Angelo Sanchez, Pojoaque Valley Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, at Buffalo Thunder
Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino will host the mixed martial arts King of the Cage “Native Warriors,” Saturday, March 6, 2010, 7 p.m. There will be 13 mixed martial arts bouts that evening.
King of the Cage is a mixture of several different martial arts style using various martial arts techniques. It is a full contact sport that is charging its way into the mainstream as an exciting new spectator sport.
The main event features King of the Cage Bantamweight Champion Angelo Sanchez, in a non-title fight, against Richard Montano of Socorro, N.M.
Sanchez, 25, from the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, is married to Rafaela Sanchez, from the Pueblo of Pojoaque. Angelo and Rafaela married 5 years ago and live on the Pojoaque Pueblo with their four-year-old daughter Mersais Marie Sanchez.
“I’m honored to be given the opportunity to fight at Buffalo Thunder,” says Sanchez. “I’m really looking forward to this fight on my home turf. I think that the presence of all of our family and friends will definitely give me the hometown advantage.”
There will be a big fan base at the March 6 fight, including Sanchez’s family from the Pueblo of San Ildefonso, his wife’s family from Pojoaque, and many Sanchez supporters from all around northern New Mexico and Colorado. Sanchez is a well-respected teacher at the Santa Fe Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy. His students and colleagues from the Academy will be there cheering Sanchez and his training partner Quinn Mulhern on as well. Sanchez has trained and fought in New Mexico, Texas, California and Thailand.
“I’m excited to step back in the ring and have some fun,” adds Sanchez. “Right now, my training consists of pad work, light rolling and timing – the timing of punches and kicks, so that everything is on cue.”
Sanchez started his fighting career as a wrestler in the 11th grade while attending the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI). After graduating from NMMI, he and Rafaela moved to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico. There they joined the kickboxing school, American Kenpo Karate Academies (AKKA), under the instruction of Bill Packer.
When Sanchez and Rafaela moved back to Pojoaque in 2005, Sanchez started training at the Santa Fe Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy, where he trains to this day. Angelo is the Bantamweight King of the Cage Champion, and he has been defending that title since 2007. His last fight was against Donald Sanchez in May 2009 in Ruidoso. Sanchez won that fight and kept his belt.
Sanchez’s teammate Quinn Mulhern will also fight that night. Mulhern is coming off a big win that was televised live on HD Feb 12, 2010, over Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Rich Clementi.
Another top gym in the Santa Fe area that will be represented March 6 is Tait Fletcher’s Undisputed Fitness. Three of the fighters participating at this event, Isaac Vallie Flagg, Josh Montoya, and Ruben Rivera, all practice there.
WHAT: King of the Cage “Native Warriors”
WHEN: Saturday, March 6, 2010, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, 30 Buffalo Thunder Trail, Santa Fe, NM, Highway 84/285 in Pojoaque, only minutes from historic Santa Fe.
TICKETS: www.tickets.com; $40-$75. Tickets at door as well.
