MMA's New Breed

As MMA grows in popularity a new breed of MMA fighter evolves

 

 

Lightweight Russ Halsey is running around the Emidio & Son’s Civic Center preparing for a fight. If you

 

see Russ’s face, it’s amped with energy and anticipation; a handshake to one set of fans racing to their

 

seats and a head nod to one of the fighters shadow boxing in back.

 

 

Yet, Halsey is not on the card and won’t step back into the cage until March 27th at UMMAXX 10.

 

 

Let me introduce you to the new breed of MMA Fighter, the Mixed Martial Artiste. Halsey, along with teammate and close

 

friend Johnny “Rocket” Murphy fight, run Pain Headquarters, manage the fight team at Pain and promote fights. It’s the new

 

way to make a name for yourself in the world of MMA.

 

 

“It’s always a challenge, every fight is always a challenge,” says Halsey. “We like to go in there and be prepared.”

 

 

It’s tough to tell if Halsey is referencing his recent win vs Dalton Moss at NAAFS: Midwest Combat Challenge 10 or the fact

 

that nearly 500 fans, fighters and sponsors have invaded the Emidio & Sons Civic Center an hour before action is even set

 

to begin for XFS Rude Awakening.

 

 

Halsey and Murphy’s promotion, XFS Fight Series, is one of the successful promotions in NE Ohio.

 

 

“We are trying to build our own fighters, not trying to take away from other promotions,” says Murphy. “We want to keep and

 

build these guys as amateurs with the XFS.”

 

 

When the bell hits the signal the opening contest, Murphy handles the MC responsibilities. He acts as the evening’s ring

 

announcer and post-fight interviewer. Sharply dressed, you couldn’t tell that just four months early, Murphy returned from

 

injury to pick up Submission of the Night at UMMAXX 9.

 

 

Meanwhile, Halsey is directing traffic at the front gate, handling tickets and communication with the XFS Staff, some 50

 

volunteers and employees on where they need to be.

 

 

“I got a lot of stuff on my plate and sometimes it seems it could be a little bit too much,” smiles Halsey. “It’s been about three

 

years and I’m proud of what I’ve done.”

 

 

Now Halsey has complete control of his career and the future of Pain Headquarters.

 

 

“We started out cross training, bouncing around gym to gym,” he adds. “We’ve got around 22 guys

 

training now and have just recently moved into a new place, tripling our size.”

 

 

While Halsey has seen success in the “business” side of MMA, his fighting career is flourishing as well. Halsey has won six

 

of his last eight fights. His win over Moss last month, his debut at 155, positioned him for an Amateur Championship Fight at

 

UMMAXX 10 “Collision Course” against NAAFS Amateur Lightweight Champion George Comer.

 

 

“We can’t wait for it” said Halsey grinning.

 

 

Again, Halsey leaves you unsure of what’s he’s exactly excited for. Is it the XFS Main Event, a critical fight between Nate

 

Mango and Brandon Poindexter. Or is it “Rowdy” Rhonda Gale, the female representative of Pain Headquarters, stepping

 

into cage. It could be the fight fans at XFS shaking his hand for his recent win or asking him questions about strategies on

 

fighting for an Amateur Title. Halsey and Murphy embody the new breed in MMA and another reason why the sport

 

continues to grow at a meteoric pace.