M Resort set to host MMA Xplosion tonight

By Allison Duck

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 | 2:42 a.m.

MMA Xplosion will host the first-ever mixed martial arts event at The M Resort tonight.

A mix of professional and amateur fights, the MMA Xplosion will also feature a unique “halftime” show before the professionals take to the ring. The presentation will consist of a “tricking battle” featuring local mixed partial artist Rory Bratter.

MMA Xplosion co-founder Rani John said the “trick battle is like mixed martial arts meets "Ka". It is like how break dancers battle against each other. They’re not going to actually be hitting each other. However, they will be doing flips and tricks. They jump and flip and spin. It really is unbelievable. I believe this is the wave of the future.”

Rory Bratter, a mixed martial artist with 20 years of experience, used to work with Ka and now impresses crowds with his “tricking” moves.

“It’s actually martial arts meets acrobatics. Capoeira [Brazilian fight dance] has very big influences on tricking,” Bratter said.

“We take basic martial arts techniques and make them more advanced by adding tricks and flips. The guy who throws the biggest moves usually wins,” he said.

Though these flashy moves are likely to impress the crowd, the real focus of the event is the professional and amateur fights on the card.

In addition to the co-main events in the professional division, there will be a heavyweight battle between Kelly Gray and Josh Burns.

Local fighter Odis Ruiz of Filipino MMA will be making his pro debut against Xtreme Couture’s Mike Dizak.

Three amateur titles will be on the line in the 135-, 170- and 185-pound weight classes.

The amateur fights will be sanctioned by Kick International with three three-minute rounds, while the pros will fight three five-minute rounds, except for the main event. It will be five five-minute rounds.

The majority of the fight card consists of local fighters from gyms like Striking Unlimited, Xtreme Couture, LA Boxing and Team Mica.

Blas Avena, of Team Mica, is a well-known local fighter who also works at the Rehab pool party at the Hard Rock when he’s not in the gym training. Interested in mixed martial arts from a young age, Avena said, “It’s always been a childhood dream. I started watching the UFC back when I was about 12.“

He will be taking on Dave Hulett in the co-main event of the professional fights.

Avena prepared for this fight by “training a lot on my stand up and head movement and being somewhere really fast without being there. It’s like almost being a magician inside the cage.”

The main event will feature John “Quick Guns” Gunderson of Xtreme Couture taking on Steve “Razor” Sharp of Salt Lake City’s Absolute MMA.

Sharp said he and Gunderson tried out for Ken Shamrock’s IFL team, but he broke his hand and could not continue with the tryout. Because of that, this matchup with Gunderson is important for him, he said.

“John’s gone on with the IFL and has done really well for himself, “ Sharp said.

“For me to do really well against him and beat him would be an honor and it would show me that I could have been there and I could have done what he’s done in the last few years. And it would show me that even though I just turned 30, I am not too old to fight.”

Sharp, who has gone the distance in three championship fights prior to this one, feels he has the advantage because he will not have to cut much weight for the fight.

“I’m not going to have to cut a lot of water weight, which is where I feel you can really hurt yourself right before a fight. I’m feeling pretty good for this one,” Sharp said. “I think it gives me an advantage when we have to go five rounds. If it does go to the later rounds, I think I’ll have the advantage, even though I’m the smaller fighter. “

MMA Xplosion co-founder and promoter Vlad Warton said fans should enjoy the setting at the M Resort.

“This is the first time ever, to the best of my knowledge, to have an outdoor event in Las Vegas,” Warton said. “It’s by the pool, by the stars.”

In one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, Warton said, MMA Xplosion is in a league of its own.

“What separates us from everyone else is that we do have millions of homes of television viewers to support us,” the former boxing promoter said. “We can give the fighters a chance to turn into stars. This will be televised in South Africa, England and the Caribbean, so it’s a pretty big event.”

Tickets are priced from $25. If you miss the live fight or want to see the action again, Warton said, the fight should be televised on local channel 19 on Nov. 7. The group hopes to return to The M Resort for another event in mid-January.