Sports

Local Fighters from Enumclaw Gym Make Mark at Rumble on the Ridge MMA Event

Jeff Hougland, owner and trainer at Combat Sports and Fitness in Enumclaw, gives Patch the rundown on how his team of local fighters did this past Saturday at Rumble on the Ridge at the Snoqualmie Casino.

No wonder there was so much excitement -- even here on our homepage shoutout wall -- about how mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters who train at Enumclaw's did this past Saturday at Rumble on the Ridge.

Five -- count them -- five fighters took to the cage, and while each came away with different results, there wasn't denying there was some attention-grabbing talent coming from the Enumclaw gym.

Owner and trainer Jeff Hougland gave us the rundown:

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Melissa Deer, who keeps a day job as a King County Sheriff's deputy, made her amateur-fight debut and fought in the women's 145-pound weight class. While she lost by decision, "she did really well and had a really hard fight with another girl [Sikjitsu's Elizabeth Phillips]," Hougland said. "It was one of the better fights of the night. They beat the crap out of each other."

Tyson Cunningham fought his third amateau fight against Corey Watson in the 170-lb amateur class. Watson was the Rumble on the Ridge welterweight champion and was undefeated 7-0 before Cunningham "choked him out in the second round and gave him his first loss..." said Hougland. "And took his title."

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Justin Harrington, making his professional debut, fought White Buffalo Warriors Johnny Reonal in a 160-lb catchweight matchup. "He knocked the guy out in 25 seconds," said Hougland.

Ian 'The Mule' Williams earned the Knockout of the Night recognition, knocking his 170-lb matchup opponent Taurean Washington, "in the first round with a head kick," said Hougland.

And Josh Calvo, fighting the 155-lb main event matchup against Frank Ramsey from Montana, lost in decision.

(See the accompanying YouTube videos, filmed by NW Fightscene, of each of the fighters.)

It was a good showing for Combat Sports and Fitness and for Hougland. "I'm their coach and I manage and coach the pro guys," he said. When last we spoke to , a hand injury rendered him sidelined. But no longer.

"My hand's good," he said. "I'm campaigning for another fight right now but they're slow to match me up. I'm ready to do this."

If you missed the live show, Root Sports will be airing selected fights from Rumble on the Ridge tonight, Feb. 24, at 10 p.m. It will likely include all the pro fights and the better amateur fights, said Hougland.


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