The first mixed martial arts (MMA) cage fighting event in the country is now less than two months away. Beast Mode Fight Team Chief Instructor Dr. Kent Bazard assured yesterday that the cage itself is ready for clearance, and the event is set to come off at the end of April. The cage fighting display will be a part of the Bahamas Open Martial Arts Championships (BOMAC), set for Saturday April 25, at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs Gym. That event will get underway at 7 p.m.
"Plans have been going very well," said Bazard yesterday. "Initially, we got delayed with the hosting of this event, but our reputation grew, and then fighters started calling in, wanting to be a part of the show. The biggest issue for us was actually getting the cage in, cleared through customs. The logistics of bringing in all of the fighters and some of the officials has been kind of tedious as well, but we're getting it done. We're looking forward to a great event."
The BOMAC Cage Fights is being billed as a Caribbean versus the United States of America (USA) event. It will showcase eight Bahamian fighters, one Jamaican and two Trinidadians going up against competitors out of the United States, specifically Florida and Georgia.
The Caribbean All-stars are being led by the eight Bahamians - Giovanni "Mo Fire" Johnson, Dijonaisse "DJ" Brown, Pierre "Sniper" Simmons, Tyson "Kamikaze" Isaacs, Cameron Lewis, Marcian Tucker, Kenny Neymour and the only female on the card Jasmine Wilchcombe. A number of their American opponents fight out of Boca Raton Florida, from the same gym as former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans.
"This is going to be a high-class event," said Bazard. "The Bahamas is going to be well-represented. We have been doing very well outside of The Bahamas, creating a name for ourselves. All of the fighters are excited to showcase their skills right here at home. We usually fight in a hostile environment so to have our people here at home encouraging us, is huge.
"We really want Bahamians to come out and support these Bahamian MMA fighters. It's going to be a fun and exciting show. All of the Bahamian fighters are eager to fight here at home in front of their home crowd, and I'm sure they'll put on a good show. It's just up to the Bahamians to come out and cheer us on."
The event is being sanctioned by the Bahamas Martial Arts Federation and the Florida State Athletic Commission (FSAC). Members from the FSAC will be here in The Bahamas.
"This is going to be huge. We're staging a referee's clinic to assist in the training of our referees as well. It's all a part of growing the sport," said Bazard. "The local referees are basically a lot of the senior martial arts instructors here in The Bahamas. Ongoing training is vital."
Bazard said that they have to thank the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for their assistance in this event, particularly Sports Director Timothy Munnings.
"They have been very helpful in us putting this thing together," said Bazard. "They have been of great assistance and we appreciate that. They got the ball rolling for us in this event."
Bazard said that he's expecting the discipline of cage fighting to really take off in The Bahamas. This is just the beginning of things to come, he said. His fighters from the Beast Mode Fight Team try to compete in an MMA cage fighting events at least once every three months.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
