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

"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

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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.