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Friday, August 14, 2009
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Fight card might attract NHRA Nationals crowd Mixed martial arts Sports Editor Rori Tulenchik had an idea.
With about 100,000 people converging on the lakes area this weekend for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway he thought this would be a choice weekend to have a mixed martial arts event.
Tulenchik's friendship with Brainerd Ultimate Fighting Championship performer Brock Larson and with Chris Villella of Bada-Bing on Highway 371 across from BIR led to Saturday's card that will feature five amateur and seven pro fights.
Gladiator Evolution Cagefighting Xtreme
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Villella's Bada-Bing, 18071 Highway 371, Brainerd
Phone: (218) 828-2900
Tickets: Only general admission ($20) remains, available at www.brocklarson.com, Green Lantern, Bada-Bing
Guest pro fighters: Brock Larson, Jenns Pulver
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Tulenchik, a Pine River-Backus graduate and Baxter resident, said this is his first event as a promoter and he enlisted Larson's help to attract fighters.
"Brock and me are good friends, obviously, or he wouldn't let me do this in his hometown," said Tulenchik, who calls his promotions outfit Gladiator Evolution.
Tulenchik said already having a crowd at BIR made this an appealing weekend.
"We've sold well over half of the tickets in presale," Tulenchik said. "That was kind of the attraction, the crowd will be there, and to help my buddy out, who owns Bada Bing."
A pig roast will kick off the event at 3 p.m. and video games will be available to play. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. with fights starting an hour later.
The main event will pit Jeremy Anderson, former national champion wrestler at Augsburg College, against Travis Perzinski. A co-main event will match 53-year-old Fred Ettish and Kyle Fletcher.
Larson acknowledged he was leery about having the event the same weekend as the biggest summer event in the lakes area.
"I'm not big about doing it during nationals weekend because it's too hectic the way it is," he said. "And, with my fight career, I'm trying to focus more on that.
"But I like to (promote shows). People wanted me to do one a couple years ago but I haven't had time. I've been out of town fighting and training."
Larson is training for a Sept. 16 fight against Mike Pierce on UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City. Larson (26-2) has lost only to Jon Fitch and Carlos Condit, two highly regarded fighters. He has won five straight matches, including consecutive UFC victories over Jesse Sanders and Mike Pyle in 2009.
Pierce (9-1) also has won his last five fights.
Larson said his loss to Condit in 2007 hasn't harmed his standing with the UFC or with fans.
"People still want to see me," he said. "UFC is doing a good job keeping me busy. They want me fighting. It's working out well."
Larson returned to the UFC when the WEC eliminated his weight class (170 pounds).
"The UFC is for about 155 pounds and up, WEC is focusing on smaller guys," he said. "It wasn't my choice.
"I had fights in April and May. Both were first-round submission wins. It's been good since I've been back, and the money is a little better."
Tentative fight card
Pros
Main event: Jeremy Anderson vs. Travis Perzinski
Co-main event: Fred Ettish vs. Kyle Fletcher
Tyler Larson, Fargo, N.D., vs. Chase Haag, St. Cloud
Shawn Rineisen, Thief River Falls, vs. Jordan Shepherd, St. Cloud
Jay Porter III, Brainerd, vs. Aaron Young, Bemidji
Kelly Peterson, St. Cloud vs. TBA
Matt Hyland, Brainerd, vs. R.T. Hicks, Brainerd
Amateurs
Chris Larson, Brainerd, vs. Antan Cavan, Twin Cities
Kyle Wood, Brainerd, vs. Josh Hanson, Crosby
Dusty Pickar, Brainerd, vs. Shane Jones, Hibbing
Mike Mertens, Brainerd, vs. Rocco Maggorie, Brainerd
Dusty Cummings, Brainerd, vs. TBA
MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.
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