DANIEL HENLEY

Daniel Henley

GECF Welterweight Champion

Daniel Henley, the current Gladiator Elite Cage Fighting Welterweight (156-170) Champion was in the crowd at the Hooters Friday Night Fights at the Southeastern Fight Center. He won the title last year fighting Michael Berry. He won by KO 0:48 in the first round. Daniel is currently training for his next fight coming up  May 2010.

When we talked he told me about the grueling training that he endures getting ready for a fight, which includes day long endurance, starting out with a 10 mile run with a 25 lb. vest, tractor tire tossing, lifting car axels and moving them a certain distance and several other obstacles that he had to accomplish within a certain time frame, or he would have to do it all over again… and this is just what he had to go through before he got into the gym for that day’s workout! I saw the pictures from his training. I was impressed. To be a champion, that’s the type of training and dedication it takes; hours of nothing but training from before daylight until long after the sun goes down. Along with the strict dieting and dropping weight; it’s all part of what an ambitious MMA athlete endures.  From what I saw from his training pictures, Daniel is a true Gladiator, just like his title states just from his MMA training endurance alone!

Henley has been fighting MMA for five years.
His record is 8-2 height 5’9” 37 yrs. old

Q: You won your title in Warsaw Indiana, where are you from ?
Henley: I’m a local from the Dothan area.

Q: Describe your first octagon fight and did you win?
Henley: My first amateur fight was against a guy named Chubbs, I won. I choked him out 1:30 in the first round.

Q: Do you have a nickname or a fight name?
Henley: Hurricane

Q: Do you have a hidden talent?
Henley: Not really, I’ve played a lot of sports and excelled at all of them, so I’m multi-sports talented. I like to win.

Q: Is there a fighter you see as a mentor or that you like?
Henley: Urijah Faber WEC “The California Kid”

Q: What area of your fighting do you feel like you have improved the most since your last fight?
Henley: Muay Thai training. My stand-up has improved and I really like throwing kicks and breaking ribs.

Q: Are you superstitious or have a routine that you do before a fight?
Henley: I only have my hands wrapped by certain people.

Q: Are you spontaneous or a planner?
Henley: Spontaneous

Q: What would you be doing if you were not MMA fighting?
Henley: My day job is in heating and cooling, but my dream job would be a Pro. Bass fisherman. I really like to fish.

Q: You’ve traveled all over the U.S. is there any place you want to travel in the future?
Henley: I’d like to travel to London. They have MMA there.

It was great to meet Daniel “Hurricane” Henley. Fans will be watching for his next Gladiator Elite Cage Fighting (GECF) Match coming up in May in Indiana.

Daniel, best wishes for success and holding on to the GECF Welterweight championship title!

February 26, 2010

SOUTHEASTERN FIGHT LEAGUE’S

HOOTERS FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

Feb. 26, 2010

The Hottest ticket to have in Dothan on a Friday Night is one to The Southeastern Fight League’s Hooters Friday Night Fights. There is great live local music and this past Friday night, Patrick with “The Brightside Suicides” provided pre-fight music. Check out their music, it's great!

Patrick

The Brightside Suicides

Don’t miss this coming Friday night! You never know which fighters you might see in or around the octagon!

This week we saw the boys from Georgia return – you may remember I spoke with them a few weeks ago about the importance of a good name- they previously called themselves the “Down South Georgia Boys”- well they revised that and are now called the “Bainbridge Brawlers”. Bainbridge Brawlers had four fights on the fight card- and every one a winner.

Bainbridge Brawlers

Anderson, Wallace, Williams, Smart

Every Friday night is different and fans can never predict the outcome of any fight. Friday night was full of only one round fights. If you missed Friday night, you missed some really good fighters. These guys delivered, even just shy of the three minutes by three seconds! All of the fighters got into the octagon and put forth tremendous effort even for the short time in the cage. It was the first night the SFL had two sets of brothers listed on the fightcard.

The fightcard is getting better and better with new athletes every week. Hope to see you there next week!

FIGHT CARD Feb. 26, 2010


1. Timothy Gordon (Team Wolfpack) 240 lbs. 6’0”
    Vs.
    Tyler Kincaid (from Midland City, AL) 262 lbs. 6’1”
Winner: Tyler Kincaid by submission due to punches 2:57 in the first round

2. John Coleman (from Three Notch, GA) 149 lbs. 5’9”
    Vs.
    Bernard Wallace (Team Bainbridge Brawlers) 154 lbs. 5’8”
Winner: Bernard Wallace by Rear naked choke 1:44 in the first round

3. John Lunsford (from Eufaula, AL) 141 lbs. 5’7”
    Vs.
    Clarence Smart (Team Bainbridge Brawlers ) 140 lbs. 5’9”
Winner: Clarence Smart by submission 2:34 in the first round

4. Josh Lunsford (from Eufaula, AL) 171 lbs. 5’6”
    Vs.
    Curtis Anderson (Team Bainbridge Brawlers) 150 lbs. 5’9”
Winner: Curtis Anderson by TKO 0:27 in the first round

5. Chris Martin (Team Wolfpack) 189 lbs. 5’7”
    Vs.
    Pedro Williams (Team Bainbridge Brawlers) 184 lbs. 5’5”
Winner: Pedro Williams by Guillotine choke 1:23 in the 1st round

6. Greg Gordon (Team Maniacs) 212 lbs. 6’0”
    Vs.
    Jason Moody (Team Wolfpack) 206 lbs. 5’10”
Winner: Jason Moody by TKO at the end of the 1st round


If you couldn’t make it to fight night and want to see the play by play of these fights, or if you are a fan, the video is available for purchase. Please contact:
Area 51 Computers, 3123 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36303.
Ph: (334) 794-2732.

Want to train for MMA?  Contact the Wolfpack MMA! Phone: 334 -677-2002
Open call for fighters. For fight information call (334) 794-1150 or visit the web site www.southeasternfightleague.com .

MMA in the news!

Watch WTVY 4 news tonight Feb. 24th through Friday night 6 & 10 pm news broadcast for their series on popularity of Mixed Martial Arts in our area.

Danny Ruiz Capitao Jiu-Jitsu & MMA

DANNY RUIZ

DANNY RUIZ & KELLY WILLIAMS

Saturday Feb. 20th Wolfpack MMA hosted a free training seminar with MMA Professional fighter, Danny Ruiz.  Ruiz is one of the top welterwieghts in the state of Florida. Ruiz owns Capitao Jui-Jitsu & MMA in Ft. Walton, FL- "The only real MMA gym on the Emerald Coast." 

Steve Baxley is running the only real MMA gym in the southeast and he is dedicated to offering the best training for his students. 

Ruiz is an excellent teacher.  Ruiz was professional and made the three hours fun but still a grueling workout as they practiced techniques.  Ruiz and his fellow instructor, Kelly Williams made sure the crowd of  approximately thirty people recieved individual attention to make sure they understood and could perform what he was teaching. Everyone benefitted from his instrucion.  I even learned a thing or two and I was just a spectator!

Being an MMA athlete requires training and dedication. 

"Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming but on our own readiness to recieve him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable." - Sum Tzu

Training makes a big difference when MMA athletes step into the octagon, the level of training is determined when they hear their name announced, "winner! "  Keep training!

 Thank You to Danny Ruiz and Kelly Williams for a great training session!

Wolfpack MMA will offer more of these training sessions in the future.  They are not to be missed if you are an MMA athlete.

Ruiz, Andy & Chris

Instructor Kelly Williams

Girls ROCK MMA! (I wouldn't want to get in a fight with Mary Beth!)

February 19, 2010

SOUTHEASTERN FIGHT LEAGUE’S
HOOTERS FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS


A few weeks ago I met Kevin Christopher owner of the Thomasville Combat Academy.  He and a few of his students came to see the fights.  He said he was bringing his guys to fight in the SFL octagon and friday night was the night. 

Christopher put his guys through a strict training regime to prepare for the fights.  His guys proved that training pays off. Christopher has been training his guys for less than a year and one fighter, Ezra Griffin had been in training for about 6 months. Griffin didn't win his match, but his skills were evident in his fighting ablility.

Each week the fighters that step into the octagon are diverse and vary in ability and skills. I can say that each Friday night is not lacking in a surprise or two.  Friday night the first fight was fast and nasty.  The two were the biggest guys on the fight card; Alexander 233 lbs. Vs.Brenton 237 lbs. Brenton landed a brutal strike 26 seconds in the first round and the KO looked like a giant falling face down to the mat.  Blood pooled underneath his face from the meeeting of fist to face.  It happened so fast, that it was hard to believe that it just happened, from a spectator's view. 

That was not the only surprise of the evening - the Salsbury vs. Harrison fight went three rounds and electrified the crowd. Every time a fight goes three rounds fans know they have just seen a battle. 

Don't miss next Friday night! 


FIGHT CARD Feb. 19, 2010


1. Aaron Alexander (from Eufaula) Vs. Thomas Brenton (Team Thomasville Combat Academy)
Winner: Thomas Brenton by KO 26 seconds in the first round

2. Jonathan Stevens (Team Wolfpack) Vs. Daniel Singletary (Team Thomasville Combat Academy)
Winner: Daniel Singletary

3. Zach Farrington (Team No Mercy ) Vs. Jeremy McDaniel (from Dothan)
Winner: Jeremy McDaniel

4. Aaron Salsbury (Team Wolfpack) Vs. John Harrison (Team Thomasville Combat Academy)
Winner: Aaron Salsbury by judges decision after the 3rd round

5. Shaun Love (Team Climax) Vs. Ezra Griffin (Team Thomasville Combat Academy)
Winner: Shaun Love by TKO 2:11 in the 2nd round

6. Daniel Mizell (Team Maniacs) Vs. Daniel Swope (Team Wolfpack)
Winner: Daniel Mizell by TKO


If you couldn’t make it to fight night and want to see the play by play of these fights, or if you are a fan, the video is available for purchase. Please contact:
Area 51 Computers, 3123 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36303.
Ph: (334) 794-2732.

Open call for fighters. For fight information call (334) 794-1150 or visit the web site www.southeasternfightleague.com .

Miguel Mello

Miguel Mello

One of my favorite amateur fighters is Miguel Mello. He has stepped into the Southeastern Fight Center's octagon with more experienced fighters, and goes three rounds if the other guy lasts that long. He is very impressive in the octagon with his fighting technique and determination to win. He is one fighter that doesn't look like much of a threat when you see him but he proves he's worthy to wear the gloves every time he steps into the octagon.  I’ve been trying to catch up with Miguel after his last few fights, and he is always on the go. Lady luck shined on me last Saturday night and Miguel answered my ten questions. I’m looking forward to watching his next fight.

Miguel Mello MMA

1. Where are you from?
Mello: Colorado Springs, Colorado. I’ve lived here three years.

2. How old are you?
Mello: 22 yrs. old

3. Do you have a nickname or a fight name?
Mello: Mr. Magoo

4. What do you like/ hate about MMA?
Mello: MMA is a test of strength and brains. I don’t hate anything about it.

5. Are you spontaneous or a planer?
Mello: I’m a planner.

6. Are you superstitious or have something you do before each fight?
Mello: I pray.

7. What is something that you like now that you used to not like?
Mello: Fighting. I used to watch UFC on television and became interested. I just began training Nov. 2009

8. What is your favorite music?
Mello: Rock

9. Who is your favorite MMA athlete?
Mello: Machida & BJ Penn

10. What is the last promise you made your mother?
Mello: That I would stay out of trouble with the law.

Miss Miguel's fight? Or are you a fan? Videos of the fights can be purchased from:
Area 51 Computers, 3123 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36303.
Ph: (334) 794-2732.



Think you want to be a MMA fighter or just get in shape to look like one? Steve Baxley's Wolfpack MMA offers a variety of training. Wolfpack MMA is at their new location in the Fountain Plaza, next to Ted's Jewelers on the Ross Clark Circle. If you are interested in the classes they offer, call (334) 677-2002 or visit the web site http://www.mmadothan.com/.

For fight information call (334) 794-1150 or visit the web site www.southeasternfightleague.com . Open call for fighters.

February 5, 2010

SOUTHEASTERN FIGHT LEAGUE’S
HOOTERS FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

Feb. 5, 2010

The Hottest ticket to have in Dothan on a Friday Night is one to The Southeastern Fight League’s Hooters Friday Night Fights. There is great live local music and this past Friday night we heard the sounds of Jacob & Richard.

Don’t miss this coming Friday Night! You never know which fighters you might see in or around the octagon! The fightcard is getting better and better with new athletes every week. Hope to see you there!

FIGHT CARD Feb. 5, 2010


1. Michael Wyncoop (Team Immortality) Vs. Jonathon Brown (from Colquitt, GA)
Winner: Jonathon Brown by TKO 4 min in the second round

2. Nick Windham (Team Immortality) Vs. Josh Williams (from Eufaula, AL)
Winner: Josh Williams by rear naked choke


3. Dougless Harvell (from Cottonwood) Vs. Aaron Salsbury (Team Wolfpack)
Winner: Aaron Salsbury 0:26 in the second round


4. Jonathan Stevens (Team Wolfpack) Vs. Brian Routzong (from Eufaula, AL)
Winner: Jonathan Stevens by rear naked choke 1:07 in the 1st round


5. Tyler Bounds (Team Maniacs) Vs. Filipe Corral(Team Wolfpack)
Winner: Tyler Bounds by TKO 2:11 in the 1st round

6. Tarvis Canty (Team Maniacs) Vs. Kyle Bennett (Team Wolfpack)
Winner: Tarvis Canty by TKO 2:49 in the 1st round


If you couldn’t make it to fight night and want to see the play by play of these fights, or if you are a fan, the video is available for purchase. Please contact:
Area 51 Computers, 3123 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36303.
Ph: (334) 794-2732.

Open call for fighters. For fight information call (334) 794-1150 or visit the web site www.southeasternfightleague.com .