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/

FEAR THE BEARD

Donnie Liles Above

Donnie Liles Pushes Forward Toward Big Show

Pueblo, CO Augst 14th 2013-In the stark landscape of Colorado MMA’s middleweight division one name rings above all others, Donnie Liles. The former Strike Force and IFL contender (16-6) who was recently named atop his category by Spartan labs Inc. has been on a tear in his last eight outings with only one minor blemish, a controversial decision loss to fellow Strike Force powerhouse Joey Villasenor in his backyard of Albuquerque, New Mexico. With every one of his last five outings nominated with F.O.N or S.O.N accolades and dominating performances over newly signed Bellator talent like Jeremy Kimball, Colorado standout Jason Clayton and impressive finishes against top level veterans like Seth Baczynski and Pete Spratt one has to beg the question.. When will UFC take notice? A little known age stipulation which caps participation in TUF tryouts at 34 has since barred Liles from taking part in the casting process and relegates him to traditional matchmaking measures for consideration.

Sporting the trademark beard that is the hallmark of Liles persona is becoming somewhat of a social media phenomenon with fans and supporters alike taking on shave challenges, uploading their own photos and even spurring cause-related marketing ideas for charities. When asked about the symbolism behind the imagery to Donnie Liles states: “Fear the Beard” stands for defiance. It means standing strong in the face of adversity despite the insurmountable challenges we face in life.” Fittingly enough, Liles will face his next big life challenge when he meets Factory X up and comer Adam Stroup as the main event for Sparta Combat Leagues which is slated for September in Loveland Colorado. Stroup, whom as of this writing is undefeated at 4-0 will no-doubt have his hands full with the unshaven one when they meet. A striking technician who stands well over 6 foot, he will be looking to keep the fight standing where he can use his full arsenal of tools. However, school and reputation notwithstanding, his wins have all come primarily by submission a deceivingly important fact that will come into play in the later rounds where Liles seems to shine.

Liles longtime friend, mentor and striking trainer Gabe Charboneau noted: “We are thankful to Jeff Cisneros for giving Donnie a shot on Sparta Combat League.” There is very little competition left regionally for him and it get’s increasingly tough to match him with every fight but Jeff has really risen to the occasion and been supportive in every way.” When asked about a possible strategy for the anticipated match-up he added: “Not a lot will change preparation wise for this fight.” “Donnie has great sparring partners, team mates and coaching available to him at Pariah and Pacific Warrior MMA along with the love and support of his best friend and other- half Tori Adams, an elite grappling competitor and pro fighter herself so she understands the intricacies of an athletes home based needs.” “There may be a few strategic surprises but you have to wait for fight night for those.”

One thing is certain, Fear the Beard has become so much more than a catch phrase.. It is at its core symbolic of pride, vigilance and a never ending quest that says: “Open up the door Big Show, because Donnie Liles is here. For media requests, booking info, or sponsorship of Donnie Liles contact: gabe@nuworldmedia.com for ticket information or show details: www.spartcombatmma.com

Donnie Liles Victorious again at MFW

Colorado Springs, CO June 28^th 2013- To the delight of a capacity hometown crowd Friday night, Donnie ”Fear the Beard” Liles outfought, and outmaneuvered  a game Jason “The Juggernaught” Clayton for a hard fought first round submission victory as the main event of Made For War.  The rematch proved to be every bit as action packed as fans had hoped with continuous back and forth action that had Liles starting strong then seemingly in trouble after a glancing knockdown and tight standing guillotine.  Demonstrating his mettle, Liles transitioned smoothly from two on one to crotch lift to a sit out that created a scramble and escape with him standing over Clayton raining shots.   Defending well, Clayton seemed to be regaining composure when Liles with foot in hand unexpectedly sat back for the fight ending heel hook victory and submission of the night honors.  With this win, Donnie Liles advances his record to 16-6 with his only blemish in his last 8 fights being a decision loss to Joey Villasenor in the Jackson fighter’s hometown.  He has compiled a growing number of accolades ranging from top 185 lbs. pro in Colorado to multiple fight and submission of the night honors. Unbeknownst to many, Liles was also one of the final cast cuts for this season’s launch of the Bellator reality series in late December a move that most would agree was to the detriment of the network and promotion as Liles popularity, action packed style and trademark beard continue to grow.   One thing is certain, a revolution is forming around the Fear the Beard movement and Donnie Liles, cannot and will not go ignored for long.

For booking and or sponsorship information:

Gabe Charboneau

gabe@nuworldmedia.com

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

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

Tori Adams added to CFA lineup

Pueblo, Colorado January 30th 2013- Top Colorado women’s prospect Tori  “All American” Adams will be gunning for the CFA tournament 145 lbs. women’s  title and 20,000 in purse money March 2^nd in Miami, Florida March 2^nd according to local sources.  Billed as a pseudo “Tuff-n-uff” Reunion tournament the event will feature top competitors from the promotions past this time as professionals.  Adams, a former finalist in contention for the shows crown had to vacate the opportunity in early 2010 when she found out weeks before her final bout with Tay Stratford that she was pregnant.  Since, Adams has been working diligently back toward her goals dismantling tough Invitca FC competitor Raquel Pennington followed by becoming the first female school head wrestling coach in Colorado.  The two former opponents will likely square off again this time as part of the CFA lineup.  Also on the bill are Ashlee Evans Smith and others Adams beat as an amateur and rest assured each is training hard to derail her return to mma, the inevitable Invitca contract and possible UFC pay-date later down the line. Her coaches and mentor Donnie Liles and Gabe Charboneau agree in their contention that staying and dominating the 145 lbs. division is the best strategy for Adams at this point with the eventual move back down to 135 in the near future.   Ladies beware.. All American Tori Adams is back.

 

Fore more information on Tori Adams

email 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

 

The Mad Dog Bites Back

Liles Eyes Big Stage Not looking past Craven

October 2nd 2012 Pueblo Colorado-War will be waged October 27th in Colorado Springs Colorado as the "Mad Dog" Donnie Liles takes on  veteran Bryant Craven at Evolution Combat Sports fight night produced in association Lashley Management.
(http://www.evolutioncombatsports.com/liles.html)  Liles, 14-6 175 lbs will seek retribution after a rare formally contested and controversial decision loss against Joey Villasenor on June 2nd at the Hard Rock Cafe in Albuquerque that aimed to derail Liles 5 fight win streak. Both Craven and Donnie Liles see the upcoming bout as a pivotal point in their careers that will largely assess the direction they move next.

Gabe Charboneau, Liles longtime mentor and striking trainer maintains that the marquee value is still there provided the right opportunity. "Donnie has everything it takes to remain a valuable asset to any organization who picks him up whether Bellator, UFC,  or any number of the other up and coming savvy promotions." He is marketable, skilled and never loses sight of the discipline and work ethic it takes to compete at that level whether it be in training here with us at Ultimate Performance/Pacific Warrior or cross training with Drew Lawrence and our friends at ATT/Pariah in Colorado Springs. I don't have to push him, he's a professional who knows what needs to be done and just does it".  This relentless pursuit of perfection is evidenced further by Liles continued string of victories over reputable up and comers, veterans and undefeated prospects who have recently made it on the latest season of TUF. One thing is for sure, Donnie Liles is here to stay.

The October 27th Evolution card will feature a slew of other talent including Donnie Liles UP/PWIA stablemate pro Bruce "The Moose" Reis who makes his return to the cage after almost a year of inactivity. Reis will have his hands full when he squares off with Jose Louis Murillo who enters the cage with almost 25 fights to his credit  Southern Colorado fight fans get ready there's a steam train a-comin.

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.