*originally published in Oct ’04 issue of Full Contact Fighter*
Part II
In the modern MMA world, true “style versus style” match-ups are hard to come by now that most cross-train. The bout between the 315-pound judo green belt “Puchy” Landor and 230-pound Five Animal Kung Fu sifu David Sanchez is one of those rare ones. The two trade some heavy, heavy punches - Sanchez utilizing unconventional hand techniques against Puchy’s looping hooks. But it’s all over once Puchy takes it to the ground, as Sanchez seems to have no clue about grappling and can do nothing to counter the heavier man’s armbar. Sanchez taps out at 1:08 into the bout.
When the 151-pound Rene Dreifuss squares off against Richie Torres, the 155-pound freestyle fighter, the crowd once more is raucous. Dreifuss is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and seems to have a huge contingent of friends and supporters for his MMA debut. He makes the most of it. Displaying a smooth and technical ground game, wastes no time taking Torres down and securing side control. A string of knees, a transition to back mount and a flurry of punches to his opponent’s head, and it’s all over. Torres, though clearly game and unwilling to give up, can do nothing to defend himself; the ref steps in at 58 seconds into the match. Dreifuss is victorious.
Of course, in a show stocked with amateurs, not all of the bouts are as technical or competitive. A 150-pound boxer from Gleason’s gym, Lump “Wolf” Rasheen, is supposed to fight, but his trainer is there and won’t permit him to face anyone who might pose a real threat. This is where the 137-pouund Tae Kwon Do-practitioner nicknamed “Iron Will” enters the picture. In what looks more like a mugging than a fight, it takes Wolf just 46 seconds to make Iron Will verbally submit from punches. It is the only blemish on an otherwise entertaining card.
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Bare fists. Knees to the head on the ground. How can limited-rules combat such as this be legal? By pitting amateurs against amateurs, the prohibition against pro fights in
With a shift in political winds now seeing the sport legalized in
For those who slept through Social Studies class in high school: a bill must be introduced in either the State Assembly or Senate, meet approval in both, and then must be signed by the governor to become law. During this often-tedious journey, bills can be sent to various committees for further evaluation, or they can die on the floor of the
So whom do New York MMA fans need to talk to in order to get the ball rolling? In 2004, eight State Assemblymen sponsored bills pertaining to boxing, wrestling or martial arts. They were: Joseph Morelle, representing
Not yet convinced that it might be worth the effort of a phone call to your New York Sate legislator? Then keep this in mind: the model used today in regulating boxing is the Walker Law, a product of the tireless State Senator James Walker. In 1920 he saw the potential for revenue boxing would generate. Boxing is legal due in no small part to him.
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