Laramie Shaffer - New Bantamweight Champion

Shaffer bests Shutt, captures vacant bantamweight belt

A little over three months ago, bantamweight standouts Laramie “Contract Killer” Shaffer and former featherweight champ, Will “The Real Deal” Shut too part in what has become “part one” of their sage. After fifteen minutes of back and forth action the judges ruled their bout a draw. With the two top bantamweights fighting to a draw it threw a wrench in the system, so to speak. The confusion only lasted about 45 second though as the solution was clear: give them six more weeks to train and throw two more (potential) rounds and call it a title fight.

And so it was.

When “Thanksgiving Throwdown” finally came Shaffer stepped on the scale looking confident and ready. Shutt? Well, Shutt took a little longer. With trouble cutting to the 135 lb weight limit from his 170 lb starting point, Shutt needed a couple more hours to shed the pounds.

However, re hydrated and pumped to complete, Shutt looked more than ready two hours before they were to step in the cage. The same could be said about Shaffer.

With the crowd split in regards to predictions the only thing that was a sure thing was that their fight had the potential to be another great battle- just like their first outing.

Once both fighters stepped into the cage the crowd became electric. Round one started and there was no time wasted going after each other. With superior wrestling on his side, most thought Shaffer would take the safer road and get Shutt to the mat. That was not the case. Content to stand and trade, Shaffer showed immense improvement on his feet while avoiding the bombs being thrown by Shutt. The pace was furious which led many to wonder if these two would be able to keep it up for four more rounds.

Round two looked just like round one. On the feet, on the mat, in the clinch- both fighters showed promise and kept it relatively close on the judges scorecard. Essentially, these two had fought for five rounds between both contests and neither was the definitive leader.

Going into round three the corner of Laramie Shaffer might have reminded him of that very thing. Shaffer forged forward, Shutt began to show the signs of fatigue. You can’t really blame him. Imagine running full speed for over ten minutes while getting socked in the dome! You have to wonder what the intense weight cut did to hurt his conditioning. As the minutes of the third frame passed, Shaffer was edging out the more experienced, former champion.

Rounds four and five, although competitive, were the two rounds Shaffer needed to put the icing on the cake. Winning both rounds gave him the advantage he needed, and in the end, all three judges score the bout the same way awarding the unanimous decision to the new champion, Laramie Shaffer.

Shaffer now moved to 4-2 in his professional mixed martial arts career as Shutt drops to 16-19.

It was a hard fought loss for Shutt who was given props for continuing through training camp with a severe foot injury. It was a big win for Shaffer who will look to defend his title in early 2012.

Looking back, this is exactly the type of fight that makes our sport so great; heart, perseverance, talent, and raw determination. It was a pleasure to watch these two warriors lay it on the line during eight hard fought rounds. Thanks, boys!

Stay tuned to www.MidwestCageChampionship.com for more information about the next event, scheduled for Friday, January 27, 2012. The card features lightweight champion, Johnny “Hollywood” Case as he defends his belt against top contender Allen Hernandez.

Will Shutt

Fighter Focus: Will “The Real Deal” Shutt; ready to avenge a loss that never happened

MCC: Will, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Before we get into the upcoming fight and your predictions, can you give us your thoughts about the last meeting with Laramie Shaffer?

WS: Well, to be perfectly honest, I believe that despite the judges score cards Laramie should have won that last fight. I let him score take downs in every round and I let him spend a lot of time in the top position. These are mistakes that I will not make a second time.

MCC: Really? This wasn’t the answer we usually get. That’s very humble of you. Of course, like you stated, you plan on capitalizing on what you considered mistakes on your part, correct?

WS: Exactly. Actually, I couldn’t be happier to be rematching Laramie. I look at that last fight as a loss so this is more than a title fight for me. This is a chance of redemption to get that win back and prove who the better fighter is. At the same time I get a championship belt put around my waist.

MCC: You always come to fight in tremendous physical shape. Have you changed anything up. You looked great the last time you two met. Of course, this one could possibly last five rounds.

WS: My training hasn’t changed much but there are a few things that I’ve been focusing on, but for the most part the game plan is the same. I know what I need to do to win. It’s not so much a matter of training but rather a matter of executing the game plan.

MCC: Surely, since you’ve already fought once, you’ve visualized how this fight will go down?

WS: It’s mixed martial arts, you know? I’m not sure how this fight will go. Hell, it may go all five rounds and be fight of the night again or it might end in the very first round. The only thing that I’m sure of is that it will be exciting and that my hand will be raised at the end of the fight.

MCC: Love the confidence in a fighter who is competing for a championship. Give us your thoughts on Shaffer’s overall game compared to yours.

WS: Shaffer is a pretty well rounded fighter, although he does have some holes that we plan on exploiting in this fight. But really the plan isn’t to attack his weakness as much as it is to force him to go head to head with my strengths. That’s what you’ll see on fight night.
As far as me and my game plan- I plan to just keep doing what I’ve been doing; focus most of my time on my wrestling and boxing, and really start pushing my cardio hard. My diet is the hardest part of this training camp. Being the kind of guy that would chose to live off pizza and ice cream, it’s tough at times. Shaffer;if he had his way, he’d be eating steamed veggies an fish for every meal. That is not very easy for me to do. Making weight at 135lbs is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life so once I make weight the hard stuff is all over and fighting is the easy part.

MCC: As far as the show goes, Thanksgiving Throwdown has always been the biggest event of the year. What’s it like fighting for another title on that event?

WS: I couldn’t be happier fighting on this card. I get to win a belt, avenge a loss, and do so on the biggest show of the year along side some of the best talent in Iowa. It really doesn’t get any better than that.

MCC: Well, as always, we look forward to watching you compete and we already know the fight is going to crazy- just like the first. Is there anything else you’d like to add or anyone you’d like to thank?

MCC: I would just like to thank the MCC for giving me this opportunity, and I’d like to thank all my friends an family for all their support. Also, all thanks to the great coaches and training partners at Precision Combat and Elite Edge for all the help getting me ready for this fight. I can’t wait to step back in the cage!

Nutrishop presents, MCC 37 “Thanksgiving Throwdown”, Wednesday, November 23 at Hy Vee Hall, downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Tickets are available on-line at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, by phone at 888-324-5849 and at all Dahl’s Food Store ticket outlets.

For more information on this card, including fighter interviews, video’s and blogs, check out the web site.

MCC 37

Start the countdown; Thanksgiving Throwdown just two weeks away!

In just two short weeks the Midwest most popular mixed martial arts event, MCC, will return to Hy Vee Hall for the annual Thanksgiving Throwdown.

Featuring 12 exciting MMA bouts headlined by none other than Des Moines native and five-time UFC veteran, Kevin “The Fire” Burns.

The card also features a bantamweight title fight between top contenders, Will “The Real Deal” Shutt and Laramie “Contract Killer” Shaffer, plus the return of Miguel “El Rey” Rios, Jr., Ronnie “Warfrog” Britt and former champ, Victor “Superman” Moreno.

The full card can be seen at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com. Tickets are available but they are going fast. If you haven’t purchased yours yet, don’t wait!

MCC 37 “Thanksgiving Throwdown” is brought to you by Nutrishop. Nutrishop specializes in diet and supplementation with three convenient locations in West Des Moines, Ankeny and Ames.

For more information on this event, including fighter interviews, blogs and video’s, check out the web site.

Shutt vs Shaffer

Fighter Focus: Not looking for another decision, MCC 37′s Laramie “Contract Killer” Shaffer is taking the fight into his own hands!

Since it’s inception, the MCC bantamweight division has been one of the most exciting, action packed and competitive group of mixed martial artists. We caught up with one that is at the top of the food chain; Laramie Shaffer. As he prepares for his highly anticipated rematch with fellow top contender, Will “The Real Deal” Shutt, he talks about their last meeting and what he is doing to prepare to get his hand raised at MCC’s biggest show of the year; the annual Thanksgiving Throwdown.

MCC: Laramie, welcome back to MCC. Give us your thoughts on your last fight with Will Shutt and how do you think this next meeting will differ?

LS: I personally felt I won the fight and so did a lot of the fans, but as I have learned before that’s what happens when you let the fight go to the judges; you never know what they will decide and that was my fault. I am just happy to be fighting for the title. It has been one of my goals ever since my first fight for MCC and it doesn’t really matter who its against the fact that its against Will is just icing to the cake.

MCC: Since this is a rematch and, for the most part, you know what to expect, does that change your strategy while training?

LS: I am training a lot on my feet and doing some scenarios from standing over top with him on his back since we got into that position a lot. I am also trying some new cardio weight training exercises that a teammate insisted I try. Other than that I am just going at it with some of the top talent in the Midwest. I feel very confident coming into this fight.

MCC: Obviously, with your two razor close fights with former champ and now, another very close fight with Shutt, which ended in a draw, I can only assume you are working to finish this fight.

LS: Exactly. I see this fight not going the full five rounds in training. My mind set is that it will, and I have to have enough gas in the tank just in case, but if I do what I have been working on correctly it wont last very long. That being said it very well could be fight of the night again.

MCC: Did you see anything in the first meeting that you’ve been able to take back to the drawing board in order to capitalize on in November?

LS: I think on the ground he has a lot of holes and I didn’t capitalize on them in our first fight. On his feet he drops his hands at times and looks for the knock out which leaves him open so I’ve been working a lot on my timing drills. The next two weeks are going to be intense as the last six. I’m doing a lot of sparring and technique with weight training.

MCC: So, you’re ready to go right now if you had to?

LS: In my mind- yes. But, I will keep getting better and better with each day. The last couple weeks I will taper it all down so I’m not burnt out and do more just drills and stuff to keep me in shape and sharp. Diet-wise I will get down a couple pounds every week until im at 140 then I’ll hold there until the week of my fight where just working out will burn the last few pounds off.

MCC: Since you first stepped in the cage you’ve always been one of the most exciting fighters. Surely that has helped you build your fan base.

LS: Thank you. I am very excited to fight on this card because it is always one of the biggest of the year and the card looks stacked, so I hope it’s packed like always. I know im bringing a huge crew to come celebrate my new belt.

MCC: Even with your recent set back; a loss on HD Net, it’s good to see you haven’t missed a beat in training or general attitude towards the sport.

LS: That’s just it. You know, after my recent loss at Titan I bounced back in training a lot better than I thought I would. Truthfully, it made me hungrier and showed I can’t be lazy in training no matter what the circumstance.

MCC: Thank you for your time, Laramie. As always, we can’t wait to see you back in the cage, and just as we always say, you’ll probably be involved in Fight of the Night.

LS: Thank you. I want to thank MCC and everyone that has helped me prepare for this and all of my fights. Also, a big thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout the years. It means a lot to me and I hope to be the new MCC bantamweight champion on November 23.

Nutrishop presents, MCC 37 “Thanksgiving Throwdown”, Wednesday, November 23 at Hy Vee Hall, downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Tickets are available on-line at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, by phone at 888-324-5849 and at all Dahl’s Food Store ticket outlets.

For more information on this card, including fighter interviews, video’s and blogs, check out the web site.

Shaffer vs Shutt

Shutt vs. Shaffer II booked for “Thanksgiving Throwdown”

When former champ, Will “The Real Deal” Shutt and Laramie “Contract Killer” Shaffer met at MCC 35, they put on a three-round back and forth war. It couldn’t have been any closer. In fact, when the dust settled, the contest was ruled a draw. With the bantamweight belt open for the taking, both fighters and MCC brass immediately agreed to a rematch to determine the 135lb. champion. The rematch made sense.

Coincidentally, since their bout they have somehow managed to stay on an even keel. Of course, when I say “even” it’s probably not how either envisioned the term.

While Shutt returned to work as a concrete laborer, and Shaffer returned to the gym in preparation for a HD Net televised bout he had scheduled. One toiled away in the Summer’s heat, lugging tons of the earth’s debris, while the other sweated and bled at the gym in hopes that he would take one step further towards the top in his mixed martial arts career.

Then tragedy struck….for both!

On another normal day, just like any other, Shutt was unloading chunks of concrete from a dump truck to a trailer. It’s something he does everyday. No big deal. But when a 200 lb. piece of rock slips out of your hand, falling down on your foot, steel boots or not, you know it’s going to be bad! Shutt knew it right away!

As he drove himself to the hospital he thought the worst. Were his toes still connected to his foot? Would he have to learn to walk again? Would be ever be able to fight again? And the pain! Wow….

When the doctors removed his crushed work boot they discovered his toes were, in fact, still there, but they were mangled and required some work to get them back to normal. At the end of the day he left in a little more pain, a little less worried, and with a cast and crutches as a reminder of the labor of his occupational hazards.

Shaffer’s loss was not quite as gruesome, but equally disheartening, nonetheless.

In his first nationally televised bout he was putting all of his hard work together. Months or preparations were finally paying dividends. And after tooling his opponent for two of their three round bout, Shaffer was on his way to a clear cut win.

Unfortunately his opponent was out to prove the one sure fire rule about this sport; if you make one mistake it could be the last one you make.

Bam! Just seconds into the final frame Shaffer was hit with a flying knee that turned his lights out. And just like that, it was over.

Back to the grind, both of these warriors have put their unfortunate happenings in the past and are both intently focused on their next meeting which has been scheduled for November 23 at MCC’s annual “Thanksgiving Throwdown”

Shutt vs. Shaffer II will co-headline an event which is chock full of talent. They will compete alongside fighters such as UFC alum, Kevin “The Fire” Burns and perennial contender Miguel “El Rey” Rios, Jr., and veteran fighters Ronnie “Warfrog” Britt, Victor Moreno, and many more.

Any fighter who has been in the game long enough can tell you about adversity, both in and out of the game. But it’s not about the setbacks, it’s about picking yourself back up and moving forward in life. Shutt and Shaffer know this, and they’re going to prove it on November 23.

Nutrishop presents, MCC 37 “Thanksgiving Throwdown”, Wednesday, November 23 at Hy Vee Hall, downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Tickets are available on-line at www.MidwestCageChampionship.com, by phone at 888-324-5849 and at all Dahl’s Food Store ticket outlets. For more information on this card, including fighter interviews, video’s and blogs, check out the web site.

MCC 37

MCC gears up for annual Thanksgiving Throwdown, stacks card with top talent

Historically, the Midwest’s most popular promotion reserves its annual Thanksgiving Throwdown event to showcase the area’s top talent, and this year’s event is certain not to disappoint.

With more high profile fights than any other event this year, returning superstars Victor “Superman” Moreno, multi-time UFC vet, Kevin “The Fire” Burns, Miguel “El Rey” Rios, Jr., Ronnie “Warfrog” Britt, bantamweight title contenders Will “The Real Deal” Shutt and Laramie “Contract Killer” Shaffer and a bevy of talented up and comers, are ready to close out 2011 with a bang.

MCC 37 “Thanksgiving Throwdown” is scheduled for Wednesday, November 23 at Hy Vee Hall, downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Tickets for the event, which go on sale this week, are sure to move quickly. Fans can go to www.MidwestCageChampionship.com to reserve theirs today.

MCC officials stated, “If you look at the past five Thanksgiving Throwdown events you’ll see more big-show fighters than any other show in the Midwest. This year not only features some of the best, most popular fighters on the MCC roster, but the undercard itself is totally stacked. If you don’t go to another show all year, this one is a must see.”

Fight fans can keep up to date with all of the action by logging onto the web site. Stay tuned for the full card release as well as video’s, weekly blogs by Kevin Burns and interviews from the Thanksgiving Throwdown fighters.

Jesse Lund

Rick Glenn

MCC 35 Re Cap- Roberts and Glenn go the distance, Lund dominates Poling

The night started out with a bang; technically four of them as the first four of five bouts ending by knockout! Usually such highlight reel performance are witnessed in the latter part of the card, however several fighters, some new to the promotion, were intent on proving their worthiness.

Ryan Fitzgerald vs. RJ Harris

The first bout of the evening pitted two former DMX fighters; MCC retired sister promotion, against one another. RJ Harris and Ryan Fitzgerald opened the show with a feverish pace going at each other from the moment the referee said fight! The first exchange saw Fitzgerald tag Harris with a crisp right that sent the more experienced brawler wobbling, however, when Fitzgerald failed to capitalize on his wounded foe, Harris was able to regain compose and piece together a series of well placed shots to the done of Fitzgerald.

As Fitzgerald tried desperately to avoid the direct hits, it was blood in the water to RJ Harris who continued his assault until Fitzgerald crumbled helplessly on the mat. Unable to defend himself, the referee called a halt to the bout at just 47 seconds of the opening frame.

RJ Harris opens the next chapter in his career as an undefeated MCC fighter with a first round knock out under his belt.

Donte Harris vs. Johnny Wentland

Next up, Johnny “Bananas” Wentland made his third trip into the MCC cage as he welcomed Donte Harris to mixed martial arts. Harris,
a well defined athlete made his MMA debut, and although Wentland was the superior fighter on paper, Harris quickly made the statement
that despite his experience, he was here to play and here to win.

When the fight started Wentland looked to stick and move. Following a brief exchange and tie up, the action hit the mat. It was there that
Harris was able to unload a barrage of jackhammers to the head and body of Wentland. “Bananas” scrambled relentlessly to avoid any
significant damage, but just like the prior bout, once the shark had a taste of blood there was no stopping him.

Donte Harris continued to brutalize the senior fighter until the referee had no choice but to intervene. Harris moves to 1-0 as Wentland heads
back to the drawing board.

Sean Frank vs. Chris Fannon

Bout number three saw two more fighters making their MCC debuts. Sean Frank, a Fort Dodge-based fighter who sported an impressive 4-1 record faced Henry’s Martial Arts trained Chris Fannon.

Since both fighters were known for their willingness to stand in the pocket and trade, the fight was bound to be exciting. Of course, this is mixed martial arts which means their are so many ways to win and so many ways to lose. One mistake and, bam! You’re done…

And Sean Frank proved that.

As the bout opened and the fighters touched gloves, each of them looked to quickly land the money shot. It took one exchange for Frank to make a rookie mistake; don’t forget to bring your hands back to your chin.

That one mistake was all it took for Chris Fannon to land the punch to the chin of Frank which sent him into la-la land. In one of the fastest knock outs in MCC history, Chris Fannon was victorious in just eleven seconds.

An elated Fannon credited all of his hard training in camp and stated that he was eager to get back in as soon as possible. After brining the crowd to their feet I think the fans would like to see him back as soon as possible too.

Mike Owens vs. Nate Hausen

Hasuen made his mixed martial arts debut eleven months ago at MCC Trials. There, he was able to submit his opponent in impressive fashion. He quickly followed that performance us with a knock out win one month later. In his next bout he was stopped in the third round and that prompted a break in action to reflect on his training and hone his skills.

He returned to face Mike Owens. A near mirror image of Hausen, Owens possesses heavy hands, loves to slug it out, but is also willing to go to the mat and grapple. Owens came to MCC with a perfect 2-0 record.

Most of the first round was spent feeling the other one out pawing with jabs and an occasional cross paired with a hard leg kick from time to time. You could, however, tell that each punch was thrown with bad intentions.

Near the end of the first round Hausen, the busier of the two fighters found his range and delivered a combination that looked to be a potential fight-stopper. Owens shook his head as the make the statement that he was un phased. At that point Nate Hausen hit the nitrous button and delivered yet another powerful shot, this time, however, there was no coming back. Owens fell to the ground, but still somewhat coherent. Before Owens hit the floor Nate Hausen knew he was the winner, however the referee still had hope for Owens. Hansen followed up with two shots on the ground that turned off the remaining lights in Owens house.

In what was probably Hausen’s most impressive career performance he deferred on taking credit, rather commending his teammates, specifically Miguel Rios, Jr. for all of their hard work in preparing him. The humble fighter is quickly becoming one of the most popular fighters on the MCC roster.

Frankie Osborn vs. Henry Meza

If back and forth action is what you came to see- look no further than this fight! The fast-rising bantamweight division is known for fighters going at it a hundred miles an hour from start to finish. This bout showcased what the division is all about.

For most of the opening from the two fighters exchanged punches and kicks, takedowns, scrambles, knees and clinch work. At the end of the round neither fighter looked to have lost any steam.

The second round opened at the same pace until a mis-timed takedown attempt put Meza in a vulnerable position to accept an array of strikes from Osborn as he exchanged fro back mount to side mount. By the end of the second, Osborn was starting to pull away on the judges scorecards.

When the third round began Osborn seemed the fresher of the two as he went to work to get back to the dominant position that won the second round for him. When the fight made it’s way back the standing position Meza was clearly going for broke, but it was Osborn, who stayed composed enough to deliver the knock out punch to seal the deal.

The fight, which was clearly a top candidate for fight of the night netted Meza the prestigious Heart of a Warrior award, while Osborn was presented with the Anglo Diamond/Polanti “Heavy Hitter” accolade and a brand new Polanti watch to show for his efforts.

Meza stated that he was dropping down in weight class to compete at 125 lbs. Osborn, who looks dominant in the bantamweight division is definitely someone to keep your eyes on.

Tanner McClure vs. Isaac Adamson

The undefeated Adamson, another fighter from the Henry’s Martial Arts camp is another one of the quickly rising stars in MCC’s featherweight division. Known as one of the hardest working fighters in the gym, Adamson set out to make quick work of the MCC newbie; Tanner McClure.

The bout took just moments before it went to the ground. It was there that Adamson moved effortlessly as he passed McClure’s guard and had his opponent reeling from punches. Adamson was able to open up a cut on the outmatched fighter, but is was after several unanswered shots that the referee was forced to intervene.

Adamson, who is currently campaigning for a spot at AKA, the Fresno, California based MMA gym that houses UFC Heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez and perennial welterweight contenders MIke Swick, Josh Koscheck and John Fitch, keeps his perfect record in tact, while McClure falls to 2-2.

Tom Ahrens vs. Josh Henry

Following a trio of unsuccessful win attempts, former MCC featherweight champion Josh “Bam Bam” Henry did not settle for a lesser opponent when he made his return to the cage. Instead he agreed to face the gritty, in your face scrapper, Tom “To the Top” Ahrens. Henry wrote on his Facebook account prior to the fight that he was excited to let his hands go in this fight. Henry, who has a Tae Kwon Do pedigree has found most of his success by taking his opponents to the ground and pounding them into submission.

Once the bout got underway the two exchanged a series of punches, kicks and knees, but it was Henry who initiated the ground game. From the bottom Ahrens attempted a few different submission, but Henry was able to power out every time.

Ahrens hung tough throughout the first and second round.

However, once Henry was able to work himself into a dominant position, securing the back of Ahrens, he was able to sink in the choke forcing the tap. Clearly frustrated, Ahrens, being the good sport raised his opponents arm in victory. Henry, after thanking his camp and fight fans, campaigned for a match up with UFC vet Ryan Roberts who was slated to fight in the co-main event later in the night.

Laramie Shaffer vs. Will Shutt

Since the bantamweight belt has been recently vacated, this fight was essentially to crown the king of the division, but with little time to prepare for a five round title fight, this bout was officially scheduled for three- five minute rounds to decide the number one contender.

The bout did not disappoint.

Shaffer and Shutt have both had their fair share of ups and downs in the cage, so both fighters put in extra work throughout this training camp.

Again, they did not disappoint.

Neither fighter ever looked better. Shaffer, the better wrestler was able to control the action on the ground, but for once, he did not rely sole on his grappling abilities as he welcomed the stand up exchange. Shutt, who has proven he has devastating power in both hands and legs alike was comfortable on his back! Mixed martial arts, anyone?

The fight, going into the third was dangerously close. Both fighters went for broke. Shutt tried to take Shaffers head off with punches, and when the fight went to the ground, Shaffer tried to rip Shutt’s head off with a choke.

In the end the judges saw the bout as a draw. The crowd saw an amazing display of skills from both and MCC officials saw enough to warrant a rematch later this year- this time, it will officially be for the title. Stay tuned!

Van Meer vs. Green

The next bout pitted two former middleweight champions against each other. Mike Van Meer, the uber-experienced former champ asked for a rematch against the man who stole his belt from him three years ago; Brian “Smokin” Green.

With both fighters coming off losses in their last MCC appearances, it was a must win situation for both.

Looking at their records, each on of these guys have fought the who’s who in the sport. If you look at every Midwestern fighter in the welterweight or middleweight division that has made their way to the UFC or Strikeforce, you can rest assured that one of these guys have fought them. With well over one hundred fights between the two of them, this bout was truly a display of MMA past and present.

Green, who is a college student and gym owner wanted to put on a new display of skills for fight fans and students alike. Attempting to erase the slam-knockout from the memories of anyone who saw that bout, Green said that he wanted to put on a performance that conveyed he still had it and he’d be champ again someday. He stated that he wanted, more than anything, to get a knock out of his own.

Van Meer, the more reserved of the two did not make any predictions other than saying he has become a different fighters over the past three years.

And the fight was great!

Green gave his best effort to throw everything and the kitchen sink, including a jump kick off the fence ala former WEC champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. Van Meer fared well on his feet, but found most of his success taking Green to the mat almost at will.

Judges had Van Meer up on the scorecards two rounds to none going into the third and final round. When Van Meer got Green to the ground it appeared as if “Mini Van” may have rolled his way to a decision victory. Green however, is never one to be counted out. As Van Meer got lazy and left an arm dangling, Green transitioned from kimura to arm bar. As Van Meer attempted to power out of the submission attempt, Green was able to arch his back and secure the lock. Van Meer was forced to tap or have his arm snapped.

Following the victory commencement, Mike Van Meer addressed the crowd to thank his fans and MCC for all of the fights and memories throughout the years before he announced taking time away from the sport to get his weight in tact, possibly retiring.

Ryan Roberts vs. Rick Glenn

In the co-main event of the evening, UFC veteran Ryan “Are You Ready” Roberts challenged the current MCC featherweight champion, Rick ” The Gladiator” Glenn for his belt. Glenn, who owns a pair of wins over Josh Henry as well as wins over Joe Morris and MCC lightweight champ Johnny “Hollywood” Case has been virtually unstoppable over the last two years. Roberts who has been racking up several wins since his lone UFC appearance, was looking for the win to put him over the top and back on the radar of a national event.

The bout was scheduled for five- five minute rounds, and although it went the distance, the fight, from start to finish can be summed up in one sentence: Roberts punched and circled while Glenn stalked and punched.

Round one looked like round four. Round three looked like rounds two and five. There was, however, one takedown initiated by Roberts, and Glenn was able to open up a pretty nasty cut above the right eye of Roberts.

Other than that, the bout was pretty even! And that’s where problems arise….

Whether you’re watching a regional show or the superbowl of mixed martial arts; the UFC, the issue remains the same. If you leave the fight up to the judges to decide you are spinning the dice. You never know what they score more; damage, control, takedowns, striking, etc. It’s a problem throughout the sport.

In the end the bout was ruled a draw. Glenn retains the belt and is still the MCC featherweight champion.

It was a bittersweet ending to a fast paced, well displayed skills fight.

Poling vs. Lund

The main event of the evening put MCC light heavyweight champion, Jesse Lund, in front of his first opponent since winning the title four months ago. Eric Poling, a 12-6 fighter from Illinois made his MCC debut in an attempt to dethrone the champion.

It was not likely to happen according to pre-fight banter from the champ. Lund called it as he saw it.

“Poling is okay at best. I’ve watched a couple of his fights, but he is cocky and does not have the skills to back up his talk. If he thinks he’s going to come into my house and take my belt away he’s got another thing coming. When he steps in the cage he’s going to get beat up quick.”

Being a man of his word, Lund’s game plan was simple; make him miss, make him pay, and if given the opportunity, punish him until he quits.

And, that’s pretty much what happened.

Poling looked to land strikes, using his reach advantage, but Lund was able to close the distance following a brief exchange. Once inside, Lund literally rag-dolled is opponent to the ground and unleashed one of the most brutal elbow assaults in MMA history. He would have given Tito Ortiz a run back when Tito was the king of elbows!

After splitting Poling’s dome open like a melon the referee had watched enough and graciously saved Poling from any additional damage.

Following the bout Poling stated, “This was probably the worst ass whipping I’ve ever gotten. It kind of makes a guy wonder if he’s got what it takes to belong in this sport. I’m going to take some time to reflect, but this is probably the last time I will step back in the cage. This fight kind of knocked some reality into me.”

Lund improves his record to 11-3 and marks his fifth consecutive win. As promised, the belt goes home to Greenfield, Iowa.

With another great night of fights in the books, the next event has already been announced. Nutrishop presents, MCC 36: “Back in Action”. Set for Friday, September 23 at Hy Vee Hall tickets for the event will be available within the next two weeks. The evening will feather a main event with former champ and two-time UFC veteran Joe “The Southside Strangler” Brammer as well as popular fighters Ronnie “Warfrog” Britt, Josh “Bull” Christensen and fast rising star, Luis Saldana. Visit www.MidwestCageChampionship.com for more information.

MCC 35 Quick Results

Ryan Fitzgerald v RJ Harris – Harris by KO

Donte Harris v Johnny Wentland – Harris by RNC

Sean Frank v Chris Fannon – Fannon by KO

Mike Owens v Nate Hausen – Hausen by KO

Frankie Osborn v Henry Meza – Osborn by KO

Tanner McClure v Isaac Adamson – Adamson by TKO

Tom Ahrens v Josh Henry – Henry by RNC

Laramie Shaffer v Will Shutt – 3 round Draw

Mike VanMeer v Brian Green – Green by Armbar

Ryan Roberts v Rick Glenn – 5 round draw

Eric Poling v Jesse Lund – Lund Rd 1 1:25 TKO

Chris Fannon

Shaffer vs Shutt

Roberts vs Glenn

Jesse Lund

Fight Path: Whether breaking horses or opponents, Laramie Shaffer credits focus for success

Most people, from the moment he stepped into the cage as an amateur, expected Laramie Shaffer to be a wrestler.

He was a wrestler, of course. By that time, about two years ago, he had become one of the most successful high school wrestlers in Iowa’s storied history in the sport. Then he had wrestled at Iowa State, a respected college program.

But when he got in the cage, he used the same confidence and swagger he learned breaking ponies and horses as a summer job in his rural community and did what people didn’t expect.

“They were expecting me to wrestle, but I banged with the kid,” Shaffer toldMMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “It ended up being a knockout in about 30 seconds.”

Nearly as quickly, Shaffer has transformed from a college wrestler into an MMA fighter on the verge of a title fight. After two straight wins helped him reach a 2-2 record 13 months into his professional career, Shaffer will take on Will Shutt at Friday’s Midwest Cage Championship show in Des Moines.

With a win, Shaffer could find himself fighting for a belt – like the two championship fights on Friday’s card, Ryan Roberts vs. Rick Glenn for the featherweight title and Eric Poling against Jesse Lund for the light heavyweight belt.

As a 23-year-old bantamweight now living in Omaha, Shaffer would welcome the challenge. His work ethic was built in a hard-driving horse ranch family and continued as a wrestler who was regularly smaller than his early years opponents.

He feels his career is progressing, and he’s ready for the next challenge.

“I was offered this fight once before, but I wasn’t in a spot to take it,” Shaffer said. “I wanted to take a few more fights, get some more experience. I think I’m closer to that now.”

On the farm

Shaffer grew up in a community about 20 minutes south of Des Moines. Without a previous family history in wrestling, Shaffer started in the sport as a young boy, and he was skilled immediately.

His main skill? Being able to pay attention.

“When you’re little, it’s just about getting the concept of the sport,” he said. “The good ones at that age, they can really focus on the basics. I just knew I was trying to put the guy on his back, and the better I did, the more points I got.”

Shaffer could concentrate for long periods from an early age, and that can be traced to his environment. His was a farming community, and his family lived on a horse ranch.

While the community was supporting his wrestling efforts, Shaffer was building other skills in the summer job with his part-time job of breaking ponies and horses for friends’ families.

That has helped him in his MMA career.

“It’s all about your attitude,” Shaffer said. “If you go up scared and nervous, the horse senses that. If you go up calm, they respond well.

“Mental toughness has always been a strength of mine. I’ve known so many guys who get nervous before a (wrestling) match or a fight, puking, freaking out. That wears on your body, but I don’t really get nervous.”

His nerves and skill helped Shaffer win two state championships in Iowa while building a 189-12 high school record. He went to Iowa State, where he wrestled for three years before an injury caused him to take a redshirt season, and his finished his college career at Augustana College.

By that time, he had already found an interest in MMA.

Not just a wrestler

Shaffer began noticing MMA when he was finishing up high school. He took part in some bar shows around that time by lying about his age, saying he was 18, one year older than he really was.

“My last one, I broke a kid’s arm, and I thought I would wait to get serious until I was done with wrestling,” Shaffer said. “I didn’t want to get hurt – or hurt someone else.”

While at Iowa State, Shaffer had a friend who served as a referee with Midwest Cage Championship, and that friend encouraged Shaffer to get into an amateur show. He tried it, and he liked the striking as much as the wrestling, which not many expected.

When he finished his college wrestling career, Shaffer became more committed to MMA. He found jobs as a landscape architect – designing the landscapes around homes and offices – which provided some flexibility to train.

He took his first professional fight in June 2010, a decision loss at an MCC show. He lost again the next month, starting his career at 0-2.

But Shaffer rebounded quickly. In his last two MCC appearances, he has earned two knockout wins by punches. He has continued adding standup skills to his wrestling resume.

“I haven’t had as many fights as I want, but I didn’t really want to use my wrestling too much,” he said. “I wanted to show people I could do more than that.”

While working, Shaffer has continued to stay in shape and remain near his college wrestling weight of 133 pounds. He has proven to have the mental capability from his horse-breaking days, the work ethic from a farm community and the multiple skills beyond wrestling.

Now it’s about getting some wins.

“If I win this, I can probably get set up for a title fight,” he said. “Then I can keep moving forward.”