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MCKENZIE -- On Saturday, March 1,
Kapeller Fight Team of McKenzie is
sponsoring Fight Night V at the Carroll
County Civic. Tickets for the event can be
purchased by calling 1-731-352-0700. Limited
tables are still available.
Arthur Kapeller, coach of Kapeller Fight
Team, noted that all proceeds raised at the
event benefit the McKenzie Lions Club.
Kapeller noted that the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
event features 10-15 matches involving local
fighters and include two main event fights.
He said, “The sub-main event features
McKenzians Chance “Bam-Bam” Burke and Matt
Ramsey and the main event features Parisians
Scott “The Pit-bull” McSwain and J.H.
Wallace.
Regarding the upcoming Carroll County Civic
Center event, Kapeller said, “We have
several new teams coming to this show as
well as several local fighters stepping into
the ring-this will cause the show to take on
a different flare.”
He continued, ‘We hope everyone will come
out and enjoys the show. This is a
family-oriented event and we will make it as
exciting as we can.”
Kapeller, reflecting on the differences
between MMA and traditional martial arts,
said, “Karate, Taekwondo and Kung Fu are
traditional martial arts, but MMA is full
contact to the max.”
He continued, “MMA is like football. You
would not utilize football’s full contact
techniques during a non-contact sport like
basketball or baseball. But, I want to
emphasize that I am not knocking traditional
martial arts. I have taught Taekwondo for 10
years in McKenzie. Without tradition martial
arts, there wouldn’t be MMA.”
Kapeller noted that team training for the
upcoming fights had not changed from its
normal routine.
“What we have done training-wise has worked
pretty well for us in the past,” he noted.
Paris native and twin title-belt holder
Scott “The Pittbull” McSwain, posting a 16-5
record, stated, “I like fighting in MMA due
to the physical and mental challenge
involved in competing against another
person.”
He continued, “I train in McKenzie for
Kapeller Fight Team because Kapeller takes
me seriously and gives me an opportunity to
be part of his team. He travels with us and
gets us into some big shows. It has been a
great ride so far.”
Regarding his upcoming main event fight,
McSwain said, “I have trained the same as
usual. I really train hard for all the
shows.” McSwain noted that his future
plans are to turn pro in MMA and eventually
operate his own fight school.
McKenzie native and title belt-holder Chance
“Bam-Bam” Burke, at 14-4, stated, “I was
drawn to MMA because I like competition. I
like full contact, and the sport keeps me
out of trouble.”
He continued, “I like training in my
hometown and like the people I train
with-that’s why my record is so good.”
Burke stated that he has placed great
emphasis on improving his cardiovascular
strength for the upcoming sub-main event.
Regarding the future, Burke stated that he
planned to turn pro in MMA.
“I want to see where MMA takes me-maybe to
UFC. That is where I want to be,” he noted.
Henry native Chris Haymes, preparing for his
first MMA heavyweight fight, stated that he
was drawn to MMA due to his longtime
friendship with McSwain.
He said, “I’ve known Scotty all my life-he
was my incentive to start.”
He added, “Kapeller has been very patient
with me and kept me on his team when most
people would have let me go.”
A former boxer, Haymes stated that his
objective regarding his first MMA bout was
simple.
“I want to end the fight quick. After all, I
will be fighting in front of my hometown
crowd.” |
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