World Cup ski race champion Rosie Brennan of Anchorage, Olympic Trials wrestling qualifier Sydnee Kimber of Sitka and UFC fighter Lauren Murphy of Eagle River were named by the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors as finalists for the 2021 women’s Pride of...
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MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
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Vanderford unbeaten as amateur mixed martial arts fighter
Austin Vanderford of Ninilchik was a champion wrestler in high school and college, so it makes sense that he would do well as a mixed martial arts fighter. The 26-year-old is undefeated as an amateur MMA fighter after improving to 4-0 earlier this month with a...
Heun victorious at WSOF26, earns career MMA win No. 9
Jake Heun of Anchorage continued his success in the World Series of Fighting. The 28-year-old mixed martial arts light heavyweight improved to 3-1 with the fight promoters after earning a split decision over Clinton Williams as part of the main card for WSOF26 in Las...
Heun signs extended deal with World Series of Fighting
The only security in the fight game is to keep fighting. Jake Heun of Palmer has earned the right to keep going. The 28-year-old said on Twitter that he secured a four-fight deal with the World Series of Fighting promotion in a big deal for the former college football...
Heun victorious in WSOF22, first submission win since 2011
Anchorage's Jake Heun was victorious tonight in the World Series of Fighting 22 MMA event in Las Vegas, defeating Davin Clark by submission in the final round. Heun is better known for having a straightforward, striking style; he just assumes slug it out and see who...
‘Honey Bear’ uses social media to land spot in WSOF22 in Vegas
Anchorage’s Jake Heun picked a fight on social media and it landed him a spot in the World Series of Fighting. The 27-year-old professional MMA fighter will return to the WSOF for the third time in his career after earning a late invitation to the Aug. 1 event in Las...
Heun returns to MMA octagon in World Series of Fighting
Anchorage’s Jake Heun will return to the World Series of Fighting promotion when he takes on fellow light heavyweight Teddy Holder of Tennessee on March 28 in Arizona. It’ll be the third mixed martial arts fight for the 27-year-old Alaskan in the last eight months; he...
Cannonier becomes most recent Alaskan to sign with UFC
There’s a pipeline coming out of Alaska, and it’s flowing straight to the UFC. Anchorage’s Jared Cannonier became the most recent Alaska fighter to sign a contract with the biggest and baddest mixed martial arts league in the world. The 30-year-old will carry his 7-0...
MMA fighter McKenzie returns to cage next week in Russia
If we’ve learned anything over the last three years, Cody McKenzie of Cordova will win his next mixed martial arts fight. The 26-year-old has alternated wins and losses over his last seven fights since 2011, losing his last time out in October. McKenzie will take on...
Heun wins fastest fight of MMA career in just 20 seconds
Anchorage’s Jake Heun needed only 20 seconds to work over mixed martial arts veteran Ron Fields. The victory came in last night’s Absolute FC 23 main event in Florida, with Heun winning the light heavyweight fight by TKO. It was his seventh victory in 10 professional...
McKenzie’s gives a pint of blood to make weight
Some guys will do anything to play. Cordova’s Cody McKenzie will even give blood. The former UFC fighter reportedly drew a pint of blood to help cut 1.4 pounds to make weight the 171-pound requirement for this weekend’s Battlegrounds one-night, single-elimination...