man at Arms Prentice Ingram vs Russell Wilson Once an overlooked local talent relegated to fighting outside his hometown, “The Menace” as he is known has come full circle. A three year veteran of the Steel City Rumble series, Prentice Ingram returns to the platform that launched him to steel city household status for an encore performance of Pueblo Ass-kickery.

The 2009 KO of the year award recipient continues his path to greatness and has shown a dynamic mix of takedown defense, strategic striking and 5 round cardio over his last few fights. He will undoubtedly need it when he faces Russell Wilson of Albuquerque New Mexico. Let’s take a closer look at Wilson.

A 4-0 pro veteran Russell Wilson hails from the grail of New Mexico wrestling “Lovato Total Fitness.” Head coach Lenny Lovato is one of the top wrestlers to ever come out of the land of enchantment and he breeds that champion drive into his fighters. His pro roster of “cut from the same cloth” athletes includes sons Mikey and Lenny who Wilson is proud to call teammates. Russell, not one to be complacent with having a single skill set also trained for some time under the tutelage of renowned striking coach Ray Yee and considers himself as comfortable standing as on the ground. Prentice “The Menace” Ingram will be holding down the hometown fort for the Steel City as the two collide at the gates of the pro card. Welcome To The Hurt Locker Marcus Edwards vs. Dustin Center

Set as the staging point for the main card of the evening, one of the hottest products in Colorado MMA Marcus Edwards of Denver will take on Jacksons protégée Dustin Center. In an era of super athletes like Jon Jones, GSP and Silva, Marcus Edwards epitomizes that continual gravitation toward an evolutionary milestone in the sport. He pushes a breakneck pace and possesses a spring-like agility that allows for unorthodox attacks from traditionally awkward angles. He can wrestle and strike on the run and blends the two effortlessly in a package that belies his recent transition to pro.

Enter the Center, Dustin Center that is. The former wrestling standout from Ohio trained in Muay Thai in its homeland and was heralded as one of the top prospects of 2010 before 2 losses forced him to refocus and head to another mecca, that of Jacksons mma in New Mexico. Oddly enough the beginning of the evenings pro entertainment could as equally be the main event and the minds that brought you Steel City Rumble and the first mixed martial arts event in history to the 140th Colorado State Fair are proud to see this dream come to fruition for Southern Colorado. For more information log on to fightbrigade.com Tickets available at Ticketmaster outlets or at the Colorado State Fair Box Office For additional information call the info line at 719-214-4049

All Star MMA Cast Set to Headline State Fair Card

Fight Brigade MMA makes history at 140th celebration By CFL Publicity Dept Pueblo Colorado, July 25, 2012- Fight Brigade MMA the latest product of the highly touted Steel City Rumble series will debut August 24th opening night of the 2012 Colorado State Fair.

We couldn’t “pull any punches” quips President Armando Chavez. “This is a momentous occasion for the sport in Colorado and when you have a captive audience of thousands, the quality standards have to be high.” And high they have been. The 9 prior installments of the series have netted record attendance averaging between 3000-4000 fans a show and with the popularity of the sport infiltrating both mainstream and worldwide households at a breakneck pace, the growth projections show no sign of slowing.

When asked what sets the SCR brand apart from others, League GM Gabe Charboneau stated, “We don’t just promote fights, we promote community.” “We eliminate local vs. local competition whenever possible, choosing rather to unify the athletes in a team format.” “We hold high standards for public safety, regularly make charitable contributions and work to ensure each event caters to a broad family audience.”

Billed as the rematch to the well publicized Colorado vs. New Mexico bout held in 2009, the card reflects a who’s who of pro and amateur talent. The pro side of Team Colorado is as follows: (fight card subject to change) Colorado Ramico Blackmon 165 lbs 8-1 Strong skilled Olympic wrestler* Colorado Jeremy Kimball 185 lbs 5-3 Savage striker heavy hands* Colorado Prentice Ingram 145 lbs 5-2 Fast striker local favorite SCR vet* Colorado Marcus Edwards 155 lbs 0-1 #1 Rated 155 Amateur in Colorado* And rounding out the pro card is the anticipated pro debut of Jose "El Fuego" Caro a veteran of the Steel City Rumble series who made moves as an amateur emerging as one of the states top 185 lbs fighters.

The undercard also represents a host of local favorites and will feature several Police vs. Fire bouts. Other Southern Colorado fighters scheduled to compete are: • Fire fighter and SCR veteran Joey Gutierrez • Grappling Standout and Contender series veteran Troy Mumme • Newcomer Vince Contreras from Avondale seeks to make his mark • Youth Phenom Rico Olguin in a much talked about amateur debut • Donnie Lambert Police department competitor • Monte Vawter Lamberts Fire department nemesis for charity • Vallie Mead tough female fighter to battle Ashlee Deen of ATT Altitude • Nick Grado PWIA/Roughhouse standout made waves last SCR show • Phillip Gallegos Rocky Fords tough contribution to Team Colorado

Tickets are available at ticket master outlets, Colorado State Fair box office and website and fightbrigade.com Seating is extremely limited so get your tickets today!

A War of Lions-Strikeforce veterans Liles and Villasenor face off in Jacksons Series Main Event

A War of Lions
Strikeforce veterans Liles and Villasenor face off in Jacksons Series Main Event

By Colorado Fight League publicity department
Colorado Springs, CO April 12th 2012- Mixed Martial Arts purists clamored around the confirmation of a recently announced main event featuring Strikeforce veterans Joey Villasenor (28-10 Jacksons MMA) and Donnie “Mad Dog” Liles (13-5 PWIA/RoughHouse) to be held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino as part of the highly touted “Jacksons MMA Series” June 2nd in Albuquerque New Mexico.

Both fighters have fought on a who’s who of quality organizations over their career including Pride, Elite XC, The IFL and of course Strike-Force respectively. Only the elusive UFC break has eluded them both to date. Liles, never one to mince words however feels that a win over Joey may reinvigorate the big show to take a closer look in light of the fact that he remains on a 5 fight win streak over both seasoned veterans and up and comers alike. “I feel like my time has come again. I feel like I have the right camp, the right focus and am in the right place to make another solid run at this thing.” said Liles on Saturday. Before the two promotional powerhouses meet however, Liles will have to make it through undefeated prospect Jason Clayton first. Clayton 4-0 as a pro would like nothing better than to derail the Mad Dog’s train to glory. The two are scheduled to meet April 28th on Bobby Lashley’s first mma promotion event in Colorado Springs as part of his American Top Team events franchise. Liles' stand up coach Gabe Charboneau states," Im excited to see Donnie have this opportunity again. He exemplifies all of the tenets that a champion strives for. Donnie has been working diligently with a new program to combat bullying in schools called bully management and it's that kind of community committment, coupled with his hardwork and talent that will get him back on top."
For more information or to sponsor Donnie Liles
Contact publicity at
(719) 369-1138
gabe@nuworldmedia.com

STEEL ONLY ONE! Where other's fumble, the REAL Rumble shines on.

STEEL ONLY ONE!
Where others Fumble the REAL Rumble Shines on. Colorado Fight League Publicity dept.

Pueblo CO, February 10th 2012-Following on the heels of last years breakout success with it’s all amateur “Contender Series,” Steel City Rumble continues to set the bar for quality fight sports promotion in Colorado. “We are proud to announce that SCR will host it’s now 9th event titled “Nex-Gen” and return to the Colorado State Fair Events Center March 30th 2012.” stated Armando Chavez from his home on Sunday. “Nex-Gen” will bid a final farewell to the amateur ranks for a lot of local standouts as they begin their ascent into the professional ranks and according to Chavez, “We are so proud to have been part of their early careers and will continue to feature them here as our pros.”

When pressed for information on the upcoming card CFL General Manager Gabe Charboneau beamed: “We are excited to announce that the card will feature a slew of top notch amateur talent along with pro names like 2 x Rage in the Cage champ and elite grappler Ray Pride Robinson, crowd favorite Tamboura Gerl and in the main event local professional Prentice “The Menace” Ingram.

Ingram is currently on a 2 fight win streak since his only loss which was due to cut.” Prentice, armed with natural talent, excellent standup and improved ground is here to fight and furthermore wants people to know to stay.
And fight is exactly what he’ll have to do to beat Paul Ray. The Native New Mexican hails from Keith Jardines Mean 1 MMA in Rio Rancho and will be the first test that Ingram has had as a pro that matches him as much in physique as ability. The former standout grappler and coach states that he is equally as ready to stand as to put Ingram on his back. ” Charboneau who works closely with Mean 1 for matchmaking across the United States adds. “When putting this main event together I knew it had to be these two.” They bring a fast pace, they’re both carved from stone, exceptionally skilled and off the mat are two of the most amicable personalities, true ambassadors of our great sport.”

Undercard? WHAT UNDERCARD!

Rounding out the evening is one of the most stacked amateur cards in recent memory as Southern Colorado’s top amateurs take their final step before turning pro. The card includes:
Top prospects Jose “El Fuego” Caro, Dominick Montoya, James Deherrera and “The Avondale Son” Adam Soto return in what may be their last appearance as amateurs.

Both Caro and Montoya are coming off big wins, Caro on the Jacksons MMA Series and Montoya over Jon Sparks from Keith Jardine’s gym respectively. Also slated is longtime Pueblo coach Simon “El Nino” Gonzales as he seeks victory one last time taking on grappler Shirad Mizell and Pueblo Firefighter/tough-man Joey Gutierrez making his transition from 16 oz. to 4 oz. gloves in his debut against Nick Grado of Rough House.

Putting the finishing touches on what should be a great evening of fights are Alex Quintana and current 45 lb. “Mayhem” champ Arnulfo Ortega both hailing from Pueblo’s Rough House contingent.
Final fight card forthcoming later this week stay tuned! Tickets available at any Walmart electronics department, State Fair Box office or at the new Steelcityrumble.com for more information contact publicity at (719) 369-1138

STEEL ONLY ONE! Steel City Rumble makes moves, sets bar in 2012

STEEL ONLY ONE!
Steel City Rumble makes moves, sets bar in 2012
Colorado Fight League Publicity dept.

Pueblo CO, February 10th 2012-Following on the heels of last years breakout success with it’s all amateur “Contender Series,” Steel City Rumble continues to set the bar for quality fight sports promotion in Colorado. “We are proud to announce that SCR will host it’s now 9th event titled “Nex-Gen” and return to the Colorado State Fair Events Center March 30th 2012,” Stated League President Armando Chavez from his home on Sunday. “Nex-Gen” will bid a final farewell to the amateur ranks for a lot of local standout athletes as they begin their ascent into the professional ranks and according to Chavez, “We are so proud to have been part of their early career and we will continue to feature them here as pros”. When pressed for information on the upcoming card General Manager Gabe Charboneau beamed:

“We are excited to announce that the card will feature PWIA/Rough House 135 lb. product “Ryan Axtell” in the main event vs. wrestler Gilbert Cohen of New Mexico. Cohen recently lost a tough 3 round war with Jacksons pro Matt Leyva (9-2) so we know he is coming to fight.”
And fight is exactly what he’ll have to do to beat Ryan Axtell. The current CFL 135 lb. pro champ has not had a fighter get through the first round in his last 5 contests, sets an aggressive grinding pace and always seeks to finish. When he’s not training himself he’s coaching in the community either at his own “Team Valley Heights gym” in the Arkansas Valley or at the Inkd Out gym in Fort Morgan. “We are happy to have Ryan as our main event”.
Other pro bouts feature veteran Tamboura Gerl vs. tough local Alvino Montoya in a 170 lb matchup and crowd favorite Prentice the Menace Ingram vs. Debut pro Paul Ray of Keith Jardine’s “Mean1 MMA” in New Mexico.

Undercard? WHAT UNDERCARD!
Rounding out the evening is one of the most stacked Amateur cards in recent memory as Southern Colorado’s top amateurs take their final step before turning pro. The card includes:
Top Amateur prospects Jose “El Fuego” Caro, Dominick Montoya of Pueblo’s Rude Effex and The Avondale Son Adam Soto return in what may be their last appearance as amateurs. Both Caro and Montoya are coming off big wins over New Mexico products from Jacksons and Keith Jardine’s gym respectively. Longtime Pueblo Coach Simon “El Nino” Gonzales seeks victory as he lays it on the line one last time along with a feature bout by Pueblo Firefighter and tough-man veteran Joey Gutierrez. In the always exciting female division undefeated prodigy Edwina White and striking specialist Vallie Rae Mead put the final touches on what should prove to be a magnificent evening of fights.

Tickets available at any Walmart electronics department, State Fair Box office or at the new Steelcityrumble.com for more information contact publicity at (719) 369-1138

"A Man Apart" Life, Family and MMA with Kreg Hartle

Colorado Fight League Newsletter (Steel City Rumble Exclusive) A Man Apart: Life, Family and MMA with Kreg Hartle

by Gabe Charboneau on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 11:13am

A Man Apart
Life, Family and MMA with SCR’s Kreg Hartle
By CFL Contributor Liz Solano

Walking into a fighters gym you may expect something out of the box office hit, “Million Dollar Baby”, speed bags, heavy bags, a ring, and fighters lined up to voluntarily get punched in the face. As I walked into the PWIA Animal House Gym, I saw all of the equipment but no string of fighters. Only one, Kreg Hartle, main event for Steel City Rumble 7 who will be facing the biggest challenge of his career on his professional bout with veteran Cruz Chacon of Denver.  If that name sounds familiar its because Chacon’s record of over 30 fights includes wins and losses over UFC stars like: Noah Thomas, Joe Stevenson, Donnie Liles, Diego Sanchez and Josh Koshchek. While Hartle’s overall record of 9 and 4 pushes forward successfully since his pro debut, the talented and zany pro fighter from Pueblo will have his hands full.

HOW IT FEELS TO BE THE MAIN EVENT ON A MMA CARD

Despite, his awesome skills and some what crazy look as he enters the ring, Hartle is a very humble guy. For him most of the time being a main event on a fight card isn't a big deal. As he puts it, “It's another day to get punched in the face.” He has been the co-main event on many other cards and definitely feels that is an honor saying, “We all train hard to be here and I respect almost all of the opponents that I have fought.” Right now smack talk is all the rage in places like UFC. When asked about smack talk  Hartle responds, “a lot of times some has to talk themselves up for their fight, in this sport you can't show any weakness of you will get eaten alive.”
While he doesn't generally place a large emphasis on being the main event, SCR7 is a little bit different, “It's my first pro-fight in my hometown,” he says. For an athlete playing on your home turf is definitely special. It brings to life a sense of energy that only your home city can do. He says, “This is my hometown, and my fight is going to be a good fight.”

HOW HE'S PREPARING FOR HIS FUTURE IN MMA

Hartle has been training MMA for a long time and has found training and fighting to bring about an odd aura of calmness in the form of a giant release.  He isn't striving to be mediocre in anyway. He's adopted the, “Go Big or Go Home” ideology saying, “You have to build up your fight record and you are bound to have some really tough fights, but, every fighter wants to be on top. Every fighter wants to be in that Big Show.” For him, it's the UFC.   “I have a great camp and team with the PWIA /Rough house family” Coaches like Gabe and Keith Wilson, Tori Adams and Donnie Liles, I have made many friends in this sport and  try to train as much as I can. I’ll occasionally get together with Tamboura and the guys from Canon city  and The guys at Rude effex were cool enough to let us come by to get some different body types to work with for this fight”. While Kreg trains like a spartan he does have one bad habit, smoking. “I do have a bad habit of smoking, but, even though I do smoke I always get on my cardio.” Cardiovascular exercise is essential for fighters, Hartle explains, “People don't understand that when you're in that ring and you get tired, your body will lose it's functionality. When that happens, you don't want a guy like me on top of you.”

HIS HOME LIFE AND HIS SUPPORT SYSTEM
Hartle lives alone, but, I'm sorry to inform the ladies, he isn't single, “I have a great girlfriend who is really supportive.” He also has two sons, Wade and Kody. “My boys bring a huge amount of confidence and calmness to my life,” he says, “and knowing that the people that I love and care about are proud of me, means the world to me.” Aside from his sons he also has his fight family, “The Pacific Warrior fight family is something that has always been great to have and it is something that I hold very dear.” At times it can get very stressful, “I don't get nervous at all before my fights, but if I am coaching, I will puke!” He explains, “Coaching is so hard, you aren't the one in the ring, all you can do is tell them what to do and hope that they listen.”
One very special part of his and the Pacific Warrior fight family is Patty Trujillo-Esquibel. Patty is an inspirational women to many. She is fighting her own battle, one with breast cancer. She has beaten it twice so far, “That isn't abnormal,” Hartle explains, “It is amazing, not many people can say that.” Patty has nicknamed Hartle her fighter. She goes to every fight of his that she can, and win or lose, she is there to give him all the love and support that she can.

At the end of the day skill and technique will almost always beat quickness and Hartle has all three. His opponent for SCR7 does as well, “I would like to say that I will be the winner at the end of that fight, but you never know and my opponent has fought some really tough people. Having fought top level competition he has a track record but at the end of the night, we'll see who the winner is.”

READY FOR WAR- EDWINA WHITES TIME HAS COME

READY FOR WAR- EDWINA WHITES TIME HAS COME

by Gabe Charboneau on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 8:59am

For most male athletes in the sport of mixed martial arts, the ability to find fights is a luxury enjoyed with relative ease. The influx of male participants has exploded in recent years leaving their less plentiful female counterparts to bid for remaining slots on unfilled fight cards. Prior to a very surprising recent endorsement by UFC president Dana White it seemed that even Strike force’s female contingent, long seen as a pulpit to justify high level co-ed involvement in the sport might itself be dissolved in the inevitable Zuffa acquisition.

As unfortunate a situation as it is unfair to serious X chromosome competitors it is a complex and paradoxical issue that is threefold:

1. The pool of females is smaller and therefore often self cannibalized in an attempt to maintain consistent activity. It is not unheard of for females to have to fight the same opponent two or more times.
2. Dare I say it? Plain ol’ inequality. Many, like “Dola-White” are still stuck on the traditional mindset that nothing good can come out of the women’s ranks in much the same manner as female boxing resulting in smaller audience share. In the rare circumstance that female fighters do get a public platform it is often a very misogynistic and narrow male driven idea of what a female fighter should look like, having more to do with looks than actual ability. This is in stark contrast to the Japanese audience which revels in the female ranks to the extent of all promoting all female pro cards and even designing action figures in the likeness of their favorite “femme fatales.”
3. Lack of marketing power and brand imaging. Until now, promoting female mma to the masses has simply not been a priority to major organizations leaving an untapped well of female resources and relegating big budget marketing assets to Nike commercials and tennis stars. While we see the male faces of the sport everywhere we have yet to consider the opposite as household names. Says noted Colorado corner/cutman Haven Torres, “This is going to continue until we lobby for the equality of these athletes“. “I wrap and corner hundreds of fighters a year and can say without reservation that many of these females outwork their counterparts in the gym, cage and ring“.
For Edwina White the aforementioned article hits especially close to home. The PWIA standout fighter has had 6 calls to compete over the last year and only one opportunity to actually do so. “Every time we get an offer it seems that something ends up falling through.” states Head Coach Gabe Charboneau. “ Edwina works harder than a good percentage of even my male pro’s and to see her work go unrewarded is a tough pill to swallow.” White started out a year ago at 220 lbs and is now walking around at a very ready 157 due largely to her tireless work ethic which includes 3 a day training sessions, healthy diet, and wonderful support of her family and kids. Her outlook remains overtly optimistic despite being repeatedly disappointed by lying promoters, pre-fight opponent injuries, and more often than not plain old fashioned fear by the occasional scout who happens upon the video of her only mangling/fight. Edwina’s last scheduled bout itself was a debacle as she was slated to appear alongside main event pro stable-mate Angie Hayes May 20th “I am not even sure what happened but apparently, I didn’t even end up on the final card, was not told until weigh ins and because I was not included on the bout sheet turned into the boxing commission I couldn’t fight even though there was another girl my weight who’s opponent pulled out, talk about a let down!“ says White through her trademark amicable grin. While as of this writing, Edwina White is searching for a replacement fight on an upcoming CFL card June 11th, she is reluctant to demonstrate any signs of early anticipation for fear of something happening yet again. Says Edwina, “Right now I am simply at a place where I am grateful to the sport for what its done for me and my health, I am blessed to train with a ton of great guys and coaches and share the fight stable with amazing females like Tori Adams, Angie Hayes, Chantel Cordova and some up and coming amateurs like Chelsea Barajas and Vallie Mead, when my time comes I will live in that very moment not a second before or after, and simply be thankful.”



Edwina White (far Right) stands with CFL females
Edwina White can be reached for booking via Nuworld Management at
Gabe@nuworldmedia.com or via phone at 719-369-1138

5 minutes with Vallie Rae Mead

Edit

Colorado Fight League Newsletter (Steel City rumble Feature) 5 minutes with Vallie Rae Mead

by Gabe Charboneau on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 11:23am

STEEL CITY RUMBLE FEATURE
SPOTLIGHT ON
VALLIE MEAD
By CFL Contributor Liz Solano

To a simple passer by, Vallie Rae Mead seems like a beautiful woman, and that's that! Anyone who knows Vallie, knows that she is more than what meets the eye and she will prove it!

BEING A FEMALE IN A MALE DOMINATED SPORT

In a sport where men seem to reign superior, Mead is a women who never let her gender be a handicap. Having been exposed to Martial Arts since the tender age of 13,  Mead never let her gender get in the way, “In this sport, it's kill or be killed”, Mead says. She was never babied or treated any different because she's female telling us, “My very first instructor told everyone in our student body, DO NOT treat her any differently”. Starting with Kempo Karate at 13 and then graduating to kickboxing at 18, she knew the discipline and strength it took to train. Training very hard, Mead began to teach students very early, “I felt like I had to establish dominance and show my students who many times were older men, that I knew exactly what I was doing and I would prove it.” Once she stepped onto the MMA scene she says, “I couldn't see myself as a good fighter until I got onto the ground and mastered my ground skills.” While she never felt at a disadvantage due to her gender, she did feel as though she had to prove herself.

BALANCING BEING A MOM WITH TRAINING

Being a parent is trying on anyone. This is even more so the case when you are a single parent, couple that with training and you have a full time job! Vallie has three wonderful children and balancing the three of them with training is the hardest part. Mead is a Martial Artist saying, “This is what I am and what I want, it makes it easier when you know who and what you are... This is what I want!” Mead finds it important to cherish every moment stating, “One day I will be a coach and only a coach, I want to cherish this moment right now!”

HOW SHE PREPARES FOR  FIGHT

When I ask a fighter, “How do you get ready for a fight?” The response is often something in the realm of watching the opponents past fights, or making themselves hate their opponent. Not Vallie, she prepares in a way that is very unique.
“I start two weeks out from my fight. I let the adrenaline build and then I ground myself. I use a lot of visualization and disburse the adrenaline and nervousness I feel to my limbs. It's a full body awakening. At that point, my nervousness takes the shape of confidence.”
On top of visualization, the song that the fighter enters the arena with is also very important. “It has to have that certain vibe that releases everything” Unlike many, to Mead, a fight isn't about hating her opponent, but rather, a test of herself. She finds it to be an opportunity to learn more about herself. She doesn't know much about her opponent and she doesn't need to, “I always imagine that my opponent is bigger, faster, and stronger and I have to push myself to be equal.”

WHO SHE WOULD LIKE TO THANK

Like many, she would love to thank her parents, training partners and coach at Team Hitman MMA, and of course her children; but there is a man who passed away that she would like to thank as well, Bill Packer. Bill Packer was her first instructor, a man who was very near and dear to her, and a man who has trained the best with 122 World Champions. Mead remembers her first fight, “It wasn't like the big productions that we have today, it was more underground. I walked into the ring and my feet had dust on them and I was afraid of slipping. I turned to him and said, 'Mr. Packer my feet are dusty' he did what I never expected, he sat me on the stool and proceeded to wash my feet, this man who has trained champions got to his knees and washed my feet. It was a very surreal moment for me.” When Packer passed away, Mead didn't train for a while, “It's hard to find someone to train you after you have learned so much and you have developed such a deep bond with an instructor.” Packer shaped Mead into what she is today and she is grateful.

Chantel Cordova Pretty Little Hate Machine!

Chantel Cordova Pretty Little Hate Machine!

by Gabe Charboneau on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 8:04pm

CHANTEL CORDOVA
PRETTY LITTLE HATE MACHINE
By Colorado Fight League Publicity dept.
_______________________________________________


Pueblo Colorado April 28th 2011-
Fire, Fury and Iron willed are all common nouns that one would ascribe to the typical archetype of Mexican fighter. In this case the only difference being that he happens to be a she. Enter Chantel Cordova, The sleek slugger from Pueblo Colorado has amassed a wonderful record of 8-2 with her second and most recent loss coming in competition for the vacant IBF flyweight crown in Mexico City in March 2011. “It was a great feeling to fight in Mexico,” Stated Cordova. “The people are so warm and supportive, it was like no other feeling in the world.” While Cordova has drawn some criticism from boxing purists as to the level of competition she has been paired with in the past few years, the reality is that both the division and opportunities are too thin to get the amount of diverse match ups that can really allow her skill set to shine. Says Chantel; “Everyone who knows me, knows I will fight anyone, my heart or determination has never been in question.” A single mom who often works two jobs to support her dream of training full time, Cordova has simply not had the management/
matchmaker support staff to pound the pavement for opportunities.
GO BIG OR GO HOME

At 25 years old in the sport of boxing the clock begins to tick and the moment of step up or step down becomes unavoidable. Chantel sought the help of fellow friend, trainer and professional MMA Manager Gabe Charboneau of Nu-world Athletics. “I saw what she was going through and wanted to help her as a friend but knew that to do so would not be easy. The world of boxing and mixed martial arts are two different animals and professional circles.” “So I made some calls to my various promotional partners around the U.S to find good managers for her.“ Despite several offers being placed on the table it seemed not a single one had Cordova’s best interest in mind and a disheartened Cordova was ready to toss in the towel. Finally, She suggested to Charboneau “You make matches and do this for the mma fighters, why not for me“? After a firm discussion about managing expectation and the understanding that it would be a learning process from an industry perspective, an agreement was made and Chantel Cordova was brought on to the Nu-World roster as the solo boxing act amongst a large group of MMA Professionals.
Chantel Cordova is working harder than ever to fuel her competitive fire. She trains throughout Southern Colorado including Colorado Springs where Olympic Dreams become reality often running the world renowned Manitou incline in the morning followed by sparring at Roughhouse MMA and Fitness where Charboneau is a trainer mid-day, working two jobs and still continues to train with her mentor and father in Rocky Ford.
This young prospect does not know the meaning of quit, won’t accept the word defeat, and is now looking.. To Pick a Fight. I ask for your faith in putting this young athlete on your next card only once and promise I’ll never have to ask again.
Chantel Cordova can be reached for booking and consideration via Nu-World Athletics at 719-369-1138 or by email at gabe@nuworldmedia.com

· · Share · Delete