Mixed martial arts is big business in Las Vegas and not only with male fighters. The female fighters are a big draw too. Ronda Rousey, a former 2008 Judo bronze medalist, is now the reigning UFC 170 Bantam Weight Division Champion after easily putting away challenger Sara McMann in less than a minute into the first round. This action I find way better than boxing.
Rousey is still undefeated after defending her title three times and reportedly took in $160,000 for her fight. She is probably one of the top earners in all of UFC and puts on a good show.
Pahrump has its own MMA fight club started at Mix it Up Academy on Basin by Robert Wilson and Brian Thelaner. This club has a motley crew of fighters that enjoy a good face pounding. That comes with the territory. I equate this pain to having your finger sawed off by a saw. Fighting MMA takes a certain breed and who knows if this takes off it might put Pahrump on the map.
As far as Brandon Schneider is concerned, the lead fighter for this club, we wish you a speedy recovery. Schneider suffered some injuries to his body on Feb. 14 in a motorcycle accident. Thelaner said he is badly bruised and suffered some internal injuries, which means he will have to cancel a fight scheduled in late March. He must be frustrated at this point and I wish him well.
Have you been having problems with getting the sports programs you want to watch on your cable or satellite dish? First Direct TV ruins my college football viewing by refusing to pick up the Pac-12 Network, then they get rid of my “Good mornings with Al” on the Weather Channel and now I just heard they may not pick up the new Dodger channel. I really don’t need this aggravation. Pahrump has to get something better than Direct TV.
Big time NASCAR racing will be here in Las Vegas for next weekend. The weekend starts on Thursday and ends on Sunday.
A young Las Vegas NASCAR racer and a graduate of Faith Lutheran High School, Dylan Kwasniewski, will be racing in the Boyd Gaming 300. At the young age of 18, Kwasniewski is racing for Turner Scott Motorsports and has a secured a place on the team for 2014. He recently won a pole position at Daytona and started racing at 4 1/2-years old.