Team Academy sends four to fight for K.O.T.C

February 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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This saturday, February 16th, Four academy team members will go to battle in Morton,MN for King of the cage promotions in what sounds to be a sell out casino crowd.

Victorious in his Amateur debut january 26th, Jason Huntley will lock horns with Bounoun Tonsay at 135 pounds. Huntley was asked to be on this show just a day after his debut win. He gladly accepted for chance to stay busy and gain more experience. Not much is known about his opponent but it will be a crowd pleasing affair as lighter weight fights normally are.

Ben Smith, who also fought january 26th, will be in action against local journeyman Reilly griffin. this fight will be held at a catchweight of 195 pounds. Both fighters will weigh in the day of the fight, hours ahead of the fight. Smith who fights at 170 lbs took this fight on short notice to stay active and attempt to build up his resume.

In what many think will be a fight of the night contender, Carl Deaton will take on Wrestling stud Josh Wiseman. Deaton a good strong wrestler in his own right will drop back down to 135 pounds for this fight. Wiseman, a former state champion and cadet national champion, went 4-1 in his Amateur bouts fighting at both 145 and 135, and this being his pro debut. He is not taking an easy fight for a pro debut as Deaton (3-0) is a bigger wrestler with good striking.

In the nights Main Event Mikey Zimmer will face Journeyman Starr Roberts at 155 pounds. Zimmer is a Morten,MN local. Therefore the crowd will be anticipating this fight all night. Starr Roberts record leaves much to be desired, but he always comes to fight with his athleticism and fundamental striking. Roberts always fights tough competition. Zimmer is coming off the first loss of his career dropping him to 4-1 as a professional and will be looking to get back to his winning ways.

 

Filed Under: Fighter Spotlight, Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Team Academy Profile: Ben Smith

February 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Ben smith Def. Rico washington by Unanimous dec. 1/26/13

Ben smith Def. Rico Washington by Unanimous dec. 1/26/13

Calm, cool, and collected but ever the competitior is Ben smith.

Moving from Las Vegas to Minnesota months ago with his Family, Smith has been a great addition to The Academy MMA team as both a practice partner for everybody big to small, but also an overall great pressence to have in the room everyday.

What is your martial arts background & how did you get started in MMA?

Ben:” I started training in MMA around 3 years ago in an effort to connect with my roots as a wrestler. I started wrestling when I was 5 years old, and after having been disconnected from the sport for almost 10 years, I felt there was a major piece of my foundation as a person that was missing, or at least lacking the appropriate nurture. MMA has filled those gaps for me.”

What motivates you day in day out?

Ben:” I’m motivated to wake up and face the grind every day by an uncompromising need to seek out personal actualization. The sense of merit and accomplishment, which my involvement in MMA supplies, allows for me to be a better, happier, and more adjusted man for my family.”

How did you end up at the academy?

Ben:” I spent the last couple years training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Although I was happy to move back to Minneapolis in order to be closer to family, I was nervous about finding a gym that would suit my needs as well Xtreme.  Everyone I asked told me that The Academy was where it’s at. They were completely right, and I’m incredibly honored to be a part of the gym.”

What are your goals as a competitor?

Ben: “My only concrete goal in MMA since I started was to get myself to the UFC. I figure that when that happens, I will reassess and come up with some new ones.”

What do you enjoy most about the sport/ training at the academy?

Ben:” I love competing in MMA because its a tangible attack against immobility, doubt, and fear. Every person, in one fashion or another, has to face those things in life. Competing in one on one combat just happens to be the medium that best suits me.”

“What I love most about The Academy is the motto it operates under (Opera non Verba…Deeds not Words). I wish all factions of the world would operate under this very simple, and very noble principle.”

 

Filed Under: Fighter Spotlight, Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: , , , ,

No Rest for the Wicked- MMA Team stays busy this winter

January 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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After suffering a loss on the bigger stage at RFA:5 in Kansas city,MI. Nick Compton will be returning to action locally to take on Bellator Veteran Matt “kid lightning Veal (10-8) for the Driller/SEG Featherweight title march 23rd. This will mark Comptons 1st move down to 145 lbs for this feature fight on a show already close to selling out.

This Thursday Nick ” the big hurt” Kirk will return to Bellator fighting championships to take on Tony Zelinski of Michigan in an under card bout that will be live streamed on Bellator.com as well as SpikeTV.com.

Saturday February 2nd, Jacob Volkmann will look to finish a second straight opponent when he Takes on Strikeforce import Bobby Greene at 155 lbs as part of the Aldo vs Edgar pay per view card.

Thursday February 7th Mike “the marine” Richman will enter his second 145 lb tournement for Bellator. Mike will be taking on 20-3 Savage,MN product Mitch Jackson. Mike is 2-1 in bellator with both victories by way of Knockout. In this fight Mike is telling everybody to “get the lawnchairs out, somebody is getting laid out”. Many critics echo this same sentiment.

February 9th, just two days later, Dan Moret and Jordan Parsons will be boxing locally at the St paul crowne plaza. Both men’s opponents are yet to be named. Parsons will also be making his return to the cage March 2nd in Miami,FL for CFA. Moret is awaiting a hopeful slot on the next RFA card after having to relinquish his spot due to injury  January 18th.

other fighters with scheduled bouts include

February 16th King of the cage Morton,MN: Carl Deaton, Jason Huntley, Mikey Zimmer

March 2nd CFA Miami,FL : Zach Juusola

March 23rd Driller/SEG Minneapolis, MN: Donald Williams vs Josh Wiseman.

Filed Under: Fighter Spotlight, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Academy Stays dominant at the Hyatt

January 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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Wordwide the reputation of the Academy is that of Winning fights. Locally in Minnesota on smaller shows the Academy MMA team is usually expected to put out great talent and winning fighters. This past saturday this held true as the The Academy went 3 of 4 on the night.

The first fight of the night pitted wisconsin’s Ryan Johnson versus Academy part time member Randall Rasmussen. It happened to be mainly a ground battle throughout the 3 rounds of this amateur affair. In the End Ryan Johnson took home a unanimous decision victory.

Next up for the Academy was Jason Huntley in his mma debut versus Jack Shreffler a jiu jistu fighter out of Midwest center for movement in Hudson,WI. this was also a back and fourth battle for three rounds taking place on the feet, against the cage, and on the mat. After 9 minutes of back and fourth action Jason Huntley won a Split decision victory.

Living up to the pre-fight hype created by Ryan Sweezer out of Getsum compound in St.Cloud,MN, Ryan Sweezer versus Academy Product Andre “the Diva” Tieva was an action packed affair. For Weeks leading up to this fight Sweezer proclaimed that he would Knock Tieva out in 3 minutes or less. Tieva took that challenge and stood with Sweezer for much of the fight. Almost everytime Sweezer came in with a flurry, “The Diva” was quick to counter with big right hands and quick hooks. After a contestive first round many people had it 10-9 Sweezer.

The story remained the same in round 2, Sweezers flurries versus Tievas smooth counter attacks. eventually Tieva would time a Double leg take down and get the fight to the floor where he would lock in a Rear Naked choke at 4:19 of round 2 to move his record to 3-0 as a proffesional.

Another under story to this fight was the fact that Ryan Sweezer came in at 141 pounds, Tieva made the weight but took the fight reguardless.

Shortly after Tieva/Sweezer came New Academy Team member Ben Smith taking on grizzled veteran Rico Washington at 170 lbs (washington would miss weight also). After a long feeling out process by both fighters in the 1st round, Smith, who moved here from Las Vegas months ago, used his superior wrestling,technique, and intelligence grinded out a unanimous decision. 30-27 on all cards.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Fight Results Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Meet: Jason Huntley

January 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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This Saturday Academy Student Jason Huntley, at 34 years of age will take part in his first mixed martial arts bout in downtown minneaplolis.

Recently Jason took a few minutes of his time away from his kids,wife, and his training to answer a few questions for me.

 

1. Why did you join the academy (specifically mma program)?

Jason:” It was the best gym based on reviews and the academy had the ability to teach me what I wanted quickly, efficiently, and with the possibility of a great results.”

2. You are taking an amatuer fight at age 34, why?

Jason: ” It’s the soonest I’ve been able to take a fight. I had a couple of medical issues to fix before I could train at the level I knew I wanted too. I actually first contacted the academy almost 5 years ago”

3. What are your goals as a competitor?

Jason: “I would like to be in A position to be able to at least try out for the next season of the ultimate fighter at 135lbs”

4 . What/who has helped you the most with your development?

Jason: “The most help has come from  the coaches obviously. Coaches Ryan, Erik and of course Greg have all been extremely helpful. The team members have also been great at pointing out things here and there as well which in my opinion is just as important as the coaching”

5 What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses?

Jason: “I walked In thinking that’s wrestling was going to be a strength. Turned out that my striking is my strength and my BJJ is clearly my weakest aspect , when i started here I never even had so much as 1 hour of BJJ class”

6. What is something you see from your teammates/coaches that makes them successful in this sport?

Jason: “Both my teammates and coaches have a drive and an honest passion for martial arts. Not just MMA. Martial arts as a whole. Most everyone I see, is good at more than just 1 of The arts.”

Everybody here at the Academy, fight team and student body combined wish jason all the luck in the world in his fight.

Filed Under: Fighter Spotlight, Mixed Martial Arts, Student Spotlight Tagged With: , ,

Team Academy fighter Nick Comtpon gets shot with RFA

January 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Nick compton def. Randy Kittelson, Aug 18th 2012

Nick compton def. Randy Kittelson, Aug 18th 2012

 

At 31 years old, Nick Compton is no where near done with his fighting career.

After A very busy 2012 where he fought 4 mma bouts, 2 boxing matches, and 1 kickboxing bout, Nick is getting his shot at a Big time televised Event. Nick will lock horns with Bobby “super duper” Cooper(5-3) at 155 pounds for Ressurection Fighting Alliance on AXSTV Jan. 18th at 9pm cst.

All of his Teammates and coaches will tell you Nick is mentally and physically ready for this fight. Nick will also tell you that he is excited for the opportunity that fell onto his lap after Teammate Dan moret, who was originally slated to fight Cooper, had to pull out due to injury just two weeks before the fight. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase my growth as skill as a fighter and it means I’m closer to accomplishing my goals in the sport.”

Although he has a sports background of the normal Football,Baseball, Basketball type, Compton fights like hes been training since childhood. After starting his career with minimal training, Nick started developing his game with Former UFC middleweight champion Dave Menne and other training partners before joining the Academy in Late 2011. Since then Nick has been growing and improving daily “I got started when Dave Menne brought me and a handful of fighters in to train during our training
camps for upcoming fights.I really liked the team and the structure the Academy provided so I didn’t want to train anywhere else after that”

When asked what style of fighter he is ” I would say I’m a Kickeboxer/BJJ fighter, but mainly I fight to finish the fight” And finish the fight is what Nick will be looking to do against Cooper who is a taller kickboxer by nature and who will also be moving down to 155 pounds for the first time in his Career. Compton was scheduled to fight one week later in a local show at 145 pounds, but gladly accepted this fight in which he is confident is his for the taking.

 

Filed Under: Fighter Spotlight, Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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