Televised MMA fight ends Victory Week
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Professional mixed martial arts fighters Jorge Santiago, right, fights against Justin Guthrie, left, June 15 as part of the headline event during the Titan Fighting Championship 23: “Fight for the Troops” at Marshall Army Airfield. Santiago defeated Guthrie by submission – an inverted heel hook – in round one and is now 25-10.
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Story by: Calun Reece
1ST INF. DIV. POST
The Titan Fighting Championship 23: "Fight for the Troops" marked the end of Victory Week June 15 at Marshall Army Airfield.
One of Fort Riley's own, Capt. Brandon Bear, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Warrior Transition Battalion, had his own victory at the mixed martial arts event.
Bear won by a technical knockout in the second round against his opponent Nick Budig, Hays, Kan., and is undefeated (4-0) in his professional mixed martial arts matches.
"(I feel) good. Tired, but good," Bear said after his win.
Bear also is a two-time All Army Combatives Tournament champion. His experience in combatives led him eventually into a career in the MMA.
"I wrestled in college and then when I went in the Army, I did combatives. So I went to No. 1 and got certified and then kind of just kept doing it," Bear said.
The mixed martial arts championship was comprised of seven amateur matches, one non-televised professional match, and six nationally televised professional matches.
The headline event of the night featured Jorge Santiago, Boca Raton, Fla., against Justin Guthrie, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jorge Santiago defeated Justin Guthrie by submission – an inverted heel hook – in round one, and he is now 25-10.
The Titan Fighting Championship was televised on HDnet. The event at Fort Riley was the first time a Titan fight had taken place on a military installation, according to the Titan Fighting website.
"You know, I'm sure that once the word gets out that people are going to want to come," Bear said. "This is the first event on Fort Riley – it's got to start somewhere so I appreciate (Fort Riley) letting us do it because it's only going to bring more people next time and get the fan base out here in the midwest."
Bear also appreciated all the support from fellow Soldiers at the event.
"I know a lot of the Soldiers are here to support – they all love it, so thanks," Bear said.
The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley hosted the annual Victory Week June 7 to 15 at Fort Riley in order to honor current and former members of the 1st Inf. Div. and affiliated units, commemorate fallen warriors, induct nominated members of the 1st Inf. Div. Distinguished Members of the Regiment and celebrate the "Big Red One's" lineage and history.