MMA Gets Much Love

D.C. Hosts First Mixed Martial Arts Championship

May 12, 2007 – Washington, D.C. "I think our fan base will be overly receptive."

That was the prediction from D.C. Boxing Chairman, A.W. McKnight just under a year ago when asked if D.C. was ready for Mixed Martial Arts.

He couldn’t have been more correct as fans of boxing and the martial arts poured into the D.C. Armory Saturday evening for a series of twelve matches with the top Mixed Martial Arts competitors in the country.

Unlike most fighting events that have patrons anticipating the start of the main fight event that usually comes much later in the program, each and every fight of the Mixed Martial Arts Championship was of main-event caliber.

From flyweight to heavyweight – and each weight in between - the audience was fixated on each and every match, every kick, punch, hold, and knock out.

Promoted by former Mixed Martial Artist, Omar Olumee, this weekend’s championship event, earmarked ‘The Revolution’, brought attention to two local fighters, Ron Foster of Alexandria, Virginia; and former Temple Hills, Maryland resident, Antwain Britt.

With the inception of mixed martial arts competition being brought to the D.C. area, local fighters will have the opportunity to work locally in addition to working in the big-named fight cities of Atlantic City or Las Vegas.

Former Greenbay Packer (1999-2003) and Cincinnati Bengal (2004) football star, Herbert “Whisper” Goodman told DC Urban Sports that he entered the sport of mixed martial arts by telling two friends of his (also MMAs) the he could beat both of them. Whisper was true to his word and beat his friends in just twenty-six seconds into the first round. From then on, Herbert was hooked and began learning the sport by watching other artists and by training and taking classes to master his craft.

He told DC Urban Sports that he had no formal boxing or martial arts experience prior to becoming involved in the sport.

Herbert advanced his record this past weekend to 5-1 with a win just thirty-six seconds into the first round by using a guillotine choke to defeat his opponent Shane Dezee.

The main event saw Homer "The Rock" Moore unable to complete his match with Fabiano Capoani due to a sustained knee injury. The bout was stopped.

If memory serves correctly, the Moore v. Capoani match-up brings to mind another much anticipated heavy weight match-up about three years ago when a boxer (who shall remain nameless) was unable to finish his match (albeit for a different reason).

Interesting.

Anyway, the list of winners follows. Thanks to all who championed the cause to bring this exclusive event to our area. Recognition and interest of the sport can only get better from here. D.C. fans can't wait until next time.

Photos.

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Winners’ Circle: (Winners in bold)

Ron Foster v. Kyle Baker (Ouch!)

Saul Mitchell v. Brian Caraway (Arm bar 3:04 into Round 1)

Omar De La Cruz v. Marcelo Brito (Split Decision)

Antwain Britt v. Patrick Barrentine (TKO 1:12 into First Round)

Rodrigo Botti v. Sam Liera Botti ( TKO at 4:29 of Round Three)

Matt Sung Lee v. Ashe Bowman (Standing guillotine choke at 2:48 of the first round

Edson Canterraneo v. Rocky Batastini (UJD)

Killa B. Niimi v. Chris Manuel (Third Round TKO)

Rafael “Mantega” Bastos v. Chaylen Rader (First Round TKO)

Shane Dezee v. Herbert “Whisper” Goodman (Guillotine choke thirty-six seconds into the First Round)

Amir Rahnavardi v. Nino Schembri (Fifty-seven seconds of Round One)

Fabiano Capoani v. Homer "the Rock" Moore (Verbal Stoppage: Moore's knee injury)

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Seen in the audience:

Boxing negotiator, Rock Newman

Glenn Harris, Host of ABC's "Let's Talk Sports"

D.C. Boxing Commission Chair, A.W. McKnight

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Related (or Not)

The most unexpected event of the evening came when two teenaged members of the audience, a boy and a girl, began to spar.

Witnesses commenting on the incident said the young girl was trying to box the teenaged boy.

In a short moment, gasps were heard from the audience as the boy landed on the floor, face-up, appearing to be unconscious. After a few short minutes the boy was able to regain his wits and with a bit of medical attention from an on-hand medical staff personnel, was seen once again enjoying the rest of the Mixed Martial Arts championship event.

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