exposed

TFA 10 Ring Card Girls

There’s no question about it, I was rooting for Raymond today. The venue was in Santa Monica’s civic auditorium, just across the street from where I watch Raymond training the week before. TFA organized the 10th event and called in “Uprising X”, with headliner J.J. Ambrose defending his TFA welterweight title against Jason Cordero. Other fighters on the cards were Brent Cooper vs.Lee Chapman, Brandon Quaid vs. Jorge Lopez, Neal Abrams vs. Julio Sotomayor, Bobby Green vs. Raymond Ayala, Jeff Martin vs. Chris Cully, Skye Rivera vs. Javier Alanis, and Chris Sepulveda vs. Jose Morales …

Ah, do I sound like a sport writer yet?  Not really. I’m mildly interested in stats and championship titles. Those things do give you additional emotional investments for whoever you are rooting for. In my case, I had to look up Raymond’s opponent Bobby Green and get an idea what Raymond was up against. I remember having seen Bobby at the last fight in January and found him to be super nice… too. It is a community that I’m starting to recognize faces and names. I ran into some Legend gym guys who were there to support their own first fight – fighter Chris Supulveda. One of which was Jorge “Van Damme” Oliveira, who showed up with a newly achieved belt from a fight in Lemoore 2 days prior. He was one of the friendliest guys I met at that magazine assignment photoshoot. He carried an extra stride this time around.

Raymond's hand wrapping

Raymond in the ring

Raymond fights Bobby

Raymond was defeated

Raymond recovering

TFA judge

TFA referee

Jorge "Van Damme" Oliveira and his 2 day old PFC light heavyweight titled belt

Wayne Phillips

Lee Chapman

Chris Cully momentarily had Jeff Martin in a head lock

Jeff Martin defeated Chris Cully in a unanimous decision

Bobby Green defeated Raymond Ayala in a submission choke 2nd round

fighter and trainer at ringside

Bobby Green at victory interview

J.J. Ambrose about to defend his belt title

J.J. Ambrose after successfully defended his belt title

photo with ring card girls

I was excited to finally see Carla performs for the first time. I heard that the music is super intense. She kicked off her Evangelista‘s tour playing on the same bill as Mike Watt. But I got there late and missed Watt’s set entirely.

And YES. It was INTENSE. Dramatic. Spirit-filled. Amazing.

Carla Bozulich with Evangelista

Tara Barnes

Jeremy Drake

Dominic Cramp

Andrea Serrapiglio

Carla's guitar

Adam Baz

Tara Barnes

Cello

Andrea Serrapiglio

Carla Bozulich

Carla Bozulich and Evangelista

Raymond is a car sales manager for a Toyota dealership. But once a week on Thursdays he teaches an MMA class at Krav Maga. His background is solid Rickson Gracie training. Soft spoken in nature, and quick to smile, Raymond can be fierce on the mat. 

I asked Marcus Kowal, his trainer, for their ‘secret location’ training that afternoon. Hours later I found myself watching Raymond sparring with some wrestlers at the Santa Monica High School wrestling gym.

Raymond takes a break

Marcus gives instructions

Wrestler takes a break

Mrs. Kowal looks on

Raymond sparring with Marcus

Raymond and Marcus practice on the dummies

Raymond Ayala training

Raymond training

Raymond and Marcus sparring

Marcus trains Raymond

Raymond getting a problem to solve

Raymond solving a problem

Snug Harbor’s sign

How excited I was to have a perfect reason to be in New Orleans. One of my most favorite friends John Ellis was playing with his band for the first time at the Snug Harbor. John used lived here some years ago. His personal relationship with the city was the crucial reason why it was important to make the trip. I wanted him to introduce me to the city that he loves. I want to get a better idea, also intellectually as he offers, of what was next for this place.

After getting a rental car from the airport, I went directly to meet up with John. We got to stay at his friend’s place who was out of town. The apartment was in an old brewery in the warehouse district. There was a convenient little adorable coffee shop across the street. I’d been by New Orleans before some 15 or so years ago taking a ground detour heading to Jackson, MS. but I never got a chance to look around. This time I was constantly reminded of the possible burglaries and robberies, another cost from the Katrina catastrophe.

Both of John’s parents were in town from North Carolina. I was excited to meet them. I heard a little bit about them before from John’s childhood references, growing up in a huge tobacco farm. As I expected, they were incredibly nice. His dad was a pastor, and his mother was a teacher. We also met up with John’s friend Judy. I quickly became fans of all of them.

Since my flight was delayed, I missed their gig in Baton Rouge on Friday night. It turned out to be okay,… all things considered. I tagged along John and drove around a little bit, meeting some of his friends. The show at Snug Harbor well attended (if not sold out?) The venue has a bar in the front and a separate room in the back. They played 2 sets…. some people actually danced. I supposed it’s appropriate, since this album is named “Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow” after all. I love these guys.

John Ellis

New Orleans resident Judy

John Ellis, his parents, and his friend Judy waiting for the best food

John Ellis & Double Wide instruments

John Ellis preparing music

John's right hand

Matt Perrine - New Orleans sousaphonist

Jason Marsalis - New Orleans Drummer

John introducing music

Gary Versace - New York organist/accordionist

John talking

resting saxophone

Legends MMA gym in Hollywood - training the pros

I an assignment for an MMA magazine based in Atlanta, GA. The pictures were to accompany an article by Dave Kalstein, a local writer, an MMA practitioner & enthusiast. I showed up in the afternoon on a Tuesday as suggested by Dave to catch the time when the real pros were training. I have to say that everyone I meet has been such nice people. This may surprise some since fighting seems like such an aggression-ridden sport. 

Legends put the article online here.

fighter resting between sparring rounds

Chris Reilly coaching

training

Legends's MMA class

Jimmy Christ - Muay Thai Instructor

Dave Kilstein, writer/MMA practitioner