Fighting on the home front
24.05.12
By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor
Keaton Wood wondered if he would ever step into the ring for a mixed martial arts bout in the state of Alabama.
The day finally came for Wood last weekend, when the Shelby native took on Wes Baugh in the debut of MMA fighting in Alabama at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville on March 24.
Wood earned a technical knockout in 34 seconds by using a guillotine choke against Wes Baugh in the 145-pound bout in the Alabama vs. Georgia event sponsored by SportFight X, which bills itself as “Southeastern MMA’s Ultimate Proving Ground.”
Many of Woods’ supporters traveled to Huntsville to see him fight within the state’s borders for the first time, which was made possible when the Alabama Athletic Commission finally began issuing licenses for MMA events in January.
“It was pretty cool,” Wood said. “I had a lot of family and friends there.”
Wood said a rigorous training regiment in preparation for the day he could fight in Alabama paid off in his first bout.
Source: Shelby County Reporter