Latest News
Rough Fight League takes over Hope Gardens
October 25, 2024
A stacked line-up of mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing fighters are set to take the cage in the Rough Fight League (RFL) at Funland, Hope Gardens, on Saturday night.
The eighth staging of the event will kick off at 8 p.m. and will see 14 fighters in seven fights.
The highlight of the night will see Shiaeinie 'Da Great' Blake, who has held the number one spot across three weight classes in the Caribbean, making his professional debut against Daron 'Avatar' Weir who is known for his skilful tactics in the boxing ring, who is now seeking to display the same in the MMA cage.
Managing partner of RFL MMA Kyle Chin said this matchup will help get some questions answered.
"We want to see if the old saying about boxers being better than MMA fighters matters in the MMA cage," Chin told STAR Sports in an interview.
Also in the line-up is Demar 'Force' Haslam, RFL's 145-pound amateur champion, making his pro debut against Nakia Anderson.
Theron 'The Iron Prince' Rose-Green will also face off against Jaheem 'Imru Makonnen' Morrison in an amateur welterweight championship fight.
Spectators are in for a treat when Tyrece 'Tank' Thompson, the 2024 Pan American super heavyweight International MMA champion, meets Samuel Campbell in the cage.
Chin said these fights provide a major opportunity for local fighters.
"This is the important part, that we can offer them a space where they can get experience as an amateur and move into a professional arena where they can now get paid and they can also build a record towards being recruited abroad and probably make it into the big show," Chin said.
He says this will facilitate the growth of grappling sports like wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which is incorporated in MMA.
"Those combat sports have always been sort of missing from the Jamaican forte. Traditionally, we are very strong with karate, boxing and tae kwon do. We were always very good at the striking sports, but recently we started to develop and learn a lot more of the grappling sports. In terms of MMA on a larger scale, we have now become more formidable as opponents," he said.
In addition to entertaining fights, RFL seeks to offer a holistic experience with food and other attractions.
