Two groups of Mixed Martial Arts fighters from York County are traveling to New York on Friday to wage war at an amateur charity event called The Empire State Warrior Challenge.
And check this out – eight of the fighters are from York County and one is from neighboring Adams County. In another first, this will be the first legitimate — street fights notwithstanding — fight in MMA for all of the fighters.
Over the past week, I interviewed two MMA trainers, Steve Bentz and Mark Jovich, who are bringing fighters to the event at the Blackthorn Resort in East Durham, NY.
Coach Bentz, 43, of West York, has trained for years in Systema, a militaristic Russian martial art. The techniques are more oriented to street/self defense, but Bentz said he modified the style when his fighters approached him about training for MMA. Bentz teaches Systema at Mount Joy Fitness.
Bentz’s fighters:
— Ty Krebs, 22, of Dallastown, a general manager at a local cinema, will be fighting at 215.
“Oh, I want to go professional. I think we all do,” he said.
— Chris Adler, 24, of New Oxford, who owns a trucking company, will be fighting at 285.
Asked about pre-fight jitters, he said, “No, I’m pretty good. I don’t usually get excited.”
— Ryan Krauss, 23, of York Township, a machinist, will be fighting at 175.
“I’m more of a grappler — that’s why I want to knock him out,” Krauss said of his opponent.
Coach Jovich, 45, a former Marine, has had 25 years in Okinawa Kenpo Karate, Goshin-jitsu, kickboxing and wrestling. He began training fighters about six months ago at his school, Central Pennsylvania Martial Arts. He said MMA is exploding to a point where he’s going to have to turn away potential students.
“Every day the interest for MMA is growing,” he said.
Jovich’s fighters:
— Justin Scott, 18, class of 2007 at Dallastown High School, will be fighting at 145.
— Adam Hostetter, 29, a physical education teacher at D-town High, will be fighting at 250.
— Drue Moore, 46, a personal trainer at the Fitness Factory in Red Lion.
— Matthew Macalusco, 27, a senior at York College, fighting in the show’s main event at 186.
— Dean Bortner, a Dallastown senior, will be fighting at 145.
— Brent Kroh, a Dallastown junior, will be fighting at 121.
Jovich said he and his fighters are using the event as a gauge to see where they stand, what they are doing right, what they need to improve on. He feels all his fighters are in tremendous shape, having endured a 6-week program of drills, swimming and lifting.
It’s possible we’ll have video clips from the fights at Warrior Challenge here on the MMA blog, and more local fighter coverage. So stay tuned.
Great job to all the Pennsylvania MMA fighters at the Empire State Warrior Challenge.You represented your schools and state with respect,professionalism and skill.
Train Hard, Be hard
CON-GRATS ON A JOB WELL DONE.THANK YOU FIGHTERS FOR A GR8 EVEING AND YOUR RESPECT