Preparations for MMA Mashup Underway
There is a serious daily beat down that is occurring right here on Coney Drive and it hasn’t and won’t make it into any police report. Eight Mexicans and eight Belizeans are preparing for a Mixed Martial Arts mash-up that will take place inside the Belize Elementary Auditorium at the end of the month. The collaboration between House of Shotokan and Prevail MMA includes fighters from Belize City and Dangriga. The main event, a heavyweight title belt, will be fought between Juan Rojas and the Commanding Officer of the B.D.F. Airwing Adran Ramirez, who represents Prevail MMA. They are preparing for the battle inside the Health and Fitness 2000 and the coach and the fighter believe this is one event you don’t want to miss.
Adran Ramirez, MMA Heavy Weight Fighter for Title Belt
Adran Ramirez
“Come out and watch the fight. It’s going to be a wicked fight and support Belize. Live Belize forever. I’m six feet tall, over two hundred pounds and I have been training mixed martial arts for nine years. I’ve also done a little of Taekwondo, jujitsu and judo. I mix it up-karate. And right now my main focus is to mix up everything so I can be prepared for the fight.”
Joel Meyer
Joel Meyer, Coach, Prevail MMA
“My duties entail kicking some butt. Making them sweat and keeping them in shape. Cardio is the name of the game when it comes to MMA. Technique doesn’t matter if you don’t have the gas tank. You can know all the moves, all the techniques and all the kicks but if you don’t have the cardio it’s good for nothing. We got the stairs here, we run the stairs countless times, burpees, we get our cardio high. We do a lot of grappling and finish with some striking and sparring.
Our main fight is the heavyweight, what can you tell us about our fighter and Juan Rojas? You must know him as well. Yes. I know Juan Rojas. He beat me the last time. We were fighting at a lighter weight and he ended up choking me out at the last seconds of the first round. So I’m well acquainted with Juan. He’s been fighting a long time. He has good technique. He has good heart. He is a fighter for sure. But Ramirez, he’s a soldier. He’s B.D.F. He’s a warrior. He’s not going to give up easily. He hasn’t been training as long but he has the heart of a fighter.”
Adran Ramirez
“I’m a family guy, I got two kids and a wife. I have a military career. I’m a pilot as well. I just do my best to serve this country for the last ten years in service. Presently, the Commanding Officer of the Air Wing.”
Reporter
Juan Rojas
“You’re from Ladyville?”
Adran Ramirez
“I live in Ladyville because of the job. I was born and raised in Corozal Town. My father is Mario Ramirez. My mother is Marilyn White. And they are the ones that brought me into this world and I have to give thanks to God and them.”
Reporter
“What does it mean to win this fight, assuming you are going to win it?”
Adran Ramirez
“Well there is no assuming I’ll win it. I’ll definitely win it. I’m winning this fight for Belize. I represent the country. I’ll do everything I have to do. I’ll run blood, sweat and tears if I have to and I’ll bring that belt back home.”
The fight takes place on November twenty-ninth at the Belize Elementary Auditorium starting at seven p.m. Tickets are available at House of Shotokan but if you watch at home it will be Live on Five.
