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MMA
in FL: The First Licensed Event
Submitted by: Joseph Cunliffe
Posted On
08/04/2002
The Florida State Boxing Commission
licensed its first professional Mixed Martial Arts event on
Saturday, July 20, 2002. The first World Shin Do Kumaté Bouts
were held at the Pinellas Expo Center in St. Petersburg,
Florida.
The Shin Do Kumaté' Bouts were created by
Master Mehrdad Khan Moayedi, the founder, creator, & owner
of the World Shin Do Kumaté Association. Also based out of St.
Petersburg, this exclusive Martial Arts Dojang was established
in 1993.
Originally from Persia, Moayedi is the
President of Kong Shin Bup Hapkido and a Disciple of Tae Keuk
Do Grand Master Inn Shuk Pak as a 6th Dan Black Belt. Moayedi
is also a 4th generation of Persian Kushti Kaj (self-defense
and grappling art) from Iran.
Moayedi has devoted 30
years of study and active participation in these traditional
martial art systems. In addition, Moavedi is an active fighter
in full contact fights. Moavedi has been selected three times
for the K-1 competition.
The night started with an
amateur fight between Amanda Calderon from Miami, FL
and Dawn Montague from Bradenton, FL. Calderon, just
14-years-old, has 10 years experience in American Kenpo &
Goju Ryu as a junior Black Belt. She has been a student of
Master Mehrdad's for just under 1 year and specializes in
Shaolin Kung Fu. She fought at 5'2', 128lbs. Her record
includes 1996, 1997, and 1998 FBBA State Champion for her
fighting division. Montague, who comes to the ring from
Hollobaugh Karate in Bradenton, FL is 25-years-old, 5'3,
122lbs and has been training in Kickboxing for approximately 7
months with an amateur record of 1-0-1. She is a mother of
one.
The first two rounds of this fight were dominated
by Calderon who knocked Montague down 3 times with straight
kicks to the chest. Montague however came on strong in the
third round with several quick combinations which brought the
final score to a draw.
The second bout of the
evening was between Larry Jarrett and Travis
Crawford. Jarrett is 30-years-old and came to the Kumaté
from the Mike Hollobaugh Thai Boxing School in Bradenton, FL.
He weighed in at 160lbs, stands 5'10, and sports 39-9 record.
Crawford came to the Kumaté from Bob Robare's Diamond Dutchman
Muay Thai gym in Orlando, FL. He fought at 6', 163lbs, and is
28-years-old.
This was a fast moving bout with both
fighters landing many kicks and punches. Jarrett however was
the more aggressive fighter and demonstrated excellent
blocking techniques. These skills were what resulted in
Jarrett's the win by decision.
The third bout
featured James Routson and Michael Shoffener.
Rouston, also from Bob Robare's Diamond Dutchman Muay Thai gym
in Orlando, FL fought at 173lbs. His record is 2-1, with both
wins from KO's. Shoeffener, who drove to Florida from his home
in Mexico for the fight, weighed in at 180lbs. His record is
2-1 and he has fought in Tiger's World of Martial Arts under
Amateur Muay Thai rules. He specializes in Thai Boxing/Shoot
Fighting.
Shoffener came out aggressively and was
working Rouston over well, although Rouston blocked most of
the incoming blows and kicks. When Shoffener started to get
slightly winded, Routson took advantage and delivered 6
devastating knees to Softener's head, the first one opening a
3-inch gash on his forehead that ultimately ended the fight
with a technical knockout in the first round.
The
fourth bout was between Joel Collins and Eric 'The
Hurricane' Marshall. Collins is from Las Vegas, NE and is
145lbs and 19-years-old. He holds a Blue Sash in Shaolin Kung
Fu from the World Shin Do Kumaté' Association under Master
Moayedi, and has fought in Tiger's World of Martial Arts under
Amateur Muay Thai rules. Marshall came to the fight from
Bradenton, FL, where he trains under Master Mike Hollobaugh's
school.
Both fighters were very aggressive in the
first round of this fight, with Collins delivering the more
powerful and effective hits. Two minutes into the round
however, Marshall delivered a strong left hook which rocked
Collins back, causing him to twist his foot - breaking it and
damaging one of his tendons to give Marshall the win by TKO.
The fifth and most exciting bout of the evening
was between Kedric Umaa and Dekin 'The Dragon'.
Umaa fights out of Miami, FL where he trains at the Unified
Martial Arts Academy under Dwight Woods, specializing in Thai
Kickboxing. In his 3 years of experience he has amassed a
record of 4-1-0. He weighed in at 170lbs. Dekin holds a green
belt in Hapkido from Master Mehrdad's Shin Do Kumaté
Association in St. Petersburg, FL. He fought 175lbs and is
28-years-old.
Although this was Dekin's first
professional fight, he was by far the most challenging
opponent of the evening. His natural abilities showed against
Umaa's much more experienced style. While Umaa was able to
land several knees to Dekin's face, Dekin countered several of
Umaa's kicks with takedowns. Umaa showed visible frustration
with Dekin's abilities and resorted to verbal taunts for which
the judge warned him to stop. This bout went the full 4
rounds, with the close decision going to Umaa.
The
sixth and final bout was between Stefan ButinBik and
Kirk Bovell. ButinBik is from Holland and fought at
135lbs and is 32-years-old. His record was 2-1 with his last
fight being an under card match at Dan Severn's 'Caged
Combat.' He trained at Maeng Ho gym in Breda Holland in Maui
Thai. His amateur record was an impressive 61-7. Bovell came
from Barbados to fight at 138lbs and is 24-years-old. His
extensive training experience includes 7 years in Muay Thai
and 3 years in Jun Fan Gung Fu Fighting, with an amateur
record 6-2-1 with 2 TKO's and a professional record of 2-0-0
with both wins by TKO.
This fight was very evenly
matched with both fighters landing many kicks and blows.
ButinBik landed a pounding spinning back kick to Bovell's
midsection in the first round to set the pace for the
remainder of the fight. Bovell returned the favor with several
hard roundhouse punches landing to ButinBik head. Although
Bovell won the fight by a decision after four rounds, ButinBik
was able to raise a massive welt on Bovell's left thigh that
would have taken a lesser man out of the ring.
The
next Shin Do Kumaté Bouts is scheduled for October 26, 2002 at
the Pinellas Expo Center in St. Petersburg Florida, in which
Master Mehrdad plans to fight the Heavyweight Main Event title
bout to promote his style.
The World Shin Do Kumaté
Association is located at 3028-A 9th Street, North, St.
Petersburg, FL 33704. The telephone number is: 727-823-8914.
More information can be found at MasterMehrdad.com
Joseph Cunliffe with Bill Clement
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