Barbados is fast becoming the hub for the most popular sport in the world in the Caribbean – Mixed Martial Arts (MMA ). A visit to the island early this year from French Canadian UFC champ George St. Pierre has helped to popularised the sport into seeing an increased in participants in the sport and MMA training camps across the island especially among the youth. Coming November 23rd, 2013 at 6:00 pm, the Frederick Smith Secondary School will be on fire with some fisted action with some of the top local athletes pitted against the best in the Anglo and Franco-phone speaking Caribbean.
Co-hosted by the Barbados Mixed Martial Arts Federation and the Caribbean Fight League the Divi Southwinds Hotel Ultimate Warrior Live will feature 13 MMA bouts. The two leagues have been promoting the sport across the various locations on the island and has been using Barbados for its geographical location and touristic qualities of sea, sand, sun and warm and friendly people to attract regional athletes to the competitions held across the various venues across the island. The Ultimate Warrior Live will be the 4th this year’s series of events and will give participating athletes an opportunity to be eligible for the next year Regional Champions Title Event to be held on April 5, 2014 at the Divi Southwinds Hotel venue.
The evening promises to be some very exciting action as the main event will see O’Neal Chase (2012 and 2013 CFL champ) of the ROCK Camp of Barbados taking a challenge from Parisian Sylvain Gondet (WIFC 2013 champion) of Hybrid Fighting Team Guadeloupe in four by three minute round bout.
The Barbados, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago 23rd November card will include renowned champs, Guadeloupe, middle weight champion David Rochemont and welter weight champion Alexandre Blandin and Barbados national champions in the various weight categories: O’Neal Chase, Corey Weithers, Marlon Remise, Dale Marshall and Anderson Hinkson. Also up young up and coming Bajan title contender Jason Young will be taking the bajan flag against the twin island state in a Cou-Cou Vs. Callaloo!
As the sport is becoming popular among the young teenagers, there will be three (3) bouts in junior MMA for the fifteen (15) to seventeen (17) year old age category where the rules are adjusted for the age group. Upcoming local star Shackeil Mascoll of Kime Kan and Frederick Smith School will be defending his title against Demaggio Cumberbatch of the Jones Martial Arts Academy.