A couple other things Marc and I covered in our conversation earlier this week:
He's still hoping to fight in at least one, but maybe more, amateur fights soon. Marc is in his 40s, but trains right alongside his fight team, having spent decades as a martial artist.
The challenge for Slomske is convincing the Pa. Athletic Commission he should be eligible to fight. According to Greg Sirb, the commission's executive director, the cut-off age for fighting is 36. An exception can occur only after a fighter endures a battery of medical exams. Even then, the commission can still say no.
"I did my dialated eye exam and a stress test," Slomske said. On the stress test, the doctor said Slomske "couldn't be any better." He added he hopes to fight before the end of fall, before his CAT scan runs out.
Marc knows the odds are against him.
"Hopefully, they'll see me, interview me," he said. "I would love to get in there, just once or twice."
Slomske's Tae Kwon Do and MMA Academy is located at 4 S. Union St., Middletown, Pa. To call the academy, hit up 717-944-5944.
To order clothing - shirts, hats and skullies - from Marc's Next Legend fightwear, click here.
I know the feeling. I work out and spar with my fighters everyday. Compete in Grapplers Quest events every year. Yet I entered a tough man contest in West Virginia only to have my paperwork denied because I was to old to compete. The cut-off was 39 and I'm 46. I think enough is enough with this age thing. I believe Marc and myself are old enough to know our limits. I say let fighters fight, thats what we are, thats what we do.
Bob Bitner
Hanover Academy of MMA