The Dethrone Wrestling team will be participating in their first big tournament of the season, this weekend at the Southwest Kickoff “Freak Show” in Las Vegas. Andres Cervantes was on hand filming coach Jason Kraft and his team practicing with the Gilroy Hawks.
The US Open BJJ tournament was held over this past weekend in Santa Cruz, CA. Competitors from various gyms across the Country competed, with Dethrone collecting 12 medals. Represented by the Visalia Chapter Dethrone Synergy Academy, and Dethrone Base Camp, the medalist ranged from kids to adults. The Jiu Jitsu program continues to improve, with hard working instructors such as Ted Stobbie, John Salter and Brian Gonzalez at the helm.
Medal Results:
Kids Gold (2 divisions)- Josh (Yellow Belt)
Kids Silver- Diego (White Belt)
Kids Gold- Gian San Mateo (White Belt)
Kids Bronze- Isabella Sandrel
Kids Silver- Seline Gage
Kids Bronze- Ocean Granada
Adult Bronze- Tamara Gonzalez (White Belt)
Adult Silver- Celeste Gage (Competed as a Blue Belt)
Adult Silver- Abel Santos (Purple Belt)
Adult Bronze- Victor Cervantes (Blue Belt)
Adult Silver- Marc De La Cruz (Brown Belt)
Adult Gold- Rodney Fronce (Blue Belt)
Adult Gold- Raphael Mendoza (Blue Belt)
Adult Silver- Brian Gonzalez (Brown Belt)
Marty Garabedian
Dethrone Base Camp
Tonight live from Visalia CA, Bellator Fighting Championships will show case Bellator Heavyweight and Middleweight Semifinals and the Bellator Bantamweight Tournament Final.
The card will feature UFC veteran and Dethrone fighter Lavar “Big” Johnson (17-7), making his Bellator debut. After a 2-2 stint in the UFC, Lavar was released after a questionable failed drug test, for elevated testosterone. His opponent in his debut of the Heavyweight Semifinals, Vinicius Kappke De Querioz (6-3), a 6’7 Brazilian brown belt under the legendary Nogueira brothers.
If victorious, Johnson could possibly face another UFC veteran making his Bellator debut in the main event, Chuck Kongo. By placing Kongo and Johnson on separate sides of the mini tournament, Bellator would be elated to have these two big bangers fight it out in the finale.
On the prelims fighting at a catch weight of 165 pounds, Bryan Travers (14-3), fights Stephen Martinez (9-2). Travers who trained exclusively at Dethrone for this fight camp, is fresh off Bellator’s first reality show, “Fight Master.”
Both Johnson and Travers look to secure their first wins under the Bellator banner.
The rest of the card also features a few local fighters:
Lightweight Feature Fight: Brandon Girtz vs. Poppies Martinez
Featherweight Feature Fight: Scott Cleve vs. Isaac De Jesus
Heavyweight Feature Fight: William Richey vs. Brandon Cash
Marty Garabedian-
Dethrone Base Camp
DBC– Thanks for taking time out and answering some questions.
Mike Garabedian– Anytime, thanks for the interview.
DBC– When did you get involved with the Gym? And what are some of the responsibilities you’ve held at DBC?
Mike Garabedian–I became involved with the gym approximately four years ago when it first opened. I thoroughly enjoy the stand up classes as boxing is what was prevalent during my growing up years. I now truly admire the wrestler, grappler’s and JJ folks but am hesitant to take these classes because of my age .
I feel that much of the enjoyment I get at DBC is working with younger men and trying to be a bit of an example to not give up. Also at the same time I receive so much energy being around the younger crowd as this energy spills over to me.
Currently I truly enjoy being around Kos and the pro fighters at fighter training and do what I can to contribute. These guys work so hard and that is inspiring also.
DBC– You’ve been around the Gym since the opening, what differences have you seen from then to now?
Mike Garabedian–I have been fortunate to have four different stand up coaches and they have all been very good. Currently have Coach Noro and he is the best.
What I see different is that there are many people that have become good friends and each segment of the gym whether boxing, grappling, wrestling, JJ and kickboxing have solid followings It is amazing that Coaches Ted Stobble and John Salter have put together such solid followings.
DBC– Has there been a particular favorite sparring moment you can recall?
Mike Garabedian–I truly enjoy watching the pros do their sparring. All those moments are my favorites as I get a chance to see up close how difficult it is to be a fighter. Funny thing is they are all great guys when they are not fighting and are very respectful. I will never forget chasing Billy Evangelista around and just trying to touch him somewhere, anywhere but he was already gone every time I tried. Humbling and embarrassing.
DBC– Which young fighter/s from Dethrone, are you most interested in seeing their potential development?
Mike Garabedian– Tuff question As far as the younger guys climbing the ladder I am interested in Nick Bustamante, Chris Honeycutt, George Zuniga as they are just beginning their careers
DBC– You grew up watching Boxing, whom were some of your favorite fighters over the years?
Mike Garabedian– Cant take anything away from Mayweather. I grew up watching Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, Archie Moore, Carmen Basilio, Cassius Clay and so many others I love boxing. It is like a dance.
DBC– Usually the MMA fan base is dominated by the male demographic, between the ages of 18-40, what intrigued you about MMA?
Mike Garabedian–I really enjoy the stand up portion, striking and kicking as it is closer to boxing. What really intrigues me is the intensity of the sport, the participating fighters and their mindset.
I was involved in car racing for many many years and there is much similarity. You must be tuff, brave, focused, dedicated and hate to lose.
At the same time even though there are trainers for fighting and pit crews for racers when it comes down to it they are all by themselves playing for all the marbles. No gutter balls or mulligans. I like that . Playing for all the marbles and putting it all on the line by themselves.
DBC– You may be in your 70’s, but you’re in the gym taking Kickboxing classes, what gives you that motivation?
Mike Garabedian–be 73 in a few months. The motivation for me is to see how close I can come to keeping up with the young guys.In reality it is very difficult to do but it gives me a benchmark. I love the coaches, the people I train with. Have slowed down some but at the same time come to realize I m not in my 20’s anymore.
Darn!!!
DBC– Last question before I let you go, you held a unique job for many years, could you elaborate more on it?
Mike Garabedian–I had an 8-5 job that allowed me to have a lot of freedom so I could support my Family, etc.
At the same time I traveled all over the USA, Canada, and Mexico as what we in those days called a weekender as a crewman on various racing teams. That meant flying red eyes on Thursday nights to go somewhere in the USA to work a race and fly red eyes home Sunday Night to be at work in my honest job Monday.
I had the privilege of going over the wall as a tire changer or refueler for 20 Indy 500s and was on a Indy 500 winning team in 1968(Bobby Unser)as a right rear tire changer.
I truly truly loved auto racing but time passes by. Now I get to enjoy much of the same intensity being involved with DBC.
Marty Garabedian-
Dethrone Base Camp
This past Friday night in Temecula, CA… Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox (12-5), made his Bellator debut defeating St. Petersburg’s own Akop Stepanyan (13-6).
The first round was controlled by Stepanyan’s stand up, using a heavy dose of low leg kicks to keep Wilcox off balance and take away his lead leg. He would have trouble finding his range, trying to close the distance on Stepanyan behind strikes, which in turn fell short due to Stepanyan’s foot work. Wilcox looked to mix in some of his own kicks, but was unable to find his mark on his attempted head kicks, and was also unable to secure any take downs. After this point, the fight seemed to be in cruise control for his Russian/Armenian opponent.
The first round ended with Wilcox sporting a limp and a hematoma on his left leg. Round 2 saw both men come out quickly looking to land big rights, neither landing anything of significance. A low kick by Stepanyan briefly knocked Wilcox off his feet.
About a minute into round 2, the fight changed drastically. A big spinning heel kick to the back of Wilcox’s head momentarily rocked him. Stepanyan followed up with yet another low leg kick, which is where Wilcox took advantage. He shot off his low leg kick and secured his first take down of the fight.
after some brief work in his opponents closed guard, Stepanyan worked his way up to one knee. This immediately gave Wilcox his opening, securing his back and putting his counterpart to sleep with a Rear Naked Choke, at 2:20 of Round 2.
with this win, Wilcox now advances to the next round of the Bellator Featherweight Tournament.
Marty Garabedian
Dethrone Base Camp
Looking to snap a two-fight losing streak, Justin “The Silverback” Wilcox (11-5), makes his Bellator debut this Friday night in Temecula, CA.
Stepping in on 7 days notice, Wilcox replaces last years 145 pound Tournament winner Shahbulat Shamhalaev. His opponent in the opening round tournament is the Russian-Armenian Akop Stepanyan (13-5), fighting out of St. Petersburg Russia.
Returning to the cage for the first time in over a year, the former AKA fighter and Strikeforce Veteran has made the move back home to Pennsylvania, where he trains out of “Fight Club Pittsburgh”. Looking to sharpen up on his stand up, the Gym gives Wilcox a chance to concentrate more on his striking.
A former collegiate wrestler and teammate of Josh Koscheck’s at Edinboro University, Wilcox still makes it a point to come back to Fresno and train at Dethrone Base Camp.
Marty Garabedian
Dethrone Base Camp
Dethrone Base Camp has two promising young Boxing Amateurs in Brysen Garcia and Jesse Haro. Both whom recently competed in seperate tournaments and won titles.
Jesse Haro attended his second straight competition in Kansas, where he won the title for the second time this year. While Brysen Garcia won his title at the Desert Showdown in Cochilla, which is considered one of the bigger Amateur Tournaments around.
Jesse and Brysen now joins Robby Baylon as the Gyms current champions this year, the team led by coach Marco Padilla continues to develop and produce more and more champions.
Marty Garabedian
Dethrone Base Camp
