MMA combatants to hit fair grounds

Event to feature local fighters

MOSES LAKE - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitors from across the Northwest will venture to the Grant County Fair Grounds for an Extreme Ring Wars competition Saturday night in the Commercial Building.

Extreme Ring Wars is sanctioned by Northwest Elite Martial Arts and will feature 14 MMA bouts, including Saturday night's main event.

In the main event, heavyweight competitors Kevin Richardson and Chris Yerot will face off for the vacant Extreme Ring Wars Heavyweight championship.

MMA competitions are rapidly growing and Extreme Ring Wars promoter Anthony Hamlett said Saturday night's fight will not disappoint.

"It's the fastest growing sport in the world," Hamlett said. "It's exploding everywhere."

Hamlett came from a wrestling background, having wrestled while in the Air Force. He has participated professionally in MMA for nine years, has fought around the world and currently trains MMA fighters and self defense classes locally in Moses Lake.

MMA is full of action and keeps competitors and spectators guessing, Hamlett said.

"It's not boring," he said. "You never know what to expect. It's the true warrior sport. You have to fight your own fight."

While men have long been associated with the sport, Hamlett said women competitors are becoming more common.

"I've got two girl fights this weekend," he said. "The girls come to fight. They end up stealing the show."

Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday night with the first fight of the evening beginning at 7:30 p.m.

General Admission tickets start at $20 and are available at The Hive Tattoo shop in Moses Lake, as well as at the door.