Sports

Local fighter takes 1st MMA step

By Candace Begody
Navajo Times

TOWAOC, Colo., July 23, 2011

Terrin Yazzie knew there was a lot at stake when he entered the octagon at the "King of the Cage: High Altitude" over the weekend at the Ute Mountain Casino.

If he lost his debut KOTC fight, his dream of being considered for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the largest mixed martial arts organization in the world, could be shot.

KOTC, after all, is responsible for starting the careers of UFC fighters such as former light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Rashad Evans and Urijah Faber.

But Yazzie, a member of the Blackwater MMA Team of Chinle, left a big impression on his opponent, Christopher Calagais, as he sent him home with a gash on his left eye after forcing the Durango, Colo., boxer into submission in round three of their 185-pound fight. Yazzie improved his amateur record to 4-1.

The invitation-only event featured up-and-coming MMA fighters and some of the best combat fighters in the nation.

Calagais used his height advantage over Yazzie from the bell and dominated the first two rounds with his superb boxing technique.

"We knew he was a good boxer so the plan was to strike if I had to and keep my guard up," Yazzie said. "I knew I could stand up and box but if I got into trouble then the plan was to use my take-down abilities because I was told I'd be dangerous if I took him to the ground."

Yazzie said the plan was to test Calagais' stamina by going the distance.

"I just had to weather the storm," he said. "We knew that if I took him into the third round I would likely win because I was told his weakness was cardio.

"Then my coaches noticed his hands were dropping and he was getting tired," he added. "At that point, I just had to dominate.

Yazzie saw an opportunity and choked Calagais into submission 37 seconds into the final round.

"He was there mentally and physically - just as much as I was," Yazzie said of his opponent. "But I believe it was a cardio fight. I was able to recover faster than he was."

Coaching from the corner was trainer Jeremy Vasquez.

Vasquez said the fight came down to how well Yazzie bounced back after being dominated in the first two rounds.

"There were a lot of the things he did right," Vasquez said. "He is very experienced when it comes to his ground game. When he got taken to the ground he was calm and recovered well.

"His cardio wasn't the best but he's been improving with every fight," he added. "He still needs to work on boxing and stand up technique."

Having won the biggest fight of his amateur career, Yazzie said he now sets his sights on reaching the UFC rankings.

"I want to make it to the UFC and one day hold up the welterweight belt," Yazzie said. "I can't sing, dance, or act so I fight. This is my meal ticket out and we all know it'll be a good long road but we have the determination and are working hard."

The 5-foot-10 Yazzie said the weekend's fight was his last fight in the middleweight division as he plans on dropping weight to fight in the 170-pound welterweight division.

"My coaches know I'll do a lot better at 170 and I'll be fighting people my size and my height," Yazzie said.

Vasquez said training from here on out will allow Yazzie to turn pro by the end of the year.

"This was his biggest fight," Vasquez said. "This win lets him know that he is up there and that he could compete with the big dogs."

Just as they thought, the win would afford more chances to compete in the KOTC octagon.

According to Vasquez, Yazzie will now train for another KOTC event at the Ute Mountain Casino and then for the Cage Fiery in Farmington come October.

"We all want UFC and King of the Cage in our futures," Yazzie said of his team - Blackwater MMA. "It's what we've been trying to get into and it was a neat experience for our whole team."

Of course, Yazzie said the road to glory will not come without Vasquez, the rest of the Blackwater MMA team and his supporters.

"This was the toughest fight I have ever been in and it is also a highlight of my career," Yazzie said. "King of the Cage is an organization that I've been striving for but the only reason I am able to compete and do well is because of my teammates, my coaches and my sponsors."

Xtreme Ground N Pound Fight Shop in Gallup sponsored Yazzie and his teammate Micah Begay, also of Chinle.

Other Navajos who competed at King of the Cage include Efren Castenada of Gallup, Loren Shorty of Gallup, and Sean Gee of Blanding, Utah.

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