LITT MAGAZINE

On January 6th, SEG and Driller Entertainment put on one their finest events to date. "Downtown Showdown II" was held in the ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. A record breaking crowd got to see the best mixed martial arts contests in a class setting.

The main event of the evening featured female fighters Kaitlin Young (6-5) Minneapolis and Anna Barone (2-1) St Sault Marie, at 143 lbs. in a hard fought bout that ended in a medical stoppage-a deep cut above Barone's right eye prevented the game Canadian from continuing an uphill battle. Young displayed superior boxing skills from the opening round. Crisp jabs probed Barone's defenses, and lead hard, heavy punches that rained in combinations, and were almost always followed up with a kick to the body.
Young who showed up focused and in great condition could have fought all night. She made weight easily at Thursday night's weigh in at Hubert's in the Target Center. Young chose to stand and strike the entire fight, and never took Barone to the ground-she did what she does best and stuck to an intelligent fight plan. Young appeared to be in control for most of the fight, and avoided trouble by pouring on the offensive firepower.
Young has been schooled in the fine art of snapping her punches, as opposed to pushing punches. Her boxing coach should be commended- a hard snapping jab is one of the best weapons a combats artist can employ. On Friday night Young utilized that jab and follow up punches in a physical display of ring mastery. Young posses a calm demeanor that belies her time spent in the gym-"puttin' in the work" gives an athlete a confidence that can't be faked-and Young wasn't faking-ask Anna Barone. And speaking in fairness to Barone-she had an illness 10 days out from the fight and had been enduring a schedule of antibiotics and couldn't max her workout-weight loss schedule. Barone was over the weight limit at "weigh-in" and had to push under duress of fight cancellation and 30-60 day suspension by the Commissioner of Combative Sports. While Young was hungry and her camp was ready to fight Barone at whatever weight-the Commissioner wasn't having it. Barone was given a last chance "weigh in" the next morning, and through hard work she made it. It must be pointed out that in Barone's corner was world class fighter, Rich Clementi, who flew in from New Orleans for Young vs. Barone. Even the invaluable experience offered by Clementi couldn't save Barone from the Kaitlin Young experience! This is a fight and two fighters we deserve to see again in the future.
 
 
The co-main event featured Jon Barker (5-2) Rhinelander, WI against Tony Belvedere (12-5) Hudson WI at 125 lbs. in a hard hitting bout that ended in a split decision. Both athletes were in great shape and came to fight. Belvedere's edge in experience was the difference in the outcome. Belvedere landed several shots in the middle rounds that Barker didn't answer- that bolstered Belvedere's confidence, and gave him a slight point advantage that Barker regained. Belvedere hits harder than 125 lbs(er) and looks like he could up a weight class or two and become a major power puncher-he's got the tools. And speaking of tools-Belvedere has a great stable of training partners-all fighters that seek to attain any level of greatness know that possibility is zero without a great team-Belvedere has a great team backing him up! Jon Barker looks like a natural at 125 lbs. and comes with a great training ethic and dietary regimen. Barker is looking better with every fight-it’s obvious that he and his trainers are working his combinations as an attack feature instead of defensive after thought. Look forward to seeing more of Mr. Barker's progression Barker is also on his way to Randy Couture's Xtreme Couture MMA; 2012 USA Team Trials Pankration and Combat Grappling in Las Vegas for additional training. Since Barker also participates in Pankration and Combat Grappling he is constantly in training mode Barker is trained by Dave Sixel and is developing well under Sixel's regimen.
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Craig Early (4-5) Burnsville challenged Brandon Buchholz (6-6) Minneapolis at 135 lbs to a close split decision that ebbed and flowed both ways. Both fighters showed streams of brilliance and proved a good match. The edge was sharpened with Buchholz slipping through the grasp of Early's defensive skills. Early and Buchholz are both good fundamental fighters with a bit of flare. Although these two fighters have fought each other before (3 times to be exact-Buchholz winning the first and the last one, Early winning the second) we need to see more of these guys! A former bad boy, Buchholz proudly embraces his Mormon religion and credits his family, in addition to his religious commitment, with placing him on the right path. His total commitment to MMA keeps him on the straight and narrow. Buchholz is trained by Tom Schmitz Spartan Martial Arts and Chris Cichon Cellar Kickboxing, a good combination. and the two are team that have great potential.

Marcel Anderson (3-1) North Branch dialed it in at 155 lbs. against John Castaneda (5-1) Mankato. Anderson and Castaneda mixed up the action before coming to a referee stoppage. Mitch Field (1-1) River Falls WI registered a TKO over a willing first-timer, Kyle Waldvogel (0-0) La Crosse 155 lbs. John Melina (0-0) Plymouth made his debut as he fought the more experienced and yet unbeaten Marsell McCullough (2-0) Minneapolis at 170 lbs. Melina secured a lopsided victory for win # 1 as McCollough tapped out due to exhaustion.

 In the heavier division Brandon Bell (4-2) La Crosse WI took on James Clark (4-2) Crystal at 180 lbs. The laid-back Bell went for the kill with a 1st round TKO due to strikes. Bell also executed a perfectly set up body triangle ended Mr. Clark's evening early. In interviewing the likable Bell, Litt found out that Bell drove to Minneapolis alone, and was prone to nervousness-up until the time he enters the ring. Once he enters the ring-nervousness over-take care of business-win-go home. That in the nutshell sums up Brandon Bell! Good guy-warrior. He talked the talk-then-he walked the walk!! First round TKO!

Jesse Wannemacher (1-1) Fergus Falls spoiled Marcus Young's (0-0) Burnsville débuted at 145 lbs by handing the young Mr. Young a TKO in the 2nd round.
 
The DownTown ShowDown II was an exciting evening of MMA put on by the entertainment group that is synonymous with live action mixed martial arts entertainment. SEG Entertainment/Driller Promotions have the 2012 schedule of events available-for information go to www.sterlingmn.com

December 19, 2011 By RE

The "weigh in" date for fighters in the "DownTown Showdown II "has been announced! Driller/SEG Entertainment announce the site of the most electrifying fight of the New Year will be held in the top sports bar in Minneapolis. Huberts, located (on ground level) in the Target Center, in downtown Minneapolis. Do I mean the Huberts where there is less than 30 yds from bar or table to the actual courtside entrance of the Minnesota Timberwolves Arena -the same Huberts that's less than a two minute walk to the Twin's Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins -home of the world champion Minnesota Lynx- the ground zero of sports related recreational activity in downtown Minneapolis? Yeah, that Huberts!

The date of January 5th at 5pm-7:30 pm has been designated as "weigh in" time for the "Downtown Showdown II" mixed martial arts cage fights. Driller Promotions will feature the first female mixed martial artists to headline a fight card. Kaitlin Young makes her return to Minnesota when she steps into the cage with Ontario Canada's Anna Barrone. Don't miss this one!

SEG executive Jeremy Bjorberg told Litt Magazine, "We are both excited and proud to be the first entertainment promoter to have two female competitors headline a card. We're not excited because we've matched two females to fight-we're excited to have matched two great female fighters. We want to highlight the significance of this event by engaging top flight venues to showcase the talent of our competitors. Thanks to generous consideration of Hubert's management we can set the stage for the type of media event that these athletes deserve. We have an exciting card planned-the best male and female fighters around. The fact that we've lined up females competitive enough to headline such an impressive card should make it that much more exciting."

The "weigh in" promises to be out of the ordinary in every way-good! Come on down to Hubert's January 5th have a drink or some food and meet a mixed martial arts star or two.
The weigh in is free and open to the public, pictures encouraged and autograph signing follows.

For more information go to www.sterlingmn.com

Huberts is located at

600 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403-1400
(612) 767-2960