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 Some of the very best fighters in the sport refine their craft in the legendary facility in Los Angeles, Convicted Fight Club. Convicted Fight Club has been a staple in American MMA for a decade, or 50+ years depending on your concept of the elapsed MMATycoon space-time continuum, and on any given morning you can see professional cock-fighters and aspiring MMA champions go toe-to-toe in intense sparring sessions.
"Iron sharpens iron." Coach Karter says when talking about the sparring intensity inside the gym's walls. "Trial by fire is the only way forward. Once we know what you're made of, we'll help you evolve into the best fighter you can be."
Every coach and fighter knows, when you spar with such intensity, it'll often escalate and lead to unnecessary punishment. Coaches tend to intervene before such sparring sessions get out of hand, but when dealing with so many high caliber athletes, things can often escalate quickly. One such incident involved Tagnarach Kamara (6-0 MMA) and Willie Diggs (9-3 MMA) during an early morning kickboxing session this week.
After a few relatively close rounds between the two Convicted Fight Club products, things seemed to be going relatively smoothly, until Kamara pings Diggs with a left hand that Willie deems un-gentleman-like. Willie does his best to return the favor and over extends on some haymakers that barely miss Kamara's chin. Tagnarach circles away with a smile on his face and they take turns exchanging jabs. Willie lands some good kicks, then comes over the top with a good left hand of his own that backs the Irishman up. Willie pumps out a double jab and the two fighters start exchanging punches in the pocket. Willie looks shocked when he gets his bell rung by a Kamara uppercut that came out of nowhere.
The coaches instantly jump in and seperate these two men from one another before it gets out of control. That last punch really pissed Willie off and now the two are exchanging words. Willie removes his gloves and challenges him to a sword fight. Tagnarach taunts him in a mystical gypsy language that only he and the McKane's understand.
"It happens. You don't like it, but you can't stop it." Boxing instructor Cristian Tavares explains. "When two warriors have the competitive spirit, it's bound to happen."
While those two exchange unpleasantries and spend their time talking about one anothers mothers, Mohammed Kahn and Cooper Roos touch gloves and get down to business as usual. Kahn and Roos conduct themselves in a much more professional manner following their teammates little spat, but that's a lot of KO power between these two fighters and surely both know they don't need any extra doses of CTE from sparring sessions.
After a recess where the fighters get super baked and talk about the universe and aliens, they get back to sparring. During an intense Muay Thai session Cooper Roos puts a clinic on Zachary Klimenko, but after it's over you can tell Zachary is better because of it. Willie Diggs is chirping at Cooper Roos from the sideline. Apparently he's up next.
The two Irishmen Tagnarach Kamara and Taz McKane go tit-for-tat without going nuclear on one another. A relatively controlled session with mutual respect. Taz is in incredible shape, but Tagnarach looked like the more natural striker. Off in the corner of the gym Kilo Maluga can be seen mauling Jeronimo Puno and Abubakar Camara at the same time. He doesn't even break a sweat.
Elrey Dorado and Niko Radovic have to be separated after Niko goes full-Strickland shouting expletives. The coaches have to remind these young men this is only sparring and they're on the same team. Elrey was getting the better of Niko during those exchanges and the Croatian didn't appreciate that.
But for a gym known for its elite level strikers, there's an awful lot of high level grappling under its roof. In a classic case of iron sharpens iron, "Downtown Funky" Kurt Diesel and "Kung Fu Zombie" Bong Ji Woo roll with another on the mats, two BJJ Red Belts with a myriad of grappling accomplishments between them. Kurt just appears one step ahead at all times. Must be the good ole Murican' wrasslin' background that gives him the edge.
Muhammad Jabbar is tapping Ryoto Takahashi out left and right despite both being BJJ black belts. Jabbar is the much larger fighter but Ryoto is over-aggressive on the ground and appears impatient, keen on making the same mistake over and over again. Ryoto most definitely stubbed his toe a few times getting out of the shower, but he has some heavy hands so best not to upset him too much.
Danny Cruz is getting his oil checked by Hiroshi "Gakusei" Ekaku. Danny's clearly uncomfortable with Ekaku's relentless fingers of doom but a few more rimmy's and Danny might be ready for his purple belt. Danny is coming off a dominant victory at HFC but apparently it's Ekaku's job to serve him some humble pie and keep him respectful.
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