Throw down 'The Gauntlet' at Peak Fighting MMA event

Peak Fighting brings another round of mixed martial arts combat to Texarkana starting at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Peak Fighting brings another round of mixed martial arts combat to Texarkana starting at 7 p.m. Saturday.

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Peak Fighting brings another round of mixed martial arts combat to Texarkana this Saturday.
Peak Fighting PF5: The Gauntlet happens Saturday, 7 p.m. start time, at the Holiday Inn Texarkana, Arkansas, Convention

Center with a packed main card of bouts for fight night. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, limited seating is available.

Jonny Ross, co-owner of Peak Fighting with Bryan Poe, said they have scheduled 11 fights, with weight classes starting at 125 pounds going up to 220 pounds.

"We actually have one girl fight," Ross said. "We have a Bellator fighter coming." It's a pro-am with several fighters coming from gyms with UFC fighters in them. For Peak Fighting, this is their fifth show, mostly operating in Arkansas cities like Texarkana, Hot Springs and elsewhere.

"This is our first show back from the pandemic. We're only allowed to have 500 people. We have like 100 or some tickets left," Ross said about seats available earlier this week.

At Peak Fighting events, folks in the seats want to see some action.

"Well, to be honest with you, most people are looking for a train wreck, somebody to get knocked out or something. That's basically what they're there for," Ross said. "It's a train wreck the whole night. It's just a car crash."

But he also wants to give fighters a platform to show their skills through fair fights. "Try to get them to the next level. That's really why we got into it," Ross said.

For Peak Fighting, Texarkana has been a solid venue for their fights with a great crowd and sponsors, they say. Typically, bout nights happen every four or five months when a pandemic isn't happening.

This Saturday's lineup includes Charles Sheppard, whom MMA fans may know because he knocked out Sage Northcutt. "That's a big feather in his cap," Ross said, noting it's a family-friendly event with children welcome.

Poe suggests thinking of Peak Fighting bouts like the baseball minor leagues for the majors, which would be the UFC and Bellator level.

Of the fighters, he said they come into this regional event looking to get their foot in the door. "They're all trying to work their way up, basically," said Poe. He calls these fights the proving grounds.

The night before the bout, people can see the fighters, too.

"On Friday night, this being at Crossties downtown on Broad Street, we have the weigh-ins," Poe said. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the weigh-in, which takes place inside.

According to its website, Peak Fighting was founded in 2018 and strives to work with the local coaches and gyms to nurture talent in the area.


(Tickets: PeakFighting.com. Doors open for the fights at 6 p.m. The Arkansas-side convention center is located at 5200 Convention Plaza Drive.) 

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