Owens, Munoz MMA winners in Ogden

Here's a quick Utah Fight Game update: Last Friday night at the Weber County Fair in Ogden, Jeremy Horn's Elite Fight Night put on its 30th card. (Above see a photo of amateur Eric Munoz getting his hand raised against opponent Graham McMillan, 185 pounds. Photo is courtesy of Ruben Munoz, originally posted on Facebook)

Card results are here. In the main pro bout, Anthony Miller decisioned Casey Beckstead. In the pro co-main, 150 pounds, and  Ha'va Nathan Owens stopped Steve Chan in round 2, 135 pounds. On the Facebook Utah MMA page Fighting Out of Utah MMA News, Jeffrey "Dutch" Dutcher said it was a great bout, adding "I could watch these two fight every weekend. Great show of sportsmanship as well."

Besides Munoz, another amateur bout saw Juan Alcantar stop Jon Sellers in round three, 150 pounds.

One note; a September MMA bout that was to have matched comebacking pros Mike Crisman and Eric Tillotson has been pushed back after Tillotson injured his hamstring while training.

Schulz, Miller headline SteelFist card on Friday

The big MMA news this week is SteelFist promotions 50th card Friday night at River Bend Sports and Event Center (1085 Winding Rive Cove) in Salt Lake City. The scheduled fights are here. Doors open at 5; bouts start at 6 p.m. It's an all-ages event.

As noted above, the main event is a title bout between One Hit MMA's LJ Shulz and The Garage's Anthony Miller. It's five rounds for these 135 pounders. Although we unfortunately did not get an interview with Miller, here is a link to a chat we had with Schulz.

We interviewed both fighters in the co-main event. It's between two young pros at about 135 pounds, Steve Chan, of Victory MMA, making his pro debut, and Miles Welk, 1-0, of The Garage. It's three rounds.

We also interviewed both fighters of an amateur contest that intrigues us, Kaden Weston, of One Hit MMA, 2-0, versus Ben Guymon, 3-3, of Foley's Gym and The Pack.

We'll publish results by early Saturday morning. Good luck to all the competitors.
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Some well-known fighters locally competed at a King of the Cage promotion last weekend in Fort Hall, Idaho. Rowdy Akers, of One Hit MMA, was stopped by Vince Morales via arm triangle in round one. Veteran Kerry Lattimer, in his final bout was stopped in round 2 by Scotty Thometz via an armbar, and Andrew Cruz lost a split decision to Vinnie Fricilone. (Thanks to Jordan Chandler for the results).

BOXING:

Saturday night in Ogden at Foley's gym there is an amateur boxing card. Tickets are $12 for 12 and over and $6 for 6 to 11 ages.

The gym is at 375 31st Street in Ogden and the bouts start at 7 p.m. We'll be there and provide results.

Finally, featherweight pro boxer Daniel Franco, badly injured earlier this month after being by KO'd by West Jordan's Jose Haro, who earned the USBA Featherweight championship, is making some progress on his road to recovery, according to his dad, Al Franco, who has provided updates on a Go Fund Me page for Daniel, who is in our prayers. Please help if you can.

Interviews with LJ Schulz and Tim Carroll, Jose Haro fights Saturday on TV

The big news this weekend is that West Jordan featherweight boxer Jose Haro fights on CBS Sports Network on Saturday night (Xfinity 269) against Daniel Franco for the United States Boxing Association title. This is arguably the biggest fight for a Utah pro since heavyweight Billy Zumbrun lost, via a disputed decision, a televised bout against former heavyweight champ Riddick Bowe a decade back or so. Good luck trying to find a TV listing at CBS Sports website but fightnews.com has it starting a 10 pm EST, which would be 8 pm locally.

We'll get back to boxing, including a preview of Friday's boxing card at The Complex in SLC and an interview with one of the boxers. However, as part of our preview of the June 23 SteelFist MMA card in SLC, we were fortunate enough to chat with One Hit MMA's LJ Schulz (seen training above at left) who is fighting The Garage's Anthony Miller in the main event. The 150 pounders are competing in a 5-round SteelFist title challenge. Miller defeated Jeremiah Guzman to win the belt recently.

So, here's the interview:

1) Tell me a little about yourself. What got you interested in MMA, who are some MMA athletes you admire?

Schulz: I'm 28, married and a proud father of 2 kids. I got into MMA right about the time the first ultimate fighter came on. I was just a fan for a while. I didn't even start training until about 2 years after my first fight. When I did decide to train, I was lucky to be able to train with Shane Brennar at his basement gym. He created a lot of my grappling foundation to this day but he left to California after a year. I had to find a gym and knew Jordan Smith was the top guy in Utah at the time and he trained near me.
 
2) Where are you training for the bout. Who are your coaches? What other fighters are training, or sparring with you?

Schulz: That's how I found One Hit and the head trainer Aldo Oreggia. I've been training there for 6 years now and we prove every fight card we're the top gym in Utah. I train with the best and because there is too many to name, I'll stick with the upcoming talent that are fighting with me on June 23. Cory Rose, Gavin Weston, and Kaden Weston, will set One Hit up with a 3-0 before I get our fourth and my shiny new belt. 

3) What are your strengths, what are your opponent’s strengths and what’s your strategy to come out on top? 

Schulz: My strength is the ability to go anywhere. I've improved my boxing a lot during that pro boxing try I had. However, I've always been known as a ground guy. I recently earned my purple belt in BJJ but keep in mind I've done No-Gi grappling a lot longer. He'll most likely try taking me down which is fine, I'll be the one picking if we go there.

4) Where do you hope to be in your career a year from now?
Schulz: Not quite sure where I'll be. I'd love to get another shot at LFA but I'm more than happy to defend this belt a couple times then take the 145lb SteelFist belt. My training partner and friend Jon Neal will relinquish it because he'll be in the UFC by then.

We wish Schulz, as well as Miller, the best of luck on the 23rd. We may have some more interviews as the date of fight night approaches. Also, read these previous interviews of June 23 competitors here and here.

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More boxing: As mentioned, there is a pro/am boxing card Friday night at The Complex, which starts at 8 p.m. The main event matches Tim Carroll, (above) who teaches boxing at Factum gym, with Christian Aguirre. The bout is for the state middleweight title. 

We chatted with Carroll recently about the fight:

Utah Fight Game: Tim, what do you know about Christian Aguirre and how are you training for him? Who coaches you and helps you with your training? What is a typical day of training like? You've had some fights with tough opponents and I thought a couple should have went your way. What have you learned from tough bouts? What's it like being the coach at Factum? You started late as a pro. Where would you like to be a year from now?

Carroll: My days are pretty busy. I work 10 hours a day as electrician then I go to Factum and train people for a couple of hours. After that I try to fit in some time to train with (former pro) Gary Gomez, then go home to my beautiful wife and seven-month-old baby.

I turned pro at 34, I'm 37 now me and Christian (and I) used to be sparring partners. We both trained with Gary Gomez. I've worked the corner against him in three out of his four fights. He is a good boxer. (At this point Carroll expressed concerns with some comments Aguirre has allegedly made prior to the fight.)  ... but all of his trash talking just gets me more excited. I have forgotten more about boxing than he knows as a coach. I put more pressure on myself to win but I just want to show all the people I train just to leave it all in the ring.

That's all I expect people to do that I train; is to leave it all out there so that's what I try to do every time. 

Good luck Tim, and to all the competitors, including undefeated Ignacio Chairez, who are fighting on the card. Unfortunately, undefeated boxer Larry Gomez's fight was cancelled.

We will report boxing results through the weekend.

An interview with amateur boxer Gabriel Chairez, more news

(UPDATE NOTING AMATEUR CARD ON SATURDAY)I chatted recently with Gabriel Chairez, (above at right) the Utah and Rocky Mountain Golden Gloves 132-pound champion. Gabriel has had success at the national Golden Gloves as well, and this year scored a win prior to being eliminated. I asked him what it's like competing at the top amateur level and what the future holds for him.

Utah Fight Game: Tell us a bit about the difference of fighting at nationals?

Chairez: It's a great feeling because when you beat a fighter at nationals you know your beating the top fighters in the nation. It gets you pumped to fight the next day. It's a whole other environment, and different mindset when you’re fighting at nationals compared to states and regionals because you have to be prepared to fight for a whole week straight and every one of those fights are going to be wars with some of the toughest fighters in the nation.

Utah Fight Game: What does the future hold?

Chairez: I plan on making my pro debut at the end of the summer this year, there's no exact dates yet but it's looking like it will be toward the end of July or early August!

Utah Fight Game: What are you goals for the early portion of your pro career?

Chairez: For the first 18 months I want to work my way up the rankings by facing some tough competition and by that time I would hope I'm around 10-0. Once I'm in that range I'd like to be competing for some junior belts.

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Thanks, Gabriel, and we wish you well. Gabriel's brother, Ignacio, is an undefeated professional. Both he and another undefeated Utah pro, Larry Gomez, fight on June 9 at The Complex in SLC. ... And Utah's highest-ranked pro fighter at this time, featherweight Jose Haro, goes for the NABF title on June 10 in Iowa, on a bout that will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network. ... An amateur boxing card will be in Farmington on June 3, sponsored by All Heart and Lights Out gyms. ... UPDATE, There is a local amateur boxing card Saturday at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds, 320 N. 1000 West, in Tremonton, sponsored by Fractured Gym. It's called Fist of Fury and starts at 5:30 p.m.

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MMA: 

Beginning next week, we will start publishing interviews with some fighters competing on the SteelFist card June 23 in Salt Lake City. Steve Chan and Miles Welk, who are battling in the co-main, will be interviews, as will Kaden Weston and Ben Guymon, who are matched in an amateur prelim. I have also interviewed main-bouter LJ Schultz, who is fighting for a SteelFist title, and I hope to interview his opponent, Anthony Miller. Card is here.

Locals pros Jordan Chandler, Sean Powers, and Rowdy Akers have out-of-state bouts in June that we will be keeping an eye on. 

CASTILLO ON UFC FIGHT PASS: Also, today, professional MMA fighter David Castillo announced some big news: He will be fighting the main bout, against Dakota Cochrane, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for the Victory Fighting Championship promotion. The bout will be aired on UFC Fight Pass.

Some local boxing, Utah MMA updates

Welcome to Part 3 of this week's Utah Fight Game blog. Lots of news. Above is Ogden MMA pro Jordan Chandler (on top) fighting Kerry Lattimer last month in SLC. . He is fighting June 3 in Price as part of the Fierce Fighting Championships. It's at the Carbon County Fairgrounds. He's fighting undefeated Cy Nelson in the co-main. Main bout matches Mike Jones and Ben Robinson.

Here's the card from Mixed Martial Arts.com website. Fierce Fighting Championships also has a strong presence on Facebook.

Later in June, on the 23rd, SteelFist is having its 50th card at Riverbend in SLC. LJ Schulz and Anthony Miller headline and Steve Chan and Miles Welk are co-main. Ben Guymon fights Kaden Weston in a good amateur match up. SteelFist also has a strong Facebook presence with info on all the bouts. I'll be sending interview requests to the four headliners, and others,

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MORE BOXING NEWS: Last week there was Junior Olympics amateur competition in SLC. From Lights Out gym in Clearfield, Dylan Bahena won, as did Ozmanny Sanchez. Deontay Nish and Manny Reyes lost decisions.

All Heart Boxing in Weber County had Adrianno Benn, in 15-16 125 pounds, competing, and Mehki Benn, 15-16, 101 pounds, competing. "Adrianno is going to Colorado on May 26 for regionals," said Jason DeCarlo of All Heart.

One more thing about All Heart. The gym, along with Lights Out in Clearfield, has scheduled an amateur boxing card on June 3 at the Legacy Events Center in Farmington. More info here.

Finally, undefeated pro boxer Larry Gomez will be fighting on June 9, at The Complex in SLC. We'll let you know more information as we get it.

Here is a list of upcoming events via the state athletic commission website.

DON'T FORGET TO READ OUR TWO PREVIOUS POSTS THIS WEEK.

This one features an interview with MMA amateur Bryce Edminister.

This one includes a Golden Gloves recap and interviews with amateur boxer Jon Bryant and MMA pro John Valentine.

SteelFist MMA card takes shape, amateur boxing, FitCon in SLC

(YET ANOTHER UPDATE!!! LIGHTS OUT'S JON BRYANT HEADING TO NATIONAL GOLDEN GLOVES, ALONG WITH GABRIEL CHAIREZ AND OTHERS) (UPDATED WITH THE REST OF THE PHOTOS FROM FOLEYS' AMATEUR BOXING CARD)(UPDATED WITH RESULTS FROM FITCON MMA CARD) (UPDATED WITH FOLEYS' FIGHT NIGHT PHOTOS) The next SteelFist MMA card is starting to take shape. As mentioned, the main event is LJ Schulz (One Hit MMA) versus Anthony Miller (Garage MMA)

Co-main is Steve Chan (Victory MMA) versus Miles Welk (Garage MMA). Other announced bouts include Ben Guymon (seen above) (Foleys/The Pack MMA) against Kaden Weston (One Hit MMA), Ahmed "AK" (Absolute MMA) versus Cory Rose (One Hit MMA) and Shayne Bonner (Heber Boys) versus Gavin Weston (One Hit MMA). The card, the promotion's 50th, is set for June 23 at Riverbend Sports Complex in SLC. We'll update as more bouts are announced.

This Friday night is the FitCon MMA card. It starts at 7 at the Salt Place in SLC. Here is the card: And we have results

Josh Tyler vs Daniel Ruiz, pros -- TYLER WINS ROUND 1 VIA REAR NAKED CHOKE
Nick Burgos vs Gabe Pelayo, pros -- BURGOS TAKES UNANIMOUS DECISION
Hunter Azure vs David Maggio, amateur -- AZURE WINS VIA TKO, ROUND 2
Justus Minardi vs Angelo Trujillo, amateur -- MINARDI WINS VIA RNC, ROUND 3
Jessica Kruger vs Xasha Lopez, amateur -- KRUGER WINS VIA DECISION
Scott Foster vs Eric Munoz, amateur -- FOSTER WINS VIA FIRST ROUND AMERICANA
Nino Genao vs Spencer Olson, amateur -- GENEO WINS, 1ST ROUND TKO
Jacob Lamb vs AJ Pallante -- APPARENTLY SCRATCHED
Eli Christiansen vs Mark Chavez, amateur -- CHAVEZ WINS VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Ping Moli vs Brent Peterson, amateur -- PETERSON SCORES UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN

Results are courtesy of Fighting Out of Utah MMA News. Thanks Dutch, Jeffrey Dutcher Jr.

One more thing: West Haven amateur MMA female Destiny "My Time" McCubbin has signed with Fight Path Consulting, a combat sports consulting firm based in Idaho.

BOXING

Here are the results of the amateur boxing card (as much as we have) at Foleys gym in Ogden last Saturday. We have dozens of photos taken and hope to publish them soon but are working through some techie-type glitches to get them on the site. Here's results:

100 pounds -- Jesus Rodriguez (Train Station) decisioned Carson Mathews (Foleys)
92 pounds: Leo Sanchez (PAL) decision over Elijah Willett (Foleys)
127 pounds - Santana DeCarlo (All Heart) decisioned Jonathan Monte Longo-Reyez
90 pounds -- Jesus Rodrigues (Louie's) decisioned Vinnie Apodaca (Foleys)
85 pounds -- Collin Tuilevuka (Independent) defeated Aaron Garcia (Unbreakable)
90 pounds - Kayden Robbinette (Fractured) decisioned Jaiuard me Sanchez (Spartan Boxing 970)
135 pounds - Luis Cornejo (Foleys) decisoned Christian Zavala (Unbreakable)
130 pounds - Eduard Andrade (Louie's) decisioned Jesse Brown (All Heart)
122 pounds - Kathy Grant (Louie's) defeated Macy White (Foleys)
170 pounds - Andy Jensen (Foleys) decisioned Chris Nanney (Mane Event Boxing) 
125 pounds - Michelle Maya (Louie's) decisioned Monica Lazalde (Fullmer's) "They went to war ... and received fight of the night," said gym owner and trainer Dave Foley.

JUST A REMINDER ... Rocky Mountain regional Golden Gloves is this weekend at the Salt Palace. Good luck to all the local boxers hoping to move on to nationals. More information. Also, the next weekend is the amateur Junior Olympics regional tournament at the Sorenson Center.

UPDATE!!! The regional Golden Gloves have finished and we have Utah boxers advancing to the open National Golden Gloves. Jon Bryant, of Clearfield gym Lights Out, defeated Idaho's Austyn Broncho to move through in the 152-pound division. In the 132-pound division, Gabriel Chairez, brother of undefeated pro Ignacio Chairez, defeated Wyoming's Jalen Gibson to move to nationals. Other Utahns going to nationals include Halatoa Piutau and Milo Guitierrez. Here's a link to an excellent Deseret News recap. Also moving to nationals from Lights Out gym is heavyweight Jose Torres.

I chatted with Jon via Faceback Messenger last night who offered us some comments: 

It went pretty well! I used my jab very effectively! I waited a little bit too much which I need to pick it up at nationals! My jab was landing every time! I just need to let my hands go! I felt very comfortable and confident going against a nationally ranked fighter! What comes next is Louisiana for Nationals! My goal Is to win the whole tournament! I know I can do it if I fight my fight!

After that, is USA Qualifiers in October. I want yo put Utah On the map For boxing like Diego (Alvarez) did.

I Would Love To Have a shout out to my great-grandmother who raised me that passed away the day before my 13th birthday. Her name was Harriet P. Wilken.

UPDATE! We have photos from Foley's amateur card, courtesy of Katie Aurich, freelancing for us. I'll put about six up now, and dozens more through weekend. Unfortunately, no captions. Email doug1963@gmail.com if you have a caption for a photo. (Sunday, April 23, rest of photos, 40-plus more, also added)