Eagle River’s Lauren Murphy used a dominating second-round performance to carry her to a split decision over Scotland’s Joanne Calderwood at UFC 263 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 37-year-old Alaskan picked up her fifth straight victory in the women’s flyweight division,...
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Heun to begin million-dollar quest in new pro fight league
By the end of the year, Palmer’s Jake Heun hopes to be a million bucks richer. The 30-year-old MMA veteran has joined the new Professional Fighters League, which kicks off an 11-event promotion Thursday in New York City that will award each of the six weight-class...
Vanderford catches on with Tuesday Night Contender Series
Austin Vanderford of Ninilchik inched closer to his dream of fighting in the UFC by catching on with Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. The UFC president created the weekly fight series last year to promote unknown fighters. In some ways, it’s also a tryout....
UFC veteran Murphy shows never-quit spirit in decision loss
She didn’t win the fight, but Anchorage’s Lauren Murphy's toughness and tenacity surely won the respect of anybody that watched her in action at UFC Utica in New York. The 34-year-old bruiser never stopped charging and battled to the end before dropping a unanimous...
Vanderford wins promotional debut for VFC by submission
Making his promotional debut for Victory Fighting Championship, welterweight prospect Austin Vanderford of Ninilchik overcame a slow start to come out victorious. The 27-year-old won by second-round submission over Kenny Licea in the opening fight of the VFC 59 card...
Murphy wins split decision in UFC to claim 10th career victory
After dropping three of her previous four decisions, Lauren Murphy of Eagle River finally had one go her way. The 34-year-old flyweight outpointed former Invicta FC champ Barb Honchak by the slimmest of margins, winning 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 to claim the three-round...
Despite sport’s violent nature,MMA helps Meriweather find peace
Despite violent nature of MMA, the sport brings out the softer side in many fighters. Anchorage’s Dominick Meriweather is no different. Raised by an abusive father, he lived with rage and carried it everywhere. He needed an outlet. “I was really angry when I got...
Heun wins decision over Korean legend on foreign soil
Palmer's Jake Heun delivered a flurry of punches, kicks and knees, and controlled the mixed martial arts fight for all three rounds to win by unanimous decision at ROAD FC41 in Wonju, South Korea. Heun beat hometown hero Mu Bae Choi, a decorated former Greco Roman...
Heun travels to South Korea to take on hometown hero
Professional mixed-martial arts fighter Jake Heun of Palmer has a take-all-comers attitude. He'll take on anybody, anywhere. Even a different country. The Honey Bear is headed to South Korea to take on Mu Bae Choi, aka, the Heavy Tank of Busan, a decorated wrestler...
Heun suffers first loss by knockout in 16 pro MMA fights
Even in defeat, Palmer’s Jake Heun reminds us how tough he is. The 29-year-old suffered his first loss by knockout in 16 career professional fights after his mixed martial arts bout was stopped at World Series of Fighting 34 at Madison Square Garden in New York City....
Filipino Olympian has ties with Alaska seafood company
When Kirstie Elaine Alora of the Philippines qualified for the Olympics in taekwondo, parents Pablito and Marilou of Southwest Alaska naturally wanted to go watch their daughter compete at the Rio Games. It's a lot of money to travel that far, though. That's when...