With the most stacked MCC card to date, the Midwest’s top promotion delivered what was promised to be non-stop action from start to finish.  MCC 22 “Reality Check” featured a Lightweight title match between reigning interim champion, Joe “The Hammer” Brammer and former featherweight champion, Chris “Mad Dog” Mickle.  Although most expected Brammer to finish the hard nosed brawler shortly into the contest, Mickle proved that he is still a contender taking the champion five, five minute rounds as he hung tough in losing a unanimous decision to the younger, more technical fighter.  Shortly after the fight, Brammer stated, “I thought I may have broken my hand in the second round, but, when I went back to my corner at the end of the third I knew it was broken.  I wanted to knock him out, but with only one hand I had to start using my elbows more, and I had to get him to the ground to do that.”  Brammer, who retained his title will have plenty of time to heal while he waits to face MCC lightweight champion, Bryce Teager in an upcoming event.

In what became fireworks from bell to bell, young guns Zak Laird and Laramie Shaffer put on a performance deserving of fight of the night honors.  It was Iowa versus Iowa State when the doctor to be, University of Iowa student, Zak Laird used his solid kick boxing skills to defeat ISU wrestler, Laramie Shaffer in a three round war.  MCC Co-owner, John Halverson said, “These are two of my favorite up and coming fighters.  I’d been telling everyone leading up to the show to keep an eye on this fight because I knew it was going to be the best of the night.”  He concluded with, “If we had these guys fight each other at every MCC, the fans would never get sick of watching it.”

In the upset of the night, WEC hopeful, Bill Kammery stepped in to the cage to put his undefeated record on the line when he squared up against Josh “Bam Bam” Henry.  Right out of the gate, Henry came out strong, taking the Golden Gloves champion to the ground.  However, he quickly found himself on the bottom eating heavy leather from the bearded bomber.  Clearly losing the first round, Bam Bam came out of his corner for the second a focused fighter.  With a slick takedown and transition to rear naked choke, Kammery was forced to tap out and Henry found himself at the winning end of the biggest fight of his young career.  Following his win, Henry said he knew he was the underdog, but that didn’t matter to him.  He knew he was going to be victorious no matter who was put in front of him.  Undefeated as a professional, he’s asked MCC for a title shot.  MCC co owner and matchmaker, Ryan Hass noted, “With a win over Kammery he is deserving of a title shot.  We’re going to take a look at scheduling and see when we can make it happen.”

The promotion which is known for showcasing the talents of the best up and coming fighters in the Midwest is already gearing up for their biggest show of the year- the annual “Thanksgiving Throwdown” which is set for Wednesday, November 25 at Vets Auditorium.  For more about MCC 22, the fighters, and upcoming events, log onto www.MidwestCageChampionship.com.

MCC Ring Girls Kristi Lynn and Kyla

Midwest Cage Championship, one of the nations top mixed martial arts promotions which is known for making some of the most exciting bouts between the nations top up and coming talent has taken it one step further. The excitement not only takes place inside the cage, but also directly outside of it. You can hear the whisltes and yells echo throughout the arena when the MCC Ring Girls make their way around the catwalk. “We undoubtedly have the best fights, and Mediacom is providing us with top notch production, so it just makes sense that our ring girls match the rest of our show,” commented MCC co-owner, John Halverson. He added, “We have some deals in the works that not only involve the fighters, but also these girls. People love them, so we’re giving them the best.”

Here is your chance to get to know two of the MCC Ring Girls!

MCC Ring Girl Kyla

Kyla has a personality that is as outgoing as she is beautiful. With a smile as bright as the production lights, she instantly became a fan favorite.  With the exposure she receives from Midwest Cage Championship, the sky is the limit for Kyla.

MCC Ring Girl Kristi Lynn

Born right here in Des Moines, blond bombshell Kristi Lynn now spends much of her time split between Chicago and Los Angeles as a Playboy model and commercial actress.  Be sure to check out her special edition issues as well as her profile on Playboy’s Cybergirl website.  She loves the fights and she loves to meet fight fans.  At MCC 22, Kristi Lynn will be available for pictures and autographs.

MCC 22 “Reality Check” takes place this Saturday at Veterans Auditorium.  Tickets are available on-line at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, at the Vets box office, or by phone by calling 515-229-8566.  In our main event, Interim Lightweight Champion, Joe “The Hammer” Brammer will face Chris “Mad Dog” Mickle.  To view the entire fight card as well as get up to date on all of the MCC news, log on to MidwestCageChampionship.com.

MCC was determined to provide Daraughn Canada with a quality opponent, and as soon as the word was out, Nick “The Wolverine” Walker jumped at the opportunity.  With a big win over Paul Bird and a good battle with UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens under his belt, the soft spoken mixed martial artist will bring a wealth of experience into the cage as he faces a younger, determined, Canada.

Zak Laird

Laramie Shaffer

By: Randy Thomas

When you think about the progression of mixed martial arts, the dedication and the drive it takes to compete, two fighters come to mind, both of whom will be making their MCC debuts.  Last month, at MCC Trials II, Zak Laird and Laramie Shaffer both put on performances deserving of their invitation to the Midwest’s top mixed martial arts organization.  On September 5, these two young fighters will face off in a featherweight bout that promises to be one of most fast paced, most explosive fights of the evening.

Zak Laird, the 18 year old kickboxing standout, has been developing his game as a complete martial artist, and if you think his fists and feet are quick, wait until you see his submission game. This kid is the future of MMA. This kickboxer is pulling off high level jiu jitsu moves, and he’s been in the game for less than a year.  Fast forward a couple years and you will be watching him on pay per view.  Laird, who is 12-1 in his MMA campaign has been tearing through the competition on the local circuit.  At MCC 22 he steps in the cage to face his toughest opponent to date.  We caught up with Laird, who is in the process of relocating to Iowa CIty where he will begin his pursuit towards his lifelong goal; to become a doctor.  When asked about Shaffer, he simply stated,  “I know he’s going to be a tough opponet,.  He’s going to be a very strong wrestler, and I’ve been doing extensive work off of my back. My goal is just to put on a great show, and show everyone what this 18 year old future doctor is all about.” Always a student at the top of his class, we’ll see if he gets to the top of his class as a fighter.

Laramie Shaffer, the two-time state wrestling phenom who started competing at age four, showed some serious ground and pound, ending his first two MMA fights in the first round.  He will look to do the same to Zak Laird when they meet in the center of the cage.  Training with some of the Midwest’s top grapplers,  Shaffer commented, “I wrestled for Cael Sanderson at Iowa State from 2005-2009 so I know the dedication it taked to be the best, and that’s exactly what I’m bringing.”  He added, “I heard he’s a good kick boxer with submission skills. I’m just looking to have fun, put on a show, and come up with a win.”  With that said, Shaffer hopes to let the MMA world know he’s here- and he’s here to stay.

MCC 22 “Reality Check”, Saturday, September 5 at Veterans Auditorium.  For more information log on to www.MidwestCageChampionship.com.

Chuck Grigsby vs Josh Christenson at MCC9

Matt Scaggs and Jesse Lund at weigh-ins for MCC 8

By: Randy Thomas

At MCC 8 “Motivation” Matt Scaggs handed Jesse Lund the first and only loss of his MMA career.  Two years later, Josh “The Bull” Christensen and Matt Scaggs will meet to see if Scaggs can remain victorious over the dynamic duo, or if The Bull will charge right through him and settle the score.  One of the most colorful fighters on the MCC roster, Christensen made his mark when he battled Light Heavyweight Champion, Chuck “The Reverend” Grigsby on less than a weeks notice.  Although he came up short that night, The Bull instantly became a fan favorite with his stand and bang style, and his willingness to take on anyone put in front of him.

“Vicious Scaggalicious” who is best known for him battles with former Middleweight Champion, Mike “Mini Van” Van Meer, is re-focused, dedicated to training, and says he’s nobody’s stepping stone.  Competing both at 185 and 205, Scaggs is looking to make a run at the Light Heavyweight strap, but first he will have to get by the hard nosed jailer that will be standing in his way.  Always being one to hype a fight, Scaggs remarked, ” “I’ve dropped a couple fights, and now it’s time to work my way back to the top, so I plan to use Josh as my first victim. I hope he  changed his training partners because he’s obviously going to try to do what Jesse Lund couldn’t.”  Looking to even the score, The Bull quickly replied, “The day Scaggs beat Lund, was the luckiest day of his life and he knows it. The sun shines on a dogs ass every once in a while. You can’t train heart, and he has none, so he better come up with something good if he ever dreams of beating me.”

This is just one of the 13 action packed fights at MCC 22 “Reality Check”.  The card will feature a Lightweight Interim Championship bout as Joe “The Hammer” Brammer puts his title on the line to take on Chris “Mad Dog” Mickle.  For more information log on to www.MidwestCageChampionship.com.

MCC: Making the Fighter

Making the Fighter, which began filming in June, followed MCC Interim Lightweight Champion, Joe “The Hammer” Brammer and up and coming brawler, Colby “The Alligator” Karaidos, as they prepare for upcoming bouts at MCC 22 “Reality Check,” Sept 5th at Vets Auditorium.  The reality show will give an inside look at the intense training regimen that mixed martial arts fighters go through, and will air on Mediacom Connections Ch 22.

Local companies such as Prairie Meadows, The Iowa Lottery, Nutrishop, and Insanity Fightwear took an interest in the show, while Spartan Strength, Team Round Kick, Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy, and Grandview are featured as the official training facilities for the fighters.  Viewers can go to www.MidwestCageChampionship.com for more information about the show, the fighters, contact information, and what’s coming up at MCC.

The 1st episode (Round Kick Gym) hit the screen this week, and will replay this Saturday (8/22) at 4:30pm & 11:30pm. The 2nd episode (Spartan Strength) will debut this Sunday (8/23) at 6:30pm & 9:30pm. The series will continue to run on Mediacom Connections Ch. 22.

Update:

Episode 3 airs Wednesday (8/26) 6:30pm
Thursday (8/27) 10:30pm
Episode 4 airs Friday (8/28) 7pm
Saturday (8/29) 1pm

Also, MCC 22 “Reality Check” is Saturday, Sept 5th at Vets, and approaching quickly. Visit www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, to purchase tickets, view pre-fight interviews, get the Brammer/Mickle break down, and much more.

Here are a few previews of the show:

Making the Fighter Sneak Peak

MCC Making the Fighter

Spartan Strength

Nutrishop

Brammer vs Mickle. Another big fight in the MCC looms close and I look forward to it like many of you do of course, but I also have some trepidation.  You see, the fighters involved are two friends of mine and this fight means a great deal to both of them.  Someone is going to win and possibly move on to bigger things, the loser will have to regroup and start all over again. I have trained with both of these guys extensively over the years, most recently to prepare for my final fight. Both Chris and Joe have been instrumental in making me a better fighter and I cant thank them enough for their dedication.  I love them both and have a tremendous amount of respect for them not only as fighters but also as friends. Come Sept 5th, I will be elated for one of them, heartbroken for the other. Given the nature of the sport, I have become somewhat accustomed to guys I know competing against each other. Heck, I too have fought guys I consider friends, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I will be glad when its over, that’s for sure!

Joe Brammer used to train with the DMEF team quite a bit several years ago. He was one of the youngest guys that came to our gym, but he had a world of potential.  Not everyone endures brutal sparring sessions with seasoned tough guys…and then comes back the next day for more. Not only did Joe do that, he would go to other places to train as well. I marveled at this young kid and his humble manner and I still do. He soaked up any training advice we could give him or any techniques as well.  Joe hasn’t changed at all, he is still the same dude…just a hell of a lot tougher. Joe has traveled and trained at a variety of places and its paid off for him. He is one of the most well rounded fighters to compete for the MCC. His stand-up game is precise and accurate, he can kick and punch as well as anybody. Joe has heart and a great chin that complements that stand up game very well.  He trains with the Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy so you know his ground game is top notch. Fans of the local fight scene know Joe can go the distance and he can end it quick.

A few months after Joe moved on, Chris Mickle was introduced to the DMEF (Des Moines Extreme Fighting) team by Mike Van Meer and he has trained with us pretty much most of the time since then aside from is service with the military until recently.  Chris is a fighter at heart through and through, he was born to be a warrior.  I don’t know if I have ever seen anyone with as much determination and heart as Chris. What he lacks in precision, form and accuracy, he makes up for in volume, ferocity and intensity.  He is like one of those horror movie guys that just keeps coming after you, even when you think they are done. Right away I recognized Chris for the hard nosed kind of fighter he was, seldom do you see a guy with as little fear as him. He doesn’t care if he gets punched or kicked, in fact I think the little demented goof likes it. Most people will shy away from going toe to toe with someone, but Chris has a way of actually bringing that out of you while sparring and in fighting.  The next thing you know you are in a slugfest. But Chris is well rounded as well, his ground game is under appreciated. What Chris is known for is his stamina and granite chin, but I think he just stubbornly refuses to get tired or hurt. A big part of his success in reality is his strength and his skill set that he applies with it.

So how do I see the fight going? Probably not to different than many of you.  I don’t know if I can see either of them submitting the other, at least not right away. Maybe in the 4th or 5th round if one is rocked or tired perhaps, but I don’t think it will be a submission. I can say that while doing many rounds with these guys, they don’t usually look for a sub right away, they will both bang a bit.  Can either of these guys knock the other out? Most definitely. Joe has good, sneaky hooks that can make you see stars, Chris has punches that come from nowhere that makes the birdies tweet in your head. Also in the striking department, Joe also has tremendous head kicks, lord knows I have felt those on many of occasions. He will throw kicks in combinations and mixes them in very well. Chris can kick but it isn’t his forte, he will throw lots of punches with very bad intentions. I can see both guys coming out and taking their time till the first flush punch lands, and then it will be on!  Look for Chris to press Joe and look for Joe to use precision counter punching. Both guys are experienced and patient fighters, they will not rush into any mistakes.  Joe can be very hard to hit, he is very elusive. Chris can be very easy to hit, mainly cuz he likes that. This is probably going to be a huge factor, but you recall how I said that Chris has a way of turning it into a slugfest? Well, his head is right there and the temptation to punch him is too overwhelming (don’t try it if you meet him though). Both guys are as tough as they come, Chris has inhuman pain tolerance and Joe will have his hands full.  So who is going to be the winner?  Well, it’s you… the fans! See you guys at the cage.