ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Participation in the Army Combatives Program came in handy for two Missouri National Guard Soldiers who took part in the Fight-Me Mixed Martial Arts event at the St. Charles Family Arena on Veteran's Day.
The event, which featured 10 bouts, was sponsored by the National Guard and the Mixed Martial Arts Sports League, which is headquartered in Lake St. Louis.
Competing as amateurs were Army Staff Sgt. Jay Powell and Army Sgt. Jeremy Koerper. Powell is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds and serves as a combatives instructor for the Missouri National Guard. Koerper is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 185 pounds and serves with the 1138th Military Police Company.
Powell's opponent was Brandon Knight, a 155-pound amateur with a record of 7-2. Their bout was his first-ever amateur fight on an MMA League card.
"Brandon is a strong kid with heavy hands," Powell said before their bout. "He likes to knock people out."
While Powell did not get knocked out, he did unfortunately lose after only 28 seconds into the first round, earning Knight the victory.
Koerper's opponent was Bob Spencer, who in MMA terminology is known as a "striker." But it was Koerper who did the striking, taking Spencer out in the second round.
"I was just so stoked to come out here and fight for you guys and the National Guard," Koerper said to the crowd after his bout. He also thanked his National Guard combatives instructor, Staff Sgt. Powell.
Guard sponsorship of mixed martial arts is a near perfect marriage according to Army Chief Warrant Officer Troy Hutchinson of the Missouri National Guard Recruit and Retention Battalion.
"This is great exposure for the National Guard," Hutchinson said. "Mixed martial arts are the fastest growing sport among our target age group of young people. This shows that there is more to the Guard than just doing missions - that you can get out there and get involved in combatives and face new challenges and be competitive."
As if to drive home that point, MMA President Kenny Nowling repeatedly promoted the Missouri National Guard while on stage, even providing the crowd with the Guard's toll free recruiting number.
"You can't get better publicity than that," said Hutchinson. "These folks are 100-percent behind the Guard."