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WELCOME COMBAT MARTIAL ARTS FANS! Welcome to today’s double header in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The fist event (2:30 p.m.) spotlight’s the WCL’s four Eastern Conference teams: the Miami Force, New York Clash, New Jersey Tigers and St. Louis Enforcers (including Kevin “The Hitman” Engel, pictured here). The second event at 7:30 p.m. (a second ticket is required) features first round Western Conference playoff matchups: the L.A. Stars take on the Denver Fury and the Texas Dragons go toe-to-toe against the hometown Oklahoma Destroyers. So, Tulsa — let the Turf Wars begin! COVER PHOTO AND THIS PAGE: LAYNE MURDOCH ALL OTHER PHOTOS: PETER ROBBINS
www.worldcombatleague.com
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E!
IN YOUR FAC
As league founder Chuck Norris likes to say, the WCL is about knockouts. Reigning league MVP Tim Connors of the Enforcers believes in that motto, connecting here with a vicious left.
KNOCKOUT www.worldcombatleague.com
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RINGSIDE
THE
WCL ONE MAN’S DREAM C
huck Norris’ vision of creating the World Combat League is now a reality. Norris, six times undefeated Martial Arts World Champion, is the dynamic force behind this exciting new sport of team martial arts. Norris has accomplished many goals in his life as a Martial Arts competitor and Film and Television star. Through these successes, he was able to start a foundation called KickStart, which is building strong moral character in our youth through the martial arts. Norris’ mission is to teach the martial arts in the inner city schools with the purpose of raising our youth’s selfesteem and instilling discipline and respect that so many kids are lacking today. Through this unique program, KickStart also instills the values and skills necessary to resolve conflict, choose drug-free lifestyles, avoid participation in gang-related activities, set and achieve goals, strive for continued self-improvement and give back to their communities. The WCL is the future of full contact martial arts team fighting and will be the vehicle to finance the KickStart foundation, both nationally and internationally. Norris’ next goal is to expand the teams of the World Combat League to 24 cities in North America, then internationally to 16 teams in Europe and 16 teams in Asia.
www.worldcombatleague.com
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The Oklahoma Destroyers aren’t just Tulsa’s newest professional sports franchise—they’re legitimate title contenders in the wide open wcl By Tony Fay ale “Apollo” Cook knows something about kickboxing. A five-time World Champions in kickboxing and a seventh-degree blackbelt, Cook has been one of the nation’s leading martial arts advocate’s since taking up tae kwon do at the age of 15 in the early 1970s. So when Cook, who calls Tulsa home, says his Destroyers squad has what it takes to win the WCL this season, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
D
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“If we make it to the Western Conference championship, and mathematically we have an excellent shot, I think we match up very well with the L.A. Stars,” says Cook, who runs four thriving martial arts academies in Tulsa. “We lost to L.A. the first time, but when you take out our one disqualification, they only beat us by five points. Since then, the league has adopted some new rules changes to ensure the fighters are really getting after it. Our fighters are sluggers. We like to fight. I think the new
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DID YOU KNOW? Destroyers’ Head Coach Dale Cook (born November 24, 1958, Tulsa, Oklahoma), nicknamed Apollo, is an accomplished martial artist and sometimes actor… in the early 1990s, Cook starred in several action-oriented movies, including “Blood Ring” and “American Kickboxer 2”… as a professional fighter, he claimed various titles including WKA Middleweight World Champion.
rules changes work to our advantage.” In tonight’s round of playoffs, the Destroyers face off against a Texas Dragons team that they beat easily earlier in the season. However, Cook is careful not to look past his Red River Rivals. “(Texas) will be well-prepared and fight hard—you know that going in. Plus, they have several new fighters from the last time we fought, so that’s an unknown. I have confidence in my team, though. I don’t think they’ll be looking ahead.”
Neither will the Tulsa crowd, says Cook. “This is a big deal in Tulsa. We don’t have any major league sports in Oklahoma. St. Louis, New York, Texas, L.A., Miami, Denver—those are markets with a lot of big league competition. The Destroyers are something that the Tulsa community is learning to embrace. We want to be this community’s big league sports team.” “Bringing a championship to Tulsa would be a great start in that direction.” www.worldcombatleague.com
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Thomas “Thunderkick” Longacre Jeri “Fists of Fury” Sitzes
HEIGHT: 5-9 AGE: 30 FIGHTING STYLE: Kickboxing RECORD: 5-2-1
HEIGHT: 5-5 AGE: Not saying FIGHTING STYLE: Muay Thai RECORD: 8-1-1
Jesse “Bodyrocka” Lawrence HEIGHT: 6-3 AGE: 28 FIGHTING STYLE: Muay Thai RECORD: 5-2
Ryan “The Lion” Madigan HEIGHT: 6-0 AGE: 30 FIGHTING STYLE: Muay Thai RECORD: 4-3
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NEWCOM
ER
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Anthony “The Assassin” Njokuani HEIGHT: 6-1 AGE: 27 FIGHTING STYLE: Muay Thai RECORD: 4-1
Keri Taylor Douglas “The Whirlwind” Edwards
HEIGHT: 5-5 AGE: 23 FIGHTING STYLE: Muay Thai RECORD: 2-0
HEIGHT: 5-11 AGE: 26 FIGHTING STYLE: Muay Thai RECORD: 1-2
Alex Beck HEIGHT: 6-2 AGE: 30 FIGHTING STYLE: Muay Thai RECORD: 4-2
David “The KO Artist” Taylor HEIGHT: 5-9 AGE: 28 FIGHTING STYLE: Muay Thai RECORD: 3-1
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07 08
RESULTS
WESTERN CONFERENCE ROSTERS 10/19 (Denver) Loss
12/14 (Tulsa) Loss
1/18 (San Antonio) Loss
TEXAS: 150 DENVER: 102
OKLAHOMA: 136 DENVER: 110
LOS ANGELES: 155 DENVER: 129
JOHNSON
STARTERS
HEAD COACH: Steve Alley
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
Katie Meehan
The Killer
128
Tampa, FL
HOMETOWN
+/-8
Jack Johnson
The Knife
147
Denver, CO
-15
Tarek Rached
The Tiger
164
Ronkonkona, NY
-20
Blake Lirette
The Blade
178
Vancouver, BC
-28
Matt Callahan
The Spanish Master
195
Atlanta, GA
+4
Eddie Burris
Black Rage
235
Phoenix, AZ
+50
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
HOMETOWN
+/-
Kornelija Numic
The Lioness
128
Dallas, TX
-11
Colby Snyder
The Cobra
147
Aurora, CO
-28
Sepy Bazzazi
none
164
Vancouver, BC
N/A
Chris Decaro
none
178
Denver, CO
+15
London Pray
Bada-Bing
195
Aurora, CO
-15
Mike Dean
Steamroller
235
Denver, CO
-8
ALTERNATES
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RESULTS
NUMIC
10/19 (Denver) Loss
12/14 (Tulsa) Win
1/18 (San Antonio) Win
LOS ANGELES: 161 OKLAHOMA: 141
OKLAHOMA: 136 DENVER: 110
OKLAHOMA: 167 TEXAS: 99
MADIGAN
STARTERS
HEAD COACH: Steve Alley
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
HOMETOWN
+/-
Jeri Sitzes
Fists of Fury
128
Springfield, MS
+14
Thomas Longacre
Thunderkick
147
Sapulpa, OK
-8
Anthony Njokuani
The Assassin
164
Garland, TX
+20
Ryan Madigan
The Lion
178
Cuyahoga Falls, OH -8
Jesse Lawrence
Bodyrocka
195
Little Rock, AK
+43
Alex Beck
none
235
Pittsburgh, PA
+9
HOMETOWN
+/-
ALTERNATES FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
Keri Taylor
none
128
Santa Monica, CA +12
Douglas Edwards
The Whirlwind
147
Wichita, KS
+5
David Taylor
The KO Artist
164
Bartlesville, OK
+23
Randy Blake
none
195
Tulsa, OK
+15
John McKibben
N/A
235
Tulsa, OK
-25
TBD
WT. CLASS
178
SITZES
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+/- The aggregate of a fighter’s points scored for the season and the points scored against the fighter this season.
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RESULTS
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10/19 (Denver) Win
12/14 (Tulsa) Loss
1/18 (San Antonio) Win
LOS ANGELES: 161 OKLAHOMA: 141
LOS ANGELES: 158 TEXAS: 88
LOS ANGELES: 155 DENVER: 129
DANIELS
STARTERS
HEAD COACH: Colin Van Deusen
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
HOMETOWN
+/-
Alicia Ashley
Slick
128
Bellmore, NY
+21
Jack Felton
Flash
147
Hunt. Beach, CA
+18
Jason Bourelly
Tankson
164
Bensalem, PA
+48
Raymond Daniels
The Real Deal
178
Long Beach, CA
+61
Shundell Golden
The Golden Boy
195
Santa Maria, CA
-6
Chris Hawk
none
235
Memphis, TN
-21
ALTERNATES FIGHTERS
HOMETOWN
+/-
Jessican Covarrubias none
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS 128
Salinas, CA
+1
Angel Huerta
The Chosen One
147
Houston, TX
-5
Brandon Hastings
none
164
Victorville, CA
+21
Ryan Davis
The Dog Soldier
178
Littleton, CA
N/A
Donald Vickers
The Grinch
195
Los Angeles, CA
+2
Chris Baten
none
235
Los Angeles, CA
-8
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RESULTS
ASHLEY
10/19 (Denver) Win
12/14 (Tulsa) Loss
1/18 (San Antonio) Loss
TEXAS: 150 DENVER: 102
LOS ANGELES: 158 TEXAS: 88
OKLAHOMA: 167 TEXAS: 99
HUDSON
STARTERS
HEAD COACH: Tra Telligman
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
Angela Hayes
HOMETOWN
The Bomb
128
Fountain, CO
+/-11
Shannon Hudson
none
147
Duncan, SC
+27
Freddie Poole
none
164
Dallas, TX
N/A
Will Whitlow
The Thrill
178
Dallas, TX
-11
Mike Shepherd
Lightning
195
Dallas, TX
+3
Lawson Baker
Meet York Maker
235
San Diego, CA
+44
WT. CLASS
HOMETOWN
+/-
ALTERNATES FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
TBD
128
TBD
147
Chase Green
none
164
Dallas, TX
-8
Sherif Ghaly
none
178
Austin, TX
-31
Freddie Espiricuetta none
195
Dallas, TX
-16
Matt Thompson
235
Dallas, TX
+9
none
HAYES
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RESULTS
EASTERN CONFERENCE ROSTERS 12/1 (Atlantic City) Win
1/18 (San Antonio) Win
MIAMI: 145 ST. LOUIS: 121
MIAMI: 140 NEW YORK: 128
OXLEY
STARTERS
HEAD COACH: John Morrison
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
Angie Woolum
The Mingo Warrior
128
Man, WV
HOMETOWN
+/-2
Craig Oxley
The Hammer
147
Nitro, WV
+23
Kwame Stephens
Mr. Wicked
164
Salt Lake City, UT +2
Crafton Wallace
The Blaze
178
Naples, FL
+6
Armin Mrkanovic
The Bosnian Prince
195
Queens, NY
+21
Bob Stines
none
235
Alpharetta, GA
-16
WT. CLASS
HOMETOWN
+/-
ALTERNATES FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
TBD
128
Agostino Denatale
none
147
Winnepeg, Canada N/A
Jimmy Donahue
none
164
St. Louis, MO
-8
Jose Sulsona
Ultimate Dragon
178
Linden, NJ
+7
Kyle Weickhardt
none
195
West Allis, WI
-15
TBD
235
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RESULTS
WOOLUM
12/1 (Atlantic City) Win
1/18 (San Antonio) Loss
NEW JERSEY: 140 NEW YORK: 135
ST. LOUIS 133 NEW JERSEY: 124
MILLER
STARTERS
HEAD COACH: Danny Schulmann
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
HOMETOWN
+/-
Munah Holland
none
128
Belleville, NJ
+25
Shennen Maceo
none
147
Hicksville, NY
+15
Cory Miller
none
164
Brooklyn, NY
+3
Thad Campbell
none
178
Greenfield, MA
-4
Carlos Brooks
none
195
New York, NY
+7
John James
Panther
235
Newark, NJ
+18
HOMETOWN
+/-
ALTERNATES FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
Melissa Bopp
none
WT. CLASS 128
David Gonzalez
Speedy
147
Hollis, NY
Rich Boine
Pitbull
164
North Bayshore, NY -7
S. Hackensack, NJ N/A -12
Derek Riddick
none
178
Newark, NJ
-15
Uriah Hall
none
195
Jamaica, NY
+21
Achilles King
none
235
Newark, NJ
N/A
HOLLAND
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+/- The aggregate of a fighter’s points scored for the season and the points scored against the fighter this season.
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RESULTS
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12/1 (Atlantic City) Loss
1/18 (San Antonio) Loss
NEW JERSEY: 140 NEW YORK: 135
MIAMI: 140 NEW YORK: 128
GEE
STARTERS
HEAD COACH: Mike Conroy
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
Virginia Baker
HOMETOWN
none
128
Hanover, MA
+/+5
Tommy Bach
Lil’ Dragon
147
Wauconda, IL
+11
Dustin Chovanic
Villian
164
Franklin, NC
+4
Jason Quick
Troubleman
178
Brooklyn, NY
even
Mark Gee
The Red Scorpion
195
Springfield, MA
+10
Dan Erickson
Son of a Preacher
235
Spooner, WI
-13
ALTERNATES FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
HOMETOWN
+/-
Gia Wilson
none
WT. CLASS 128
Chicago, IL
-16
Rino Belcastro
none
147
Windsor, Ontario
-6
Charles Wilson
The One
164
Plainfield, IL
-8
Leo Valdiva
The Beast
178
Miami, FL
-10
Caius Baluta
The Professor
195
Windsor, Ontario
-7
Walter Sommerville
The Hammer
235
Franklin, NC
-2
07 08
RESULTS
BAKER
12/1 (Atlantic City) Loss
1/18 (San Antonio) Win
MIAMI: 145 ST. LOUIS: 121
ST. LOUIS: 133 NEW JERSEY: 124
CALLEROS
STARTERS
HEAD COACH: Jess Finney
FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
WT. CLASS
Felice Herrig
Lil’ Bulldog
128
Buffalo Grove, IL
HOMETOWN
+/-14
Tim Connors
Irish Pride
147
St. Louis, MO
even
Fernando Calleros
Cool
164
El Paso, TX
+25
Kevin Engel
The Hitman
178
St. Louis, MO
+23
Dusty Miller
The Dream Killer
195
Hennessey, OK
-26
Isaac Diomande
Showtime
235
Houston, TX
+11
HOMETOWN
+/-
ALTERNATES FIGHTERS
NICKNAME
Jenniver Han
N/A
WT. CLASS 128
El Paso, TX
-8
John Gruebel
Lightning
147
Augusta, GA
+9
Steve Dement
Stevie
164
St. Louis, MO
-15
Adam Cella
The Natural
195
St. Louis, MO
NA
Josh DeVore
Chico
235
Bonneville, IL
-15
Mark Graden
none
235
Largo, FL
-6
HERRIG
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WHAT ARE THE RULES?
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WCL Contests feature fast paced striking action with a premium placed on athletic kicking skills. There is no holding, throwing, grappling or wrestling. If a fighter tries to slow the pace of the fight down by holding, avoiding, or not fighting in an aggressive manner, the referee will call passivity against that fighter and award his opponent a point. Ideally, each round will feature two “standup” fighting, martial arts specialists in “full throttle” action trying to score as many points for their team as possible. Three judges score each fight with the priority placed on knockdowns, damage inflicted and volume of scoring strikes. Each judge will award five points to the fighter they see as superior and four or less points to the opponent. The judges’ points are combined at the end of each fight (5-4, 5-3, 5-4, becomes 15-11) those points are then added to the team’s total from the previous fights. When a penalty is given, a point is awarded to the opposing team. The team with the most points at the end of the second half wins.
SCORING CURVE 5-12 indicates a very close round 15-9 reflects a clear victory 15-6 or less, indicates a victory with one or more knockdowns 15-0 means a knockout or disqualification
WHAT FIGHTING TECHNIQUES ARE ALLOWED? All punching skills All Kicking skills including to the leg Knee Strikes to the body and head
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JOIN THE WCL COMMUNITY Become an official World Combat League fan today!
Sign up Now—Free membership!
By joining our online community you can share experiences with WCL fans across the country through videos, photos, and blogs. Rate and comment on other fan’s profiles. Meet other combat martial arts enthusiasts and add them to your page! Show your team spirit to the world with instant video blogs!
Log on now and become a part of the dynamic World Combat League experience! www.worldcombatleague.com
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PARTING SHOT
A few things to watch for while enjoying tonight’s fights By Chad Range
T
he World Combat League is one of the most exciting sports around. I truly believe that. But if you’re attending your first WCL live event, it can be a little disorienting at first. The action comes so quick, and the fighters attack each other so viciously, it can be difficult to catch your breath. Here are three things to keep an eye out for when cheering on the action tonight:
Knockouts. I’m not talking TKOs where guys just get too beat up to go on. I’m talking about round house kicks to the head where you see someone drop like a ton of bricks. This is why we go to fights… right?
The women of the WCL. The female fighters in our league are more than just window dressing —they are vital cogs to their teams. In fact the Oklahoma Destroyers consider Jeri Sitzes to be the anchor of their team. No other sport can claim that. Normally the ladies fights are some of the best of the night. Don’t make these women mad.
The team concept. Our fighters battle it out street brawl style not themselves, but for their team. For once a fight is for more than individual pride. I’ve seen fighters peel themselves off the deck after being blasted with kicks and/or punches and get up just
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because they didn’t want their team to lose 15-0. They understood that they would not win the fight, but getting a few points for the team is better than none. Think about the fighters pride, drive, determination, and ego, and when you pin that on the hopes of five other fighters that are laying it all on the line, it can be a powerful thing. If you like excitement, drama and seeing athletes pushing themselves to the limit to be the best, then you are in for a treat when you attend a WCL fights. Have fun tonight— and be sure to keep up with the league at www.worldcombatleague.com. Chad Range co-hosts Turf Wars, the WCL magazine show, which airs on the VERSUS network.
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