Cage fighting video
By RYAN HOPE - Sports Writer
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 10:48 AM PDT
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Elko fighter Willis Ferguson, right, is bloodied up during his fight Saturday at the Elko Indian Colony Gymnasium. Ferguson won his match with a choke hold in the third round. (Ryan Hope/Elko Daily Free Press)
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ELKO - The blood streaming down Willis Ferguson's face was considerable.
It looked like a good makeup job from one of the Rocky movies.
Except it was real.
Ferguson, an employee for Smith Power Products, was in the midst of his first mixed martial arts cagefight against an opponent from Utah. For two rounds, Ferguson was bloodied, battered and looked defeated.
“The whole second round I couldn't see because of all the blood on my face,” Ferguson said. “But there was no way I was going to tap out. I'm sure I got beat up more than anyone here. But I think I had more fun than anyone here.”
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Ferguson caught his opponent in a choke hold in the third period and won when the referee ended the fight.
A satisfying outcome for Ferguson in his first fight. But he wasn't the only one who left the Elko Indian Colony Gymnasium satisfied.
Elko got its first taste of a mixed martial arts competition Saturday night when the Salt Lake City-based Ultimate Combat Experience rolled into town and staged a full-contact cagefight.
More than 1,000 spectators watched 14 fights that featured competitors from as far away as Fresno, Calif., Reno and Utah.
Elko County was well represented and the partisan crowd was on its feet cheering for the local fighters.
“It was awesome,” said Daniel Stenovich, who won the feature fight with a second-round knockout, “especially to seal the victory in front of the hometown crowd.”
Stenovich, a two-time wrestling state champion for Spring Creek High, waited more than three hours to get to the 14th, and final, fight. Once there, he used his wrestling skills to get his opponent down and layed on a barrage of punches before the referee ended the fight.
Local fighters, many of whom are members of the High Desert Hitmen local fighting club, fared well.
Ryan Kyllonen, an 18 year old who will begin his senior year at Spring Creek High this fall, came out aggressive and won early in the first period.
Wells' Pook Hoots showered his opponent with punches in the third round and won by a unanimous decision. Not one to forget his roots, Hoots placed a cowboy hat on his head for the post-fight interview.
And Chance Elam won the night's penultimate fight with a bit of controversy. Elam walloped on his opponent in the second round and the fight ultimately was stopped by the official. Elam leapt up and straddled the fence to celebrate with his adoring fans.
Some observers protested Elam won illegally by throwing punches while his opponent was on the floor. The victory, however, stood for Elam.
“This was more than what I expected,” said Chris McLeod, coach of the High Desert Hitmen and one of the event organizers. “The crowd was amazing. We had people here from Wells, Ely, Battle Mountain and Eureka. They came from all over. Our next fight (on July 28) is going to be insane.”
Results were not available as of press time, but will be printed in a later edition of the Free Press along with the time, date and channel of a fight rebroadcast.
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Cage fighting video