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A fighting chance
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| H&N photos by Andrew Mariman Justin Deese, a senior at Mazama High School, is learning how to cage fight as his senior project. |
February 6, 2007
He's a former wrestler and football player who has found a sport with more action.
Now Justin Deese steps into an octagonal wire cage to face an opponent who can punch him, kick him or knock him down and apply the “guillotine choke.”
Deese, a Mazama High School senior, is learning to cage fight. He hopes to go pro, and got his first taste of battle a couple of weeks ago during fights at the National Guard Armory.
The bout didn't go its scheduled three rounds. Deese racked up his initial amateur victory in less than a minute.
“We were standing up for about 15 seconds,” he said. “Then I hit him twice and knocked him back to the cage. He got me on the ground and was hitting me, but I got his hands down and got him on his back.”
That's when Deese put on a match-ending choke hold. He sported a small scrape on a cheekbone a few days later, but said he wasn't hurt during the encounter.
His mother and father, Susan and Jon Deese, were in the stands cheering for their son. Jon said the crowd was raucous, a typical atmosphere for cage fights.
“It's definitely a redneck magnet,” he said, “but that's our community.”
Early hesitation
“I frowned on cage fighting at first, but after watching it I was OK with it,” Susan said.
She and Jon emphasize the referee will stop a match before a fighter is badly injured, and a doctor is always at ringside.
Jon, a Klamath Falls police officer, says it's better than rodeo, which attracted older sons Kyle and Chris.
“I'm thankful Justin started fighting instead of riding a 2,000-pound angry bull that doesn't know ‘stop' means ‘stop.' Cage fighting is sort of a relief,” Jon said.
Deese trains at a local gym five or six days a week. The strenuous regimen prevents any thought of using drugs or alcohol.
“It's a healthy thing from that aspect,” Susan said.
Helping troubled kids
Deese's long-term goal is to work with at-risk kids, counseling and training them in a gym of his own. His dad likes the idea, saying sanctioned fighting in the ring is a good way for troubled youths to channel aggression in a controlled environment.
“I think it's a noble objective,” Jon said.
Deese is using cage fighting as the subject of his senior project. He will speak to classes about the sport as part of the requirements, emphasizing the career angle.
Mazama High School principal Terry Bennett noted the state Department of Education has begun emphasizing career-related education. He said cage fighting - a mixed martial arts sport - could be a stepping stone toward Deese's intended career of training and counseling youths.
If Deese can make a name for himself, Bennett said, the platform he'll have will allow him to connect with kids. The principal added that adults sometimes are detractors of youngsters' dreams.
“Imagine if, as a senior in high school, Muhammad Ali was not encouraged in the craft that would be his profession,” Bennett said. “I would imagine he was encouraged, and his boxing is what grounded him.”
Deese hopes to attend college as well as pursuing a career in the ring. He wants to change attitudes toward cage fighting among those who consider it overly violent.
“It's not about breaking jaws,” he said. “You're going to get hurt, but it's nothing personal. I don't try to hurt the guy.
“It's a sport. I just think of it like football.”
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
He's a former wrestler and football player who has found a sport with more action.
Now Justin Deese steps into an octagonal wire cage to face an opponent who can punch him, kick him or knock him down and apply the “guillotine choke.”
Deese, a Mazama High School senior, is learning to cage fight. He hopes to go pro, and got his first taste of battle a couple of weeks ago during fights at the National Guard Armory.
The bout didn't go its scheduled three rounds. Deese racked up his initial amateur victory in less than a minute.
“We were standing up for about 15 seconds,” he said. “Then I hit him twice and knocked him back to the cage. He got me on the ground and was hitting me, but I got his hands down and got him on his back.”
That's when Deese put on a match-ending choke hold. He sported a small scrape on a cheekbone a few days later, but said he wasn't hurt during the encounter.
His mother and father, Susan and Jon Deese, were in the stands cheering for their son. Jon said the crowd was raucous, a typical atmosphere for cage fights.
“It's definitely a redneck magnet,” he said, “but that's our community.”
Early hesitation
“I frowned on cage fighting at first, but after watching it I was OK with it,” Susan said.
She and Jon emphasize the referee will stop a match before a fighter is badly injured, and a doctor is always at ringside.
Jon, a Klamath Falls police officer, says it's better than rodeo, which attracted older sons Kyle and Chris.
“I'm thankful Justin started fighting instead of riding a 2,000-pound angry bull that doesn't know ‘stop' means ‘stop.' Cage fighting is sort of a relief,” Jon said.
Deese trains at a local gym five or six days a week. The strenuous regimen prevents any thought of using drugs or alcohol.
“It's a healthy thing from that aspect,” Susan said.
Helping troubled kids
Deese's long-term goal is to work with at-risk kids, counseling and training them in a gym of his own. His dad likes the idea, saying sanctioned fighting in the ring is a good way for troubled youths to channel aggression in a controlled environment.
“I think it's a noble objective,” Jon said.
Deese is using cage fighting as the subject of his senior project. He will speak to classes about the sport as part of the requirements, emphasizing the career angle.
Mazama High School principal Terry Bennett noted the state Department of Education has begun emphasizing career-related education. He said cage fighting - a mixed martial arts sport - could be a stepping stone toward Deese's intended career of training and counseling youths.
If Deese can make a name for himself, Bennett said, the platform he'll have will allow him to connect with kids. The principal added that adults sometimes are detractors of youngsters' dreams.
“Imagine if, as a senior in high school, Muhammad Ali was not encouraged in the craft that would be his profession,” Bennett said. “I would imagine he was encouraged, and his boxing is what grounded him.”
Deese hopes to attend college as well as pursuing a career in the ring. He wants to change attitudes toward cage fighting among those who consider it overly violent.
“It's not about breaking jaws,” he said. “You're going to get hurt, but it's nothing personal. I don't try to hurt the guy.
“It's a sport. I just think of it like football.”
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
"
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RSS
Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "