Cung Le's Born to Fight

[GeneChing]

From their press release:

BORN TO FIGHT XI
SCHEDULE AUGUST 1ST, 2010
__________________
THE SADDLERACK
42011 BOSCELL ROAD
FREMONT, CA
__________________
10:00AM WEIGH-INS
4:00PM DOORS OPEN
5:00PM FIRST BOUT BEGINS

PRESS/MEDIA
ALL PRESS MUST BE PRE-APPROVED. PRESS PASSES WILL BE REQUIRED.
PLEASE CONTACT JANE@CUNGLE.COM TO INQUIRE.

FIGHTERS/CORNERS
ALL FIGHTERS AND CORNERS MUST BE LICENSED THROUGH CAMO PRIOR TO
WEIGH INS, PLEASE SEE THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.CAMO-MMA.ORG FOR ALL
FORMS. ANY FIGHTERS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT, PLEASE
EMAIL JANE@CUNGLE.COM

TICKETS
WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING GYMS PARTICIPATING:
CUNG LE’S UNIVERSAL STRENGTH HEADQUARTERS
ANTDAWG’S UNIVERSAL STRENGTH HEADQUARTERS
AMERICAN KICKBOXING ACADEMY, SAN JOSE / SUNNYVALE
TRUE FIGHT CLUB
NORCAL FIGHT FACTORY
COMBAT SPORTS ACADEMY
GLADIATOR ACADEMY (EUGENE JACKSON)
EL NINO’S TRAINING CENTER (GILBERT MELENDEZ)
PACIFIC RING SPORTS
CONDITION AND COMPETITION KICKBOXING
FIGHT AND FITNESS
WORLD TEAM USA
TEAM TSUTSUI (GEORGE TSUTSUI)
TEAM GRACIE (DAN BLACK)

[lkfmdc]

my understanding is that this is an MMA event

sad that you can do full mma but can't do amateur san shou in CA, what a wacky state

[Lucas]

freaking stupid people need to learn how to think properly.

[Dragonzbane76]

A$$ backwards I would say.

[GeneChing]

There's money in MMA. There's no money in Sanshou. If anyone really wanted to make Sanshou legal here, I can't imagine it would be that hard. You'd just have to invest in legal fees, promotions, political actions etc. Muay Thai did it, but Muay Thai can fill an auditorium with spectators. Sanshou can't, ergo, no money. If any of you want to legalize Sanshou in CA, step right up. Be my guest.

[lkfmdc]

There's money in MMA. There's no money in Sanshou. If anyone really wanted to make Sanshou legal here, I can't imagine it would be that hard. You'd just have to invest in legal fees, promotions, political actions etc. Muay Thai did it, but Muay Thai can fill an auditorium with spectators. Sanshou can't, ergo, no money. If any of you want to legalize Sanshou in CA, step right up. Be my guest.

Actually Gene, to my understanding that is NOT correct

Sanshou is illegal because part of the law/regulation in CA says you can't do throws in "kickboxing" , a hold over from the old PKA above teh waist kb days

This did NOT effect Muay Thai, where throws ARE illegal, but in sanshou, how do you do it with no throws :eek:

IE you need money and action to change the law / regulation...

[GeneChing]

The over-the-hip rule is really just a technicality. Think about it. There has to be some distinguishing rule that keeps Sanshou out and allows Muay Thai and MMA. Otherwise, we'd just change the name. If Sanshou had the financial backing to rally, we could surely get that changed. But who's going to rally now? With MMA and Muay Thai doing quite well in our area, there's no backing. Who's going to support a new combat spectator sport?

[lkfmdc]

The over-the-hip rule is really just a technicality. Think about it. There has to be some distinguishing rule that keeps Sanshou out and allows Muay Thai and MMA. Otherwise, we'd just change the name. If Sanshou had the financial backing to rally, we could surely get that changed. But who's going to rally now? With MMA and Muay Thai doing quite well in our area, there's no backing. Who's going to support a new combat spectator sport?

well, SOME might argue that certain people killed san shou when it was a growing sport. Cung's show used to be pretty big, and we were doing things in NY as well. Strangely, people started trying to schedule team trials etc during these events, trying to make sure the kept us poor folks from running our own sport

Ie if the base had been stronger, we would have been fine, but they had already kicked out the table legs BEFORE the commission "found" this regulation

[GeneChing]

I was just discussing why amateur MMA is legal here in CA while sanshou is not.

We just formed an amateur MMA league here - CAMO (http://www.camomma.org/). There's a discussion of it in a report in our July August 2010 issue (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=902): Amateur MMA in the Dragonhouse By Chris Lewin. The first CAMO event in S.F. was by a kung fu guy - Zhong Luo (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=131). He runs Dragonhouse. CA could rally to get support for an amateur sanshou league, but who'd going to put time/energy/money into that when they can just train for MMA or Muay Thai now and get fights there?

[GeneChing]

Sadly, I'm already booked on Sunday


CUNG LE AND JAVIER MENDEZ PRESENT BORN TO FIGHT XI - Amateur MMA
August 1st, 2010 at the Saddlerack, Fremont, CA

CUNG LE and JAVIER MENDEZ present BORN TO FIGHT XI - Amateur MMA show on August 1st, 2010 at the Saddlerack in Fremont, CA. Cung Le and Javier Mendez are renowned fighting champions as well as coaches, and understand the importance of showcasing the up and coming stars during crucial times in their young careers. They understand the time and dedication required to train and learn ongoing as a fighter and as a coach and want to encourage these young athletes to focus on their training to improve and get better everyday. Born to Fight has continued to showcase up and coming fighters from the Bay Area and for this show including some fighters from Columbus Ohio.

A few of the fighters, such as Gabriel Carrasco, Justin Roman, and Anthony De Los Santos, (to name of a few) are experienced amateur muay thai and sanshou competitors holding titles in the ring and are evolving their careers as mixed martial artists. Gabriel Carrasco, from American Kickboxing Academy, holds several titles (IKF, USMF, etc.) as an exceptional amateur muay thai fighter and has fought in Thailand as well. Justin Roman, IKF Champion from Cung Le's Universal Strength Headquarters had trained in BJJ with a blue belt under Paul Schreiner.

There will be competitors from schools such as American Kickboxing Academy - Sunnyvale (headed by Int'l Kickboxing Champion Alex Khambabian), Combat Sports Academy (headed by Kru Kirian Fitzgibbons), NorCal Fight Factory (headed by pro mma fighter Dave Velasquez), Condition and Competition Kickboxing (headed by Nat'l Sanshou Champion Ed Carpio), True Fight Club (headed by pro MMA fighter Evan Esguerra), Gladiator Academy (headed by pro MMA fighter Eugene Jackson), El Nino's Training Center (headed by Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez), Pacific Ring Sports (headed by Mike Reigner), World Team USA (headed by Kru Sam Phimsoutham), Antdawg's USH - Gilroy (headed by pro MMA fighter Anthony Figueroa), and Sheeley's Iron Tigers (headed by US Team Member and K-1 veteran Scott Sheeley).

There will also be a superfight Junior Muay Thai Exhibition by Justin Rodriguez (from True Fight Club) and Adam Arenas (from American Kickboxing Academy). These two young fighters are the future of our fighters. All of these young amateur fighters will be showcasing their technical abilities in the ring and are sure to be some exciting fights to see!

Tickets will be available at the door $35, $45, $100 VIP. For media relations, please contact Jane Estioko 408-391-6720 / jane@cungle.com

[GeneChing]

Born to Fight XI Amateur MMA a hit this Sunday at the Saddlerack in Fremont (http://www.sharkspage.com/?p=1746)
By Jon Swenson - Last updated: Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) legalized amateur MMA in 2009, then designated the newly formed California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO) to regulate amateur MMA in California. This Sunday at the Saddlerack bar in Fremont former Strikeforce Middleweight champion and owner of Universal Strength Headquarters Cung Le and former ISKA Champion and owner of American Kickboxing Academy Javier Mendez promoted 9 amateur MMA fights and one jr. Muaythai kickboxing exhibition as part of the long running south bay Born to Fight series.

The line outside the door Sunday wrapped around the parking lot. Several hundred fans were turned away when the capacity limit of 700 was reached. What those fans missed at Born to Fight XI was one of the most polished and entertaining amateur fightsport events put on in the Bay Area. How many smaller promotions have 3 large screens broadcasting action inside the ring, multiple bars, and a VIP section large enough to house Cung Le, Josh Thomson, Gilbert Melendez, Cain Velasquez, Herschel Walker (seen here breakdancing in the ring), Justin Wilcox, Jon Fitch and Trevor Prangley among several others.

This is amateur MMA, so there were fighters tumbling through the ropes, and a power double leg by John “Cali” Davis drove Felix Guel into the ropes hard enough to collapse the ring and force a 15-minute delay. The hiccups and unusual venue aside, fans came to see the fights, and the action inside the ring was spectacular.

The highlight of the night came with American Kickboxing Academy San Jose’s John “Cali” Davis facing Norcal Fight Factory’s Felix Guel. After jockeying against the ropes for position, “Cali” picked up a large Guel and drove him across the ring into the far ropes. Each of the four corners of the ring buckled, and the referee quickly stepped in to pause the fight. After a 15 minute delay which both fighters took in stride (and CSAC’s new heavyweight referee Monte tested the ropes), “Cali” picked up where he left off and quickly scored another takedown. Felix Guel expertly got his legs in front of him to blunt a portion of the whithering ground and pound.

It looked like the second round would proceed in a similar fashion after “Cali” dropped Guel with a big right hand. Guel swept to top control, but “Cali” powered his way back to his feet. Bigger fighters often have a problem maintaining cardio, in the amateur ranks even moreso. “Cali” began to wear down in the middle of the second. Guel was working hard on top for a choke or an arm, but he was swept and John Davis nearly finished the fight with heavy, heavy ground and pound. A contingent from Davis’ church were in attendance and vocal ringside supporting their fighter.

The pace slowed slightly in the third, as Davis weared Guel down in the corner with knees to the midsection. Davis had to double clutch in order not to land knees to the head, against the rules in California amateur MMA but fundamental in muaythai training. He took Guel down and methodically worked to full mount. For the third straight round, he attempted to finish the fight with ground and pound as the horn went off. Draped in a Californian state flag, “Cali” earned a dominant unanimous decision.

Many of the fighters represented top Bay Area MMA gyms, including the San Jose and Sunnyvale AKA’s, Gilbert Melendez’s El Nino Training Center, the Combat Sports Academy, World Team USA, Pacific Ring Sports and several others. Also represented were two fighters from the Columbus Sheeley’s Iron Tigers gym. Sandeep Kommini of Sheeley’s faced AKA Sunnyvale’s Shahriyar Erfanian in the second amateur MMA fight of the night, and Sheeley’s Brian Smith faced the highly touted Gabriel Carrasco of AKA in San Jose in the main event. Carrasco picked Smith apart, then forced a stoppage due to strikes as the Columbus fighter could no longer defend himself.

Two other standouts on the amateur MMA card were AKA San Jose’s Eduardo Carillo and World Team USA’s Vince Bordi. Carillo met a game Anthony De Los Santos (CCK) in the third MMA fight of the night. Carillo came out to perfectly appropiate Mexicana music, and for Anthony’s part he came out all business to tried and true metal. Early in the first round in became evident that Carillo had power to spare. After a quick takedown, Carillo worked to lock in a choke and it appeared DLS tapped outside of the view of the referee.

The fight continued in the second round, as Anthony De Los Santos tried to back Carillo off with a high kick and a superman punch, but neither landed. A spinning back kick did land, but DLS is quickly on his back defending another choke attempt. In the third round, Carillo shows precision as well as power. With DLS again coming forward, Eduardo lands a flush counter right, then two more long jabs as he backed out. Carillo finished the third in impressive fashion, scoring another takedown ending the fight with several punishing shoulder strikes to the head. He earned a unanimous decision win and accepted a medal from Strikeforce veteran Justin Wilcox.

In his bout against Gladiator Academy’s Jonathan Chaplain, Vince Bordi landed the second biggest highlight of the night. He upended Chaplain and slammed him into the canvas, earning a standing ovation and a loud roar from the crowd. In the second round Bordi bobbed and weaved, and feinted before touching Chaplain repeatedly from outside. Three consecutive blows forced Chaplain into a desperation takedown attempt, but Bordi quickly scrambled into top position and nearly finished the fight in full control.

The third round was equally dominant for Bordi. After a greco roman clinch in the corner, Bordi scored a quick trip takedown and then transitioned into half guard. Chaplain was struggling for breath as the World Team USA fighter rained down blows on top of him. The referee nearly stopped the fight, but Vince Bordi earned a unanimous decision win and was awarded a medal by top UFC contender Jon Fitch.

The event started off with a jr. Muaythai kickboxing exhibition between 6-year old Justin Rodriguez and 8-year old Adam Arenas, refereed by former Strikeforce Lightweight champion Josh Thomson. Both jr. Muaythai fighters Rodriquez and Arenas were active around the ring. Each landed several kicks, punches and takedowns to loud cheers from the fans. Announcer Travis Johnson (also ISKA Kickboxing Champion and K-1 veteran) described both kickboxers as future champions, and encouraged fans to give them another standing ovation after the fight.

Also successful on the amateur MMA card: Steve Tomayo (Combat Sports Academy) won via unanimous decision over Isaiah Gonzalez (Norcal Fight Factory), Sandeep Kommini (Sheeley’s Iron Tigers) with a come from behind win via 2nd round triangle choke of Shahriyar Efranian (Team AKA Sunnyvale), Joe Silva (Combat Sports Academy) decision over Felix Lopez (Pacific Ring Sports), a split decision win for Joe Neal (True Fight Club) over Benji Amezquita (Antdawg’s USH), and Jessie Henderson (Gladiator Academy) decision over Jordan Felix (El Nino’s Training Center).

One of the ongoing topics of recent MMA coverage has been establishing a hierarchy within professional MMA divisons. Establishing a pecking order from champions to top contenders, to depth veterans and young prospects looking to break into the ranks. Amateur mixed martial arts in California allows many competitors to develop skills against quality competition before turing pro. Up until this point, many fighters had to train and compete in other disciplines before transitioning into professional MMA.

Now individuals can lay the foundations of a professional career in the amateur ranks, and in the near future they will be able to compete in the inaugural California State Amateur MMA Championships. Starting in September, 8 different regions in the North (Sacramento, Central Valley, Bay Area, Central Coast) and South (Los Angeles, San Bernadino, Orange County, San Diego) will seed 8-man regional single elimination tournaments in 8 weight classes (135lb, 145lb, 155lb, 170lb, 185lb, 205lb, 230lb and Heavyweight). Winners will go on to the regional Quarterfinals, then the State Semifinals and State Finals. In the first two rounds, fights will be 2 rounds at 2 minutes each, with a third deciding round in case of a tie. In the Semis and Finals, each fight will consist of three 2 minute rounds. The Finals will be held December 4th. There is no information yet on the date or venue for the “Bay Area” regional.

More information can be found on the inaugural Amateur California MMA State Championships at the official CAMO website. Open signups for the tournament begin August 7th at camo-mma.org. For more information on Born to Fight visit CungLe.com or AKAkickbox.com. A Sharkspage photo gallery from Born to Fight XI is available here.

Jane Estioko of Cung Le's Universal Strength Headquarters shared the following:

BORN TO FIGHT XII - Kickboxing Tournament (JUNIORS / ADULTS)
September 25th, 2010
at Universal Strength Headquarters in Milpitas
ONLINE REGISTRATION coming soon...www.cungle.com

BORN TO FIGHT XIII - Amateur MMA Show
TBD - October 2010

[GeneChing]

it was great fun. Twelve amateur bouts sanctioned by CAMO. The Saddlerack is so close to our office that it was like coming to work.

[GeneChing]

He's got so much going on. I wish I could report on it all but he told us a lot of things in confidence.

He also invited me to Born to Fight this Sunday. By strange luck, I'm free, so I'm going.

BORN TO FIGHT Sept. 4th, 2011 CAMO Bay Area Regional Championships (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8jNqab0Dgk)


BORN TO FIGHT Sept 4th Fights (http://cungle.com/gym/born-to-fight-sept-4th-fights/)
August 15, 2011 By admin

Tickets available for the next BORN TO FIGHT September 4th event in Fremont CA. General Admission is $40 advance ($45 at the door) / $75 cageside (limited – available first come-first served).

You can buy your tickets from any of these participating gyms:

CUNG LE AKA
AKA – Hillsdale
Gladiator Academy, Palo Alto
Tribull MMA, San Jose
True Fight Club, Hayward
World Team USA, San Francisco
Body Architecture MMA (BAMMA)
Charles Gracie
Pacific Ring Sports
IMS Academy, Santa Cruz
Combat Sports Academy
…and more to come!

For more info and sponsorship information please contact jane@cungle.com.

[Lucas]

I just watched bodyguards and assassins. I think he had a really good performance in that movie, I liked seeing him in a period role like that, he plays one heck of an angry bad guy, tossing people left and right. neato

[Dragonzbane76]

gene your a lucky man, i wish i was that close to cool stuff like that. :)

[GeneChing]

I confess that I wasn't shooting at my best. As I was a late add, there wasn't a designated press vantage reserved for me, so I sat in on the table with my friends from Vincit. I had a corner in front of me, as well as a table that I had to straddle, so I went for more abstract shots as the lighting was fighting me.

RESULTS
Lightweight Bout (155 lbs): Crelson Mousinho (1-0 Charles Gracie Academy) DEF Ricardo Chavarria (0-1 K01 Fitness) DQ R3
Catchweight Bout (150 lbs): Jaime Rios (1-0 NorCal FF) DEFs Brian Holquin (0-2 AKA) TKO R1 0:24
Flyweight Bout (125 lbs): Ricky Cheung (2-1 Pacific Ring Sports) DEF Jorge Lima (0-1 True Fight Club) RNC R3: 0:58
Catchweight bout (142 lbs): O.J. Catbagan (2-0 FTCC) DEF Anthony Lawrence (2-1 Ush Fight Team) guillotine R1: 1:32
Bantamweight bout (135 lbs): Jason Rice (3-0 AKA) DEF Jesse Tobar (2-1 BAMMA) unanimous decision
Welterweight bout (170 lbs): Marco Orozco (3-1 Gladiator Academy) DEF Sasha Montgomery (5-4 Charles Gracie Academy) split decision
Cruiserweight bout (225 lbs): Mike Ortega (1-0 Ush Fight Team) DEF Jose Loza (0-1 MMA Most Wanted) KO (strike) R1: 1:40
Bantamweight bout (135 lbs): Radames Garcia (3-1 Ush Fight Team) DEF Gregg Baker (5-3 The Pitt) key lock R3: 1:59.
Light Heavyweight bout (205 lbs): Brandon Hester (4-1 Tribull MMA) DEF Vince Bordi (5-1 FSA) TKO R2
Featherweight bout (145 lbs): Benji Amezquita (4-2 Antdawg’s Ush) DEF Casey Jackson (4-2 Gladiator Academy) unanimous decision
The last four were CAMO qualifiers

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There's more on our fb album (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150368288029363.410154.135964689362&type=1).