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M/SUNNY Temp: 65 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Monday, September 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 16, 2003 Wrestling champ Gutches in cage match Crater standout will take on man 10 years his senior as part of tonight’s full-contact, 12-fight card By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune When Bryson Gutches squares off against his next opponent, it will be in a far different arena and against a far different kind of foe than usual. Almost anything will be fair: bare-knuckle punching; kicking; choke holds; submission holds that, taken too far, could snap arm or leg bones. Gutches, a 16-year-old junior-to-be at Crater, will go toe-to-toe with a man 10 years his senior and who specializes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Advertisement It will be one of the main events on a Full Contact Fighting Federation card that features 12 bouts and starts at 8 tonight at the Medford Armory. According to Kevin Keeney, vice president of Caged Promotions, LLC, which has put on about 15 events, Gutches will be its first high school competitor. A state champion wrestler as a freshman and third in the Class 4A tournament last winter, Gutches will face Ian Vossler of Camas, Wash., who is making his debut in Keeney’s federation. Not surprisingly, Gutches’ inclusion has elicited reactions ranging from disdain to excitement. Members of the Gutches family, including Bryson, declined comment prior to the fight, but Keeney says the father, Kent Gutches, will sign a waiver. Gutches’ wrestling coach, Greg Haga, is "not really excited about him doing it. But, you know, it’s not during the season, and he didn’t ask my opinion." And Haga has one. "If a kid is still competing in athletics, either high school or college," he says, "I think it’s stupid. He’s taking a chance on getting injured. He could get punched hard and break his cheekbone or break his hand punching somebody else. It could affect his season." Jacob Porras, Gutches’ 27-year-old cousin and himself a competitor, is serving as trainer. Having coached Gutches on disciplines such as kick boxing and avoiding submission holds, he is not worried. "He’s picking up on it real well," says Porras. "He’s young, and he’s already in good shape. It’s a lot easier to learn when you’re in good shape. I think he enjoys it." Gutches wrestled last winter at 119 pounds, but Porras says he’s grown to about 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds. It was Gutches’ idea to pursue full-contact fighting, Porras adds. He watched Porras and another cousin, Chad Gutches, train and decided he wanted to try it. Bouts are held in "The Slammer," an octagonal cage of padded steel posts and cyclone fencing. It measures 25 feet across. The fight format is two five-minute rounds, separated by a two-minute break. If there is no knockout or tapout — one fighter giving up — a panel of three judges decides the outcome. There are some limits. Neither fighter can kick the other unless both are standing, and there is no punching or kicking to the groin. Fighters, for the most part, respect one another, says Porras, and are sportsman to the point they’ll allow an opponent to tap out of a submission hold rather than intentionally cause injury. The most common injuries, apart from gashes and cuts, might well be broken hands to those throwing punches. Porras broke a hand in his last fight. Further, a fighter must be able to "intelligently" protect himself — more than simply covering his face — says Porras, or the fight is stopped. Keeney has no qualms about letting Gutches fight. "No, not at all," he says. "I would only have a reservation if he were mismatched, but he’s fighting a guy who’s the same weight and in his very first fight as well. "We have a great referee, and we very rarely have anybody get hurt. We’ve never, ever had to rush somebody to the hospital. Once in a while, a guy will have to go get stitches after the show." Porras maintains that bumps and bruises associated with this activity are not that different than those incurred in wrestling. "He might get hit and knocked down," says Porras, "but it’s no worse than taking a headbutt in wrestling when you both shoot together. There’s not much here he hasn’t dealt with before." Vossler was lined up for Gutches by Chael Sonnen, a professional full-contact fighter who works with Keeney. The jiu-jitsu style Vossler employs is a ground-fighting martial art popularized by ultimate fighter Royce Gracie a decade ago. Submission and choke holds are the specialty. "If he gets around Bryson’s neck," says Sonnen, "he could put him to sleep pretty quickly." Sonnen, however, characterizes Gutches as a "tough young man" in a competition not unlike what he’s been involved in much of his life. "If I had $50,000 to bet, I wouldn’t bet on that one," says Sonnen. "It’s a grown man taking on a kid, but the kid happens to be a young stud who has a state championship under his belt." And a new experience ahead of him. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times