Some of you may know that Hanover-based MMA clothing company Tap or Sleep has a midwest-based arm, called – ya’ll ready for this? – Tap or Sleep Midwest. Josh Helm runs the show at TOS Midwest and he recently sent me an email about some of the goings-on there:
Tap or sleep picks up another midwest phenom and a familier fan favorite re-enters the cage this weekend.
Tap or Sleep midwest has picked up Jose Vega AKA “dat vega kid.” Jose trains out of First Blood MMA, in Sedalia, Missouri where he is also the trainer for some of the top up-and-comers in the midwest. Jose has had an outstanding career and is considered one of the best 135-lb. fighters in the midwest.
Jose had a 15-2 amateur record, holding 6 titles, and has a 6-1 pro record and placed 3 times and the Missouri state championships. (He is ranked on fight matrix.com.) At the IFC sturgis Pro Mma tournament he won beating Danny Timms from Missouri, a kid named Eric Buck from Greg Jackson’s camp and another kid from New Mexico. Jose is also good friends with the current WEC champ Jamie Varner.
Jose has amazing strength and conditioning and is also one of the most well-rounded local fighters Tap or Sleep has. After a visit at First blood MMA in Sedalia Friday afternoon Tap or Sleep’s Josh Helm stated “They have a lot of talent at their new gym in Sedalia and I like that they do their stength and conditioning out in the country. Jose is probably the most respected 135er in Missouri and its well-deserved. I think everyone will see a lot out of that camp in the near future and they will make waves. Jose is going out to Arizona to train with guys like Varner, Carlos Condit, and Ryan Bader. From what I’ve seen Arizona Combat Sports has the best strength and conditioning program there is and after talking to Jose about his previous time spent there, they work him into the ground for sure.”
With Tap or Sleep picking up another great athlete like Jose Vega that just shows that Tap or Sleep is still on the rise and TOS is gonna be around a long time. This Saturday night Jose will be the main event at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri on a great fight card. He will be fighting a guy named Larry Degiulio from UFC’s Clay “The Carpenter” Guida’s Gym. Clay Guida will also be there. The show is following the official grand opening of First Blood MMA’s new gym.
On that night everyone will also see a comback for fan favorite and Tap or Sleep original Owen “country boy” Evinger. After a one year absence from the sport he is taking this fight on one weeks notice coming in with a 3-0 pro record. Owen has stayed busy as a single dad with sustody of 2 boys and has been racing cars and riding bulls. Owen will be fighting Chris Andrade who is trains at first blood mma with Jose Vega and has also been absent from the gym for awhile although he has been in the cage 2 times this year with a win and a loss. Both of these guys are well respected and this will be a battle of heart. Both men are going to bring it and it should be a war.
