CongratulationsTessaSimpson!

http://209.197.7.105/z8a9x6g9/cds/sf/index.html?dopvhost=media.iact2cdn.net&doppl=96507f4ddf936036dfc360360e066745&dopsig=211b0a9b3db5234219d78ccaae38c1e8

Simpson wins MMA debut

By Nadia Fernandez • Pacific Daily News • March 25, 2009

“I was happy to get it done quickly without getting hit at all,” Simpson said via telephone from Austin, Texas. She is the daughter of Mary Castro Mayberry and Henry Simpson.

Tessa Simpson defeated Angela Diaz in the women’s 115-pound weight division at Shark Fights 3. They fought in front of a packed house March 14 at the Azteca Music Hall in Amarillo, Texas.

The 22-year-old stopped Diaz with a triangle-armbar submission in the first round.

“She tapped right away,” said Tessa Simpson. “I went into the fight totally relaxed and confident.”

She is planning to fight in Shark Fights 4 on May 2 in Lubbock, Texas.

The 5-foot-2-inch Simpson trains at the Paragon Jiu-Jitsu South Austin Gym. She trains for three to five hours a day, five to six days a week in jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and wrestling. She holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is aiming to hold a black belt one day.

“(Jiu-jitsu) is a good stress outlet,” she said. “It’s fun and there’s so much to learn.”

Aside from excelling at mixed martial arts, Tessa Simpson is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin. She is working toward a bachelor’s degree in computer science and is planning to visit Guam after she graduates this December.

She started training in BJJ at the beginning of 2004 with Luis Blanco at The Pound Jiu-Jitsu.

“Since she has left here she has been getting a lot of good training,” said Blanco. “I’m happy to be part of her foundation.”

When Tessa Simpson visits Guam for vacation she trains at The Pound.

“Whenever she comes back, she gives (students at The Pound) a run for their money,” Blanco said.

Tessa Simpson left Guam after she graduated from Harvest Christian Academy in 2004.

“She’s a very determined individual,” said Blanco. “She knows what she wants and that’s a very good trait in this sport.”

In her blood

There is also evidence that Tessa Simpson’s proficiency in BJJ is in her blood. While many sports fans on Guam know Henry Simpson as a pioneer of motorsports on Guam, few know that he has a wrestling background. He was captain of his high school wrestling team, and his grandfather was a professional wrestler.

Henry Simpson said his daughter got a kick out of reading the old newspaper clippings that detailed his background in wrestling. Nonetheless, his reaction when his daughter asked him if she could fight in MMA was typical of most fathers. He said, “What?”

Henry Simpson chuckled when he recalled that moment, but he is proud of what his daughter has accomplished. He even offered to e-mail the link to the online video of her fight, further evidence that she is a chip off the old block.

CelebrityFokai:TheFokai/UFCProject2

ONRA:March12,2009

Marcos Olivera of Guahan Top Team qualifies to carry the pride of our island to Dubai later this year in one of the worlds most prestigious international grappling tournaments—hopefully echoing the GTTs impressive performance in the NoGi Division in last months Marianas Open. This past SaturdayPXC unfolds turns another page in  local Grappling and  MMA with a successful turnout for their “ForTheTroops” event  in support of our armed forces. The University of Guam Fieldhouse will be busy again on March 27^th  for the next PXC, and Guerilla Warfare2 will be keeping Saipan busy at the World Resort on February 28^th. While on the same day, Baby Joe Taimangalo unfolds his exciting fight career with a shot for the 145lb championship title for Fearless FightingChampionships in ThePhilippines.

 

Meanwhile, Guams grapplers are busy again this time going over to Saipan for this weekend’s Saipan All IslandSubmission Grapplling Tournament, TheArtOfWar3. After over a decade after the arrival of Brazilian Jiujitsu and Submission Grappling to Guam –and after lesss than 5years after their arrival to Saipan, Guam submission grappling will be sending their largest host of competitors from Purebred, Spike22, GTT, CarlsonGracie, and  Gracie Barra, and to compete against (and touch base with) a similarly flourishing and parallel industry atmosphere to Saipan and the CNMIs revitalized interests into competitive martial arts.

 It’s a great thing that the grappling arts, jiujitsu, judo, wrestling,  etc… have been able to establish symbiotic connections with the Goliath of Mixed Martial Arts.  A frequency of single discipline events and the drive of its participants continues to push the performance levels of our total fighter athletes. And the success of Mixed Martial Arts has provided its growing fan base with a great stimulus for a first step into martial arts training.

 We are at a new phase in competitive combat sports now where we are better able to piece together separate independent events, both amateur and professional, throughout Guam and Saipan

 As  the industry evolves and our athletes improve, we can better focus our goals on targeting larger purpose throughout and beyond martial arts and athletics.

  We have seen a number of Martial Arts’s ventures into community service and a vast majority of these projects and initiatives have been led by the top performers in the sport.

In an industry that has been developed mostly from within, in and industry lined with victories and paramount performances abroad, this is as much a trophy for our elders as it is building blocks for our children. As our strength acts as our nobility, we can live in the plus that we are not only growing in Guam, but we are continuing this momentum and consciously sharing it with our brothers and sisters in our neighboring islands.

 With strength, intelligence, honor, and the Pride of The Mariana Islands.

 Thanks for dropping by.

CoalitionFX:ForTheTroops

Thanks for all your support but unfortunatley these limited edition shirts have sold out. More patriotic adventures ahead for the guys@FokaiIndustries. Woohoo!

Theguys@FokaiIndustries and PremierXTremeCombat Join forces int this special project for a greater fight. All profit rpoceeds will go to the soldiers who werent to make it home for Christmas2008. Some things are worth fighting for after all…

Tomorrow’s PXC Live raises money for families of soldiers

PXC Live: For the Troops goes down tomorrow night and it’s not the fights that have the island buzzing, it’s what the fights are for. People at home not only get to watch the fights for free but they can make a difference in our community by picking up the phone and making a contribution for a well worthy cause.

Fight promoter Eli Monge told KUAM Sports, “We’re having a telethon to raise money for our citizen soldiers that never made it back and were trying to put some peace and happiness to some of the families that lost their loved ones and were going to be having a telethon throughout the whole night. Fokai also made a special edition t-shirt that is going to be released tomorrow and you can order that on fokai.tv or at the shop, so will be showing it throughout the night.”

There’s a lot of work that goes behind putting on a great show, same with what goes on in making a happy family. Sometimes parents put themselves in harms way to provide for their children and tomorrow night all their sacrifices will be remembered by a special 

Said Monge, “Tomorrow the fights to me are not the main event, the main event is the stories that we shot and put together, the fights itself and the grappling matches are just a way for MMA and jiu-jitsucommunity to give back to our soldiers that are fighting for our war and peace.”

People of all walks of life can relate to losing a loved one due to warfare. The saying goes, that freedom isn’t free and tomorrow night you’ll have the chance to help all those who lost loved ones fighting for our freedom.  ”It’s something that is close to the heart because I have a lot friends that are in the National Guard and I have lost friends too, and it’s the best way to give back and I’m really happy we can use what were good at, what are fighters are good at, and what I’m good at, like putting an event together and giving back to the soldiers and their families, Monge said.

TAITANO DRAWS WITH SHOOTO WORLD CHAMPION

On January15th, Jesse “SpiderMan” Taitano flew with a support crew of 8 friends and training partners from Guam for his biggest opportunity to date in Mixed Martial Arts competition. ON January 18^th, Taitano fought at the DifferAriake Hall in Tokyo against Professional Shootos Undisputed 56kg World Champion Shoichi”BJ”Kojima.

With Taitano’s impressive performance last year against number one 56kilo contender  Yasuhiro Urushitani, further attention was raised among Japan event promoters to Guam’s flourishing talent in the MMA industry.

 

PROFESSIONAL Shootos decision to solicit Taitano for competition proved to be fruitful as SpiderMan once again shocked the audience by dropping the World Champion with a left hook not even 2minutes into the first round that again had the normally silent crowd in applause for the underdog competitor.. Stopping all takedown attempts by the applauded Freestyle Wrestler, Taitano was eventually taken to the ground still to be the aggressor as he controlled Kojimas hands and attacked endlessly with a series of strikes from the bottom . Showing no weaknesses from a normally dangerous position. Taitano takes the first round by all judges.

 

Round 2. A flurry of punches from a raged Kojima was met with an equally aggressive counterattack by Taitano with a standing exchange that once again sent the crowd. Despite landing a few good legkicks, Kojima, apparently realizing that he was down in points, used his wrestling to stop Taitano’s domination on his feet by pinning Taitano against  the cage and trying to earn points with small rabid punches that did little damage t a very determined Taitano. With only four seconds left, Kojima finally scores a takedown. With Taitano still in the fight, the bell rings with the end results having two judges determine the fight a draw while a third gave the fight to Taitano.

 

Quite impressively,With techniques and training 100% Homegrown, (Taitano has never trained abroad like many of Guams other accomplished MMA fighter athletes) Jesse Taitano just drew with Professional Shootos World Champion.

As an underdog with yet another impressive performance, Taitano earns the respect of the audience, Professional Shooto, and again the Guam fans.

Here is an interview with “SpiderMan” after Guams most impressive performance to date in competition in World Mixed Martial Arts.

 

(INTERVIEW)

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS BEFORE THE FIGHT?

I tried to keep my mind positive and remind myself that Im at this level. I was trying to come up with a game plan but in the end was just concerned how I could come out at 100%. I should mentin too that there were A lot of signs ,Some inspiring coincidences, that gave me confidence in good results.

AFTER THE FIGHT?

First, I am very grateful for the opportunity to fight the champ. I did good. I felt I didn’t have enough rest and in effect held back abit though to be honest with you. But maybe he did too. Coming in at 100% is not always so easy. I felt the World Champions power! Im very grateful to my partners for preparing me for this. And very grateful for the crew that came out to support me. Guam boys can rock! Im happy to bring good news back to my island and to all my support.

 

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE CONSIDERED A TOP CONTENDER IN SUCH AN
INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED ORGANIZATION?

It feels awesome. I feel it brings honor to my family, my training partners, my island,my students, my sponsors. It’s a really good nfeeling to make them proud and to bring legitimacy, recognition, and hopefully more opportunity to the island.  I want to help harness MMA for more good things inside and outside of competition.

 

WITH A POSSIBLE WORLD TITLE SHOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WHAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE YOU MAKING IN PREPARATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY?

Im trying to figure out the science of showing up at 100%. Im going to adjust my time management and leverage things to work MMA full time. Looking back at old fights, I can see a lot of holes in my game. Its time to fix those holes. Im going to try to find people to puswh me beyond myself. And try to sharpen my skills in every single aspect f the game. Id like to evolve with Nutrition and rest too. Basically work hard but train smarter. Im going to work to be my best person inside and outside of competition.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AS A PROFFESIONAL FIGHTER?

Id like to be able to use MMA as a source for income and approach it as a full time job. Id love to be able to support my family with this passion. And t eventually use any influence I might gain to leverage opportunities for my island and students.

AFTER YOUR REPEATED EXPOSURE TO WORLD MMA COMPETITION< WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR LOCAL ASPIRING FIGHTERS?

Believe in yourself. Your opponent is always beatable abut so are you. Train hard. Train smart. Experiment with new things. And most importantly, keep learning.

After his second outstanding performance in Japan MMA, Taitano was friendily encountered by Shooto legend and an impressive 6year reign as the 56kg Shooto World Champion, MamoruYamaguchi.

 

“So When are WE going to fight?” he emphatically asked Taitano.

Before posing for photos, and a sincere hug and laughter, he enthusiastically replied “Anytime!”

 

For the moment, An established  MMA world title is closer than ever. Should that day come for Taitano and for Guam, after a few adjustments in training and living, In full confidence, and aiming at 100%, SpiderMan will be ready.

 

 

Jess Taitano on Sherdog News!

In the semi-main event, Shooto newcomer Jesse Taitano took Shooto world 123-pound champion Shinichi “BJ” Kojima to another disappointing majority draw in their two-round non-title bout. Despite Taitano’s barrages on the feet in the first round, Kojima used the Guamanian’s forward momentum to take him to the canvas. While there, though, Kojima could not capitalize on his grappling expertise, as he was busy defending oncoming punches from the bottom.

In the second period, Taitano appeared to slow down while eating low kicks from the champ. With Taitano taking single shots at Kojima, the champ was able to easily defend, stuffing Taitano up against the ropes to neutralize him. Referee and judge Suzuki awarded the bout to Taitano 20-19, while the remaining two judges ruled it 19-19 for the majority draw.”

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/preview-shooto-tradition-5-15804

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