Origins Of Deathrow: A Compton Story

Editorial by Chris Karter

The Origins Of Deathrow: A Compton Story

If you're an avid MMA fan that keeps up with up and coming Mixed Martial Artist on the regional scene, you might recognize the name Dre "Deathrow" Battle and think of Hardcore Fighting Championship's promising Middleweight competitor. Still early in his young career, not much is known about the 2-1 fighter from Compton, California. Even the most hardcore of MMATycoon fans would struggle tracing his roots back the origins of Los Angeles MMA.

The original Dre "Deathrow" Battle debuted 47 years ago in the streets of Compton at the age of 22 after serving a 4 year stint in California State Prison for his involvement in a prostitution ring. Originally facing a life sentence stemming from other charges, he was nicknamed "Deathrow" by other inmates before he was acquitted. The first bout of his career was sanctioned under the regulated QFC banner and he came out throwing haymakers like they were out of style. He won by way of knockout in just 41 seconds of the first round and he was hooked. He chose the nickname "Deathrow" because of his criminal history and encounters with judicial system. He signed with regional organizations MGL and Konflikt to start his career going 8-3. He compiled a 15-5 record under Chris Karter's management with 11 of his wins coming by way of knockout before parting ways with Convicted Inc Management and succumbing to a life of drugs and crime. He went on a 4-9 skid before he retired from MMA with a pedestrian 19-14 record.

In his 33 fight career he showed heavy hands, a pension for violence, and an unprecedented toughness that you can't teach. He was only ever knocked out once in his entire career and that was in a fight when he decided that he was invincible and he thought he could eat consecutive head kicks to the face from a violent knockout artist known as "Leatherface" Gunnar Hansen.

The highlight of his career came when he captured the Convicted Middlweight title when he defeated Brazilian badass Ronaldo "Loko-Loko" Ferreira (18-3) via decision at Convicted 33: Liberty. At the time of this fight Ferreira was the reigning three-time Convicted Fight Organization Middleweight Champion, four-time Syn' Middleweight Champion, five-time Kings of Rio Middleweight Champion, and the former #3 P4P fighter in the world.

He held notable wins over top 100 P4P fighter Ceaser El Toro, was the only fighter to ever knockout Alejandro Sosa (no relation to little homie Marcello Sosa), and went 5 rounds with David Hollywood in the co-main event of CFC 166: Double Dream.

Fast forward almost 5 decades and here we are, a few generations removed from the old guard, and young Dre "Deathrow" Battle stands inside the same gym as his great grandfather before him, representing a new generation of fighters from Convicted Fight Club. 

"It's a different game," he says as he looks around at the names and championships decorating the walls of the gym, "It's evolved so much man, there's so many levels to it. If it wasn't for Moses and Orlando, who knows where I'd be."

The men he is referring to are of course Moses Diggs and Orlando Diggs, the father-son tandem that were forged in the fires of Convicted Fight Club's facility. Their accolades and accomplishments in the sport of MMA cement them into the annals of history. Moses penetrated the sport and established himself as one of the premier Light Heavyweights on the planet, and Orlando came in and topped it off with a Hall of Fame performance solidifying himself as one of the greatest Welterweight fighters of all time.

Moses had a decorated career and was no stranger to controversy or racism, and was once arrested on a flight to Tokyo before the biggest fight of his life against Jeremy Tonal. His turbulent lifestyle was something fighters in Convicted Fight Club were familiar with, especially Dre who was a MMA veteran at the time. Moses regularly reminiscences with his pupil on the old sparring sessions with his great-great grandfather.

"I'm from Miami and he's from the West Coast so day one we bump heads," he recalls of their early gym rivalry, "I wasn't the most humble 18 year old off the block, walking into his gym, he was 10-3 training for his Canadian Fighting Championship debut vs Avon Stringer. Which was kind of a big deal back then, CFC big stage, it was like Syn', just not as big and cool. Anyway, we got in some wars man. He was tough, but obviously I was better."

Moses starts to reflect on the fallout Dre had with Coach Karter and Convicted Fight Club's coaches, but drifts his focus towards the impact that veterans like Dre had on Convicted Fight Club's younger generation of fighters and how they overcame their competitive nature and maintained a friendship outside the gym.

"At the time, the gym was catering towards the younger blood and some of the O.G.'s had to kind of make room. Me, Don (Marciano), Taj (al Din) , Bob (Chong), (Qing) Kong," he laughs and shakes his head in disbelief at the talent inside the gym, "Unreal man. Murderer's row. To his credit, Dre was in there pushing us since day one. It was fighters like Dre, Mauricio (Sosa), Lance (St Pierre) that elevated our game. Even after Dre bounced, we stayed in touch. Our kids play ball and sports keeps our family's together. I always tried to teach my kids that MMA and sports are an outlet, a way off the street."

The Battle's have a large family, something the Diggs' family can relate to. Relatives on each side often refer to each other as cousins despite no genetic connection. Dre's younger brother Deontay Battle is known as "Icy D" on the football field, a nickname he received for always being "iced out" before games, otherwise known as a term for wearing an abundance of flashy jewelry. Willie Diggs is the son of Orlando Diggs, and he didn't receive the nickname "Fast Willie" because of his father's Mr. Woodcock award.

Dre himself is a father of 2 children by the age of 22 with a 3rd on the way, and you can't help but wonder if one of them will represent the next generation of Battle's at Convicted Fight Club in the future. Dre talks to us a little bit on why he chose the nickname "Deathrow" to honor his late great grandfather.

"He's a pioneer of the sport," Dre says pointing to the Convicted fight organization middleweight championship hanging from the wall of the gym, "His blood and sweat were the foundation to this place. I want him to know even though he gone, he ain't forgotten. I'm takin' this shit seriously, and I plan on makin' millions. I'ma milk companies for every last tycoon dollar they got."

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