Two combat sports veterans fight to raise funds to remember Harvest Festival victims and survivors

 

On October 2, 2026, at the Union Event Center in Salt Lake City (235 N. 500 West 84116), SteelFist Fight Night will provide another combat sports card. SteelFist has been doing this for a long time and it’s always a great card. 

On the fight roster will be a submission-only bout between two older fighters who have fought on SteelFist cards in the past. John Valentine, of Las Vegas, and Sooksan Simpleman, of Sunset, Utah. Valentine, 55, last fought MMA in 2017 for SteelFist, a memorable war with ex-pro Rowdy Akers. Simpleman, 58, a fixture on Northern Utah cards, last fought MMA in 2015.

But there’s a special meaning for this submission-only bout. On Oct. 2, John Valentine will step into the cage for a fight with a purpose far bigger than winning. And he has a message for fight fans.

John and his wife, Christina, have spent years fighting for causes that matter. Together, they have supported veterans, families and communities in need, including raising more than $50,000 for veterans through John’s fights and fundraising efforts.

But this fight is personal.

Christina was at the Route 91 Harvest Festival on October 1, 2017. She was shot that night – and survived. Since then, she has dedicated herself to honoring the 58 people who lost their lives, supporting survivors and families, and making sure the world never forgets what happened.

Now, John is fighting alongside her.

On October 2, he will compete at SteelFist Fight Night 116 in Salt Lake City to raise funds for the Forever One Memorial in Las Vegas.

Help Build Forever One

The Forever One Memorial will honor the 58 lives lost on October 1, 2017, recognize the survivors and families whose lives were forever changed, and acknowledge the first responders who ran toward the chaos that night.

The permanent memorial will feature a Tower of Light, 58 vertical candles representing each victim, and a community plaza – creating a place to remember, reflect and heal.

Your donation helps make that memorial a reality.

One hundred percent of donations made through the link go directly to the Forever One Memorial. And you don't have to be in Salt Lake City to be part of this fight.

Donate. Share this campaign. Tell someone about the memorial.

Every action helps.

If you plan to attend SteelFist Fight Night 116, a portion of ticket sales will also benefit the Forever One Memorial. When purchasing tickets at SteelFistFight.com, be sure to enter “JOHN VALENTINE” in the notes at checkout so the designated portion of your ticket purchase is directed to the memorial.

This fight is for the 58 who never made it home.

For their families.

For the survivors.

For the first responders.

For the thousands who were there that night – and the millions who have carried its impact with them.

And for a promise that we will never forget.

To help John Valentine make this fight count, here is our Utah Fight Game interview with him.:

UFG: Tell us about the charity.

Valentine: Forever One Memorial is about remembering the lives lost and the hundreds of people who were injured during the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy, while making sure their stories and their families are never forgotten. For me, this is deeply personal. My wife, Christina, was there that night, a shooting victim so this isn’t just a cause I decided to attach my name to. It’s part of our lives.  She’s one of the most powerful and positive people I know.  She has made the cover of every magazine in her sport and always carries her purpose with her.  Her and our amazing children are what we both fight for as well.  

The memorial represents a $7 million remembrance that provides a healing monument and brings people together. If stepping into a cage at my age can help bring attention, awareness and resources to something that means so much to so many people, then that fight has a purpose far beyond winning or losing.

UFG: Tell us about how you came to organize the bout to benefit the charity?

Valentine: I’ve spent more than two decades in combat sports, and it has given me a lot: discipline, friendships, lessons, and some incredible experiences. At this point in my life, I wanted to use it for something bigger than myself.  

When the opportunity came together with SteelFist, I knew I wanted the fight to have a purpose. Our submission-only fight is the first in SteelFist history so I hope we open the door for generations to come.  I’m not fighting because I need to prove that I’m the toughest guy in the room. I’m fighting because I believe we can take something as difficult as a fight and turn it into something positive.

October 2 happens to be an especially meaningful date because the Forever One Memorial groundbreaking is also taking place. So, the timing felt almost symbolic. October 1 was the night of the tragedy.  One fight, one night, and hopefully a lot of people coming together to remember, support and give back.

UFG: How can people buying tickets make sure a portion goes to the charity?

Valentine: Show up if you’re going. … As mentioned, the easiest way is to purchase tickets through SteelFistFight.com and put JOHN VALENTINE in the notes section when checking out. That allows the ticket purchase to be connected to my fight and the charitable effort.  SteelFist Pat, Kevin and the family make a difference, so support them! 

Donate: People don’t have to attend the fight to make a difference. They can also donate directly to the Forever One Memorial. The most important thing is simply to get involved in whatever way you can. Buy a ticket, make a donation, share the story, or encourage someone else to participate.  See the link as everything makes a difference.  

UFG: Tell us about your training. How can older males train like this in middle age?

Valentine: I think the biggest misconception is that getting older means you have to stop challenging yourself. It means you have to become smarter about how you challenge yourself.

I’ve been involved in martial arts for 24 years, and I’ve learned that training at this stage of life isn’t about trying to be 25 again. Recovery matters. Mobility matters. Strength matters. Nutrition matters. And probably most importantly, your mindset matters.

I’m not trying to prove that I’m young. I’m trying to prove that age doesn’t get to decide when you stop pursuing something that matters to you.

There are plenty of men in their 40s, 50s and beyond who are capable of doing incredible things. You just have to respect the body you have, train intelligently and stay consistent. The goal isn’t to destroy yourself in training – the goal is to be better tomorrow than you were yesterday.

UFG: What’s your opinion on Sooksan Simpleman, your opponent?

Valentine: Sooksan has my respect. He’s a legitimate fighter, he’s highly experienced, and he’s been doing this at a very high level for a long time. I don’t take him lightly for a second.  He’s also a great human who’s also donating his portion to the charity.

But once that cage door closes, respect goes out the window for those few minutes. We’re going to compete, and I’m going to give him everything I have.

What makes this fight interesting is that we’re both experienced enough to understand what we’re walking into. There’s no pretending this is something it isn’t. He wants to win, and I want to win but we both want to make a difference.  

But at the end of the night, I hope we can shake hands, look each other in the eye and know that we gave everything we had for something bigger than ourselves.

That’s really what this fight represents to me: two competitors willing to put themselves through something difficult in order to create something positive for other people.

UFG: Sum up your feelings in a paragraph, John.

Valentine: I’m not fighting to prove that I’m young. I’m fighting to prove that you’re never too old to fight for something that matters and this fight is about something much bigger than me.

Editor’s note: This will be a great night on October 2 in Salt Lake City. Come to the fights, enjoy the usual great matchups, and make sure you donate to this admirable effort to remember those, and their families and friends, who suffered on that horrible night in Las Vegas. 

I’ve seen many fights that John and Sooksan participated in and it will be a pleasure to watch both compete. They both have accomplished a lot in their lives in combat sports. John, for example, is a multi-champion in Jiu-Jitsu, including a world championship.

-- Utah Fight Game

Tough night for some locals at Farmington FFC MMA card

 

Mixed martial arts professional Teague Vigil, of Roy looked to continue a five-bout win streak Saturday night at the Western Sports Park in Farmington, Utah.

Vigil fought a courageous bout, but the win streak ended when Vigil, 5-5, was submitted late in round three by Colorado's Miguel Barrientos, 6-2. The bout was for the Fierce Fighting Championship pro featherweight title. 

Vigil (seen at left in the above photo) won the first round of the scheduled five rounder. However, Barrientos fought a patient bout, landing punches and bloodying Vigil's face. He also hurt the Roy fighter with a leg kick late in round 2.

Fighting in spurts, a resilient Vigil had the upper hand in the first half of round three. But Barrientos keep the pressure on, and Vigil's legs grew weaker from kicks. He was eventually taken to the ground and submitted. 

In the co-main bout, favored Ammon Garcia, of Layton (seem above at right) was caught by a check right hook thrown by Davon Duncan, of Las Vegas. The punch knocked Garcia out and the 160-pound bout only lasted 33 seconds. Garcia falls to 4-2-1. Duncan is now 8-3.

Pro lightweight Kamuela Mamone, of Hawaii but who fights locally, had an impressive MMA debut, dominating North Carolina's Gabriel Muscat,1-1, over three rounds. Muscat fought with courage, surviving a third round that would have left most fighters knocked out. Mamone (seen above in a screen photo just before the bout) showed veteran talent. Mamone also recently won a professional boxing fight in Ogden.

In a pro flyweight bout, Farmington's David Kim, 1-3, fought an even first round against Albany, New York's Haseeb Khetab. However, Kim suffered a bad cut on the head that bled profusely. The bout was still even until late in the second round when Khetab, 3-3, managed to submit Kim.

Layton's Dietrick Jessop was in control of his pro flyweight bout debut but had the misfortune of getting caught in an armbar late in round two. The winner by submission was Alex Castaneda, 2-1, of Las Vegas.

In a pro heavyweight bout, Montana's Braden Peterson, 3-4, lost the first two rounds to Michael Delozier, 1-1, of North Carolina. However, early in the final round, Braden injured Delozier with a leg kick, stopping him 11 seconds into the round. 

In other pro bouts, Spanish Fork's Tyler Call stopped Sandy's Justin Vialpando in round one. It was the pro debut for both middleweights. And in a battle between debuting light heavyweights, Kaysville's Sam Van Wynen stopped Montana's Cody Beierle in the first round

AMATEUR BOUTS

In the most closely contested fight of the night, Las Vegas bantamweight Braeten Jorgansen, 5-0, won the FFC amateur bantamweight title with a narrow decision win over Saratoga Spring's Aidan Egler. Jorgansen was floored in the first and third rounds and barely survived round three. However, he managed to win rounds two, four and five to take the scores of 48-47 on all three judges' cards. Utah Fight Game scored the bout the same.

In the FFC amateur pro heavyweight title bout, Ethan Ojukwu, 3-0, from Florida but fighting locally at Elite Performance gym, was too strong for Syracuse's Mike Gullion, 2-2, winning via stoppage in round three. 

In an amateur heavyweight bout, Layton's Byron Sneed, 2-1, took the decision over Pike Jones, 0-2. Judges scored the bout 30-27 twice and 29-28 for the winner. Utah Fight Game scored the bout a draw, 29-29. However, Sneed was the more aggressive fighter.

In an amateur featherweight bout between women, Beth Silva, of Las Vegas, 1-1, (seen at right in photo), overwhelmed debuting Ashley Zolnik, of Layton, with a flurry of hard shots, prompting a stoppage 38 seconds into the first round.

In an amateur women's strawweight bout between debuting fighters, Russian-born Katerina McDermott, who trains at Team Link gym, had a good first round, scoring a takedown against Samaira Wisner, of Dallas, Texas. However, McDermott failed to get a takedown in round two, tired and was submitted via guillotine choke in the second round.

A good crowd enjoyed the bouts in Farmington, despite disappointment of several local fighters suffering losses, particularly headliners Vigil and Garcia.

-- Utah Fight Game

FFC MMA card features fighters with win streaks

 

Two MMA pros with win streaks headline the next Fierce Fighting Championship card Saturday, Aug. 15 in Farmington, Utah, at the Western Sports Park, in Farmington, Utah, 25 N Sports Park Way 84025.

Doors open at 4 p.m., fights begin at 5 p.m. 

Roy Utah's Teague Vigil, 5-4, fights Colorado's Miguel Barrientes, 5-2, for the FFC pro featherweight bout. Vigil has won his last five bouts.

Ammon Garcia, 4-1-1, of Layton, Utah, on a four-fight win streak, meets Davon Duncan, of Las Vegas, in a professional 160-pound catch weight fight.

In other pro bouts, George Lo, of North Carolina, fights Avtandil Khimshiashvili, of Las Vegas, welterweights; in a pro cruiserweight bout, Tracy Hardy, of Layton, fights Thomas Boyer, of Idaho Falls, Idaho; in a pro welterweight bout, Kamuela Mamone, Hawaii, fights North Carolina's Gabriel Muscat; pro flyweight David Kim, a hometown fighter from Farmington, fights New York's Haseeb Khetab; in a heavyweight bout, North Carolina's Michael Delozier fights Montana's Braden Peterson; and flyweight Dietrick Jessop, of Layton, meets Las Vegas fighter Alex Castenada. There's even two more bouts in the professional ranks, with Spanish Fork, Utah's Tyler Call fights Sandy Utah's Justin Vialpando. The other matches light heavyweight Sam Van Wynen, of Kaysville, versus Cody Beierle, of Montana.

The top amateur bout is for the FCC light heavyweight belt. Mike Gillion of Syracuse, Utah, fights Ethan Ojukwu, of Florida. Also, the FCC amateur belt is being contested with Aiden Egler, of Saratoga Springs, Utah, meeting Braeten Jorgensen, of Las Vegas. 

Other amateur bouts include Layton's Bryon Sneed meeting Arizona's Pike Jones, heavyweights; Hannah Silva, Las Vegas, fighting Layton's Ashley Zolnik, featherweights; and amateur strawweights Katerina McDermott, of Russia, fighting Samaira Wisner, of Texas.

For tickets, contact the fighters or the FFC website. For PPV info go to the FCC website.

Prospect Samuel Flores scores second win at Ogden boxing card

 

Highly regarded pro featherweight boxing prospect Samuel Flores, of Ogden, (photo above) scored his second win with an impressive wearing down of veteran Jesus Marin, of El Paso, Texas. 

It was via a TKO very late in the fourth and final round. After a close first round that arguably could have gone to Marin, 1-7, Flores, 2-0 took control of the bout, each round getting more one-sided. It looked as if the durable Marin - who has fought very tough competition and was not stopped in his previous bouts - was going to last the distance. But Flores landed a strong body shot that visibly hurt Marin and backed him into a corner. Several punches later, the bout was stopped at 2:43 of the round. Both Flores wins are by knockout.

The semi main was a four-round junior middleweight rematch between Sandy, Utah's Bobby Tabile and Ogden's Eligio  Hernandez Jr. Their first fight was a war - both possess equal skills and talent - and this fight was again action-packed. The judges gave Tabile, 5-0, another narrow win via majority decision over Hernandez, 1-3.  (Above are two photos. Hernandez is in the red, white and green trunks.) 

During the bout Hernandez was more aggressive with Tabile counterpunching well. With no disrespect intended to the judges or Bobby Tabile, who is a talented boxer, this bout should have at least been called a draw. Utah Fight Game scored it 39-38 for Hernandez but a draw would also have been appropriate. If there is a rematch it'd be interesting to see it scheduled for five or six rounds. 

Another intriguing bout matched cruiserweights Shon Cross and Zack Partridge, both from the Salt Lake area. (These are two of the nicest guys in the Utah combat sports scene.) Partridge has successful experience in MMA and bareknuckle boxing, but this was his debut in boxing. Cross came in 1-2 as a pro. Partridge had a good first round, but the taller, methodical Cross begin rallying in a close second round. Cross dominated the final two rounds as Partridge tired, particularly in the final round. The fight was a majority draw, with one tally at 39-37 for Cross, which is also how Utah Fight Game scored the bout. Despite Cross' strong finish, calling the first two rounds for Partridge is not way out there. A rematch seems likely, but again it'd be interesting to have it five or six rounds. 

Super lightweight prospect Dillan Nguyen, 3-0-1, took a unanimous four-round decision over debuting Joshua Jose Rivas, 0-1. Rivas showed good skill for a fighter making his pro debut, but was overmatched by the more experienced, aggressive Nguyen, who seems a good prospect. Utah Fight Game scored bout 40-36 for Nguyen.

Nineteen-year-old welterweight Jose Angel Mata had a successful pro debut, knocking out Jeremiah Rodriguez, 0-1, in 80 seconds. Mata pressured his opponent for 70 seconds and then scored a two-punch combination that ended it.

In a junior welterweight rematch, Emmanual Aldair Gonzales Secion, 3-0, stopped Zaden Clark, 0-3, who had to retire after round two. Clark landed occasional shots, but Gonzalez Secion was in control, damaging Clark's ribs in round two.

William Wirthlin, 0-2, was willing and aggressive but lacked the technique and resilience to hold off better boxer Darien Orvin, 1-0. After a competitive first round, Orvin opened up and ended the middleweight bout at 1:16 of round two.

The Golden Spike Exhibit Hall at the Ogden Fairgrounds was filled on Saturday night for the card. Ring announcer Destiny McCubbin interviewed former U.S. pro boxing champion Jose Haro during an intermission. Haro suggested a comeback might be in order, but perhaps it was tongue in cheek. Haro had the crowed laughing after he suggested that his wife might be amenable to the idea if he regained "six-pack abs" on his body.

The entire fight card results, with links to each fighter, are here. Photos are from Tommy Presnell. 

-- Utah Fight Game

Ogden hosts more pro boxing this weekend

 

Nearly nine months ago, super welterweights Bobby Tabile, then 1-0, and Eligio Hernandez Jr., then 1-1-, fought an exciting four-round match in Ogden, as part of the Rival Series III card.

In the photo above, Tabile (at right) lands a right hand against Hernandez, but Eligio had some good moments too. Tabile got the decision. This reporter described this fight as "a war" between two warriors. (Below both boxers embrace after the 2025 bout).

This Saturday night, June 13, at The Golden Spike Exhibit Hall at the Weber County Fairgrounds, the pair meet in a much-anticipated rematch at Rival Series V. Tabile is now 4-0, Hernandez 1-2. The card also features former amateur star turned featherweight pro Samuel Flores, of Ogden, 1-0, who meets Jesus Marin, of El Paso, Texas. Marin has never been knocked out and scored a TKO win in Rival Series' first promotion, in Syracuse, in early 2025. All seven bouts are scheduled for four rounds. The entire card is linked here.

Utah Fight Game interviewed Hernandez, who lives in Ogden, while training for his fight against Salt Lake City's Tabile. 

"Training has been going good. I try stay in the gym working as much as I can. I have had some good sparring in camp," Hernandez said, stressing things have been positive. 

We asked Eligio if he was considering any changes in strategy for bout two with Tabile. They also fought each other in the amateurs.

"As far as strategies, I honestly go with the flow," Hernandez said. "Everyone's got a plan until they get punched, you know. I just try to be prepared for it all. Bobby’s a good dance partner and we always have a good fight, so we’ll see how things go. it’s up to God in the end," Hernandez explained.

Hernandez shared observations on his future in professional boxing.

"I see myself doing this for a while longer; not really sure how much longer. I'd say five fights, I say 10, who really knows though. I just love the sport and I’m going to do it as long as my body lets me," Hernandez said.

REST OF BOUTS

An intriguing cruiserweight bout matches two well-known Salt Lake City area boxers. Shon Cross, 1-2, a notable trainer in Utah, fights debuting Zack Partridge, who has enjoyed success in MMA and bare-knuckle boxing.

Also, middleweights Darien Orvin, debuting, and William Wirthlin, 0-1, meet.

Salt Lake City super lightweight prospect Dillan Nguyen, 2-0-1, meets debuting Joshua Jose Rivas, of Elroy, Ariz.

Undefeated super lightweight Emmanuel Aldair Gonzalez Secion, 2-0, meets Zaden Clark, 0-2.

And debuting welterweight Jose Angel Mata meets Jeremiah Rodriguez, of Port Angeles, Wash.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Fights start at 7 p.m. There will be a pay per view option. The Golden Spike Exhibit Hall is at 1000 N, 1200 West, Ogden. Tickets can be obtained from boxers or from All Heart Gym, 1968 N 2000 West Farr West, UT 84404. Email: allheartboxingshows@gmail.com.

- Utah Fight Game

 

Blood on Canvas ... is a fascinating look at the 'B' side of big-card boxing

 

Author Ryan Gregory, longtime Utah boxing trainer and manager, has provided a book, Blood on Canvas: Between Bells, that will satisfy the interests of both boxing fans and people who have a casual interest in the sport.

This is a narrative that goes deep under the gloss of the sport. It is a tale of the wanna-bes, the fighters and managers from obscure locations, without financial support, who travel to the glitzy TV cards as "B opponents," essentially enjoying two or three days to pick up a loss to a top prospect backed by the promoters.

Nothing is fixed, the fights are on the level. However, the hardscrabble life of the "B Team" - the late calls to fight, the struggles to make weight, the pressures, lead usually to a loss.

In Blood on Canvas, author Gregory takes readers on a very few days of a B fighter, and his coach, getting the opportunity to fight on a top-level card. It's a true story, but names have been changed.

It's an incredibly compelling read of an immature but talented boxer and his financially challenged coach. Both have flaws, particularly the boxer, but they are so well developed that the reader will grow to admire both despite their insecurities.

There's a whole cast of other characters, fighters, promoters, managers, event staff, all well developed.

A manager fretting that his uninspired fighter will miss the paid-for flight. The absolute fear and panic when a fighter is 16 pounds overweight a day before the weigh-in. The fighter, clad in rubber suit, jogging with his manager/trainer in the early-morning hours before dawn. The fighter skipping rope in 108-degree temperature minutes before weigh-in while his manager pleads for a weight adjustment. The strange but real camaraderie between the A and B trainers. The efficient monied assured confidence of a top promotion, including the above average lodging. All of this, including more, is in the book. 

Author Gregory provides great detail. The fight, a near upset, is fascinating to read and experience. The post-fight turns from optimism to panic when the fighter gets drunk most of the night and almost misses the only bus that will get them back to the home flight.

The unique characters at every big promotion. The top fighters, trainers, hangers-on. Gregory provides interesting sketches of the long weekend, that also includes other Utah fight people on the undercard. This will fascinate boxing fans and provide an excellent introduction of the fight game to others. The goings on at the hotel where the fight takes place reminds me of reading The Harder They Fall, Budd Shulberg's classic '50s novel of the boxing game.

This may also be the best book about boxing -- from the club fighters' perspective -- written since Fat City. It gives readers an accurate look at the sport.

-- Doug Gibson

Amateur boxing results: Foley's gym, May 23, 2026

 

On Saturday, May 24th, at Foley's gym in Ogden, a large crowd enjoyed 20 amateur boxing matches. 

(The photos above, from Top to down, show Foley's Luciano Salazar pressuring Fight City's Edmundo Rodriguez into the corner of their 168-pound bout, won by Salazar. Next shows Foley's Evan Dominguez forcing Fight City's Luis Torres into the ropes in their 172-pound bout, won by Dominguez. Next Foley's Achilles Salazar (left) boxes Reyes' Armando Aquero in a 145-pound bout won by Aquero. And Foley's Rachel Siniscalchi (left) boxes Jordan Landing's Heather Kingston in a 112-pound bout won by Kingston.)

Here are the results of the bouts on the card:

57 lbs - Miliano Hernandez, BoxFit decisioned Isaac Diaz, Mi Familia

110 lbs - Emanuel Soria, Palafox, decisioned Ramon Vaca, Reyez

75 lbs - Jayden Cuenca, Mi Familia, decisioned Legion Afeaki, Boxing Roots

112 lbs - Kingston (see above) decisioned Siniscalchi (see above)

172 lbs - Dominguez (see above) decisioned Torres (see above)

90 lbs - Angel Mendoza, Tafoya's, decisioned Julian Cendejas, Munecos

105 lbs - Julian Garcia, Boxfit, decisioned Lehi Perez, Reyez

195 lbs - Rogelio Aguirre, Munecos, decisioned Garrett Schoss, Foley's

112 lbs - Bryon Sanchez, Rick's, decisioned Francisco Rodriguez, Fight City

125 lbs - Christian Sanchez, Boxfit, decisioned Damien Murdock, Foley's

125 lbs - Josh Mangrum, Factum, decisioned Johnny Gonzalez, Foley's

150 lbs - Kohel Robinson, Pouha, decisioned Arturo Espinoza, Rick's

147 lbs - Andrus Antunez, Dave's Boxing Academy, decisioned Ben Gill, Foley's

145 lbs - Aquero (see above) decisioned A Salazar (see above)

180 lbs - Alfonso Chavez, Tafoya's decisioned Dom Perez, Factum

Heavyweight - Pule Alo, Pouha, walkover win

147 lbs - Deylan Deboer, Tafoya's decisioned Skylar Stedman, Foley's

168 lbs - L Salazar (see above) decisioned Rodriguez (see above)

147 lbs - Jayden Marquez, Boxing Roots, decisioned Kenneth Anderson, SLC

205 lbs - Ryahn Moore, Foley's, decisioned Esiloni Malafu, Boxfit

152 lbs - Jorge Bustamente, Rolling with the Punches, decisioned Josh Strong, Pouha

-- Utah Fight Game blog

(Names and gyms were taken from the card program. Pat Nielsen handled announcing duties.)