Words and Light

No matter where I go, I can’t escape mixed martial arts.

I’m not complaining. The sport fascinates me, and the fact that it’s on the rise doesn’t surprise me too much. It was on the rise in Missouri, and it’s on the rise here in Pennsylvania.

Last week, I spent a few hours in an airless, stuffy gym as a former high school wrestler and his former coach duked it out in preparation for their upcoming fights on Saturday. By “duking it out,” I mean that they were just rasslin’ — throwing punches during training would be a little extreme when they’re so close to their fights.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. A photo that didn't run. Sweat marks.

One thing that Bill Walizer — the former wrestling coach — said that surprised me was that many wrestlers are going into MMA. He said wrestlers coming out of college have few options to pursue wrestling professionally, and so many of them turn to MMA.

Eric Albright — the former high school wrestler — said wrestling is the best base for training in MMA.

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. Eric Albright lies splayed out on the wrestling mats after a three-minute match against former Red Lion wrestling coach Biff Walizer, on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at Red Lion Area High School. Albright, who wrestled at Red Lion Area High School in 2004 and 2005, is promoting the upcoming "Brawl in the Hall" mixed martial arts tournament via his organization FightRight MMA.

“You can control where the fight goes,” Walizer added. “You don’t have to play to your opponent’s defense.”

© 2011 by The York Daily Record/Sunday News. FightRight MMA promoter Eric Albright, left, observes as former Red Lion wrestling coach Biff Walizer, center, and mixed martial arts fighter and trainer Casey Bush demonstrate a jiu-jitsu position on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at Red Lion Area High School. Walizer, who was Albright's wrestling coach, just ended his final and 12th season coaching at Red Lion and has fought 16 MMA fights.

Check out Ted’s article for some more information about the fighters and the tournament!