Austin Bledsoe wanted to attempt something exceptional. He desired to try his hand or feet at a brand new game.
The former Chapmanville Regional High School athlete is not any stranger to the athletic fields and courts.
Bledsoe became a four-recreation standout at CRHS in his prep days, gambling basketball, baseball, football, and tennis for the Tigers.
He had a dream, however.
And that dream changed into growing to be a fighter.
So he requested Greg Dillon to educate him; however, even Dillon tried to talk him out.
It did not work.
So this weekend, Bledsoe could be moving into the ring and the steel cage as he’s scheduled to make his kickboxing debut on the New Line Cagefighting II occasion on Saturday night at the Williamson Fieldhouse.
“I told Greg again in overdue wintry weather I become wanting to try this, and he tried to talk me out of it,” Bledsoe said. “Most of my family and pals have attempted to talk me out of it. But it is something I feel compelled to do. So my friends got together, and they all considered and loved Greg Dillon as a teacher and knew he had trained some successful warring parties, like his son Tanner, so James Ellis and I asked if he could teach me.”
Dillon obliged, however, alternatively reluctantly.
“He’s a very good young guy,” stated Dillon, who had previously coached Bledsoe while becoming the Chapmanville football mentor. “Loved him and his organization once I coached and love them still, but. Don’t realize if he’ll win or lose; however, he’s growing skill, has a heart, and his diabetes might not keep his lower back. He doesn’t recognize if all the schooling will make him a Superman; however, he will be a higher man. My old football crew showed up and requested me to educate him. I attempted to speak him out of it; however, he stated he would do it without or with me, but he’d instead have me. I couldn’t say no. It’s Austin’s first-ever fight in any format.”
Bledsoe is slated to make his kickboxing debut against Anthony Stewart of Varney within the tenth bout of the night.
Bell time is about 7:30 p.m., And 23 bouts are on the card, including 17 MMA fights, three boxing fits, and three kickboxing bouts.
The cagefighting occasion is delivered to you via Cagefighting, founded last summer using High School graduates Keith Noe and Greg Robinson. It’s the second NLC event in Williamson, with the previous one taking area back in March.
Bledsoe said he originally wanted to be on the MMA card, but he needed to make a change after something befell that turned out of his control.
“Greg was schooling me for MMA. However, I needed to make a transfer, given that my opponent backed out,” he said.
Bledsoe stated he’s been education difficulty for his kickboxing debut and is inside the first-class form of his lifestyle.
“I’ve been hitting the baggage and doing masses of cardio, but it didn’t put together me for what Greg positioned me via,” he stated. “So far, it is mastering through mistakes and aches. Nothing essential; however, pain makes believers. I’ve performed golfing and other sports activities, which has helped mildew me to where I am now, but I desired to attempt something new. I’ve always had a close bond with Greg, and I researched what to do, and Greg was my preference.”
Bledsoe said he has been going at it for a couple of months.
“I’ve been training stable approximately two months tough now,” he said. “It’s an uphill struggle at instances; however, I’m continually getting to know and adjusting my skill set. I’ve always been interested in the game of prevention and need to research what I can do with it. I juggle it around college, which is tough, but I sacrifice one factor to excel at others. I’d like to see in which I can go with it. You get out of it what you put in it. It calls for technical effort and awareness. The difference right here is, well, I did not ought to ward off punches hitting a golfing ball. Or kicking a football ball.”
Bledsoe stated his parents had also been reluctant to see him grow into a fighter.
“Some of my friends get quite excited about this,” Bledsoe stated. “That’s quite cool. My mother and father have been freaking out; however, all my friends and family agree with Greg. He’s skilled me very well in the time I’ve given him. He’s surrounded me with a good stable of people with first-rate people and talent to assist me. That’s all I can ask for. It’s been the spotlight of my summer. I need to apply my age to my gain. I even have loads of power and am ready to use it.”
Bledsoe could be inexperienced as a new participant in a brand-new recreation. However, his opponent could be unsuspecting because he also has no sanctioned fighting in kickboxing.
“I’ve never heard of my opponent earlier, but he is likely prepared for a few kinds of brawl. My team and I have attempted to prepare me for the worst and the best. With that being stated, I’m equipped to head,” Bledsoe said.
Four expert MMA activities are scheduled for the remaining four bouts of the night. The four will all serve as co-main Events.
In one of the pro-MMA fights, Logan native Cody Abbott could make his professional debut against Jacob Willyard (0-3) of St. Louis.
As a newbie, Abbott sports activities a 5-1 file, which includes four first-round wins, and was ranked No. 1 inside the country for three-plus years in his bantamweight elegance (126-135 pounds). He’s presently ranked twenty-third inside the East Coast Division.
Abbott, a former all-nation wrestler for Logan High School and a newbie youth boxer in his teenagers, ultimately saw MMA action again on March 9 at Williamson, wherein he beat Matthew Tennant, a No. 2-ranked fighter in West Virginia, through choice, in the first New Line Cagefighting event.
In every other pro fight, Mingo County’s Austin “Speedy” Marcum is matched up in opposition to Nikk Willyard of St. Louis. Both could be making their expert debuts in MMA. Marcum is no stranger to the hoop, having been former Toughman and Rough ‘N Rowdy boxing champions and having logged 23 professional bouts.
The other pro-MMA bouts have Jeremy Lane (1-zero-1) of Charleston taking over Sam Warren (zero-zero) of Roanoke, Virginia, and Montrez Tinson (zero-2) of Baltimore squaring off with Ran Ray Holston (zero-zero) of Wytheville, Virginia.
All four professional MMA fights are scheduled for three 5-minute rounds.
Other than the Bledsoe/Stewart fit, different kickboxing bouts are on the card as Joshua Blair (zero-zero) of Man takes on Danny Stubbs (0-0) of Beckley, and Chris Pontier (zero-zero) of Nitro fights Joshua Dotson (0-zero) of Raccoon, Kentucky.
