Cage fighters train for strength and careers

Aspiring cage fighters come to a Columbia gym for training.

By Peter Fleischer

Published Feb. 29, 2008

At Key Largo Health & Fitness, weights, mats and punching bags litter a room in which one thing stands out: the lone trash can sitting in the corner by the door.

As the night begins, four cage fighting hopefuls engage in drills and sparring battles until one by one the fighters are weeded out. First, a Key Largo rookie sprints to the trash can, unable to contain his stomach any longer. When a more experienced fighter loses the use of his right arm after taking four or five consecutive blows to his forearm, he continues to participate in every drill.

The night ends with the team’s best fighter not quite making it to the trash can, vomiting on the mirror behind it before standing over the can for several minutes.

On nights when Hulett Fighting Productions owner Rob Hulett trains his cage fighting students, the trash can sometimes gets more action then the punching bags, as “weakness” leaves the bodies of fighters in the form of vomit or blood.

“Ya see that right there?” Hulett said from across the gym while his star student Kevin Croom threw up in the trash can. “This happens nearly every day. This is an everyday thing.”

Hulett walked over to check on Croom.

“If you can handle it, you can be a fighter,” Hulett said. “You really need heart.”

Heart and passion seem to be traits common among fighters at the gym. Although each gym member is at Key Largo for a different reason, almost every one will shed blood or sweat during the day.

“I was one of those guys at The Blue Note (watching the fight), telling people I could get in the ring after I’d had a few beers,” Nathan “Shags” McLeod said. McLeod is a disc jockey at 100.1 The Buzz, and while promoting fights on the air he quickly realized few people have what it takes to be a cage fighter.

“I played Division-II basketball, and this is by far the hardest workout I’ve ever had,” McLeod said. “These guys were in here laughing at me just as we were getting started.”

Workouts start with stretching and light contact and slowly escalate into practicing holds and submission techniques before turning toward full-fledged boxing.

But the mood is never one of fear or danger. Some of the hooks thrown in this gym might take off an average person’s head. But when a punch or knee lands a little too hard, the fighters shake it off as something that comes with the territory.

The level of involvement and the overall benefits fighters look to reap at the gym vary. Some simply look for a good workout. Others look for a way to defend themselves should they ever need to.

Others are looking for a career. Hulett and his fighting team offer training and representation by an established name in the mixed martial arts world.

“I’ve been in MMA (mixed martial arts) for over 10 years, and training/promoting for over three, so there’s a little more of an advantage because of that,” Hulett said.

Ultimate Fighting Championship and MMA legends such as Mike Whitehead, Diego Sanchez and Keith Jardine, among others, have chosen Columbia as a place to either train or play host to a fight, and working with fighters of that caliber immensely helps Hulett and his students.

“But I make very little money off the gym itself,” Hulett said. “I do this because I love it. There has been a lot of big name fighters that are in Columbia or have come though Columbia on their way up — more than most people realize.”

As four 20-somethings grapple on mats, seasoned police officer Todd Alber walks in. Although he is already an established officer in Columbia, Alber is an example of a person whose life is paying serious dividends because of the work he has done with Hulett. As someone life is on the line every time he goes to work, Alber admits the training has been helpful. This endorsement is especially strong from somebody who, as an instructor of defensive tactics, has been around physical combat.

And then there are the hopefuls who want to take Hulett’s training and make it a career, such as 23-year-old athlete Brian Harris. Harris has been training with “Hulett’s House” — what he and his students call their group — for more than four months and is looking at a possible fighting debut as early as May.

“I wanted to get serious and train to win, so I came here,” Harris said.

Croom, 20, is one of many young prospects at Key Largo, but his record is the brightest. Croom boasts an official record of 4-0-1 and has won several other unofficial bouts. Croom defeated the one opponent who fought him to a draw in a rematch three weeks later.

“I got started in high school wrestling and a little backyard boxing,” he said with a smile. “I’ve always wanted to fight. I had no idea how to get started and I thought I was too young, but then I realized, ‘Hey, there are some champs that are over 45. I’ve got time.’”

Croom’s fight at The Blue Note on March 7 is his biggest yet.

Fans both in and outside the fighting industry are starting to notice the talent and determination he possesses.

“I had a friend gambling down at the casino in Boonville,” Croom said. “He looked up and saw a poster of me and said, ‘Hey that looks like Croom.’ He didn’t think anything of it, but as the night went on, he realized it was me and he saw six different posters. It happens a lot now, though. It’s pretty cool.”

Hulett’s House is quickly gaining recognition regionally and nationally and can be tracked at the Web site Midwest Fight League (http://mfl.melbeat.com).

Croom won his bout at The Blue Note in 2 minutes, 55 seconds by way of a rear naked “chokeout” over Daniel Chavez to win the GI’s versus Joes-themed 145 title.

“Kevin’s got it all going for him,” Hulett said. “He was a good high school wrestler, he learns extremely fast and he works his butt off. He’s got all the tools and is always improving. The sky’s the limit. He’s getting a little luck getting his name out there. I would say he definitely has a better chance then most.”

If Croom continues to win, the compilation of victories could lead to a serious career.

“I just try and do everything I can for the fighter as long as they’re giving me their best effort too,” Hulett said. “I believe that is all you can ask on either side. I am always working on more connections and more ways to get the fighters seen not just from my gym but all who fight in the Midwest Fight League.”

Hulett’s House is quickly gaining more eager fighters. The gym only benefits when its fighters dominate inside the ring, and Hulett’s House currently boasts three of the top 10 fighters on the Midwest Fight League rankings, for a combined record of 9-0-1.

“But it all takes time,” Hulett said. “I really do work very hard to help the fighters.”