Bloodsport in Quintana Roo; House of Shotokan exchange blows

A contingent from the House of Shotokan is back in the Jewel after a successful overnight trip across the border. The fighters took part in a Bloodsport competition that attracted mixed martial arts competitors from numerous Mexican states. Tired and bruised, their winning streak prevailed during the one day event as some team members upstaged their counterparts.  News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

Hard to believe, but less than twenty-four hours ago, these grappling fighters of House of Shotokan were in a full combat mixed martial arts event at the Salon Bella Vista in Quintana Roo.

Shihan Ray Kelly, Grandmaster, House of Shotokan

Ray Kelly

“It was a bloodsport, sudden death, mixed martial art event. And the event attracted mixed martial art fighters from different parts of Mexico to include Belize which from House of Shotokan Karate; we brought our elite team mixed martial art fighter; six of them to that event.”

Jose Sanchez

“So this is a lot of full contact?”

Shihan Ray Kelly

“Not only full contact, it is knock out bloodsport type of contact that the fighters from Belize entered in last night.”

Jose Sanchez

“The preparation; how long has the team been doing it?”

Shihan Ray Kelly

“Our team has been doing it—I would venture to say—under a year that they have been going through preparation with a lot of physical training, a lot of endurance, running, a lot of wrestling; jujitsu type movements, arm-bar type locks and just rigid cardiovascular intensive training that they have been going through in preparation for this event and others.”

Lester Alvarado is smiling after this eye exam with Dr. Ariaga because he did not only receive blows, he dished them out too.

Lester Alvarado, Competitor, Bloodsport

“I entered a fight before, but not this type; not to this level and I came out with a victory—it was pretty awesome. Before this, it was three exhibition fights, but this is the first high level fight that I partake in and you know just to raise the Belizean flag inside the ring was pretty good.”

Jose Sanchez

“But you didn’t mind taking the licks; it was new for everybody in the team?”

Lester Alvarado

Lester Alvarado

“Well you have to take lick; it was expected. He took some licks also. It was just the better of us went to the end.”

Jose Sanchez

“And so in terms of the way you interacted with the Mexican counterparts, do you see yourself getting along with them and continuing?”

Lester Alvarado

“Yes, definitely.”

Francisco Avilez, Competitor, Bloodsport

Francisco Avilez

“It was a first time experience and the Mexican crowd when you get there basically they showed you love and the adrenaline level was off the charts. First time stepping into the ring and you have a ton-load of pressure by representing your country. I thank my coach and all the training we put in and all the hard work I’ve been doing over the weekend and the discipline and dedication. And to all the people who put the support in there, I just went and said you know what I gotta do my best. And I didn’t just want to win. I saw the guy in front of me and I said you know what this is an easy fight and I’m gonna take it. But he got me with a good lick and I got up and I took him down. And I just  said this was mine and I took his arm and that was it.”

Jose Sanchez

“This is something you are gonna be continuing?”

Francisco Avilez

“Yes I plan to participate in the next one on October sixth and hopefully we get the same result and hold the flag up high again.”

Jose Sanchez

“Did you have any experience  prior to this fight in Chetumal?”

Jameel Smith, Competitor, Bloodsport

“Yes in July I went to a fight in Guatemala. Me and Shihan Kelly represented Belize and I was the only participant in that event and I won the championship there in Guatemala. But it was more of an amateur; we had headgear and shin pad. So it was less straight contact with the body.”

Jose Sanchez

“Okay and now with yesterday’s event, what was it like? What was your performance?”

Jameel Smith

Jameel Smith

“Well yesterday was a different performance cause as we didn’t have any headgear, we didn’t have any shin pads, it was straight like UFC style minus only the elbows. I did very well; I won in the second round via a rear-naked choke. And the experience was well, the crowd received us very well and they cheered for both sides—the fighters were very respectful. It was overall a great event and we were proud to represent our country.”

Shihan Ray Kelly

“When we went there that night, the Mexican crowd welcomed our fighters from Belize. The Belize flag was hanging high there in representation that another country was coming in with fighters to this grandiose event. At the end of the day, our fighters walked away well recognized; many of the people spoke very highly of the Belizean fighter which brought a different spectrum to mix martial arts here in the country of Belize as well as in Mexico itself.”

Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

The next mixed martial arts event will take place in Chetumal, Quintana Roo on October sixth.