Fun, Like a Face Kick

by Mike Newall

Last Friday night, 18 dudes got together at the Rivera Recreation Center at Fifth St. and Allegheny Ave. to punch, kick, knee and slam the hell out of each other. The occasion was Vengeance II, Philadelphia's second-ever amateur Mixed Martial Arts Tournament. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the umbrella term for fight competitions wherein martial arts specialists of all stripes — karate, judo, muay Thai, submission wrestling, jiu-jitsu — square off in bloody and brutal matches.

Vengeance I, held at the Northern Liberties Recreation Center in December, was a confusing affair where nearly half the scheduled fights were cancelled. Vengeance II was far more organized. Medical officials were ringside. An ambulance was parked outside. Officials from the state athletic commission were on hand to guarantee fights were stopped at the first sign of serious trouble, e.g. any sign of blood or if a fighter is clearly out on his feet.

To soothe the concerns of queasy state officials, Philly MMA has been highly regulated. For example, unlike in Ultimate Fighting, no ground fighting or downward strokes are allowed. Fighters cannot pull opponents' heads into punches, knees or elbows. Headgear, shin pads and 6-ounce gloves are requisite. Still, MMA is not for the faint of heart.

A crowd of 400 demanded action at Vengeance II and they got it. The night featured nine bouts including a thrilling two-round battle between 220-pounders Eddie Colon of the Ferocious Dragon academy in North Philadelphia and Andrew Riddles of the Body Arts Gym in Northern Liberties. Riddles dominated the early action but was stopped late in the second with a powerful straight right hand to the jaw. The main event featured Al Ali Kareem, a frighteningly built man with a glare like a young Mike Tyson and his nickname, "The Beast," embroidered across the back of his robe. At Vengeance I, Kareem's opponent forfeited after watching The Beast disrobe. This contest didn't last much longer. Seconds into the fight, Kareem knocked his opponent cold with a kick to the face. He jumped into the air in celebration and the crowd cheered along. "That was some kick," said a young fan. "Yeah, that was a good high kick," smiled The Beast as he exited the ring. The crowd headed off into the night as doctors helped the fallen fighter regain his senses.