Prangley headlines King of the Cage action
<p>Sandpoint MMA fighter Tanner Weisgram, left, will be in action tonight at the Coeur d’Alene Casino. John Hale, right, was originally on the card, but his fight fell through, while Black Bear fighter Mike McCray was added to the card on Thursday. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)</p>
WORLEY — A mixed martial arts legend, intent on proving he’s still among the elite in the popular combat sport, will take to the octagon tonight when King of the Cage, Free Fall 2 comes to the Coeur d’Alene Casino.
Coeur d’Alene MMA fighter Trevor Prangley (27-9-1) will headline a quality MMA fight card when he faces Justin Davis (13-10) in the main event at 205 pounds.
Prangley, 40, is a veteran of UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator fights, competing at the highest levels of the sport. Since a loss in November of 2011, Prangley has reeled off four straight wins, including a technical decision over Tony Lopez to earn the King of the Cage Light-Heavyweight title last December in California.
Prangley was supposed to fight Brandon Anderson, who had to pull out last week with an injury. Anderson was replaced by Davis, a veteran MMA fighter from Olympia, in the non-title fight. Davis trains under MMA stalwart Dennis Hallman, and possesses a solid standup and takedown game. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely he’s never faced anyone the caliber of Prangley, a former NIC wrestling standout who now runs an American Kickboxing Academy in Coeur d’Alene.
“It’s hard to find a person with Trevor’s résumé,” said Prangley’s business partner and fight promoter Kevin Martin. “His résumé and experience is going to carry him through the fight.”
Prangley, originally from South Africa and still possessing a heavy accent, has beaten the likes of Keith Jardine, and lost to the likes of Roger Gracie during a stellar MMA career. He has been traveling up to Sandpoint on occasion to train with a host of Black Bear MMA fighters.
If all goes well tonight, Prangley is hoping to possibly bring a title fight to the Coeur d’Alene Casino in the future. Still at the top of his game, he is far from finished leaving his mark in the fight game.
“Trevor is in a good place in his career,” said Martin, lauding Prangley’s Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling based style. “He’s got standup, leg kicks, punches and the ability to take guys to the ground with wrestling. A lot of people don’t give him credit for his Jiu-jitsu.”
There are 10 other fights on the undercard, which features some of the Inland Northwest’s top fighters. Sandpoint’s Tanner Weisgram (4-0) will look to remain perfect when he faces Andrew Ramm (8-0-1) in a battle of undefeated fighters. Fellow Sandpoint fighter Mike McCray (2-1), from Black Bear MMA, will look to keep climbing the ranks with a win.
Black Bear MMA fighters Jon Hale and Ethan Hazan, the latter a Sandpoint High School student, were on the original card, but their fights fell through.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with the fights starting at 7. The 1,400 seat casino facility is sold out, and expecting standing room only crowds.