Cerebral Combustion
First MMA in Iloilo 'Unleashed' a success
Unleashed was an event anticipated by everyone fanatic of the sport mixed martial arts but it was not entirely for the faint of heart. Although hardcore fans, including I, in truth was teeny bit disappointed that there was only a little blood spewed and very few life threatening encounters that ensued during the fights but the ten matches between mixed martial arts fighters proved to be just as gripping and exciting which turned the Sports Complex covered gym into a ruthless battle arena.
It was the first ever mixed martial arts competition to have successfully happened in Iloilo City and I was privileged to have witnessed the rigorous training and preparation of our very own combatants from the team Tumbatso days before the event. With their coach and also the events matchmaker, Gilton Solis or "Coach Check", he made sure the team spared very little time for other things except grooming their skills to perfection and the task entailed an enormous amount of aptitude, fitness, discipline and expertise than most may think.
It is a man's man game so to speak which embraces much courage and masculine bravado. After all, if you lack the nerve to bloodily wrestle and exchange tough strikes you may perhaps go home with nothing but a bruised ego, a distorted face and cracked balls. Mixed martial arts are a hybrid sport allowing participation of all martial arts and hand to hand combat styles. Its emphasis is on actual combat and mostly is a freestyle competition with few rules. As a result, the participants must be well rounded and properly trained in a wide variety of techniques and styles which includes striking, clinch, and grappling, submission holds, takedowns and throws, both while standing and on the ground.
More than the training, physical conditioning, toning and fitness proved to be just as important as the skill which evidently showed in the fights. Those who fell short in muscles easily became dispensable in comparison to opponents who showed off six packed abs and Popeye arms. The Yaw-yan fighters evidently were an example of this. At first glimpse, the first thing that came to my mind was the movie Mortal Combat, (the bad guy with multiple heads and arms popped in my head). They looked and moved like fighters, built to last and wrangled to their last breath. Reason why, Richie Redman from the Team Tumbatso explains, to be able to excel in the sport healthy habits and proper nutrition is a must. The discipline of the body should come foremost which among others predominantly demands elimination of vices such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Redman, a Filipino-American fought in the main event and did not disappoint his fans by winning the first impressive Pinoy fight league in the city against his opponent from the team Brawl from Bacolod City .
There were other teams too who eagerly participated in the event all over the Western Visayas region -- the Tinagan School of Martial Arts from Kalibo, Aklan, and The Biron Foundation fighters from Barotac Nuevo among others.
Spectators roared and went wild in every hit, smackdowns, beats and strikes. Some fighters were easily knocked off; some was beaten first but stood up, threw a lucky punch and triumphed, some took serious beating in the groins, there was one I remember who was smashed like a voodoo doll until he lost consciousness. In the small confinement of the fighting ring, there was a lot of slapping, morbid hugging (my other term for grappling), banging, crashing, punching and kicking but that was the beauty of the game. It was made to be spectacular by the intensity of perverse pleasure by watching the brutal pain and agony of others. I was jumping and sweating too as my heart thumped violently for the termination of others. It definitely was a rowdy night. I am hoping it will be the beginning of more mixed martial arts showdowns and competitions in the city and inspire more Ilonggos to support and create more awareness for the sport.
In the end, the ones built to last stood victorious and the team Tumbatso had three to celebrate -- Richie "the Cook" Redman, Vincent "Hellboy" Tolosa, and Andrew "Royal" Fuentes.
Coach Gilton Solis and Richie Redman's next fight will be in Bacolod City on October 18, 2008 at Casino Filipino. So if you can, be there when it happens.
(Share your thoughts at du_minatrix@yahoo.com)