Eastern Michigan University’s Mixed Martial Arts (EMMA) club competed Saturday in Jackson, Mich. as it attempted to hold on to three titles. The club improved its record to 11-2 for the year.
Seven fighters from EMMA club were set to compete from the 12-match fight card. Adam Powell, who fought the second fight, started the night for EMU. He won the fight by a second round technical knock out, starting off the string of victories for EMU.
Powell describes his first fight as a blur.
“I remember dominating the second round and then the win,” he said.
Powell will be competing again March 16 in the 145-pound weight class. Powell explained the mental barriers were much harder to overcome than the physical barriers while training for this last fight, and said he will be training a lot harder for the upcoming fight.
“My team really helped me train for this fight, and I was prepared,” Powell said. “I am sure that I will be even more prepared for my next fight.”
Following Powell’s fight, Zack Foster fought his first match at the 205-pound weight class.
This was Foster’s first fight, and he dominated his way into a second round stoppage.
Foster said the club captains Greg Calvert, Quamie Beck and Lewis Anderson each pushed him to a level he didn’t know he could reach.
“My next fight will be more intense because I know what to expect,” Foster said.
Following Foster’s victory was more of EMMA’s success, having freshman Evan Tanner and junior Beck reel off victories.
Beck fought in and defended the 185-pound title and will be shooting for the 205-pound title next fight. Beck’s title defense made for Eastern’s fourth victory of the night.
EMU had two losses on the night, both coming by way of disqualification.
Sophomore Darin Rose made his EMMA debut but was disqualified because of an illegal shot to the head after winning four previous rounds in the 125-pound category. Junior Patrick Simpson, who was fighting for the 125-pound title, lost by disqualification after winning
four of the five rounds.
Calvert, who was set to defend his 145-pound title, was removed from the card after his opponent missed weight, but was encouraged by his teammates.
“My opponent missed weight by 15 pounds, so I did not get to defend my title,” Calvert said. “However, my teammates did their best and let everybody in the building know how hard we trained. I am so proud of every one of them. It was the best birthday I have ever had.”
EMMA plans to compete again on March 16, with Beck fighting for the 205-pound title, along with Calvert in fighting for the 155-pound title.
