High Desert Brawl 39 – JT Taylor v Erik Victor SUPERFIGHT Interviews. Desert Brawl is scheduled for Saturday, September 10th @ the Century Center in Bend. The video is a little slow to get going, but it certainly makes you want to see these two fight!
John “Guns” Gunderson
John “Guns” Gunderson grew up in Central Oregon, now he lives in Las Vegas and fights all over the world. The Mixed Martial Arts specialist is a three-time fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. UFC is the pinnacle of MMA fighting and one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. Gunderson took some time to answer a few questions for Central Oregon Athlete:
Central Oregon Athlete – How long did you live in Central Oregon?
John Gunderson – 12 years.
COA – Where are you living now?
JG – Las Vegas.
COA – When did you get into MMA?
JG – in 2002
COA – Did you play sports in Central Oregon growing up?
JG – Yes, football and boxing.
COA – What has been the highlight of your MMA career so far?
JG – Winning a fight in the UFC.
COA – What’s on your upcoming schedule?
JG – Looking at Dec. 16th in Costa Rica.
COA – What is something that the typical MMA fan doesn’t know about the sport?
JG – For a real professional it takes up all of your time.
COA – What is your training schedule like when you have a fight on your calendar?
JG – Conditioning in the morning for an hour, then techniuqe, then sparring at night for two hours.
COA – What is your favorite workout in Central Oregon?
JG – I use to love to run up Pilot Butte.
COA – Anything else to add?
JG – Central Oregon made me tough because of everyones work ethic that is passed along.
Some Central Oregon sports videos
Here are a handful of sports videos that were shot in Central Oregon, look for many more to come.
Desert Brawl 38
I just got back from Desert Brawl 38 at the Bend Event Center. What’s funny is that I have one word that sums up the event and it might surprise you. When you hear terms like “cage fighting” or “mixed martial arts” a lot of different things might come to mind. But the word that sums up the night for me is “sportsmanship.”
It was a packed house with a sell out crowd at the Bend Event Center. The night was full of exciting fights with great action, plenty of choke holds and punches and kicks to the face. But what was impressive to me was the way every fight ended, with the fighters hugging and exchanging pleasantries. It was honestly a lesson that a lot of other athletes could learn from. When you are competing, give it your all and “battle.” But when it’s over, treat each other with respect. Heck, if you can get punched in the face by someone and then be friends with them a few minutes later, then no matter what sport you are playing you can learn to “leave it on the field.”