Local fighters fare well at Spokane MMA event

SPOKANE — Using a strong ground game, four Sandpoint Mixed Martial Arts fighters picked up victories on Saturday in a MMA and Kickboxing event at the West Central Community Center in Spokane.

Team Grapplers Guild and 11th Commandment members Tim Pepperdine, Lukas Carson and Skyler Tucker won by submission, as did TGG’s Kyle Fredricks. Nick Kohal suffered the only loss among a strong contingent of Sandpoint fighters, losing by submission in the second round.

“Our team displayed a dominating grappling performance,” said trainer Danny Clark. “Our striking skills looked laser sharp as well, with tons of effective punches and kicks displayed.”

Pepperdine, a former state champion wrestler, ran his record to 3-1 with a rear naked choke in the first round. Carson, a former Bulldog wrestler, locked up a kimura in the third round to win by submission. Tucker won in 55 seconds with a quick rear naked choke, and Fredricks also won with a rear naked choke in the third round.

11th Commandment owner Jesse Ellis called Carson’s third round win the fight of the night, and also had high praise for Kohal in defeat, after tapping out of a key lock in the second round.

“Even though he lost, he showed huge improvements from his first fight and we think he’ll do good things in the sport,” said Ellis, who sponsors the fighters from his business in Kamiah. “Sandpoint has some seriously tough guys and we sincerely hope that the community is as proud of these guys as we are.”

11th Commandment also recently signed Newport native Daniel Swain, who wrestled at the University of Central Florida and will start training with Danny Clark and the rest of the guys at the Integrative Athlete next week. Swain boasts a perfect record of 6-0 in his MMA career.