MMA "Grows up" Pueblo MMA Coach joins ranks

Several years ago MMA was considered more entertainment than sport, much like Pro Wrestling. Fighters lacked any real identity with the general public hence UFC's big push to develop 24/7 style shows in the spirit of HBO's popular namesakes. To see MMA even considered alongside traditional collegiate, scholastic sports was almost unheard of, until 2013. Pacific Warrior MMA in Pueblo is proud to announce head coach Gabe Charboneau was voted a silver award at the annual Best in Pueblo awards for committment to the sport and community. Charboneau digressed, stating that the award was a byproduct of the positive efforts of the coaches, students and family around him at Pacific Warrior than his own efforts. The award was not relegated to simply combat sports but coaches throughout the area in track, baseball, wrestling etc. Charboneau states "The real credit should be given to our amazing staff of coaches Steve Stickler (BJJ) Haven Torres (grappling /kids) Bruce Ries (Wrestling) Zach Valdez (Wrestling) Jeff Santos (Striking) and our wonderful advisors Donnie Liles and Tori Adams who aid in the development of our programs. We are proud to make good fighters but we would rather develop better people along the way." To see the official awards site follow the link below: http://www.bestofpueblo.com/2013/places-faces/coach-2/

MOOSE SIGHTING- BRUCE RIES TAKES TALENT FROM MAT TO CAGE

With a youthful look that betrays his status as a veteran competitor, Bruce Ries is making growing waves in the Colorado MMA community. The former standout wrestler and Ring of Fire veteran from Pueblo, Colorado has become a staple of the states southern scene and is making positive moves towards success. It wasn’t always so however, as his early career was a lesson in self sacrifice and personal growth. Having lost his first two pro fights as a smaller welterweight “The Moose” as he is called had to make some tough decisions to get back to his normal fighting weight of 155. With a renewed passion and the guidance of team members Donnie Liles and Jeff Santos he set out to refocus and refine his approach to training and it has paid off with his last 3 fights all in his favor. Ries is known for his uncanny clinch game and plans to continue working to diversify his ever evolving skillset. “I try to train and spar with guys who are better than me whether its with my team here at home or in Colorado Springs at Pariah and I believe that one should never stop growing.” “Years ago I came in as just a wrestler, but I work hard to add at least one new tool to my arsenal every fight.”


Ries vs Caballero Ring of Fire

 Ries, now 24 years old recently signed a management agreement with burgeoning mma organization “Global Proving Ground” (www.globalprovingground.com) and is optimistic about where his career is headed. When asked what advice he would give to aspiring young fighters he stated: “Life’s too short to live with halfway attempts, you gotta be all the way in or get all the way out, no excuses no regrets”. -ed

Bruce Ries Highlight reel

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.

Donnie Liles Says “Fear the Beard” Wins at No Mercy

March 22^nd 2013 Colorado Springs CO- The shaven head and magnificent beard that has become the trademark of Strikeforce and IFL Veteran Donnie Liles are fast becoming a brand that stands for high impact slams and bone twisting submissions.

True to that brand, Liles defeated veteran Michael the “Minister” Riggs in short order Saturday at No Mercy Extreme Fighting with Riggs succumbing to a ligament stretching arm bar early in round one.  With this win Liles moves to 15-6 overall.  Striking trainer/mentor Gabe Charboneau stated, “Donnie has had so much success over the last several years and has made a very public sentiment that he will not back down, will not be ignored and will do what it takes to retain his standing on the bigger stages.”

His career has not been without its share of setbacks however, as he was released from the final roster of the Bellator Reality show just prior to entering production and a secondary offer on Bellator’s New Mexico debut fell through just two weeks prior to the show due to an opponent injury.  

Liles Ready For War

Charboneau adds, “If you look at Donnie’s last seven fights, he’s won and or dominated every one earning several fight of the night and several submission of the night honors in the process, he definitely comes to handle business.” Left in the wake of the aforementioned carnage were then and since undefeated Jason “The Juggernaut” Clayton, Pete "The Weapon" Spratt, Seth Baczynsky and the highly touted Jeremy Kimball of Team Wildman.

The only blemish of his longstanding win streak was a 3 round decision loss to Strike force/Pride veteran Joey Villasenor as the headline event on the Jackson’s MMA series. (Noteably held on the reservation in Villasenor’s backyard.)  The decision was subsequently contested via the Isleta tribal commission yet despite video review and a lengthy appeal process,  the decision held firm in a mire of red tape and unanswered calls.  

Moving Forward

Donnie Liles continues to push forward in his quest to regain his former glory.  Returning to his early roots with Fight Factory (Now Pariah MMA) in Colorado Springs he is armed with a list of short term fight obligations, elite training partners and new found optimism.  The trademark scowl and bearded appearance that have become his hallmark cry marketability and echo the resounding warning.. Fear the Beard, Donnie Liles is here.

Sponsors and or booking agents may contact:

gabe@nuworldmedia.com

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!

Jose “El Fuego” Caro headed to Team Quest

Pueblo, Colorado February 1st 2013-Top amateur 185 lbs. prospect Jose Caro will head to Matt Lindland’s Team Quest in preparation for his 2013 professional debut stated coach and mentor Gabe Charboneau on Tuesday.   “Matt has expressed an interest in Jose’s talent and physicality feeling that he’d be a valuable asset to Yushin Okami and some of the middleweight prospects from Russia  scheduled to come out to Quest in March.” stated Charboneau. “This is obviously a huge opportunity for him to work with high caliber opponents and get away from the norm so I’m very happy for him.”   While Caro maintains a keen eye on a pro debut this year he states that his ultimate dream would be an accepted slot on the tentative and widely rumored “Ultimate Fighter” Mexico. 

 As an amateur “El Fuego” racked up an impressive resume battling all comers gaining the additional moniker “Giant Killer” from his countrymen due to his twice competing and dominating opponents over 6 foot 6.  His tenacity earned him top honors and nominations as the best middleweight amateur in Colorado and fight of the year for his knock down drag out victory over “One- FC” veteran Kaleo Gambill of Hawaii.  His most recent string of wins included a quick stoppage over previously undefeated Pete Quezada on the Jacksons MMA series followed by a title win via Fight Brigade championships in late 2012.  Charboneau adds, “To say this kid is talented doesn’t do him justice.”  “He comes to fight the best.  His few losses have only been to decision with one exception and that includes his debut against current TUF fighter Gilbert Smith.  He is handsome, well spoken, volunteers as spokesman for Bully Management and other community orgs and reaches that crossover Spanish speaking audience that every major brand/ promotion wants these days.”   Jose Caro seeks to join the ranks of other Mexican greats like Cain Velasquez in the coming years and experience gained at Team Quest will be a major step in the right direction for a man known as “The Fire.”

For more information on Jose Caro email Gabe@nuworldmedia.com

2013 Full of Firsts for Pueblo Wrestling as Tori Adams takes helm

Tori Adams

Pueblo, Co December 16th 2012-In a bold move by District 60 administration recently, Pueblo Heaton middle school has chosen world class wrestling competitor and undefeated female MMA fighter, Tori “All American” Adams to oversee its wrestling program in 2013.  Adams will continue forging her pioneering path in the sport as the first woman ever to wrestle in Texas, becomes the first female wrestling coach in Pueblo history.  A world ranked force in the field of women’s professional mixed martial arts, Adams began her career on the mat at the age of 8 where she would eventually go on to win four state titles.  She has represented the United States on both the national and world teams, was a standout competitor at the Olympic Training center and has been ranked as high as #2 in the United States.  Other awards include winning the coveted Sunkist Open Championships, the World Fila Grappling Championships, The World Pancrase Championship, the Colorado BJJ Absolute Championships and others prior to turning to her current sport of mixed martial arts. 

According to longtime friend, striking trainer and mentor Gabe Charboneau: “There’s very little Tori touches that doesn’t turn to gold, she is an encyclopedia of wrestling knowledge and both Heaton Principal Mario Romero and Athletics Director, Jayme Cardinal should be commended on their forward thinking mindset in her hire.” 

Tori Adams Flies High 

And while the school will seek to maintain it's already stellar record under Tori Adams’ tutelage, many feel that the move is symbolically so much more than it appears on the surface.  In fact, female students who were previously hesitant to participate in wrestling are now coming forward with an expressed desire to join the ranks of the Pueblo team.   When asked about her first priority in the new role Adam’s answered: “Get our J.V. kids new wrestling singlet’s, their current uniforms are horribly outdated and if we want these young athletes to perform their best they need to look and feel it as well.”  When asked about whether or not there were existing resources allocated to accomplish the task Adam’s states with a grin:  “Not sure yet but I am willing to bet that any person or business interested in helping support this program wouldn’t be turned away."  After a year that was supposed to signify an end of days according to Mayan prophecy, it is seemingly fitting to think that middle school wrestling in Pueblo may experience..  a rebirth.

Anyone wishing to aid in the supply of new singlets may contact:
(719) 369-1138 or gabe@nuworldmedia.com

Tori Adams The All American Girl

In the world of women's combat sports, few athletes play on the same field as Tori Adams.  The first woman in the state of Texas ever to wrestle she learned to grapple hand in hand with learning her abc's.  For Adams a career following her Olympic pursuits would be highlighted by dispatching standout favorite Tsui Jen Cunanen then getting to the finals of the Tuff-n-uff championships in Las Vegas where she would repeat the feat by subbing out Ashley Evans Smith in short order. Adams was scheduled to fight fellow elite grappling prospect Rhonda Rousey who decided to abandon her post at Tuff-N-uff to accept a pro offer.  Soon after Tori became pregnant and many wondered if the competitive setback would derail her career. Not one to be swayed and only 10 months later she was back in training and most recently defeated Invitca fighter Raquel Pennnington. The future is looking bright for The All American and the top awaits.  Following is a brief  overview of her career:

Tori Adams

135 lbs

1-0 pro 4-0 am.

Ranked as high as #2 in the nation for women's wrestling

The Mat.com Wrestler of the week 

Adams won a gold medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and was named Outstanding Wrestler in the women's division at the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open in Tempe, Ariz., October 29-30. The tournament was conducted under the new rules of international wrestling. In the gold-medal finals, Adams defeated 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials runner-up Alaina Berube(Escanaba, Mich./New York AC), in two straight periods, 2-1 and 3-1. Adams won four matches to claim the title, sweeping three matches in just two periods and winning the other bout by pin. She opened the tournament with a 1:10 pin of Brenna Larkin (Forest Grove, Ore./Pacific Univ) In the quarterfinals, she defeated 2004 Olympian Tela O'Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC), 1-1 and 3-2. Her semifinal victory was over veteran Canadian wrestler Helen Hennick, 1-1 and 1-1. Adams was sixth in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She is a former Junior World medalist, and has been a member of Women's Team USA in the past. 

• 2-time University National Champion 
• World Fila Grappling champion
• Fight To Win multiple time absolute champion
• Ranked as high as #2 in the nation, 
• World Pancrase Absolute champion,
• Grapplers Quest Advanced women’s gold medal 

 www.TiffinMats.com

 

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!

Exclusive! Seasons Beatings Bell and Lowe Set Sights on December ROF

Seasons Beatings

Bell and Lowe set sights on December ROF

By Liz Solano CFL Publicity department

November 22, 2011 Pueblo, CO- Tis’ the season, the familiar smells of cider, pumpkin and spices fill the air. Thoughts of family, food and the impending sound of both ringing registers and jingle bells heralding the arrival of December. And while Santa’s proverbial elves are hard at work preparing for their 4th quarter overtime rush so too are Mixed Martial Artists Donnie Bell and Jered Lowe who will make their respective debuts at Ring of Fire December 17th in Denver. The PWIA/Roughhouse veterans, both since displaced to other cities around the U.S are ready to return and hammer home their indelible mark on this Happy Holiday season.

Captain America
Jered Lowe Returns Home

For US Marine Corporal Jered Lowe serving up an ass whooping comes as natural as serving his country. The 21 year old from Southern Colorado has garnered an unblemished amateur record of 5-0 fighting both at home and abroad. A proud member of the US Marine Corp Fight team Jered was featured in Marine Magazine and recently returned from competition in Beijing China where he bested local favorite Wang Peng in under a minute. And while barely of legal age to drink, Lowe fights with an unmatched resolve and wisdom well beyond his 21 years. However, at Ring of Fire December 17th he will need every tool in his soldier arsenal to take on Grudges highly touted Cody Mumma for the Young Guns 205 lb. strap.

CFL: Jered, tell us about some of your accomplishments it’s been a hectic 2 years for you.

JL: (“laughing”) Yeah well, where do I start? I recently got married to my wife Emmie who is home in Pueblo. I am originally from Lamar Colorado and have been fighting since I joined the Marines. I just got back from fighting overseas in China which was a huge honor for me as an amateur. I am the current 205 lb. CFL champ, and am now 5-0.

CFL: Wow sounds like you have been busy, who are you training with?

JL: It’s a combination, when I am here in San Diego I train with the Marines at The Compound and Bellator vet Sean Loeffler he's been great and guides me a lot out here. When I’m home, I train with the coaches and guys from PWIA and Roughhouse they have been with me since day one.

CFL: Any thoughts of going pro?
JL: Coach Gabe and my coaches here have talked to me about it. I’ll probably go pro sometime next year but I’m not in a huge hurry I want to be battle ready when that day comes.

CFL: So, Ring of Fire one of the biggest cards around are you excited? What do you know about your opponent?

JL: Just that he’s a strong wrestler big and hulked up. And yeah, I’m always excited when I get to fight at home and especially on a big card like ROF. As for game plan, I just work hard and prepare myself for whatever comes and let my coach’s map out the strategy they think would be best. Hopefully, if I show well and win this title the promotion will continue to give me opportunities because it’s the show guys like Duane Ludwig, Nate Mardquart and a lot of those guys got their start on.

CFL: Well, looks like you know exactly which direction you want to go any shout outs or last words?

JL: Of course! My Sponsors: Columbine Chateau, Inkd Out and Wicked Rigs. Conquest MMA, “Take a Nap” clothing and PWIA/Roughhouse. “Big” Sean Loeffler and the crew. My friends, family and wife Emmie. And most of all God and my brothers serving in the US Military.
Thanks for having me!

Hitman for Hire
The “Other” Donnie Bell has a hitlist

In the blockbuster movie The Bourne Identity, our hero played by Matt Damon is an ex-CIA agent who due to a failed asassination attempt develops amnesia. And while possibly not as dramatic a situation, a similar twist of mistaken identity hits close to home for ROF competitor Donnie “The Bomber” Bell. “There is another Donnie Bell who fights out of Colorado.” states the fighter, his soft spoken Texas drawl ever apparent. “That Donnie who fights at heavyweight is older, I fight at 155 and he is not a pro so we always have to be clear when talking to promoters.” Similar in name only, “This “Hitman” Donnie Bell is 155 lbs of solid muscle with a strong wrestling pedigree and extensive early mixed martial arts resume. He will face the daunting task of taking on unbeaten wrestling prodigy and Grudge product Justin Gaethje at Ring of Fire Young Guns Dec 17th. We caught up to Donnie recently who despite making his home in Grand Prairie Texas, has ties to the PWIA Roughhouse fight camp in Colorado often employing their support for cornering strategy or for pre-bout preparation. Here’s what Donnie had to say:

CFL: Does it bother you when people mix you up with the other Donnie?

DB: Not really it is just a detail that we try to warn promoters about beforehand it takes an extra step in the process of negotiating a fight. Especially if their wondering how I can cut to 55 from heavyweight.

CFL: You have been on a tear as of late Donnie tell us about your training regimen:

DB: Well I don’t like excuses and never want to think that others may be training harder than me. I try to stay in the gym and the staff at Metro Flex sports science in Arlington always pushes me to the next level. I’m blessed to have a great training gym in The Fury MMA with good coaches and partners, and I am bringing in the folks from Roughhouse up in Colorado again for this camp. I haven’t had the chance to work with Gabe and Donnie since we fought and won on the Jacksons series and they can benefit me a lot for this fight.

CFL: Tell us about how you see this fight going?

DB: I know he’s a real good wrestler and that’s obviously something he’s going to rely on, but I always believe that people change and adapt especially a gym like Grudge so I am preparing for wherever he would like to take it. I do me, have a lot of faith in myself my training and god and that gives me the strength I need to push the limits every time I train.

CFL: So this being Ring of Fire is a big step for you Donnie what’s next?

DB: I take it fight by fight and remain humble so I don’t get caught up looking past the guy in front of me..

CFL: Thanks for taking the time who would you like to thank?

DB: My friends and family who support me, my mom Sharon, Metro-Flex, F.W. and Team the Fury. All of my training partners, coaches and management, Will Florentino, Gabe, Donnie Liles and Colorado Fam, Ring of Fire and God without whom nothing is possible.

MMA Evolutionary Science By Gabe "Kuya" Charboneau

MMA Evolutionary Science
By Gabe “Kuya” Charboneau

Nature, as a process of selection has proven over and again that given certain environmental factors, the right combination of climate, timing and genetic opportunity coupled with the right organism will produce a progressive perfect storm we know as evolution. And despite being refuted by pseudo religious types, the need for consistent growth and adaptation is an unmistakable and well documented process by which the world decides which species will survive.  Nowhere in the modern era is this scientific course of action more evident than the predatory world of Mixed Martial Arts.

Dawn of an Age
Let’s for a brief moment say that we have an MMA time machine set for the early 90’s. The wild landscape that paved the way for our sports early development was a tumultuous and often unrefined display of antiquated techniques, since disproven training methods and one sided affairs.  This is not to say that there were less then credible representatives for their particular disciplines rather, in stark contrast to the athletes of today, most of the combatants of that period were blue collar “hobbyists” interspersed with a few genuine articles. Of those we would call genuine however, one irrevocable fact rings true, The Gracie name ruled the wilds with an iron fist. Kick-boxers karateka and wrestlers all fell prey and as the legacy spread, so too did evolutions need to level the playing field, thus the era of ground and pound was born.

Super Predators
With the sport of Mixed Martial arts experiencing a surge in interest, the need to develop a fresh crowd pleasing talent pool of fighters to satisfy the growing number of consumers ensued. Competitors had to be bigger, stronger and meaner than had been known prior and this group, many of them accomplished world class athletes had a newfound realization. Wrestlers were now cross-training on a broader scale and it became apparent that by establishing positional dominance and negating sub attempts they could themselves rain down heavy shots and invariably shut the Brazilian game down. The heavyweight tournament of UFC 14 heralded the arrival of the super predators, Mark Kerr, Kevin Jackson and Mark Coleman who like their Jurassic counterparts a million years prior would establish the longest reign of the sports history but as “show business” refined into sport business we would soon again see a turning of the tides.


Full Circle
Today, mixed martial arts are part and partial of the fabric of modern sports. Today’s modern athletes are well oiled machines built for optimum performance and well rounded to handle any number of situations.  No longer competing to prove or disprove combative theory or familial pride, they are personalities each with human interest backstories, celebrities, heroes and far beyond what anyone in the early stages could have conceived. Notably, it is the re-emergence of the striking game streamlined and functional that is proving the newest genetic mutation in the ever changing evolution of the sport. To the delight of boxing enthusiasts the world over one can now witness the staccato rhythm of a slick jab cross combination followed by liver and body shots and even the occasional acrobatic spinning technique.  And while all of this is supported by an advanced network of takedown defense interspersed with wrestling and BJJ it is only the latest progression in mans quest to wage war for sport. This begs the question, what next? With each succeeding generation natural selection decides which life forms survive, which fail and which variations in form and function will last the millennia. The next game changing Gracie is out there, waiting to be found. - Kuya


The Super predator.

"Axe To Grind" Ryan Axtell Set for Greatness

"Axe" To Grind Ryan Axtell Set for Greatness
By CFL Publicity Department

Imagine a world that many desire to conquer but few dare to tread, where 55’rs fear to cut and 25’rs find themselves outsized. A foreboding landscape with war gods named Cruz, Faber and Bowles. Welcome to the world of the Bantamweight. Often called one of the most stacked divisions in the sport, Colorado’s own Ryan Axtell seeks to leave his indelible mark at 135.

Paying Dues

A 7-3 pro veteran of the Colorado Mixed Martial Arts scene, Ryan has been diligently fighting an uphill battle for respect and recognition since early 2007. “I come from the Arkansas Valley a small farm community in the Southeast part of the state and it’s hard for me to get the same exposure guys from the big cities do,” stated Axtell. To that end, he would often find himself the out of town “mark” for the local fighters in the major markets. States Ryan, “Over the years I’ve pissed off a lot of hometown crowds who came to see their fan favorite beat up the country boy.” Often out skilled and outsized in those days, Ryan bested many opponents using only a combination of wrestling base, pure physicality and a gut wrenching resolve that worked well and often. However back to back losses against respected competitors in Mike Baldwin and WEC veteran Ox Wheeler left him wondering about his chances of competing at the higher levels. “I basically had to start making better training decisions for myself, I knew I had the heart and made a promise that I would seek out the skills to match.” Axtell soon became a fixture in the Denver and Northern Colorado gym scene soaking up as much knowledge as he could and eventually along with friend James Gallegos they established a small training camp called Valley Heights in their hometown of La Junta for both Ryan to train and to provide opportunities for local kids who had ideas of pursuing the same dream. The formula seemed to be paying off as Axtell, seemingly reinvigorated began his road to comeback glory by putting together a string of early 1st round victories and knockouts that could only be described as unadulterated violence.

Today

With growing responsibilities, a family and new baby on the way Ryan Axtell became increasingly tethered closer to home. In search of a gym with less travel time involved and under the advisement of a friend he sought out Gabe Charboneau’s Pacific Warrior in Pueblo, he’s glad he did. “The guys there treat me like family, and who knew after looking all over the state that I would find some of the best training there,.” This statement was punctuated during his next bout with Bellator veteran Chad Vandenberg which ended early via a vicious left hook/ TKO combination, a tool that was previously unknown in his arsenal. As the 28 year old small town underdog from La Junta Colorado trudges on where others fear to tread one thing remains clear, Ryan Axtell means business.. War Gods beware.

From Left Mayhem promoter Don Martinez Torres and Kuya

Quality Control Coaching MMA’s Missing Ingredient

Quality Control Coaching MMA’s Missing Ingredient

I recently had the good fortune of meeting up with an old friend from years ago Kru Oscar Martinez at an event in which I was coaching and he was officiating for the Colorado State Athletic Commission. During the course of our conversation, we spoke about what we were currently up to and reminisced about our early days in the sport. This brought back a flood of fond memories, spawned some questions about the direction MMA has taken and where we each saw it going in the future. And while the focus of this article as the title alludes to is quality control coaching, I would for a moment ask that you grant me an opportunity to share with you a special piece of history that is gone forever, one that had a monumental impact on our sports development and yet the masses will never know it existed.

Early Development

When I first began competing somewhere around circa 1995-96 there was no such thing as Mixed Martial Arts. At the time the activity that would later become known as such was simply referred to as either “Pit-Fighting or NHB (No Holds Barred). During this embryonic period there was a little promotion ran out of Bing Tran’s CMGA in Littleton, Colorado called The Lone Wolf Tournament. This event was true gladiatorial combat at it’s finest. Weight classes spanned 40lb differentials, up to 20 minute time limits were the norm, you could fight numerous times in a night and the bouts were set up to showcase different skillsets. This means that there might be a Muay Thai match followed by a grappling match followed by an NHB bout and oh what glorious time it was. While these fights remain for the most part obscure and unrecorded by history or sanctioning body I was blessed to witness near teenagers at the time with names like Ludwig, Kronk, Mardquart and Waterman enter the arena of battle years before they would become legends of the UFC. I remember Oscar Martinez winning end of the night honors for Muay Thai and many like Donnie Martinez, Joe Montalvo and big John Patrone from the Defense Institute all who would go on to be great teachers themselves make their fighting debuts alongside me.

End of An Era

However with the arrival of the new millennium, came regulation of the sport by the boxing commission. This signaled the death rattle of unsanctioned events in Colorado and the sport, by now called MMA continued to experience exponential growth much like the ninja craze had done a decade beforehand. As with any opportunistic endeavor everyone rushed out to monetize on the newfound cash cow and what ensued, both good and bad created the springboard for what we now know as our sport today.

Coaching Chaos
It is my observation that MMA grew large so fast in such a short amount of time that it never quite had a chance to fully develop uniform teaching structures, well rounded coaches and business models on average to support the amount of “gyms” and “fight teams” that were popping up on every street corner. This is certainly not meant to accuse, point fingers, or paint anyone with a negative brush as there are of course many reputable gyms/teams in my home state of Colorado and around the world. Rather, I hope this article will serve as a conduit for introspection, one that can help us all get better at what we do. Now, if we look at the sport as a whole we will see that there are really 3 major types of teaching models. Please take into account that all approaches have good and bad points I am merely generalizing each one for a big picture perspective.

1. The training “group” this is the team in which noone on average has a clearly defined role except usually the “team manager” who supplies the t-shirts and promotional items and usually takes the role of matchmaking for the group as well. In this model we see individuals who come together to work toward a common goal and for the exchange of knowledge and techniques i.e. one has done boxing the other some jujitsu, a few are wrestlers etc. This comprises the most common category today at an amateur level though this does not exclude them from having pros in their stable. They are often tight knit and bound by friendship at their core. The advantages of this type of group are trust and loyalty, the downside is often training space, resources and equipment.

2. The traditional school who, seeing their profit centers shrink in lieu of mixed martial arts decides to add an mma class/team. This school has primarily relied on traditional arts involving cardio, kids and self defense. However, because the popularity of MMA is unmistakable they will either bring in an affiliate grappling program and or hire an instructor and by mixing their kickboxing with grappling they are able to stave off profit loss by diversifying with MMA. The advantages of this group are usually very clean facilities and usually well equipped but on the norm do not have access to very MMA specific resources as it pulls capital away from their primary focus women, children and cardio.


3. The barber shop is based off the same model as well ,a barber shop. An owner buys a building and sublets or leases different time slots and classes to provide a variety of curriculum to choose from. Usually this includes a boxing coach, a Muay Thai Kru, A wrestling coach, and BJJ coach. This model is usually the most successful of the 3 approaches and keeps pro fighters at the forefront of priority. Advantages of this program are very much resource based, cage equipment high quality instruction the downsides are lack of personalized focus on beginner levels, and if there’s not enough communication you have several different disciplines telling you several different ways to do things in which none may be specific for mma.

The Future
As far as this sport has come and continues to mold and evolve today, it can always get better. We as coaches need more quality control in our programs. There are many coaches who have no idea how to break down their techniques and skillsets in a manner that allows one to set up the next. I see too many “friends” in corners when what an athlete really needs is a coach. I see coaches who’s idea of advice for their fighter while he’s getting pounded is simply: “be stronger” or “take him down”! I have seen 3 different coaches yelling 3 different commands in unison while their poor discombobulated guy is having a hard enough time listening to one. I have seen world class reputable gyms fumbling around locker rooms asking to borrow scissors or for someone to wrap their fighter’s hands. The defining point here is that we as a community of professionals (and amateurs) need to step up to the plate and better learn our jobs. We need to stop being so vain and ask for help in learning things we don’t know. That means, learn how to teach, learn how to do a lesson plan so we are not doing something different every day that we won’t see again for two months until we have forgotten it. It means structuring progressive, comprehensive programs that take a student from point a to point b, it means learning that sparring and rolling at a 100 percent every day doesn’t make you look tough it guarantees you a short career. Coaches need to learn how to strategize, do homework, how to game plan, how to cut weight and prepare properly and most importantly safely. We have an opportunity here to create the next generation of mixed martial arts greats and they will be a direct byproduct of the training environments they are bred in. So, no matter which of the 3 gym types you fall under, let’s help this next generation of greats put their best foot forward.-
-Kuya

"Defenders of the Flame" lighting the pathway for 52 Handblocks boxing

Preface
Over the last several years many “authorities” have come forth to try and discredit what we know as 52 blocks, Stato, Jailhouse Rock, or any of the other generational or geographic terms associated with this style of pugilism. While It’s modern roots can be found everywhere from breakdancing to professional boxing there are those who refuse to even believe it exists much less consider it a codified method of self defense. I can only speak on that which I know and while I am also a professional MMA and striking coach my core is Filipino Martial arts in fact =29 years and 3 generations worth of practitioners. To this end I would ask, what are the parameters set forth by the naysayers as to whether a martial art is considered legitimate?

Tribal structure the “Common Thread”
Before you set fire to my flag here, please take a moment to realize the commonalities in the two. To the case in point for people like Phil Elmore, FMA would not qualify as a codified martial art due either to lack of written records, scrolls and other circumstances which would seem foreign to those outside this culture and especially those in western mindset who need rational explanation of everything in their world. So too then would all of the martial heritage of Polynesia and Melanesia where oral traditions were the standard due to lack of written record.
This would conclude then that longstanding warrior traditions like Hawaiian Lua, Maori Rongomamau or Rakau, and many others of those regions are less than legitimate as well right? Wrong. Let’s first look at the similarities in societal structure where martial arts remain social, and are not so much rigid as methods of play and self defense handed down over generations under the watchful eye of an elder or big brother who will in turn add his personal “tricks” or flavor that have proven effective for himself over time. This is the same as traditional African methods of martial technology and is largely due to the history of tribal structure versus what we think of as contemporary Asian martial arts. In FMA you have what we call systems, but within systems you also have “styles” which often refer to certain methods of defense or combinations of specific techniques within a system. i.e ocho-ocho or “figure 8 movement” or Crossada or “crossing style” of play.

The Claim of Racism
So why then is it unfathomable to think that at least loose groupings of techniques herein called the 52 blocks could be passed down orally by demonstration, or mimickry through the "play" as stated before? I find it funny that Mr. Elmore referred to the 52 in context as a “racist martial art” due to the supposed opposition to teaching outsiders. Is this not the root of all martial arts? The term martial itself implies warfare and martial arts in this case, would be designed as a method of self preservation against an oppressor whether it be a slave owner or prison guards and therefore whomever was responsible for passing it on would be thoroughly justified in teaching only whomever they deemed worthy.

While I agree that the history is a bit hazy I believe that there are enough unrelated sources who have witnessed this style of play in action, or corroborated life experience either through training or otherwise over the years to deem that there are unmistakeable commonalities in the movements of its purported practitioners to support 52's existence. Even if it is a rebirth or revival of something thought not to exist, then why is the effort to propagate it as such not enough for the masses to qualify it as a martial art? In Cambodia and Thailand you have many trying to revive various older or near forgotten arts and they are considered legitimate. Lua was only rebirthed and reborn through Olohe Charles Kenn’s extensive work with his students Dr. Mitchell Eli and Richard Paglinawan and David Nu’uhiwa so why not 52? FMA continues to be rebuilt and modernized all the time because its dynamic and flexible adaptations to current environments and needs are the keys to it's effectiveness. One could at any point make the same arguments against other modern arts like Kapap, Krav Maga or even Aikido which was only born this century.

To the future
While I as a mere disciple of the craft of 52 and the sweet science of boxing agree that more research is necessary, that is for the black community to do This is their backyard, their treasure to unearth and revive, and their right to preserve what is theirs. All others should be honorable enough to respect that before anyone rushes out to discredit it due to lack of understanding. I am content to believe that many of the techniques contained within its categories are effective and viable and have been proven so for a long time whether it be in a 1920’s or modern era prize ring, the urban streets of 1970’s Bronx or Brooklyn, a beach in Gullah 100 years ago or today by the Constellation family who are now fighting hard to revive and rebirth this gift for the betterment of our youth.
End Note:
Playing the 5's along with my Filipino Martial arts has given me a fun spark, a unique yet familiar and well rounded approach to my boxing practice that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Peace be unto the elders and keepers of the flame good luck in your research.
Haumana/disciple The Ill-a-pino.

Can you See the Science?- By Gabe Charboneau

Can You See the Science?
Boxing not so narrow as some trainers would have you think.
by Gabriel Charboneau

Boxer,Counter puncher, Brawler, Inside or Outside fighter. 5 different styles of pugilism each with ranges and points where one counters the other. High Guard, Philly, Crab Shell, Peek-aboo. Different guards and hand positions each with a value that one may employ to effect a successful counter or offense. Those who are stuck within one method of doing, teaching or even understanding because it is all they've ever experienced will never know the true beauty of whats possible within boxing whether it's their preferred style or not.

I have the fortune of being of mixed decent which allows me to appreciate topics or ideas that often cross the boundries of norm. I also share the good fortune of living in Colorado which due it's Mexican roots has spawned generations of the style that bears it's namesake and made popular by it's most beloved of hero's Julio Cesar Chavez.

While a lifelong fan of the sport who has trained under various coaches over the years, my background is practicing in the Filipino style sometimes known as "boksing" or "Suntukan" which more often than not means triangle based footwork, often strong side forward and sometimes with an off angled false lead. These principles ingrained by the Filipino people were born out of centuries of weapons work within their native martial arts and perfected when early Naval bases established themselves in Phillippine ports. Without getting into the controversial topic of how this style affected what we know as the sport of western boxing today it can be surmised that at the very least it had an influence in it's modern development. To this end, Pinoys or Filipino's have had a long history of producing high level boxers each brilliant in their own right. This list which is obviously headlined by Manny Pacquiao includes the lesser known but equally deserving, Nonito Donaire, Speedy Dado, Small Montana, Gabriel Flash Elorde, Pancho Villa, and middleweight champ Ceferino Garcia respectively.

It is this pursuit of continued pugilistic knowledge, my responsibility as a coach and love of history, not just the how, but the when and why that has led me to continue my analysis of the various structures utilized by the masters of ring and sport. A few years ago I had the profound pleasure of meeting brother Daniel Farisi of Constellation and the 52 Blocks/Jailhouse boxing movement. An authority on Afro-Diasporic martial culture it was his in depth knowledge of the black experience and unmistakeable contributions to the sweet science that led me to see the truth. And furthermore, that what the untrained eye may see as a stylistic shortcoming i.e guarding arm down around the hip, or both arms crossed in front etc. is actually a deliberate and well thought out piece of a bigger picture with a proud legacy.

Over the next several issues I will attempt to expand and break down aspects of boxings various guards and positions as well as offer supporting statements and examples of thier usage by fighters like Archie Moore, Floyd Mayweather, James Toney, George Foreman, Zab Judah, Joe Frazier and others.

Til Next time,
Kuya.

“Jurass-kick Park” The CFL's Jeff Raptor Santos brings mayhem to 125 lbs

The CFL’s Jeff “Raptor” Santos brings mayhem to 125 lbs

by Gabe Charboneau on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 8:54pm

“Jurass-kick Park”
The CFL’s Jeff “Raptor” Santos brings mayhem to 125 lbs
By Colorado Fight League Publicity department
Up until a few years ago scientists were all but positive that dinosaurs were relegated to being small minded lumbering lizards, then in the early 90’s things began to change.  While a highly controversial theory, most now agree that dinosaurs, particularly the nasty fleet footed raptor variety were extremely cunning, fast, explosive and when in packs one of the deadliest forces of the dinosaur age. Enter Jeff “Raptor” Santos who at age 28 is fast following in the footsteps of his dangerous namesake.


Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents Jeff’s family relocated him to Arizona at age 13 in search of a slower paced way of life. Always the “little guy” of the bunch, Jeff constantly found himself tested and picked on by those in school and at home by his older brother whom had a wrestling background. Says Santos when recalling his youth, “My brother would always get his friends and those around us to try and out wrestle or fight with me, to see who could make his scrawny brother “give up.” “The funny thing was, very few could until while at a friend’s party a fighter named Joe “The Show” Cronnin came along and gave me a beating.
This chance meeting while a humbling experience for Santos proved a turning point as “The Show” thought enough of Santo’s skill to invite him to train with Drew Fickett and Santino Defranco of TUF at their Arizona fight gym. Jeff’s first two pro fights were to invariably tough opponents including one who had been fighting in K1 for a time. As skill would have it however, The Raptor attack was on and he was victorious moving toward a 2-0 pro record within his first year of competition.

The Future
Constantly seeking self improvement, Jeff Santos has followed his training partner turned stable mate Pride Robinson to Colorado to train with longtime MMA Team PWIA and decorated grappling academy Roughhouse in Colorado Springs.  “Everyone here has treated us like family,” states Jeff. “They put us in the fighter house and we pretty much went right to work doing 3 a days with the pro fighters here and doing individual sessions with Keith, Gabe and Donnie Liles I like the way the future is looking.”  Colorado, which has always had a void in the way of 125 lb. fighters has grown by one more. Jeff Santos stands alongside Mikey Baldwin, Randall Shuckman, Josh Kissel, and Aaron Trujillo in saying make way for the little guys, we are here to stay.
-editor

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.”

OF HEART AND FIRE THE FUTURE BURNS BRIGHT FOR JOSE EL FUEGO CARO

COLORADO FIGHT NEWSLETTER: OF HEART AND FIRE THE FUTURE BURNS BRIGHT FOR JOSE "EL FUEGO" CARO

by Gabe Charboneau on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 6:12pm

The Future burns bright for Jose “EL FUEGO” Caro
By CFL Publicity department
Mexico has always been synonymous with competitive greatness. From Julio -Cesar Chavez to Marco Antonio Barrera the iron will and never quit mentality of such champions is substance of legend and lore. Enter Jose Caro, the 23 year old mixed martial arts champion from Pueblo by way of Chihuahua, Mexico is one of the most sought after amateur prospects in the Southwest . At 185 lbs of ripped muscle with good looks and smile to match he could just as easily be a model as a cage fighter. Transcending multi-cultural, age and economic boundaries his fan base continues to grow each performance with die hard fans and newcomers alike. While his amateur career is soon coming to a close, he has reached a very exciting and embryonic crossroads as he prepares for his transition to pro status, a blossoming career, and quite possibly a UFC contract. The flame continues to burn for Jose.

One Second Longer
Known for his tireless work ethic and in your face style Jose has racked up an impressive early library of fight content that reads like a highlight reel garnering him top CFL honors for both the coveted hardest working athlete and 2010 Fight of the year award in last years knock down drag out Steel City Rumble slugfest with noted Hawaiian prospect Kaleo Gambill, a fight he was not supposed to win.
Says Caro, “Everyone kept saying, “Oh he trained in Hawaii with BJ Penn, your going to lose!” “I told them“ “So what? “I believe in MY training, and MY Coaches he is the one that is going to lose!” True to form, “El Fuego” battered the much bigger Gambill for two rounds with an amazing display of standup, wrestling and ground skills, submitting Kaleo via rear naked choke to secure the victory. “Kuya, (Gabe Charboneau, Jose’s coach) always says “One second longer, don’t quit on your opponent, don’t quit on yourself!,” “he yells a lot at me when I am fighting and people may see this as mean, but I like it and it is the kind of motivation that works for me, it makes me want to work harder and he has put so much into me that I will never let him down.”

The Future
While as of this writing, Jose Caro continues to work 12 hour days pouring concrete, followed by a quick meal and training until 9 or 10pm at night he maintains a positive outlook on his future. His exciting fight performances, marketability, access to the fast growing Hispanic consumer and dedication to the Pueblo community via his youth outreach with the Colorado Fight League’s ambassador program are rapidly gaining both attention and sponsors. He is a firm advocate of bi-lingual literacy programs for kids and adults, he aspires to attend CSU Pueblo and continue with the sport that he loves. Says Caro with his trademark grin,” Life is too short to only give half the effort!” With that outlook the man they call “El Fuego” will burn on for years to come.
　

Of Heart & Fire

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

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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