Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Blacksburg’s Chris Hamlett has been involved in cage fighting for the past five year and is ready to take the step in a possible professional career in the MMA ring.
He had always been involved in different sports in high school and considered himself a competitive person.
“I grew up in contact sports, and I love a challenge, so I’ve took every fight offered to me no matter how big or strong they were to try and make myself a better fighter. It makes me push myself to new limits each and every day accomplishing goals I never thought I would, and I wanted the next generation to know that fighting can be a choice for protection and self-defense and that if you set your mind to something anything can be achieved with the time and effort,” he said.
Hamlett will face C.J. Burleson of Pulaski for the Titans of the Cage (TOC) cruiserweight championship belt during an event set for tonight at Pulaski County High School. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the fight card begins promptly at 6 p.m.
The fights are being sanctioned by the state of Virginia and overseen by the United Combat Arts sanctioning body and DPOR of Richmond.
Hamlett will face C.J. Burleson of Pulaski for the TOC cruiserweight championship belt in one of two main events.
Hamlett hopes to become a big MMA fighter and step into the UFC octagon or Bellator. Currently, he trains in Muay Thai, a combat sport originated from Thailand that uses stand up striking along with other clinching techniques. It is characterized with the striking combination of fists, elbows, knees and shins.
Hamlett’s Muay Thai record is 1-0, while his overall MMA marks is 2-4. He also trains in boxing and jitsu.
Also, in other matches tonight, Wytheville fighter “Razor” Robbie Ring makes his long-awaited official MMA debut when he faces veteran fighter Josh Cook from Halifax fight team. Robbie has been involved in martial arts training since he was three years old and has compiled a record of 7-0 in MMA expo bouts over the past three years.
In other title bouts, the current TOC bantamweight champ, A.J. Sanchez out of Chicago puts the belt on the line against veteran fighter Ray Holston of Ring-Combat sports in Wytheville.
The vacant featherweight belt will be on the line when Mike Sant, of Absolute Jiu-Jitsu in Bristol, Tennessee, does battle with Adam Zolot of Team Phoenix out of Greensboro.
In yet another title bout, it will be popular local fighter and veteran of nearly 20 fights inside the cage, Micah Sheffey facing Austin Cox for the vacant welterweight title.
Sheffey, who trains out of Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville, is the former TOC lightweight champ and Caged Kombat Champion but moves up a weight class for this opportunity.
Finally, Billy Byrd of Coeburn will challenge current flyweight champ, Logan Hurley of Ring-Combat Sports for the belt.
The ladies will take front and center in this one, with Kristy Stafford of Big Stone Gap and Stevana Shouvley of Roanoke square off inside the cage.
This card is loaded with great bouts from top to bottom. Local fighter, Danny Edwards will try to remain undefeated as he takes on Will Wilson of Roanoke, Dylan Smith of Lebanon faces Sean Mitchell of South Hill in a lightweight top contender bout, Tyler Gilger of Beckley faces Jacob Coller of Greensboro, North Carolina, while Michael Warner of Princeton, West Virginia and Antwon Curtis of Roanoke slug it out in a kickboxing showdown.
The popular youth grappling expo bouts will also be featured when local martial arts students from Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville showcase their Jiu-Jitsu skills inside the cage. Twelve-year-olds Grace Crowder and Emily Foore. Others include: Emily Porter (5) vs. Riley Grubb (5), Sierra Llewellyn (9) vs. Hunter Pennington (9) and Eli Holston (5) vs. Joey Larkin (5).
The event is sponsored by and will benefit the Pulaski County Special Olympics. Tickets are available at the door.
