The Big Fight

WAITSBURG - Despite chilly temperatures in the community building at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds, about 300 people gathered last Saturday for the first mixed martial arts fight this town had ever seen.

Rob Dodgin, who organized the fight in Waitsburg with his company KOK Fight Club from Walla Walla, said that despite some kinks, he was thrilled with the turnout and the fighters were impressive.

"Everyone had a great time and there were no problems," Dodgin said. "It ran pretty smooth."

The barn was cold and the event started about an hour and 15 minutes later than scheduled, but once the fighting began, the audience didn't seem to care.

The bleachers were packed and spectators lined the walls of the building. The Matbirds Club sold hot dogs and chili, which fightgoers happily chowed down while watching the action.

Loud hip-hop and rock music blasted from a stereo system brought in for the event. When it was finally announced that it was "five minutes to show time" the crowd cheered.

Right before the event started, three ring girls put the finishing touches on their hair and makeup, and the fighters got their knuckles taped at a medical table behind the bleachers.

"What's up fight fans?" Dodgin asked over the sound system to the screams and hollers of the fans.

He explained the fighters on Saturday were amateurs who are working hard to go professional. Dodgin kept the atmosphere positive and rowdy, and pumped the crowd up while also encouraging the spectators to stay positive and practice good sportsmanship.

When the fighters entered in front of the crowd, some were alone and some had large entourages of supporters and elicited many cheers.

The fighters were patted down for weapons, checked for injuries and introduced to the audience. Many were making their mixed martial arts debuts.

To a spectator, the martial arts looked like a mix of boxing and wrestling. There were all-out punches and kicks and many of the fights ended with one opponent pinning the other's shoulders to the ground.

A few of the earlier fights weren't too exciting. But a few scrappy fighters elicited major cheering from the crowd merely for their effort.

One surprising element was the positivity. Often after the fight was over, the fighters would help one another up from the floor of the ring or even hug one another. The sportsmanship the fighters displayed was remarkable.

However, one fighter did not show to meet his opponent on Saturday night and this announcement elicited jeers from the crowd and even Dodgin, acting as announcer, shamed the absent fighter.

A more comical moment of the evening was when one particularly scrappy, curly haired fighter lost his match and tossed his mouth guard into the crowd in dramatic defeat, terrifying the teenage girls sitting in the stands.

The fighter who obtained the most applause of the evening and was a clear crowd favorite, was Jeff Hofer from Waitsburg.

"That old guy's tough!" a fan yelled as Hofer prepared to fight.

Hofer competed against a fighter from Long Beach, Calif. In Round 1, Hofer got a great hold on his opponent and handily won in just 31 seconds.

Hofer dedicated his fight and quick victory to his sons who are both in the armed forces.

"This fight is for the fans and my boys," Hofer said.

TJ Hofer, Jeff Hofer's son, lost his fight that night by submission.

The goal of the night was to win the fight for a free tshirt, or win the weight class or overall title.

The top winners get money donated to the gym where they train.

The 185 weight class champ was Anton Bushkovskiy.

Brian Wilmoth lost his 155 weight class title to AJ Rodello from Sunnyside.

Dodgin said he is planning to host another mixed martial arts fight in Waitsburg on the first Saturday in March in Town Hall.