of southeastern Utah, and today there are only 14,000. I can’t help but contemplate the dynamics of such a large number of people. Certainly there must have been a thriving community that encompassed a somewhat complex economy and social structure. Today visitors from around the world come to this region that is promoted as Utah’s Canyon Country, a term that is used primarily because county boundaries are ambiguous lines for travelers. However, within the confines of San Juan County you will also find Canyonlands National Park, Monument valley Tribal Park, valley of the Gods, Lake Powell and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Hovenweep National Monument, and just like the Energizer Bunny the list just keeps on going. In my position it is sometimes a challenge to find positive things to say about a destination. In this case my only difficulty has been deciding how I can find additional time to personally explore more of Utah’s Canyon Country.
Interested in More Information?
To learn more, visit www.UtahsCanyonCountry.com. Look for their new Website and video in February 2012.
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éntries
Title WRITTEN By name | PHOTO By name
Niat dolore doluptat. Elenisi. Gueraestrud te tet volut lummy nulla facil has been init lam,training con veliquisin ad Martial Arts since he was 14 years old.erostrud He ismod a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Ace ming enibh MartialteArts also a Black Belt in All American do od and moditis adiam, Jiu Jitsu. He isent undefeated at 7-0 with 6 of wins by sum vercincip am, se submission. is the number 1 ranked lightweight dipeum zzrilitHe nullandreet, in the corperostrud state of Utah, and has a win over UFC fighter doleniam Ramsey Nijem. He has a very aggressive attacking style with excellent stand up striking as well as an amazing ground game.
Gordon “Flash” Bell
THE MEN’S ISSUE 2012
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The Battle for Recognition CFC is Gaining Strength in Southern Utah
WRITTEN BY Angelee Irvin | PHOTOS BY Tammi Swanson
Stroll into any neighborhood and if they’re playing basketball on one corner, football on the next, soccer on the third and a fight breaks out on the fourth, suddenly everyone’s running to watch the fight. Handto-hand combat is strangely irresistible.
T
hese days the national street corner is on TV and live at the events, where millions are now being drawn to a new kind of fight called “mixed martial arts” or MMA. Not long ago the sport was banned as too vicious for decent society. But mixed martial arts came back swinging. In April, a fight on the Spike cable channel was watched by more viewers than the NBA playoff game broadcast at the same time. Respect, Discipline and a Lifetime of Training and skill is what we think of when we hear the word KARATE. Muhammad Ali is who we think of when we hear the word BOXING. Mix them together and you get Mixed Martial Arts. MMA is a sport that allows both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiujitsu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Karate, Judo and other styles. Being a master in just one of these types of technical fighting takes a lifetime. You can only imagine the training and commitment one must have to be a master at all of them combined. Although there are weight classes, the skill of the fighter is what determines the outcome of the fight.
Aaron Reis (trainer and co-founder of the CFC) passionate about the win of his trainee Gordon “Flash” Bell.
Although there are weight classes, the skill of the fighter is what determines the outcome of the fight.
Scott Ford was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to St.
Aaron “Ace” Reis is a 6x world martial arts champion with 30
George with his wife, Grace, in 2002. He has operated several businesses in Southern Utah and started training at Fusion MMA about 2 1/2 years ago. He also partnered with Aaron Reis and created CFC. He decided to become an MMA promoter because he loves the sport and wants the local fighters to be able to perform in front of their home crowd. He and Grace have two children: Ethan, age 8, and Zachary, age 6.
+ years of training. Having trained numerous champions in karate and jiu jitsu he started training fighters for MMA events and FUSION MMA was born. He has been very successful with his fighters and has built one of the best and well respected teams in the state with some top fighters.
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THE MEN’S ISSUE 2012
MMA LINGO: Triangle Choke – A hold where the opponent uses their own legs to isolate and squeeze the neck and one arm of their opponent. Tapout – Tapping three times on the mat or opponent, that they give up and concede defeat
Cris “Kill Switch” Rogers
He has been training 2 years at Fusion MMA and has an undefeated record of 3 - 0. Cris is a young up-and-coming lightweight fighter with vicious striking skills as he has stopped everyone in the first round. With a solid base for jiu jitsu and a excellent takedown defense, Cris is truly a fighter with a strong skill set. Match that with his endless effort and hard work, and you have a true contender that will be making a big name for himself in the near future.
Takedown – Any way by which one opponent can bring the other opponent to the ground with a maneuver. Fish Hooking – The illegal move of putting fingers in an opponent’s mouth and then ‘hooking’ inside the cheek area. Armbar – A common hold when an opponent’s arm is being straightened out between the instigator’s thighs, before being bent and hyperextended at the elbow to the point of “Tapping Out”. Double Leg Takedown A takedown similar to a football tackle, a fighter lowers his head and hooks both legs with his arms and applies pressure to the defender’s body, which drives the fighter to the ground. Sweep – A technique used when the bottom fighter switches positions with the top fighter, and generally occurs as a result of a failed submission attempt, strike or scramble. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – A U.S.-based mixed martial arts promotion and is widely recognized as the largest MMA promotion in the world. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC out of Las vegas, Nevada. The UFC has grown from a single-even tournament based on Brazilian vale tudo fighting.
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THINGS TO KNOW
About Crown Fighting Championships (CFC) MMA Fights:
1. MMA Is The Fastest Growing sports organization in the world. 2. MMA Is Considered To Be Safer Than Boxing because once a fighter is knocked out, they are not given a chance to get up and continue fighting. In boxing, if a fighter gets up within 10 seconds, the fight goes on. 3. Fighters’ Safety Is Top Priority. If the ref feels that a fighter is not intelligently defending himself, they will not allow him to keep competing. 4. Why A Cage? When competing in a ring, a fighter can go rolling out onto the floor. In a cage, a fighter may find himself pressed up against the fence, but he won’t fall out. The cage is also used to assist in maneuvers during a fight. 5. A Championship Fight Goes For 5 Rounds at 5 minutes each. (A non-title fight goes for 3 rounds at 5 minutes each.) 6. Lots Of Rules. No Head Butting, Eye Gouging, Biting, Spitting at an opponent, Hair pulling, Fish Hooking, Groin Attacks of any kind, and many more rules. 7. Only Trained Fighters Are Allowed In The Cage. A wide variety of skills are needed to be an MMA fighter. Without intense training and a trainer’s approval the fighter is not allowed to fight. 8. Every CFC Event Has Top Trained And Skilled local Southern Utah fighters in a bout with other skilled fighters from all around the country. 9. The Local CFC Was Created To Showcase Our Local Southern Utah Fighters and give the local community an event unique from any other. Men, Women and families frequent the quarterly events held at the Dixie Center. 10. Fighters Are Required To Use Special Gloves with a little bit of padding over the knuckles. There’s padding under the fighters’ feet, and they pad the fence.
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