Absolute MMA's Student Highlight

Every month we’re going to be introducing you to a different member of Team Absolute. For those that don’t train at the gym regularly, we want you to learn some familiar faces before coming in, and for the regulars on the mat; we hope this will help you to learn more about your teammates. This month we’re going to share a little about Terrell Sanders AKA “T-Bone.”

Terrell has been training for about one year, and found our gym through a friend at work. He was interested in learning to fight Mixed Martial Arts, and based upon his friend’s recommendation, he gave our gym a try. After one week, he was hooked and is now a permanent fixture on the team.

Since starting at Absolute MMA he has been participating in almost everything we have to offer: Behring Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Kettlebells, and wrestling. Before training he had never participated in Martial Arts, but was doing bodybuilding and some light cardio, now he has serious aspirations to become a MMA fighter, and is constantly trying to learn new things from Rob and the other instructors at the gym. Terrell is constantly improving his skills by sparring, and just received his first two stripes on his white belt during Grand Master Flavio Behring’s visit. When I asked Terrell to describe the atmosphere at Absolute MMA the way he would to someone that has never trained at our facility he described it as a place that is a little bit of “heaven and hell.” He qualifies this statement by explaining that he has never felt so proud as he does when he accomplishes something new in the gym, whether it is a new submission, or improvement on his kicks, but each improvement is preceded by a lot of hard work and dedication. Regardless of how hard it may be to accomplish certain tasks, Terrell has an optimistic outlook and a positive attitude that is omnipresent during training.

Terrell has recently embarked on his educational career at the Salt Lake Community College and hopes to graduate and start his own fight brand and franchise one day. When Terrell isn’t at the gym he’s hanging out with his buddies or studying. We can always count on him for some good laughs after a hard day of training, and the Team wouldn’t be complete without this awesome athlete.

-this is a monthly addition written by Chelsea Kilpack. Thank you Chelsea!

Meet Chelsea Kilpack pt 2

Part 2 of our introduction to Chelsea Kilpack, one of the fine ladies training in our gym. Chelsea trains in both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai Kickboxing. Part 3 will showcase her indomitable attitude towards balancing her education, work, family and training. Maybe we'll see her devastating head kick that's the talk of many of her talents. The following videos were filmed recently and feature a rare look at Grand Master Flavio Behring sharing his knowledge at Absolute MMA.

Grand Master Flavio Behring seminar

Grand Master Flavio Behring returns to Utah

Hey Gang!

Grand Master Flavio Behring will be in Utah. As most of you know he spends a lot of time around the gym when he's here so you never know when he will be teaching. Try to arrange you schedules to be in the gym as much as possible in January. I look forward to seeing you all put your best foot forward in January.

-Rob

We’re implementing a dress code of sorts at the gym, kids! Starting January 1^st it is required that you wear an Absolute t-shirt while participating in kickboxing or no-Gi! If you are not wearing a Team shirt, you won’t be able to participate.

Shirts are on sale right now, until December 31^st.

^{Short sleeve t-shirts are $10.00 and long sleeve shirts are $15.00!!!}

^{Don’t delay, and buy shirts now! Also, Rob has managed to get a screaming deal on Vulkan Gis. Vulkan Gis are lightweight and dry quicker than most; they will be perfect for the summer! They are also pre-shrunk, so drying them won’t be a problem. Order them at the front desk with Rob or Camrann by December 31st!}

^{White Gi-$120}

^{Blue/Black Gis-$130}

UFC 107 at Lumpy's Downtown

Meet Chelsea Kilpack...

Hey Gang. I wanted to share something I recently came across killing some time learning more about the folks around the gym, to my surprise I came upon this wonderful account of someone in our gym and her first experience with our gym..... Meet Chelsea Kilpack!!!

First of all sorry for putting you on blast Chelsea, actually as I write this I'm envisioning her threatening me with a head kick, for the picture attached to this but wait til you see her most current photos :), as its been nearly a year training with us at Absolute MMA.

February of this year was a month that changed my life. I joined a mixed martial arts gym, Absolute MMA. My little brother (Braeden) had watched the fighting movie Never Back Down and started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu out of a small gym, with a guy that turned out to be a total whacko. When my mom pulled him out of the gym (which was actually a loading dock in an industrial complex,) he began researching for a new place to study; thankfully, he found Absolute.... read more here

Absolute Fighter Denver Merrifield-Nirva

Sorry for the delay folks, but here is the scoop on Denver’s fight!

Team Absolute’s, Denver Merrifield-Nirva had his first fight (and victory) at the Ultimate Combat Experience on November 7^th. Denver has overcome some minor hurdles on the path to the cage; shortly before a scheduled fight in June his arm was broken at a Muay Thai seminar, and the night before the UCE show, another fight was cancelled due to a lack of blood work completion from other fighters.

Taking the fight at the last minute proved to be a wise choice, and UCE was very lucky to have such a talented fighter step into their cage. Fighting at bantam weight (135lbs) he proved how strong his Muay Thai skills are and won the fight by TKO approximately two and one half minutes into the first round. His commitment to training and his unfailing determination were plain to see, on his feet and on the ground. Congrats to Denver and a big thanks to everyone on the Team that showed up to support him!

No-Gi Grappling/Submission Tournament

Hey Gang! There is an upcoming tournament in Heber; this is fairly short notice, but here is all of the information that's available:

Aggressive by Nature presents it's very first No-Gi Grappling/Submission Tournament
When:December 10th 2009 @ 6pm
Where: Wasatch County Special Event Center
415 South Southfield Road
Heber City, Utah 84032
For directions go to mapquest.com

No points and No time limit; Submission Match!

NEW SCHEDULE

Absolute Grapplers top male & female divisions

Absolute Grapplers top male & female divisions, score 31 points with only 6 competitors!!! Congratulations Gang!

Chamion Submission Challenge XIII
Western Regional No-Time-Limit Grappling Championship: November 14, 2009

Team Results
Overall Top Team
1st: Fusion Academy (Eddie Edmunds) = 43 points
2nd: BYU Jiu-Jitsu (Michael Pease) = 39 points
3rd: Absolute MMA (Rob Handley) = 31points
3rd: West Side Academy (Mark Johnson) = 31 points

Adult Top Team
1st: BYU Jiu-Jitsu (Michael Pease) = 39 points
2nd: Absolute MMA (Rob Handley) = 29 points
3rd: Fusion Academy (Eddie Edmunds) = 27 points

Title Champions
Absolute
Absolute Gi
1st: Ben Garner (Absolute MMA)
2nd: Fritz Borchardt (Paul Tom Academy)
3rd: Chris Eberly (Unified Jiu-Jitsu)

Men Gi
Middle Weight: < 185 lbs
1st: Ben Garner (Absolute MMA)
2nd: Tim Tcha (Mori Academy)
3rd: Josh Bateman (Throwdown Elite)

Men No-Gi
Feather Weight: < 145 lbs
1st: Wesley Clinton (Throwdown Elite)
2nd: Denver Merrifield-Nirva (Absolute MMA)
3rd: Chris Eberly (Unified Jiu-Jitsu)

Women Gi
Middle Weight: 145+ lbs
1st: Vanessa Alexander (Absolute MMA)
2nd: Julie Chamberlain (Champion Jiu-Jitsu)
3rd: Jessey Hester (BYU Jiu-Jitsu)

Women No-Gi
Middle Weight: 145+ lbs
1st: Vanesssa Alexander (Absolute MMA)
2nd Julie Chamberlain (Champion Jiu-Jitsu)
3rd: Kiera Holder (BYU Jiu-Jitsu)

Junior Gi
Division 7-8
1st: Isaiah Gonzalez (Fusion Academy)
2nd: Braeden Killpack (Absolute MMA)
3rd: Aaron Baxter (Champion Jiu-Jitsu)

Under-Belt Divisions
Beginner Men Gi
Light Weight: < 160 lbs
1st: Andrew Torrez (Mori Academy)
2nd: Ethan Estrada (Throwdown Elite)
3rd: Bret Gold (Absolute MMA)

Middle Weight: < 185 lbs
1st: Justin Showell (BYU Jiu-Jitsu)
2nd: Nathan Epperson (Absolute MMA)
3rd: Justin Imbler (UVU Jiu-Jitsu)

2-3 Absolute Fighters win! Cam wins by RNC!

Congratulations Fellas! It was a great night of fights, every fight on the card had dynamite written all over it! In the first undercard fight, Eduardo Rivera defeated Sean Whalen by knocking him out at 2:34 in the first round. Camrann Pacheco defeated Eddie Pelczynski with perfect execution of his game plan designed by coach Rob Handley, Cam landed a straight left that sent Eddie to the floor, followed up by some viscous ground and pound forcing Eddie to turn to his stomach while Pacheco cautiously followed up with dominant back mount and sinking in the RNC in just 1:34 seconds of the first round. Steven "Razor" Sharp lost a five-round, 25 minute unanimous decision to Champion Rad Martinez. American Whu-Hitu fighter, Josh "The People's Warrior" Burkman knocked out Brandon "The Murder" Melendez at 4:14 with a vicious right punch that sent Melendez to his back causing the ref to jump in and end the fight.

To read more about the fights click here

Absolute Fighters at Throwdown Showdown

Hey gang. Absolute MMA fighters Camrann Pacheco, Eduardo Rivera and Steven Razor Sharp return to the cage on Nov 20th at Throwdown Showdown. Camrann Pacheco faces Eddie Pelczynski in an exciting featherweight bout. Steven Razor Sharp returns to face current lightweight champion Rad Martinez in a much anticipated rematch. Eduardo Rivera faces Sean Whalen at welterweight in a undercard bout. Come out and support these guys and Utah MMA.

Absolute Fighter Koffi Adzitso wins at XC 13

New Welterweight Champion Koffi Adzitso defeated Tallon Torres in just 3:11 of the first round by Rear Naked Choke. Torres did not tap out and went unconscious and his recovery sent the hometown crowd into complete silence, as he came back to his senses, which brought the crowd to an applause.

To read more about the show click here

AKC CLASSIC 09

Congrats to the Absolute Kettlebell team. Rebecca Rodriquez and Pedro Sierra coached by Rob Handley got a first hand look at competition and the joy and pain of being on the lifting platform. The AKC Classic was a huge success, with many lifters achieving Rank! The women athletes probably outnumbered the men 2-1. Congrats ladies for an awesome performance. American Kettlebell Club Classic 2009 results here

Register for Champion Challenge XIII

Hey Gang,

Absolute MMA team members use the code "absolutemma" as you register online at www.utahchampion.com. Team rates are $40/adult and $30/junior and each additional division is only $20. Team registration is extended one week past early registration to Saturday, November 7, 2009. Team discounts are not available at the door. Make sure and get registered soon.

News from Finland....

I wanted to share some news from our friend Jamba (Yambah) in Finland. Jamba fought in the Fight Festival 26 on October 17th in Helsinki, Finland against Declan Williams (England), winning by submission via arm lock in 2:15 of Round 1. Congratulations Jamba!!!

A native of Finland, Janne Elonen-Kulmala (Jamba) has competed previously at Fight Festival where he defeated the 5-3-0 Dutchman Jordy Peute last year by decision. He then followed up that performance by stopping the Swedish fighter Nicklas Bergman by TKO at a M-1 Challenge show last year. Rated as “one to watch” by insiders of the Finnish scene, Janne Elonen-Kulmala (Jamba) continues to keep his unbeaten record intact, defeating Declan Williams making his mark in the very competitive European Bantamweight division.

Watch the fight HERE

team updates...

Hey Gang.

Absolute MMA Fighters Camrann Pacheco, Steve Sharp and Eduardo Rivera all will be fighting on November 20th in Orem, Utah at the UVU McKay Event Center. Tickets will be available at the gym and each fighter will have tickets to sell as a percentage of the ticket sales will go back to the fighter you purchase them from. Be sure to get them early, this event has a good chance of selling out.

-Rob

Sharp losses yet wins Las Vegas Fans

In the main event, IFL veteran John Gunderson (22-6) became the first MMA Xplosion lightweight champion, following his submission victory over Steve Sharp.

But Sharp (24-11) was the aggressor for the majority of the fight, winning the opening round with his relentless striking.

“He was throwing so many elbows, and they were powerful,” Gunderson said.

Sharp continued to let the elbows fly in the second round, even after Gunderson had taken the fight to the ground.

But going into the third round, Gunderson had a renewed sense of urgency.

“I knew that if he landed a good elbow it would cut me and that would be the end for me,” Gunderson said. “So I felt like I just had to go out there and take it from him.”

Gunderson wrestled his way to a series of submission attempts in the third, before sinking in a kimura lock three minutes and 17 seconds into the round.

“Coming into this fight, I knew that if I lost it would be from the kimura,” Sharp said. “That kid has a strong, strong kimura and he’s good at it.”

To read more about the fights click here

To see a slide show of the fights click here

MMA Xplosion Weigh ins...

Steve Sharp made 155 easy. He's looking good, feeling great and very excited for this fight.