In Feb. 28 Issue
Russell County News
By Brent Thompson

Last Saturday night Somerset’s Center For Rural Development saw some of Russell County’s finest athletes competing in a cage in Mixed Martial Arts action.

The evening boasted a 12-fight card, with several of the fighters being from right here in Russell County.

Here’s a quick recap of the fight winners that evening: Marc Chaney from Somerset defeated Eddie Birchfield from Keavey, Ky. by Guillotine choke tap out.

Clay Denham from Santa Clarita defeated Billy “the Kid” Fox by Triangle Submission. This was only Billy Fox’s second fight and Clay Denham’s 10th.

Josh Young from Lexington defeated Michael Daniel from Russell Springs by Ground and Pound. Johnathan House from London, Ky. defeated Eddie Teager from Jonesboro, Ark. by doctor stoppage. Josh “Pitbull” Cooper from Russell Springs crushed Chris “Buzz” Rogers from Lexington at only 1:10 in the first round.

James Douglas from Lexington won a unanimous judges’ decision over Eddie Marsee from Gray’s, Ky. Jeremy Patton from London, Ky. won a close unanimous judges decision over Somerset’s Tanner McAllister. Shawn Woodyard from Lebanon, who trains at Submit Pit in Russell Springs, won a very controversial judges’ decision over Dan Bulkley from Jonesboro, Ark.

Zack Sanders from Lexington won by referee stoppage over Ian Lawler from Somerset.

Jamestown’s Jason Bradshaw pulled off a stunning defeat over the highly-touted Daniel Nelson from Arkansas and London’s Scott Hope pulled off a huge win over Jerry Burns, also from London, in the evening’s only professional fight.

Not only were the fighters competing for the sport, but many of them were also competing to raise cancer awareness.

That’s because at the fights that night, a brand new clothing and apparel company that began right here in Russell County was making its very first check presentation to the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life with Russell County’s Nona Wooten accepting on their behalf.

That clothing and fight gear company was started by local businessman Scott Wells, owner of South Central Caulking, and his partner Brent Thompson, who lives in Adair County and works at 99.9 The Big Dawg in Campbellsville and attends church at Liberty Baptist in Russell Springs.

Wells and Thompson said they started the clothing company to provide fight gear, fight clothing and street clothes for both MMA athletes and fans of the sport.

They dedicate a portion of the business proceeds directly to the American Cancer Society through the Russell County Relay For Life.

Brent Thompson, who was also the ring announcer for the evening’s events, said that his and Scott Wells’ goal is to use their business to encourage those who have been touched by cancer, and also to help find a cure.

Fight For Life USA also sponsored these Russell County athletes with custom professional fight shorts and custom tee-shirts.

Fight For Life USA is also creating a custom “Submit Pit Fighter” tee-shirt that is available for anyone to purchase, with a portion of the proceeds from shirt sales going to the Russell County Submit Pit Mixed Martial Arts team.

To purchase your shirt see Josh Cooper, Billy Fox, Jason Bradshaw, Derek Grider, Chris Coffey or stop by Club Fit in Russell Springs.

The athletes can use this money to help purchase equipment and supplies they need to train and fight to the best of their ability each time they represent Russell County in mixed martial arts fights all across the state.