By Randy Griffith
THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
Johnstown’s Carlton Haselrig’s first mixed martial arts cage fight in his hometown started the same way countless others have: With a takedown by the former six-time national NCAA wrestling champion.
But Haselrig’s debut in the Cambria County War Memorial Arena got a little more interesting when opponent Chris Larkin managed a vicious headlock and the two grappled intensely until Hasselrig freed his head and took control.
Unlike NCAA rules, punching is allowed in mixed martial arts. The hometown crowd erupted as Haselrig pushed the more-experienced fighter against the cage fence and opened what he later called “a barrage of punches” on Larkin’s head, face and body.
It didn’t take long for the referee to see Larkin had enough.
He stopped the fight at 3:18 in the first round, upping Haselrig’s professional record to 3-1. Larkin drops to 6-6-1.
After the fight, Haselrig took time to greet fans and pose for pictures with former coaches at Pitt-Johnstown, where he earned six national wrestling championships before going on to a pro football career as a lineman for the Steelers.
Home cooking was the icing on his latest victory, Haselrig said.
“As you can see right here,” Haselrig said, extending his arm to the crowd of well-wishers, “you can’t beat this. It’s about love.”
The fight was a learning experience, Haselrig said.
“I had the takedown,” he said. “But he got me in the guillotine position. That was my fault, I let my head down. We’ll work on that in the gym.”
Hasselrig’s fight capped the Iron Will Fighting Championship 11-bout card, which was the first sanctioned mixed martial arts event in western Pennsylvania.
The War Memorial crowd was treated to just about everything the fast-growing sport has to offer.
The night started with another local favorite taking a hard-fought victory in the amateur division.
“South Fork; South Fork” Josh Killinger’s cheering section chanted as he was declared unanimous winner over Kevin Myers, 29-28, 29-28 and
30-27.
Killinger’s fight was primarily boxing and kicking, while others involved more grappling.
Several ended with the loser “submitting” “often with head locked in a choke hold.
In the amateurs, Matt Zupon beat Jon Seiber and Tim Landis outlasted Marc Farabaugh, both winning by submission.
Hollidaysburg’s Charlie Brenneman moved to 8-1 as a pro, beating Chris Thomas with a second-round referee stoppage in the other main event.
Rounding out the professional fights, Joe Demore won by referee stoppage over Brad Pole; Louis Armezzani beat Curtis Hall by submission; Noe Quintanilla received a unanimous judges’ decision over Jason Trzewieczynski; Ryan Lopez choked Joe Lewis to win by submission; Evan Delong defeated Corey Mahon by submission; and Mitch Whitesel won by referee stoppage over Marcus Ajian.
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