When you think of the unfortunately-named, newly-opened Patriot Center in the Cedar Creek Mall, it is inherent that you imagine flourishing gun shows and obnoxious motorcycle rallies. And, well, you probably wouldn’t be far off. But between all that madness, mixed martial arts will take over the building Saturday night in the form of Konquer the Kage 30: The Takeover. See what I did there?
Based out of Marshfield, KTK puts together some of the state’s most entertaining bouts, and at the very least the ring girls always look good. And if you generally sport a straight-billed hat, you’ll be in good company.
Sam Thao, the brother of Lah Thao, who founded Rising Son MMA right here in Wausau, will headline the show against an Illinois boy Wade Choate. As is par for the course when leading in to a Sam Thao fight, two opponents dropped off the card in the past month, and one as recent as just days ago for undisclosed reasons. Let’s be honest, it looks like they’re running scared. A sprained ankle the size of a softball? Excuses, excuses.
Chris “Swiss” Befera, known for his predictable fight endings (most end by way of guillotine choke, or the aptly-named “Swissotine”), was Thao’s original opponent. He suffered the ankle injury, and was unable to fill the duty of defending his bantamweight title. Okay, so we’ll get ourselves a replacement.
Perhaps an even more intriguing matchup revealed itself, after Janesville’s Floyd Hodges openly said Thao was “nothing special his own damn self” in an interview I conducted prior to there being any knowledge of any opening on the card.
So, Befera was out, and Hodges stepped in – for a week. Just days ago Hodges removed himself from Saturday’s main event based on unknown circumstances. The only clarification came from KTK head man Corey Christopherson, who iterated that Hodges’ reasons for pulling out were out of his control. A likely story.
A mad scramble obviously ensued, as showtime was merely hours away. Jack Bauer was on speed dial, and Kimbo Slice on the back burner as a last resort, but Wade Choate stepped up, taking the fight on extremely short notice. Choate’s last bout was against the aforementioned Hodges, and he was overwhelming unsuccessful in requiring less than a minute to be TKO’d. So, that’s where we stand. Two potential Fight of the Year candidates out the window, replaced by a solid, respectable bout.
Most of the umpteen fights on the card will be filled by Wausau and north-central Wisconsin area fighters, as Rising Son will look to dominate on their home turf. Expect madness during the Thao introduction.
For extra information check out WICombatSports.com, and this week’s edition of the City Pages. There, strangely, you’ll be able to read more – more from me.