As I sit here typing my second column, I am in awe that I actually worried I wouldn’t have enough material to keep you updated on the Midwest fight scene.
This month’s topic? Farm shows and farm show fighters with real potential!
I can’t tell you how sick I am of seeing the “tough guy” walk around the little small town show like he owns the place. I was once checking out a farm show, when one of these tough guys walks past, strutting his stuff. After blowing a snot rocket in the garbage can next to me, he says to my friend, “You should be a fighter, you have the size.” Little did Mr. Tough Guy know he was not only saying this to a fighter, he was saying it to a UFC fighter!
I felt bad for him and turned my head. I couldn’t watch Mr. Tough Guy make a fool of himself, and my friend just smiled politely. My brother, Travis, describes this so perfectly: “Testosterone fills the air like cranking up the AC to high in July!”
We’ve all seen it. My point being, this past month I had the pleasure of observing some up-and-comers with real potential, real style and budding talent. What a breath of fresh air! I only hope they realize what they have and actually make use of it.
July 15. Atlanta, Georgia.
Last weekend, one Midwest fighter broke away from the local fight scene to challenge himself. Stepping up to fight a UFC vet, this up-until-now “farm show” fighter showed more ambition and heart than many of his counterparts.
Meet Mike Van Meer.
Turning 26 on August 22, the five-foot-five fighter went head-to-head with UFC vet “Chainsaw” Charles McCarthy in Atlanta, Georgia’s International Sport Combat Federation: “Full Throttle 3.” Though he tapped to an armbar at 4:09 in round two, the former college wrestler stood toe-to-toe with McCarthy, trading blows throughout the first round.
“I trained all stand-up for this fight because I expected him to try and take me down,” said Van Meer. While experience shows it’s in the fighter’s best interest to stick to his own game, Van Meer wasn’t too far off course, as a surprised McCarthy later admitted to Van Meer that he was, “the first fighter to take me out of my element.”
Getting over his disappointment of the L, Van Meer realizes, “I was in a no-lose situation. This fight was a huge stepping-stone for me, a great learning experience. My main goal was to return to Atlanta [and to do that] I wanted to put on a show.
“This fight gave me more confidence, and I realized what I need to work on if I want to step up my game.”
The once 250-pounder appears to be on track. Ready to take his fighting to the next level, he gave up fast food and beer. The now light heavyweight has dropped over 50 pounds and plans to fight as a middleweight and eventually a welterweight. When he’s not training with Des Moines Extreme Fighting and occasionally the Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Iowa four days a week, he runs the other three.
With upcoming fights in local shows (July 30 and August 6), Van Meer is serious about the sport he loves. “I’d like to make a name for myself,” he said, and he knows hard work, discipline and stepping out of your comfort zone are the ways to accomplish just that.
Midwest fighter Chris Mickle also fought in “Full Throttle 3.” Congratulations guys, for bringing the Midwest up-and-coming fight game to other parts of the country.