Posted on
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hart Competes For Mixed Martial Arts Championship
By MICKEY SMITH
Sports Correspondent
The Texas Amateur Mixed Martial Arts state title will be on the line Thursday night at The Village Country Club in Dallas.
And the fans at Lone Star Martial Arts Gym of Tyler think the title in the octagon is coming to East Texas.
The Ticket Village Fight Night features Jacob Hart, a former Winona High School all-sports star and ex-Tyler Junior College pitcher, who will go for the championship.
He takes on Darrell Schoonover of Killeen for the Texas Light Heavyweight crown.
Hart goes into the match sporting a 5-0 record in the pinned-in cage.
His last two fights have been so dominant by the quick, crafty light-heavyweight, the bouts have ended in less than 45 seconds.
On Aug. 11, Hart won "Mayhem" in Shreveport, La., in a timely 28 seconds. Before that it was against a heavyweight that took 47 seconds in Marshall.
The fight on Thursday is the biggest by far to date.
Schoonover is top-ranked at 4-0.
Hart, a former all-state pitcher, is ready for the bout.
"This is what I've been waiting for," Hart said. "It's number one versus number two for the belt, so what more can you ask for?
"I've always been a competitor and me and my buddies used to watch the fights and was really intrigued by the sport, I was just involved with other sports at the time."
He finally got time to concentrate on the sport.
"Then, after my college career, I just really didn't want this to be something I would look back on and wonder if I could have done it," Hart said.
Now training at the Christian-based Lone Star Mixed Martial Arts, located just off Highway 155 South on Westway Drive, Hart stays sharp with plenty of competition.
His practice partner is his buddy and a state champ himself, Aaron Steagles.
In the 81-K division, Steagles brought home the top spot in the Dolimar Judo Tournament in Dallas recently.
So Hart is being tested daily.
"Better sparring partners make better fighters," said Hart, who relishes extra pointers from the champ.
The Winona grad first began mixed martial arts by working with Drew Arthur at Green Acres Baptist Church. After he showed his potential, he was invited to visit and work out at Lone Star.
"I have so much to be thankful for and I thank God for giving me the talent and opportunity to represent Him and our mission in the ring," Hart said. "Without the church program, who knows if I would have even gotten started?"
Hart is a sportsman in the ring.
"I try to show class in the ring and show respect to my opponents," Hart added. "But when the bell sounds, it's a rush like you have never felt, and you have got to get after it.
"Also, you never know when some younger kid might be really watching, and I want to be a good example to the kids in and out of the ring. I'm just getting started and I feel like it can be a ministry, too, and not all about the fighting aspect."
On Thursday night, Hart will not be feeling quite so gracious.
MAKE THE TRIP: Admission to The Village Fight Night is free and information is at theticket.com. ... The Village Country Club is located at 8308 Southwestern Blvd. Matches are scheduled to begin at about 5:30 p.m. ... For those interested in Jujitsu, Judo, Mixed Martial Arts and wrestling lessons, call 903-530-5836 or go on-line to lonestarmmagym.com.
Sports Correspondent
The Texas Amateur Mixed Martial Arts state title will be on the line Thursday night at The Village Country Club in Dallas.
And the fans at Lone Star Martial Arts Gym of Tyler think the title in the octagon is coming to East Texas.
The Ticket Village Fight Night features Jacob Hart, a former Winona High School all-sports star and ex-Tyler Junior College pitcher, who will go for the championship.
He takes on Darrell Schoonover of Killeen for the Texas Light Heavyweight crown.
Hart goes into the match sporting a 5-0 record in the pinned-in cage.
His last two fights have been so dominant by the quick, crafty light-heavyweight, the bouts have ended in less than 45 seconds.
On Aug. 11, Hart won "Mayhem" in Shreveport, La., in a timely 28 seconds. Before that it was against a heavyweight that took 47 seconds in Marshall.
The fight on Thursday is the biggest by far to date.
Schoonover is top-ranked at 4-0.
Hart, a former all-state pitcher, is ready for the bout.
"This is what I've been waiting for," Hart said. "It's number one versus number two for the belt, so what more can you ask for?
"I've always been a competitor and me and my buddies used to watch the fights and was really intrigued by the sport, I was just involved with other sports at the time."
He finally got time to concentrate on the sport.
"Then, after my college career, I just really didn't want this to be something I would look back on and wonder if I could have done it," Hart said.
Now training at the Christian-based Lone Star Mixed Martial Arts, located just off Highway 155 South on Westway Drive, Hart stays sharp with plenty of competition.
His practice partner is his buddy and a state champ himself, Aaron Steagles.
In the 81-K division, Steagles brought home the top spot in the Dolimar Judo Tournament in Dallas recently.
So Hart is being tested daily.
"Better sparring partners make better fighters," said Hart, who relishes extra pointers from the champ.
The Winona grad first began mixed martial arts by working with Drew Arthur at Green Acres Baptist Church. After he showed his potential, he was invited to visit and work out at Lone Star.
"I have so much to be thankful for and I thank God for giving me the talent and opportunity to represent Him and our mission in the ring," Hart said. "Without the church program, who knows if I would have even gotten started?"
Hart is a sportsman in the ring.
"I try to show class in the ring and show respect to my opponents," Hart added. "But when the bell sounds, it's a rush like you have never felt, and you have got to get after it.
"Also, you never know when some younger kid might be really watching, and I want to be a good example to the kids in and out of the ring. I'm just getting started and I feel like it can be a ministry, too, and not all about the fighting aspect."
On Thursday night, Hart will not be feeling quite so gracious.
MAKE THE TRIP: Admission to The Village Fight Night is free and information is at theticket.com. ... The Village Country Club is located at 8308 Southwestern Blvd. Matches are scheduled to begin at about 5:30 p.m. ... For those interested in Jujitsu, Judo, Mixed Martial Arts and wrestling lessons, call 903-530-5836 or go on-line to lonestarmmagym.com.
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