Fight night
Mixed Martial Arts competitors prepare to fight during the Kalispell Kombat Fight Force event at Gardner’s Auction on Saturday. Twenty-two fighters competed in 11 bouts, with several hundred spectators in attendance.
Photo and text by Garrett Cheen/Daily Inter Lake
Submission is the ultimate goal when mixed martial arts fighters take the ring
Modern-day gladiators stormed into Kalispell on April 26 for the Kalispell Kombat Fight Force mixed martial arts event at Gardner?s Auction.
Mixed martial arts is a style of fighting where just about anything goes. It incorporates every discipline of martial arts including jiujitsu, wrestling, boxing, karate, kick-boxing and judo. Competitors can use any form they choose at any time.
But this new form of fighting isn?t just blood and guts, it?s an athletic chess match where fighters must think on their feet, be able to adjust, and strategically adapt to what type of move is needed to win.
The ultimate goal is to win by submission or a traditional knockout.
?It?s not just these behemoth gladiators in there. It?s an intellectual sport,? said Kalispell?s Kevin Moore, who instructs 40 students and runs the Ultimate Submission Academy U.S.A in Creston. ?They have to understand all the moves from all the disciplines. It?s a learning process in each and every fight. They have to be able to adapt to each fighter in so many different ways.?
According to Moore, boxing is all but over. But mixed martial arts is here to stay. Several hundred people attended the $30 ticketed event.
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Story corrected on May 5 to reflect correct location of academy and to change ninjitsu to jiujitsu.