Budo Fights 1 "Genesis"

June 12th, fights start at 7 PM

West Bend Tennis Center

1355 SW Commerce Ave., Bend, Oregon
(1 block west of Ray's Food Place behind Dutch Brothers)

More info at budofights.com

FIGHT CARD

PRE-FIGHT INTERVIEW WITH MARK MANNING

Mark Manning representing Team Megaton out of Eugene, OR will fight in the Main Event of Budo Fights June 12th against Jon Maryanski in a bout at 135 lbs. Manning spoke with NW Fightscene's Spaniard about the upcoming bout...

NW Fightscene: How's training going for this fight coming up?

Mark Manning: It's going good actually. Wish there were kind of more guys in the gym because all of us have been getting bumped and bruised up, but other than that I've no complaints. Training was good.

NWFS: Did you change anything up in getting ready for this fight?

Manning: A little bit of changes. A lot more footwork, worked on sprawls a lot. Worked on distance-timing a lot. And overall a lot of conditioning, cardio. I think Bend my pose a little problem because of the elevation from what I hear, but we'll see.

NWFS: Who have you been training with to prepare for this fight? 

Manning: I've been training with Brent Primus, he's an up and comer. I believe that's how Evan Dunham's got as good as he's got from Brent. Before Evan left, he was his number one training partner, and now he's kind of my number one training partner. Brent's got quite a bit of weight on me, probably about 40, 45 pounds and man its tough training with that guy. That's for sure. I've been training with another guy, Seth Dawson. He's a good amateur fighter. Man's had tough fights. Every fight he has a tough fight. You guys will be really excited to see him on the 21st because I understand that they're going to be fighting for you as well.

NWFS: So what do you know about your opponent, Maryanski?

Manning:  I've seen some clips of him on the internet, and it looks like he brings it. His nickname's The Pitbull, right?

NWFS: The Mauler actually... Well, he might have two nicknames, but when I spoke with him it was The Mauler. And I think its that it kind of represents his style being the smaller, bulky guy that really swings heavy and goes for the good ground and pound.

Manning: Right. So I expect its going to be like fighting a bulldozer for sure. I don't think its going to be easy by any means and I'm prepared for that.

NWFS: So what's your background?

Manning: I'm a brown belt under Megaton, Wellington Dias who's out of Phoenix, Arizona. I've been training out of his gym here in Eugene for almost ten years now. And they're notorious for not giving rank. You really got to stay there, stick around, and work hard. Some of these guys who have been there a little bit longer than me and they've been rolling just as hard, they just now got their black belts. So I'm working towards that right now, and along with that, lots of striking. I fell in love with striking probably about a year and a half, two years ago. Just love it. Really been working the striking. Trying to put it all together is what we've been doing now.

NWFS: Going into this fight, what are your keys for victory?

Manning: I think the distance, stuffing the shot. Pummeling. Try to take underhooks and pummel. Stay off the fence. On the ground, use my tricks, use what I know. Look for the submission always. On the feet definitely look for the knockout. I expect it'll be just a matter of the distance between him that I think will determine the overall outcome of the fight, who can control the distance.

PRE-FIGHT INTERVIEW WITH JON MARYANSKI

Jon Maryanski representing West Coast Fight Team of Auburn, WA will fight in the Main Event of Budo Fights June 12th against Mark Manning in a pro bout at 135 lbs. Maryanski spoke with NW Fightscene's Spaniard about the upcoming bout...

NW Fightscene: How are you feeling and how's training been?

Jon Maryanski: I've had a really good camp. I've been training out of West Coast Fight Team and up at Next Level Boxing. Its been a solid month and a half, five days a week. Getting my strength training in 3 days a week with Joe Meyers. It's been good. The weight's coming off and it'll be a good little fight on Saturday.

NWFS: Is it a pretty tough weight cut for you or are you kind of getting it down?

Maryanski: Yeah, I walk around at 165, 160, somewhere in there. Cutting down to 135. I'm still pretty lean when I'm walking around at those bigger weights but I lift a lot when I'm not training for a fight. And then about a month out, I just try shedding the weight off slowly. Cut that last 15, week of type of thing.

NWFS: What do you know about your opponent, Mark Manning?

Maryanski: I heard that he's tall. He's a southpaw I hear. I haven't looked at his videos but my coaches have. They looked at the videos and I kind of just listen to what they say. Tall, said he's a jiu-jitsu guy. His last fight was at 125, so I think he might be a natural 135, 140 pounder. He's 1-1 and he hasn't fought for two years. I haven't fought for a year though, so...

NWFS: From what I know, he's a brown belt under Megaton Diaz so he does have a good ground game. Does that pose a threat to you at all?

Maryanski: Nah, not really. I have good grappling coaches. I train with Reese who's grappled in Abu Dhabi, a world-class wrestler, and I train with him everyday. I'm not too worried about the grappling part of it.

NWFS: So what are your keys to victory to winning this fight?

Maryanski: A lot of pressure. Keep his back up against the cage. Go to the body a lot, striking. I've been doing a lot of my sparring with Brad Blackburn up at Next Level Boxing. So I'm working with some good strikers up there. Carlos Hernandez is my boxing coach.. Everybody that I've been training with is a lot taller than me, and a lot bigger than me. I'm training with 190 pounders who are cutting to 170. I train with Reese who is 200 plus. All the guys I'm sparring with are tall so his height isn't really going to bug me too much.. and I think if I want to take it to the ground on a takedown I can.

NWFS: How do you see the fight ending?

Maryanski: I don't think its going to go three rounds. Its going to be an exciting fight. If it goes to the ground, I think I'll be on top and keep the pressure, and ground and pound him out. And if its standing, you never know. But, I don't think its going to go three rounds.

NWFS: Anyone you'd like to thank?

Maryanski: Yeah, thank West Coast Fight Team. I thank Reese for getting this fight and being behind me. And Carlos Hernandez for helping me out. Both of those guys. And then all my sponsors.

PRE-FIGHT INTERVIEW WITH FRANKIE MENDEZ

Frankie Mendez out of Arsenal Combat Sports in Kelso, WA will fight a Pro bout at 140 lbs against Shorty Weikel. Mendez spoke with NW Fightscene's Spaniard about the upcoming bout...

NW Fightscene: You got a fight coming against Shorty Weikel from NW Warriors. How do you feel about your opponent and the fight?

Frankie Mendez: I know he's a tough kid. I feel good though. I feel pretty confident in my technique and my cardio.

NWFS: Tell us a little bit about yourself and who you train with?

Mendez: I've been wrestling all my life. I train with Arsenal out of Kelso. And I also go up to Victory Athletics in Yelm. And I also do boxing. I train with a lot of wrestlers. Do jiu-jitsu and a little bit of everything. 

NWFS: Do you hold any titles?

Mendez: An amateur belt with the EWC, Elite Warriors Championship.

NWFS: What do you think you have to do to win this fight?

Mendez: I just got to take the fight to him I think. Got to stay in control mainly. I'm pretty comfortable anywhere I go, if its on my feet or if its taking him down. I want to stand and bang, that's what I want to do. 

NWFS: Do you think Shorty's going to feel the same way, and stand and bang with you?

Mendez: I don't know, we'll see. I know he throws some wild punches here and there. I'm just going to block them and throw them right back. I'm sure he's going to try and take me down but I'm going to keep on my feet. 

NWFS: Anybody you want to thank?

Mendez: I want to thank Nic Kuning at Arsenal.