By David Stenklyft, Wausau Pilot and Review
This Saturday night, Marathon Park in Wausau will be the site of a first-ever mixed martial arts fighting event featuring several local fighters.
Action gets underway at 7 p.m. at the park, located at 1201 Stewart Ave. in Wausau. Mixed martial arts, or MMA, is a full-contact combat sport that allows striking and grappling, both standing and on the ground, using techniques from other combat sports and martial arts.
Saturday’s fight will be led by undefeated local professional welterweight, Scotty Writz. He will face Miguel Luis in the featured fight of the card. A total of ten fights are scheduled.
Writz is a 25-year-old former Wausau West wrestling standout who started MMA training approximately six years ago.
He works out nearly every day; that is, until fight week. That’s when things change.
“A regular week of training consists of a lot of pad work, hard sparring, lifting and a lot of leg work, running.” Writz said.
“The week of the fight, all the hard work is done,” he said. “You’re in recovery training; less running, light pad work, just to get a good sweat going. A good sweat every day also helps with the weight I need to lose.”
About 8 to 10 weeks before the fight, Writz weighs somewhere between 195 and 200 pounds. But the week of the fight, his weight will drop to between 185 and 188, he said. But to be a welterweight fighter, Writz has to weigh 170 pounds, a weight he achieves through a hydration system.
Rising Son MMA typically has between five and seven fighters who will appear on cards, but the gym has numerous members who use the facilities and direction for several fitness regimens.
Writz is looking forward to displaying his talents in a ‘home’ environment.
“As a kid you always want to represent your school, then your hometown,” Writz said. “I had a couple injuries wrestling that prevented me from doing that. Now I’m ready to represent in a different way.”
The Writz vs. Luis fight is one of two main events; the other features Samuel Thao vs. Steven Merrill. Additional events feature fighters from Rising Son MMA, Wisconsin Budokai Karate Muay Thai & BJJ, Inner Strength Martial Arts, Flashback Martial Arts, Highland Fight systems and many more.
The fight is being sponsored by Conviction Fight Promotions. For ticket prices and information, visit their Facebook event page. Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday with fights beginning at 7 p.m.
