The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

EMPIRE Mixed Martial Arts took their game international as “Team Beastmode” fielded a pair of fighters at an event in South Florida.

Giovanni Johnson and DJ Brown fought at Combat Night at the Hard Rock Casino in Fort Lauderdale this weekend.

Brown won his fight by decision, while Johnson won by default over his opponent who’s labs did not check out.

Johnson eventually took a fight with another opponent in a heavier weight class, however, he lost via arm-bar in the second round.

“It was definitely a success,” Empire MMA founder Dr Kent Bazard said, “It is a shame Gio did not get to fight his scheduled opponent, especially after all the hard work we put in, but we definitely made an impression. The crowd was a bit harsh at first, but by the end of the first round they were cheering for us. All in all an exciting experience.”

“Team Beastmode” will take to the octagon on consecutive weekends in Florida, highlighted by the international debut of Jasmine Wilchcombe this weekend, the first Bahamian female to fight in the MMA cage.

“We are matched up and ready to go for the next one,” Dr Bazard said.

Wilchcombe will fight at Real Cage Fighting 29 on October 18 at the Space Coast Harley-Davidson Centre in Palm Bay, Florida.

Her debut is another major stride toward the local development of the sport.

She has been training with Empire MMA for six months, and Dr Bazard has expressed his optimism in her performance.

“Jasmine’s going to do very well and we expect big things from her. She has a foundation in karate and added to that she has learned a lot about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,” he said, “She has also gone through two wrestling seminars to balance out her game on the ground but it has been noticeable that her striking has improved a lot.”