Chatham-Kent Mixed Martial Artists Rock the Silverdome

Chatham-Kent mixed martial artists Josh Rich, Tyler Kirk, Steve Eldridge, Jo Petahtegoose and Pete Knelsen all competed in the TXC event held at the notorious Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan this past Saturday.

Five fighters represented Chatham-Kent, two from Chris Kimmerly’s Redemption MMA, two from the School of Hard Knox in Tilbury, and top fighter Josh “The Ripper” Rich from Thomas Armstrong’s Gracie Barra Chatham.

Dresden native and GBC top gun Josh “The Ripper” Rich improved his MMA record to 3-1 with an impressive 1st round victory via armbar submission. Rich defeated Leslie Henley who was an impressive 6-1 in his career goping into the fight. The victory vaults Rich up to the top of the heap in the 135-pound division and a TXC title shot should be soon on the horizon.

Chatham’s Tyler “The Terminator” Kirk of Redemption MMA is really picking up some steam in his mixed martial arts career as he gained a 1st-round submission victory over a vastly more experienced fighter in Antonio Gonzales. Kirk dominated in the stand up with knee strikes and punches and softened Gonzales up for the early rear naked choke win. Kirk is now 3-1 in his MMA career after defeating Gonzales a veteran of 13 MMA fights.

Redemption welterweight Steve Eldridge put in a valiant effort while suffering his first loss in mixed martial arts to impressive wrestler Ruben Baraiac. In a match to determine the number one contender to the 170-pound title Eldridge showed excellent skill under constant pressure and the cagey Baraiac needed everything he had in his arsenal to finish the tough Chatham fighter. Eldridge has vowed he is resolved to come back bigger and better in his next fight.

Jo Petahtegoose and Pete Knelsen, of Tilbury’s School of Hard Knox, were also extremely successful in their respective bouts.

Neither Gracie Barra Chatham nor Redemption have much time to rest as both schools are preparing for extremely competitive and important competitions at the end of the month.

Gracie Barra standout Justin Steele is preparing for the grapplers Quest World Series on November 19th in Las Vegas, while Redemption MMA fighters will be in competition on December 3rd-4th at the NAGA Grappling tournament at the MMA Expo in Toronto.

Redemption is holding a fudraiser for the event this comieng Tueday night November 8th at Boston Pizza.