People from all over Polk County and further out came to the Alabama Coushatta Reservation on Saturday March 20, 2010 to indulge their eyes in an attraction that literally dates back to ancient times...Grown men attempting pound eachother into submission in hand-to-hand combat.
People from this vicinity and beyond descended on the Alabama Coushatta Reservation to see the action. The event was complete with scantily clad women and live music.
The main event featured the battle of the heavy weights: Jonathan Petak of Alvin and Matt Reeves of Livingston.
Reeves grabbed Petak low, lifted him up and slammed him into the floor gaining positional superiority, then unleashed thunderous blows that forced the ref to end the fight early in the first round.
Reeves celebrated his first victory...
...while Petak was tended to by medical personnel.
Judge Brandy Pasky at ringside.
Referee Ricky Wilson did a great job...
...and at times found the action a little too close for comfort.
This fighter lost by TKO (said he suffered a throat punch).
Referee Ricky Wilson checks each fighter before they enter the ring.
Bloodied and defeated: A fighter feels the agony of defeat while his oponent enjoys the thrill of victory.
The fighters were in a caged octagon.
A live band cranked out scrunge rock during intermission.
In the ground war, once a fighter gains positional superiority, punches can come raining down. Often a fighter will tap out (quit), or the ref may stop the fight.
The fighter on the right tastes sweet victory while his oponent tastes bitter defeat.
In every match, the winner was given a trophy.
Tears of joy: This fighter collapses on the floor in exultation after being declared the victor.
Anytime a fighter would take his oponent to the canvas, the crowd would roar with approval.
When grappling, the fighter on the bottom wants to hold his opponent as close as possible to deny his oponent the leverage he needs to rain down punches.
Knees to the mid section was a common sight.
Each fighter was played his chosen song as he entered the ring. This fighter chose "TNT" by the band AC/DC. He also won convincingly early in the first round.
Fighters from all different weight classes weigh in on Friday night.
You've Seen Professional Wrestling, Are You Ready For The Real Deal?, LIVINGSTON, March 20, 2010 - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fighters weighed in, measured up and are ready to fight Saturday evening. The fighters are from various parts of East Texas and ready to assemble at the Alabama Coushatta Multicultural Center on Saturday night (March 20, 2010...That's Tonight!) in what promises to be an exciting evening of the wildly popular sport of MMA. The weight classes range from feather weight all the way up to the featured main event of the heavy weights. The evening will feature 12 fights consisting of 3 rounds each (each round lasting for 3 minutes). "You're going to see boxing, grappling, wrestling, and many other technical facets of true fighting sport" says Lee Garrison (Garrison is a promoter for East Texas MMA. The fighters were gathered in a local gym that was packed with fans and specatators including local SweatShop Gym Owner Brandy Vickery and Sergeant Scott Pasky of the Livingston Police Department. So what can you expect to see?..."In a word, excitement" said Garrison, "You'll see everything from knockouts to tapouts". It all goes down at the Alabama Coushatta Reservation. The gates open at 5:30 pm. Tickets in advance are $20 and $25 at the door.
The main event will feature heavy weights Matt Reeves of Livingston (left) and Jonathan Petak of Alvin.
Ring Girls: (From Left) Kaleigh, Angie, Tamra, and Brittney
Prominent Citizens, Big Fans: Local business owner Brandy Vickery (left) and Sergeant Scott Paske with the Livingston Police Department.
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