Recently in Jim Hettes Category

Jim Hettes is a 22-year-old who looks like he's 16, a professional who starts his day with a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. A 140-pound man who doesn't even bother to tell anyone what he really does for a living.

He has learned a lot these last few years. One thing he has picked up is, it's not worth trying to get anyone to look past what seems obvious.

"I tell them I'm self-employed," Hettes said. "I don't tell them I'm an MMA fighter.

"Usually, when you tell them you're an MMA fighter, they look at you a little different. Some people understand it. Some people think you're just a thug or something. Half the people think I'm B.S.-ing them anyway."

Actually, far from it.

Baltimore had its first MMA event a couple weeks ago - Shogun Fights - and Pennsylvania's Jim Hettes represented GracieNEPA and MMAMelee to the fullest, winning by armbar in the first round. I posted a vid of the fight a while back, but here it is again, from another angle, posted just a few days ago at MMAMelee. Parts two and three are on the next page.

Just found this on MMAMelee, the best damn MMA social networking site. Jim Hettes vs. Jay Haas - dayum! And Randy Smith is on the card, which means we'll probably be seeing Tamdan "The Barn Cat" McCrory in town again.

Thanks to mmamelee for the video.

Jim "Kid Havoc" Hettes kicks Steven Baker. Thanks to MMAMelee, the ultimate MMA social networking site, for the pic and story.

ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS:
In front of more than 5,000 fans, Jim Hettes becomes the first man in history to win a Professional mixed martial arts bout in the state of Maryland. (See Video) Saturday night Shogun Fights was not only a staple of excitement for the city of Baltimore, but also every MMA fans dream.

Shogun is a brand new promotion and they didn't put on a fight, they put on a show! Top level promotions like the UFC and Strikeforce should beware. If this is their first time doing it, there is definitely a new contender in the house. Full with celebrities, lights, cameras and plenty of action, the crowd was electric and never was that more evident then when Hettes's walk-out song 'Welcome to Jamrock' by Damian Marley started bumping, it sent chills down your spine.

from an exclusive interview with mmamelee.com, one of the best mma social networking sites:

It's been 4 months since Jim Hettes turned Pro and to say this guy takes his career serious would be an understatement. In that short time "Kid Havoc" assembled a 2-0 record and plans on capturing another victory Saturday night in what will be a historical event in Maryland, then he's scheduled to perform again in front of his hometown crowd November 27th. If you average that out, he's fighting every 6 weeks, still somehow he found time to win 2 Gold Medals in Judo at the Keystone State Games and donate his bones to Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in preparation for his title fight. We sat down with Hettes to discuss his brutal schedule and find out what's in store for Saturday night.

MMA MELEE - Man you've been going hard the last couple months, what motivated you to start competing in MMA and how do you keep up with this pace?

JIM HETTES - I have always been into Martial Arts ever since I was a kid, from watching way to many kung fu flicks, to trying to throw a hoduken in my backyard. I wrestled as a kid, switched over to boxing at age 14, then two years later I started doing jiu jitsu, so it only seemed natural for me to follow the path into Mixed Martial Arts as I got older. As far as the pace, I just enjoy seeing my game get better and better and I love displaying the results. (***Hadouken-Japanese neologism literally "wave motion fist" a punch delivered with a blast of spiritual energy)

An entry at mmamelee.com from MMAtrix: JHET WON 135­ into the FI­RST ROUND by­ ARMBAR!!!!!­!!!!!

Jim Hettes is turning into one of Pennsylvania's best home-grown fighters. Hailing from the Scranton area and training at Gracie NEPA, I'm predicting great things for the guy some call J-Het and others know as Kid Havoc. Hettes fought on Saturday in Maryland's first MMA event, Shogun Fights, put on by John Rallo of Baltimore's Ground Control.

From Hettes' MMA Melee blog:
As our training is coming to an end it's gonna be weird heading back home. No more crazy-ass Derek waking us all up at odd hours of the night jumping on our beds, no more waiting for the bathroom and most important no more training in this crazy altitude. But the craziest part of all is...I am gonna miss it alot! Everyone here has been great. Not just for the fact that they're all great fighters but that they are all genuinely good people.

So its week four out here in albuquerque (been here long enough to know how to spell that without checking) being out here has been a great experience I've been able to see and train with a lot of high-level and up-and-coming fighters. Everyone I've met has been super cool, relaxed and humble this is definitely something I will come back and do again.

Every week there has been new fighters coming into Jackson's to train. While I've been here I had to the chance to meet and train with Donald Cerrone, Leonard Garcia, Cub Swanson, Joe Stephenson, Keith Jardine, John Dodson and probably more that I can't even remember. It truly has been an amazing experience and a great learning opportunity.

Lately we've been helping Cowboy and his crew move into his new ranch about 30 minutes outside of Albuquerque. That's kept us pretty busy so we haven't done much other than that and training. Jimmy (Hettes) and I are getting our last couple of days training here in and then heading back to Philly to get ready for our own fights! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at home and coming back to New Mexico as soon as possible.

thanks to MMAmelee.com and Mike Malast for sending us out here!!

Derek Leyrer

I've been posting blogs written by two Pa. fighters, Derek Leyrer and Jim Hettes - originally posted on MMA social networking site mmamelee - as they help Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone prepare for his upcoming fight with Ben Henderson for the WEC interim lightweight championship.

I just found out the Cowboy is posting vlogs on his training, so here is the most recent one. For all the videos, check out the Cowboy's Youtube channel.

Two PA boys, Jim Hettes from Gracie NEPA in Scranton and Derek Leyrer of the Fight Firm and Balance Studios in Philadelphia are helping Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone prepare for his upcoming WEC fight against Ben Henderson for the interim lightweight championship on Oct. 10. here is their blog on MMA Melee:

Everyone from the Tapout house just got back from our Amarillo road trip over the weekend. Friday we started the trip after meeting up with Skyskrape and Punkass on the tapout bus. The trip was about four hours which wasn't bad cuz cerrone and garcia's bus is pimped out with flat screens, xboxs and what not.

Saturday we woke up and went to the signing right away. It was cool being a part of their entourage watching people's reactions, cool to think of what could be one day. After the signing Saturday afternoon we all headed over to this gym in Amarillo and got it in before we headed to the fights. Funny part of the weekend was the bet between Bobby and Kris over the Michigan, Notre Dame game.. loser drank the six J aka Diesel Full (jimbean, jameson jose, jack, johnny walker, jeager) he was fucked up.

The fights were good there were a bunch of first round knock outs Don Frye got beat the first round... then we headed over to the midnight rodeo and got wrecked everybody was letting loose they had some crazy drink called kryptonite, it got u cross eyed. Sunday we were up again at another signing and back on the road as soon as we were done. All and all it was a great experience a lot of fun and its cool to see how Cowboy and Garcia live but it's good to be back at the house getting ready to train.

------ JHET's Mini Blog

A couple things that derek doesnt tell u guys. First off the funniest part of the weekend was when a couple of people went up to him and thought he was Sean Sherk and asked for an autograph. The fights were great, really good action and after that we went to a badass Honky Tonk bar called the Midnight Rodeo ( o ya its as badass as it sounds). You gotta see Kris McCray cut a rug, all I'm sayin is if fighting doesn't work out for him ( which it will) he has a mean career in professional dancing. His stanky leg is damn near perfected. Overall another great time, Cowboy, Leonard, Punkass and Skrape all walkin throughout the mall with us and made us feel like celebrities. Good to b back, got my ear drained today (Cowboy is a technician with that ) and back to another great week of training.

."
Looks like Gracie NEPA's Jim "Kid Havoc" Hettes is out there too, according to Leyrer's MMAMelee entries.

"weve been hitting it hard for the past couple days, practicing twice a day for a couple of hours each.. its not so much the time but the level of guys we are all training with and sparring against that just wears u out. im looking forward to a break on the weekend just hanging out. still as tired as i am i love the training here everyone at the gym is extremely respectful there is a lot of good character. tonight cerrone and garcia are coming back to town and i think we are going to a signing session with them later.. another first of many experiences ive had out here. i cant say enough how grateful i am to MMAmelee.com for giving me this opportunity

Jimmy "The Kid" Hettis, a Tap or Sleep-sponsored fighter, makes his pro debut at Cage Fight 1 in Scranton on Friday.

Applying the coagulant to Biff Walizer while Greg Sirb, executive director for the state athletic commission, inspects.

Jimmy "The Kid" Hettis making his way to the cage, sporting a TOS Carnage T-shirt. Hettis won by rear-naked choke in the first, Jerod said. Nice job, Kid.

Just a reminder that Biff Walizer fights this Friday in Scranton at PA Cage Fight's "Cage Fight 1." Both Walizer and Jimmy Hettis, who is also on the card, are sponsored by Hanover-based fightwear company Tap or Sleep.

Just had a conversation with Chad Dubin, head honcho at LionHeart Fighters, and he got me up-to-date on all of the goings-on there at one of the biggest and best MMA academies in the state.

First of all, unfortunately, Jim Hettes and Lou Armezzani lost their fights last month at Combate Extremo in the Dominican Republic. Hettes was submitted and Armezzani lost by split decision, Dubin said.

"No excuses. They got beat," Dubin said.

Both Hettes and Armezzani will return to action at a King of the Cage event Jan. 17, Dubin said.

LionHeart light-heavyweight Phil Davis and middleweight-turned-welterweight Paul Bradley are in California right now, training for their upcoming fights. They'll stop to train with Brandon Vera in San Diego and then with Dan Henderson in Temecula.

"They're totally pumped about it," Dubin said of the West Coast training tour.

Davis fights at the Palace Fighting Championship on Jan. 22 and Bradley takes on UFC veteran Roan Carneiro on Feb. 6 at a World Cagefighting Alliance event.

In addition, new LionHeart member Shannon Slack will fight for Palace Fighting Championships on Feb. 6, Dubin said.

Best of luck to all the LionHeart Fighters from MMA Explosion.

Time to catch up on all the goings-on at LionHeart Fighters in State College.

Light-heavyweight Phil Davis, who is 1-0 as a pro, takes on 4-1 Josh Green at the Palace Fighting Championship on Jan. 22.

Undefeated Paul Bradley, 9-0, moves down to welterweight to fight UFC veteran Roan Carneiro, who has a 12-8 record. Bradley and the American Top Team member square off at the World Cagefighting Alliance event on Feb. 6.

Middleweight Lou Armezzani and featherweight Jim Hettes will travel down to the Dominican Republic for Combate Extremo on Dec. 20.

Best of luck to all the LionHeart Fighters from MMA Explosion.

Received this email from LionHeart Fighters:
Here's an up to date schedule for LionHeart fighters in December:

Paul Bradley will be fighting Rafael Sapo on December 13th in Washington, DC - District Combat, Battle at the Nations Capital.

Ticket and event info at: www.districtcombatproductions.com

Also, you can check out some raw footage of Paul's TKO of Dante Rivera at www.lionheartfighters.com.

Phil Davis will be fighting Ron Ritter on December 19th in Miami, FL - Revolution Fighting.

Ticket and event info at: www.revolutionfightclub.com

Lou Armezzani and Jim Hettes are both in the Dominican Republic on Dec. 20th at Combate Extremo.

This past weekend saw LionHeart Fighters host a great training session. York County's Biff Walizer makes an appearance at about the 20-second mark and can be seen later in the video as well. Other LionHeart fighters like Paul Bradley, Phil Davis and Jim Hettes give it their all. Thanks to purefight.org for the video.

Visit Purefight For More Videos

Here's the latest from LionHeart Fighters:

LionHeart Fans!!!

Don't forget that 2 of our fighters, Paul Bradley and Biff Walizer, are fighting on one of the biggest fight shows in the Northeast, the Ring of Combat on Friday, November 21st at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, NJ. We are selling tickets for the fights at our website www.lionheartfighters.com

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER: Each ticket purchase gets you a FREE LionHeart T-shirt!!

Get your tickets now to see Paul Bradley and Biff Walizer in ROC XXII.

Also:
Congratulations to Jim Hettes who won by 1st round tapout from Armbar to improve his amateur record to 4-0.

Upcoming fights: Jim will be fighting again, along with LionHeart Middleweight, Lou Armezzani at a Superior Cage Fighting event on Nov. 14th in Cleveland, Oh.
Details at: www.superiorcagefighting.com

Jim Hettes, a Tap or Sleep-sponsored LionHeart fighter, won the Intimidation Cage Fighting featherweight championship by armbar on Saturday in Sportsville, KY, said Jerod Phillips, Tap or Sleep owner, who was in Hettes' corner that night. Congrats to Jim on the win.

LionHeart Signs
Undefeated Amateur Jim Hettes and
Greco-Roman Standout Shannon Slack

Undefeated MMA amateur Jim Hettes and U.S. Greco-Roman standout Shannon Slack are the latest cage fighters to sign with LionHeart in State College, Pa.

Hettes, a 145 lb. submission grappler from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., is 3-0 as an amateur. He will represent LionHeart this Saturday, Oct. 25 at Intimidation Cage Fighting's "Vendetta" in Florence, Ky. Event details and ticket information are available at www.intimidationcagefighting.com.

Shanon Slack is a U.S. Greco-Roman World Team alternate and currently 3rd in the U. S. National Grappling rankings. Slack lives in San Diego, Ca. and will split his training time Alliance Training Center and LionHeart's camp in State College.

"Both Jim and Shanon are quality, up and coming lightweights with great potential." said LionHeart Fouder Chad Dubin. "Jim is local fighter we've been real impressed with and Shannon brings LionHeart a West Coast presence to LionHeart that will be a real asset to our organization. Both these young men have bought into the intensive training regimen we require here a LionHeart and we're looking forward to a great things from both of them."

Jim Hettes