This last weekend I was invited by WSOF photographer Ryan Loco to come out and get weird at World of Series of Fighting 32! Who could say no to that... It was a great night filled with outstanding fights. I gotta say though, on a personal note, getting to shoot with someone who's work has been an inspiration to me ever since I started on this journey, was a pretty surreal experience. Here's my favorite shots from World Series of Fighting 32!
Catchin some shots of "Mean" Hakeem Dawodu while he's in Studio with Ryan Loco.
Lance Palmer throwing knees for Ryan Loco during the Studio Day for WSOF32
Words were said, pushing happened and WSOF President Ray Sefo had to step in between brothers Caros and Ben Fordor before things calmed down at the weigh ins.
Hakeem Dawodu back stage warming up
Andrews Nakahara streatching out prior to his dominate performance.
The stage is set for WSOF 32 at the Xfinity.
Andrews Nakahara throwing big shots to stop the fight in the first round
All eyes on Rex Harris as he makes his way to the cage
Emily Miller pumpin up the crowed with WSOF swag
Louis Taylor landing a wicked jab
Phil Hawes moments after falling to a guillotine in the second round
El Guapo... Nuff Said.
Real life super hero Phoenix Jones all pumped making his way to the cage
Phoenix jones lands a clean spinning back fist/elbow that cut Caros pretty deep
Lance Palmer landing a solid right to former champ, Alexandre Almeida
Big left hand from Palmer lands right on the chin of Almeida
So much class from both of these warriors! I really hope I'll get to see a rubber match from these two.
Marlon Moraes landing a clean head kick to contender Josh Hill in their main event show down
Moraes and Hill about to exchange right right hands
The good night kick that ended Josh Hill's hopes of walking out of the cage with the gold around his waist.
Tony Parrish receiving a very warm welcome from the crowd at the EQC
Sarah D'Aleio in the zone after the face off with her opponant, Jenny Liou.
Head coach of Team LA, Josh Barnett
Losing his mouth piece in the clinch with Ryan Schecterson
countering a shot with a vicious head kick
landing a clean overhand right on Nathan Stolen
looking to end things quickly with hard shots
Landing a nice kick to Anthony Zender
Looks to defend against an aggressive A.J. Bryant
Delivering a nasty jab to Frunk
on point with her standup
Threatened D'Alelio many times with some deep armbar attempts, this time D'Alelio slams herself to freedom
Landed her fair share of exchanges on the feet
coming in with some serious power
the final bell rang, D'Alelio making her way back to her corner.
CSA's very own Monster!!
Bobby McIntyre delivering some solid elbows to Shohei Yammamoto
Bring some heat to the stand up game to end the fight in the second round
For the first time in his career was taken into some deep waters. Though he came up short, He'll be back better then ever.
Working a solid top game the end Potter's unblemshed record.
Adam DeHart delivering a huge left straight to Knopp
AMC's own Brent Knopp delivers one of many big strikes
strikes to the takedown's, Knopp looked all but invincable
sending a mean right shovel punch to the face of DeHart
Defending the takedown attempt with a big left hook right behind the ear. I don't know anything else that will mess with a persons equilerbrum quite like taking a hard shot right behind the ear.
What a great installment of the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tourniment in the Pacific Northwest. These are my favorite photos from the adult bracket of The Revolution XXXI!
The BJJ community wouldn't be the same without Jeff and Gina Bourgeois', Liberty Events and Promotions! Learn more about the amazing things their doing for BJJ in the PNW at www.leapllc.com
Saturday night I spent the night at Reign FC on behalf of www.NWFightScene.com. And what a great night of fights it was! Promoted by StrikeForce and UFC vet, Bristol Marunde, the match making was on point. Top notch action from the first fight of the night from Amateur Tim Hatten with a 38 second KO, to the 3, 5min round battle that got the crowd on their feet, for both the antics and the skill on display between United Training Center's Rico Rough and Jake Blaski out of Cageworx MMA. I'm already looking forward to the their next show at the Clearwater Casino on September 3rd.
^^^ That's Me!!
Every journey starts with a single step.
Having only picked up my first camera (second hand Canon Rebel XSi) a little over a year ago, I was humbled by one of my portraits being featured in a secondary online piece The Wall Street Journal ran on the rise in popularity of the geeks hitting the gym. Its been a lot of fun and a true honor being involved with my local "Geek and Gamer Fitness" crew. I get to take all kinds of photos (Which I love to do!) to help promote there gym, and for a healthy lifestyle to a group of people that could have otherwise had some insecurities about stepping into foreign territory. There has long been a history of "jocks" vs. "geeks/nerds" for well before I came into this world. It's a true pleasure to see those boundaries crumbling everywhere we look in the fitness community.
Having been a lifelong geek that has also been into athletics and around the local gym scene my early teens, there is nothing that amazes me more then seeing the transformation of not only the body, but of the personality that is brought forth through the confidence gained through working out. There are more then a few of the local Geeks and Gamers that have shed in excess of 100+ pounds. And I couldn't be happier or more proud to welcome them into their new selves. Now we have people living a healthy life style and still being able enjoy the things that make us all the Geeks that we are! My hat is off to every single one that has braved a whole new world and has gone where they have never gone before.
-Matt
P.S. Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars!!!!!
