With Clemson Football having a bye week a large crowd of fans of another sport gathered in Pickens County. Hundreds of people were on hand at The Market At The Mill Events Center in Pickens For Conflict MMA Judgement Day.
Well over a dozen fights were on the card and most all of them involved an Upstate based fighter, which shows how the sport has grown in popularity. On hand for the event was Greenville County's own, UFC legend Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.
My career runs somewhat parallel to Stephen Thompson's. He was the 1st fighter I ever interviewed in my radio career. His 1st interview with me was prior to his 1st ever pro MMA fight. His first three fights were held at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Everything was full circle in that regard as Stephen was on hand to see some of the trainees from his family's dojo the famed Upstate Karate.
Thompson will fight Joaquin Buckley October 5th at UFC 307. However, on this night he was their to watch, lend support and address the home area crowd. His top student, former Lander University Wrestler Darius Parker was in action in the Main Event.
Parker won the Conflict MMA Middleweight Title earning a ref stoppage to defeat previously unbeaten fight Mitchell Pollard of South Georgia. Parker used his wrestling ability to control the fight and work himself into position to get clear shots on Pollard which caused the stoppage.
In The Bantamweight Title Fight, Myrtle Beach based fighter Josh Cook beat JR Banks from American Top Team Asheville. The college wrestling background for Banks was on display early as he scored a few takedowns in the 1st 2 rounds. However, Cook was able to gain position and get in some punches in, Banks was unable to work into a guard position and Cook won via stoppage.
Greenville's Avani Palmer won over Jasmin Feliciano of Florida in a Ladies Kickboxing match. Former Daniel High Basketball Standout Sims Disbrow got a win in a Brazilian Jiu-Jiutsu match to open the event.
More than half a dozen combat sports based groups and dojos from the Upstate were well represented. To have been a part of the early days of the MMA movement and events in the Upstate, Saturday night showed clearly that the explosion of growth MMA has had here.