Coweta Cage Combat set for Saturday
By CHRIS GOLTERMANNcgoltermann@newnan.com
Tim Stout may have been a fast learner in the ring as a professional fighter for the last decade. But as a promoter of Mixed Martial Arts events, he's made it to Round 3 with plenty of energy still in reserve.
Stout's MOAB Promotions is now a week away from hosting Coweta Cage Combat 3 next Saturday at Newnan High School, featuring 10 amateur fights that will include a talented group from his MOAB Fighting Concepts training facility going toe-to-toe with top challengers from throughout the southeast.
Doors open Saturday (May 5) at 6 p.m., with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m.
Georgia includes some of the more rigid rules for MMA fights in the country, requiring larger gloves, shin guards and other precautionary measures for amateur bouts.
"We've been pretty successful with the first two," said Stout. "We feel we've been able to create a great family-friendly atmosphere. We don't serve alcohol like some of the others do. We just try to put on an exciting event."
A day after "The Hulk" and "The God of Thunder" officially go head-to-head on screen, MMA fans should be able to get their fill of live battles between some of Stout's best pupils against a lineup including opponents from ThunderHouse MMA in LaGrange and Messiah MMA in Columbus as well as Georgia Fight Club in Loganville.
"We're expecting another good crowd," said Stout of the May 5 event. "We're looking at having fighters coming in from South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee and we expect to have a bunch of people coming in from outside the area for it."
Locally, it'll be the last fight for several of Stout's MOAB team members before turning pro.
Since making his debut a little more than two years ago, Issac "El Fuego" Figueroa has compiled a 9-2 record and is the top contender in the most recent GFC rankings in the 136-145 featherweight division.
Figueroa defeated Cody Maiden of Marietta last December.
Stout's fighters also include unbeaten 185-pounder Doug Usher, who enters next week's event at 5-0 while entering his last fight before turning pro.
At 155 pounds, Hector Tirado is 3-1, with all three having been a part of last August's card at Newnan High. Tirado is scheduled to face Joey Ward (2-2) of Striker Fight Center in Kennesaw.
Also a part of next week's card is 135-pounder Chris Wilson, who came to Georgia with Stout from Tennessee. The two worked together before Stout opened MOAB Fighting Concepts.
"He's one of the most exciting competitors you'll see," Stout said.
Other MOAB fighters scheduled to be included on next week's card include Jerry Green (180), Brad Nixon (225), Matt Neighbors (155), Jermaine Tillman (155) and Tempo Davis (145), with Green, Tillman and Davis making their amateur debuts
Tickets for Coweta Cage Combat 3 are available for $25 through moabpromotions.com . A weigh-in party will be held Friday at 6 p.m., at Jekyll & Hyde's.
