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Kick-Shoot: January 14th 2006
By Rob Sayers | January 15, 2006
By Rob Sayers
While promotions such as PRIDE, the UFC, and many other smaller organizations are often seen in the MMA press, many amateur promotions are taking shape across the country. These shows are giving tomorrows future stars their first taste of combat today and are very important to the growth of our sport.
I had a chance to visit one such event last night. The promotion is called Kick-Shoot and is based out of Memphis, Tennessee. Kick-Shoot has slightly different rules than most fans are used to. Knees and elbows are not allowed to the head while standing, and no strikes to the head are allowed at all on the ground except in title fights. While this sounds like it could make matches less exciting, I can assure you this is not the case. If anything it makes the submission game more exciting as a fighter on bottom can work on submissions without fear of ground and pound.
I arrived at the New Daisy Theater on Beale St about a half hour before the fights got started. There was a pretty decent crowd and from overhearing some of the conversations in the audience, it seems that a lot of them were educated about MMA.
There were 5 fights total. All fighters were from the general area with most living directly in Memphis. The first four had quite a bit of action but it wasvery clear you were watching an amateur show. All fighters however gave it their all and put on a great show.
The final fight of the night was an interim championship fight for their 170lb title. The current champion was unable to fight due to a training injury. The challenger, Tim Moore, instead faced the replacement Johnny Green.
This was the best amateur fight anyone could ask for. Both fighters would do well in any US based promotion. I’ll be very disappointed if I don’t see these guys in bigger shows soon.
The fight was short but action packed from start to finish. As the bell rang a brief flurry was followed by ground action as Moore slipped attempting a kick. Green got in his guard and landed several hard shots before Moore attempted a triangle choke. At this point they were stopped and brought back to the middle of the ring with Green in Moore’s guard again. An impressive reversal earned Moore full mount where after a short while he was able to secure an armbar for the win and the interim belt. He will be facing the current 170lb champ on February 10th to unite the belts.
I had a blast watching and I definitely recommend MMA fans check out any small shows in their area. Live MMA action is something you have to experience to appreciate.
Topics: All Topics, MMA, Rob Sayers | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Amateur MMA is a wonderful idea! If there were shows in PA or NJ, I would so go. If I ever become a shootfighter, I will definitely go amateur first. I am sure there have been events like this in Japan, called shoot-boxing? Or is that pro? Well, I do know there are amateur and pro-am MMA in Japan of some sorts.