Local MMA: Road to Glory

Mixed Martial Arts is a sport that is on an amazing popularity high. Daily you can turn on your television and view some sort of MMA show. There are many fans that see the shows on television, and have no clue what it takes for a fighter to get to that level of competition. To become a professional fighter it takes years of training and dedication. B.J. Penn is known as one of the most naturally gifted jiu-jitsu artists, and it took him years to fight in the UFC. This weekend there is an event for amateur fighters in Virginia Beach and other nearby areas. For this card, there are fighters driving as many as 4 hours to compete. To shine a light on my local MMA scene, I want to focus on one school and a fighter, as well as the things needed to prepare for the fight. This is part 1 of a 2 part series of articles that will focus on one of the local fighters and his gym, as he steps in the ring for his first amateur fight.

Scott Cozart by record is new to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. This weekend he will be participating in his first full contact fight. Even though his record is 0-0, he has been training for this for several years in many different ways. He is a physical beast at his 170 pound weight class, and will be a tough draw for any upcoming opponent. Cozart was a solid wrestler in high school, placing top 3 in the grueling state tournament in California twice. Having a wrestling background like Cozart creates a solid foundation for hip movement and mat presence crucial to the ground game in MMA. Cozart also boxed for a few years, and has been preparing for this fight for almost 2 years. During this tenure he has trained BJJ, Muay Thai, and other Mixed Martial Arts skills at Bushido MMA in Chesapeake Virginia. This is one of the premier gyms in the Hampton Roads area, and does very well in all areas of competition. Having a great place to train is also important in fine tuning or establishing your skills. It helps tremendously to have great teachers, training partners, and friends to push you in every aspect of your training. Having a great camp around you can help you get that desired win.

King of the Ring this Saturday will showcase many different styles and experience level of athletes. Cozart is just one fighter that is on the card. This event typically has 15 to 20 fights, including title fights. The fighters come from all around, and represent many different gyms. It is so popular, there are Independent fighters that are self trained. However, this is not the recommended path as these fighters typically lose more than win. The promoter attempts to match fighters up by style and in ring experience as well. The close and interesting fights are what the fans want to see. When they purchase their tickets, they want to get their money’s worth. Looking at the big picture, this sport is growing daily. The smaller shows are proof of that. Check the Internet, magazines, and newspapers for an upcoming event in your area. You never know when you might get to watch the makings of the next George St. Pierre, Chuck Liddell, or future champion.