COMMENTS ON THE STATE OF OUR SPORT IN NJ, ARE WE STILL ON A TRIAL BASIS…

It is a new sport. This is only the second time that we had this particular organization. This is only the third or fourth event. So, yes it is still in a trial period. It is not like it is not working. We are constantly, all of us, the Commission, the organizers we are all trying to refine the sport and make it as safe as we possibly can without taking away the excitement of the sport. There are a few other things that I think we all want to look at, but right now I think we are on safe ground and I think the sport is moving forward. I think right now it is catching on. I don’t think that it is in any danger right now, but again we have to watch very closely and we have to constantly do our homework to make sure that we are doing as much as we could to touch all the safety bases, because the worst thing that we could have is for something to happen before we really get off the ground; so that is where we have to be careful.

THOUGHTS ON CONCERNS THE COMMISSION MAY HAVE ON THE SPORT…
We are looking at a couple of jaw fractures that seem to take place. We don’t get as many jaw fractures in boxing, as we do here. That maybe we have to look at getting a little bit more padding on those gloves without taking away the fighters ability to manipulate. I think that could happen and we might see a little improvement there. I have a meeting planned for April 2nd I believe, and me and the members of my medical staff will be meeting with the organizers to sit down and discuss some ways that we can improve on the sport, safety aspects even more because that is what everyone wants. That’s what everyone wants. We are working hard to make it happen, make it work and I think it could work.

THE ONLY JAW FRACTURES THAT I CAN RECALL WAS JOHN LEWIS BACK IN UFC XXVIII…
I think we had one or two jaw fractures tonight. We are going to look at that, if there is anything we can do, because that glove is kind of little…so we want to look at that. There have been studies done and maybe we won’t have to do anything, maybe it is just one of those things. [Editors note: There were no reported post-fight jaw fractures at UFC XXX.]

ARE YOU NOT A BELIEVER THAT PADDING ON BOXING GLOVES IS TO PROTECT THE PERSON THROWING THE PUNCH?
I think it is to protect both, the glove itself, because you know in certain fights…boxing, heavyweights use bigger gloves. I think it is for both. The wrapping on the hand is for the fighter delivering the blow, but I think the padding on the glove has an impact on the target so to speak.

Susumu’s Gallery has added 39 pictures from Pride 13 held on March 25, and 20 pictures from Shooto held on March 21. I think it is needless to say that please enjoy.

No-holds-barred cage fights will rock the Wheeling Civic Center, Wheeling, WV on April 21. Fourteen matches will take place in a steel cage. Internationally acclaimed no-holds-barred champion, Dan "The Beast" Severn will face-off against Jonathan "Lock ‘n Load" Wiezorek as the main event. Pittsburgh native and cage-fight veteran Eric Hibler will take up the challenge against Richard "Mad Man" Crunkilton in a featured bout, and the night’s super fight will feature Din "The Dominator" Thomas.

There are few rules and lots of action inside the cage. Fighters may use any form of hand-to-hand combat which may include boxing techniques, kicking, elbow and knee strikes and wrestling techniques. Matches are won by knockout, by one of the fighters giving up (signaled by the contestant "tapping out", that is tapping on the mat), by the referee stopping the match, or by the judges’ decision.

Fights are generally three four-minute rounds. Title fights are longer. The few rules that are part of the contest prohibit the fighters from eye gouging, groin strikes and biting.

Even though it is easy to follow the action, the fighters are extremely skilled and do whatever it takes to win or just survive.

Area contestants include the Pittsburgh, PA Practical Fighting Concepts camp: Eric Hibler, Andy Cooper, Cris Custer, Don Kaecher and Bill Vucick. Other area contestants include West Liberty’s own Brandon Lee Hinkle challenging Rich Franklin, the IFC Heavyweight Champion and WEF veteran with a 6-0 record all by kick-to-the-head knockouts. Todd Carney, Moundsville, will take on Charles "Crazyhorse" Bennett of Florida in a much-anticipated rematch. Ron Tucker of Moundsville is matched against Kevin Hulk Hogan, and Weirton’s Jeff Wales Vs Josh Raferty. Gwen Wood, 7-time WV Toughwoman contest champ, will also step into the cage.

A crowd of nearly 2,000 enjoyed 19 action packed fights in a super smooth RITC production that went off exactly as planned. Special guests included Todd Medina, Chris Brennan, Romi Aram, Zane Frazier and former boxing champion Michael Carbajal.

The Todd Medina NHB Fighting Team went 2 – 0 for the evening and the Brausa Academy posted an 8 – 1 – 1 record. The brings the Brausa Fighting Team record to 101 – 11 – 1 over the past 13 events maintaining their 90% win rate.

Results:

Fight #1
Ryan "The Goblin" Brown ( 167 lbs ), Jeet Kune Do
defeated by submission ( arm bar ) 1:00 Rd 1
Manuel Barcenas ( 172 lbs ), US Marine Corps

Fight #2
Shawn "Nuke" Upshur ( 152 lbs ), Brausa Submission Fighter
defeated by submission ( choke ) :55 Rd 1
John Upton ( 141 lbs ), Wrestler

Fight #3
Michael Chavez ( 175 lbs ), Savage Te Dawg Pound
defeated by submission ( choke ) 2:44 Rd 1
Jesus Salazar ( 175 lbs ), Freestyle

Fight #4
Farrell "Full Moon" Frisby ( 149 lbs ), Brausa BJJ
defeated by submission ( choke ) 2:23 Rd 1
Andy "AJ" McCormick ( 145 lbs ), Wrestling / JJ

Fight #5
Tom "Atomic" Gabauer ( 190 lbs ), Brausa BJJ
draw ( 1 – 1 – 1 decision )
Carlos Antillon ( 192 lbs )

Fight #6
John "Top Wop" Lansing ( 164 lbs ), Brausa BJJ / Wrestling
defeated by submission ( choke ) 2:20 Rd 1
Fred "No Special Effects" McMillan ( 165 lbs ), Freestyle

Fight #7
Aki Nagano ( 171 lbs ), Brausa BJJ / Boxing
defeated by TKO 2:33 Rd 1
Daniel Truax ( 163 lbs ), Streetfighter

Fight #8
Bill "Cannon" Cameron ( 168 lbs ), Brausa BJJ
defeated by decision ( 3 – 0 )
Justin Antle ( 160 lbs ), US Marine Corps

Fight #9
Juan Ayala ( 158 lbs ), The Todd Medina NHB Fighting Team
defeated by submission ( choke ) :38 Rd 3
Jerry Parsons ( 165 lbs ), Jeet Kune Do

Fight #10
Brian "Tsunami" Ikegami ( 166 lbs ), Brausa Submission Fighter
defeated by submission ( knee bar ) :53 Rd 1
Cesar Ortiz ( 164 lbs ), Savage Te Dawg Pound

Fight #11
Ted Opaliniski ( 215 lbs ), Brausa BJJ
defeated by submission ( choke )
Trinity "T-Bone" Boykin ( 216 lbs ), Submission Fighter

Fight #12
Del Hawkins ( 130 lbs ), Savage Te Dawg Pound
defeated by submission ( strikes ) 1:32 Rd 1
Justin Popovich ( 153 lbs ), Freestyle

Fight #13
Mike "The Mangler" Berardi ( 182 lbs ), Brausa BJJ
defeated by KO :52 Rd 1
Andrew "The Convict" Kliewer, Streetfighter

Fight #14
Frank "The Realist" Ritz ( 149 lbs ), Brausa BJJ
defeated by decision ( 2 – 1 )
Julian Samaniego ( 148 lbs ), Vale Tudo

Fight #15
Bill Rohlf ( 199 lbs ), The Todd Medina NHB Fighting Team
defeated by submission ( choke ), 2:10 Rd 1
Jeremy "Hardcore" Halferty ( 235 lbs ), Brausa BJJ

Fight #16
Timothy Credeur ( 192 lbs ), Millennia Jiu-Jitsu
defeated by submission ( arm bar ) 1:54 Rd 1
Kevin Denz ( 195 lbs ), Savage Te Dawg Pound

Fight #17 ( Super Fight )
Homer "Rock" Moore ( 200 lbs ), Team Phoenix
defeated by decision ( 3 – 0 )
Kauai "The Hawaiian Assassin" Kuphiea ( 280 lbs ), Kick Boxing

Fight #18 ( Super Fight )
Justin "A-Dawg" Lyon ( 365 lbs ), Savage Te Dawg Pound
defeated by submission ( strikes ) 2:15 Rd 1
Jack Austin ( 320 lbs ), Leininger Academy

Fight #19 ( Main Event )
Edwin "Babyface" Dewees ( 190 lbs ), Brausa BJJ
defeated by decision ( 3 – 0 )
Christophe Leininger ( 200 lbs ), Judo / JJ

Next Event:
Rage in the Cage XXVII
Saturday April 28, 2001

Tickets are available at all Ticket Master locations (480-784-4444) or at the Celebrity Theatre Box Office.

For more information, visit www.rageinthecage.com or call 480-446-8127.