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Talent Filled Local Feature Fights finalize Bellator 31 in Lake Charles, LA on Thursday Sept. 30th
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
CHICAGO, Ill. (September 27, 2010) - Bellator Fighting Championships today announced the Local Feature Fights for Bellator 31 taking place at the L’Auberge du Lac Resort in Lake Charles, LA on September 30th. Headlining the local main event is hard-hitting Baton Rouge native Shawn Jordan (9-1) facing off against well rounded Oklahoma native Mark Holata (4-2) in heavyweight action.
In the local co-main event of the evening, two Southern-based lightweights square off when Lake Charles’ own Kyle Miers (1-0) meets Mississippi’s John Harris (2-3) in a fight that should have fans on their feet.
Two undefeated fighters meet when fast-rising Mike Chandler (3-0) faces off with Scott Stapp (2-0) in a 165 lbs. catchweight clash sure to be an exciting fight.
Rounding out the card will be two Louisiana natives fighting for home state pride as Tim Ruberg (2-0) takes on Aaron Davis (1-2) in middleweight action.
“Our local fight card gives fans a chance to see some of the best talent Louisiana has to offer,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “We’re excited to bring Bellator’s unique tournament format to a place that appreciates world-class MMA.
Bellator 31′s main card includes:
- The Bellator Women’s Tournament moves into the semifinals when the world’s top pound-for-pound female fighter Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii (21-0) squares off against veteran submission specialist Lisa Ward (14-5-1) in a highly anticipated rematch for one of the two spots in the World Championship fight.
- The Women’s Tournament continues with explosive knockout artist Zoila “Warrior Princess” Frausto (8-1) taking on dangerous submission finisher Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (9-3) for the second spot in the women’s final.
- And a Bellator Welterweight Qualifying match rounds out the main card as highly regarded undefeated prospect Chris “The Assassin” Lozano (5-0) meets dangerous UFC veteran Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida (11-5). Lozano looks to keep his impressive knockout streak intact, as the Cleveland native has recorded every victory via KO or TKO.
Tickets for the event – which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net along with action-packed highlight shows that will air on NBC Saturday nights – are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on        Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago. Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.
Stretch It Out!
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
Why is it important to be flexible? Many people think of flexibility as something that results from a sport or exercise routine, such as yoga, pilates, ballet, gymnastics, etc. But flexibility is an important part of everyday life. Flexibility improves strength and overall good health. When you get more flexible, you’ll find that you have a greater range of motion, that you are able to perform tasks with greater ease, and you’ll suffer fewer injuries. Best of all, flexibility can add a great deal to your success in sports. If you are an avid golfer, swimmer, love to play basketball, baseball, or volleyball, you’ll be amazed at how your performance changes when you focus your efforts to get more flexible.
You can improve your flexibility by adding a static and dynamic (ballistic and PNF) flexibility exercises to your daily routine. Static flexibility exercises are slow, constant stretching of muscles, held for at least 30 seconds. Some examples of static flexibility exercises include calf stretches and hamstring stretches. Static stretches can also incorporate isometric and PNF stretching techniques to considerably increase their effectiveness. Dynamic flexibility exercises use muscle movement to increase your range of motion. Typically these exercises – examples include leg and arm swings, side bends, toe touches – are initially performed at low to moderate speeds, with a controlled motion. Gradually, over time you will be able to increase your range of movement, extend further, and increase speed.
Both static and dynamic flexibility exercises work at lengthening the connective tissues that surround your muscles. This lengthening of the tissues provides an increase in your ability to extend your arms or legs in a natural movement. This movement is termed your range of motion. As you improve your flexibility, you’ll find that it becomes easier to move your joints – knees, shoulders, elbows, etc. You’ll also be able to move these joints to a greater length or extend them further.
When you make an effort to get more flexible, you’ll notice improvements in your everyday life and in your sports. You’ll be able to swim faster, throw balls further, have a greater controlled and stronger golf swing. Increased flexibility will pay off even if you aren’t active in sports. As you work to get more flexible, you’ll notice common household tasks, such as vacuuming, yard work, and lifting, all become easier to do. You’ll notice that your overall strength and endurance has increased.
How To Stretch
There are three methods of stretching: static, ballistic, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). Static is the method recommended for the majority of athletes since it is the least likely to cause injury. Ballistic (bouncing) and PNF stretching are probably best reserved for a select few who are experienced with their use. To get the most benefit from your static stretching routine while minimizing injury, stretching should be done after warm-up exercises. The increased blood flow to the muscles aids in the flexibility gains from stretching and is an important component for injury prevention. Static stretching is done by slowly moving a joint towards it’s end-range of motion. A gentle “pulling” sensation should be felt in the desired muscle. This position is then held for 15 – 20 seconds. Do not stretch to the point of pain and do not bounce since this may cause injury to the muscle. Within a session, each subsequent stretch of a particular muscle group seems to give progressively more flexibility. A set of 3 to 5 stretches is probably sufficient to get the maximum out of the routine. Alternate between agonist and antagonist muscle groups (eg. quadriceps and hamstrings), and alternate sides. It is also a good idea to start with the neck and progress down to the feet. This enables you to take advantage of gains in flexibility from the previously stretched muscle groups. Stretching should also be done after the workout. The post-workout stretch is thought to aid in recovery. Cold packs can be applied to sore areas in those of you who are recovering from injuries.
As you work to get more flexible, you’ll suffer fewer injuries, your posture will improve and your muscles won’t be as sore when you exert yourself or exercise. Flexibility pays off big – it’s not just for gymnasts.
Kaensak Sor Ploenjit Seminar at LA Boxing Baton Rouge
Monday, September 27th, 2010
Meet Legendary Muay Thai Fighter Kaensak Sor Ploenjit
BLACK BELT
World ‘s Leading Magazine of Martial Arts
By Mark Jacobs
If you’re an average martial artist and I tell you that Randy Couture or Georges St-Pierre is teaching down the street, chances are you’d be pretty excited. If I tell you Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard is in town, even if you’re not a boxing fan, you’ll still probably have a jolt of pleasant recognition. But if I tell you Kaensak Sor Ploenjit is nearby doing a seminar, how many of you would know who I’m talking about, let alone run out to participate? That’s unfortunate because in the world of muay Thai, the name Kaensak is as famous as any of those others.
One of the few fighters to be the champ at both Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadiums in Bangkok—the two major promoters of muay Thai there—and the first athlete to be named fighter of the year in Thailand two years in a row, Kaensak is as famous a figure in his native country as he is unknown in the United States. This may explain how he could now be living right across the river in New Jersey without my knowing anything about it until I happened to hear he was conducting a seminar in the Bronx.
William Rivera, owner of Lions Roar muay Thai gym, was well aware of Kaensak’s reputation after having lived and trained in Thailand for several years. There, he got the chance to watch the champ compete on numerous occasions. When the now-retired Kaensak moved to New Jersey to teach at Tribe MMA, Rivera leapt at the opportunity to bring him to his school.
“It’s an honor to have him here,†said Rivera, himself one of the most experienced muay Thai coaches in the metropolitan area. “No one in New York knows half of what he knows.â€
Born Pongsak Cheawchan, Kaensak garnered his experience the hard way, moving into a muay Thai camp at age 9. There, the young fighters would rise every day at 5 a.m. and train for two hours, then go to school. When they were done with their studies, they’d train another four hours before being allowed dinner and sleep. That went on for six days a week. On their “day off,†they trained for only two hours. Kaensak had his first professional fight at 10, winning by knockout. He kneed his opponent in the stomach so hard the other boy threw up.
It’s safe to say that child-safety laws are probably less common in Thailand than in America.
The son of a muay Thai fighter, the youngster learned the brutal techniques of the sport quickly and was given the ring name Kaensak, or “core of strength.†At 13, he fought his first bout at Rajadamnern and won by decision. In 1989, at 19, he bagged the flyweight championship at Lumpinee, then the title at Rajadamnern. That year, he went undefeated and earned the nation’s fighter-of-the-year award. In 1990 he was undefeated going into his final match of the year at Rajadamnern against another unbeaten fighter, Taveesaklek. Stepping up to 116 pounds, Kaensak won a decision and an unprecedented second award.
Watching him demonstrate moves to students at Lions Roar, it was clear why he had such success. His movements were crisp, precise and filled with the kind of power you don’t want to get hit by. Every time he landed a roundhouse kick on a pad, it sounded like a bullwhip cracking. His knee strikes, making contact with the inside of the thigh, smacked the other man’s arms with a vicious noise. Although he weighs less than 130 pounds, there was no doubt that if he hit you flush with the harder part of his knee, a hospital stay might be in order.
“His technique is very impressive,†said Yeudy Decastro, an amateur muay Thai fighter who attended the seminar. “He’s good, good, good. He’s very technical.†Moving with a practiced ease, his footwork and body mechanics stood out more than anything. Clinching with a partner, he demonstrated an agile skipping motion to the side and then exploded back in the other direction, leaping into a knee strike that would probably break ribs if it landed. Just as casually, he pivoted and threw his opponent to the ground with a quick wrench of the neck.
Now 40, the veteran of more than 200 bouts prides himself on having been an all-around fighter. “I think my style was the best because I used everything,†Kaensak said. “If you just have a strong punch but can’t hit your opponent with it, that’s no good. I like to use kicks, punches, knees, elbows, clinches, combinations—everything.†There’s one thing that’s even more important than technique, he said. “Heart is No. 1. If you get hurt and say, ‘Oh no, I’m going to die,’ and just go home, you can’t win. You have to want to fight.â€
Yes, to be great you have to want to fight. But doing it with Kaensak probably wouldn’t be a good idea.
