Cage Rage delivers KO

By Joseph Terry, Courier Sports

Published: Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

A referee checks out fighter Blake Hodges after he is knocked out in the first round of his 180-pound fight against Dustin Brusse at Hi-Line Cage Rage III. Courier photo by Joseph Terry.

The third annual Hi-Line Cage Rage, cleverly dubbed, “Throw Down in G-Town,” didn't stray too far from its moniker. Headlined by the first ever professional mixed martial arts fight in Glasgow, the card featured a bevy of talent, including four fighters from Frazer. The pro bout, a light heavyweight contest between Brandon Anderson, of Glendive, and Chuck Wilhelm, of Circle, was set up after Wilhelm challenged Anderson after his last fight. The fight started off with a bang as the fighters simultaneously landed punches. The younger, more experienced Anderson then wrestled Wilhelm to the ground, quickly getting his back. Not long after that Anderson had a choke hold in deep and Wilhelm tapped. Just 44 seconds after the fight started, the whole thing was over. “I was sick all week,” Anderson said following the fight. “Being sick, I was pretty nervous if (the fight) went the distance about having my lungs. I'm glad it turned out the way it did.” The packed Valley Events Center was abuzz by the time the main event started, and local fighters had a lot to do with the frenzy. Every fight of the night was decided by either knockout, submission or referee stoppage and of the four fighters to come out of Frazer, three won on the night, sending the fans who came over wild. Super heavyweight Kevin Ackerman was the first fighter from Frazer to appear on the card. In his second career bout, Ackerman looked gassed for most of the fight. Most of the first round was fought on the ground and he struggled to find a way out of the grasp of his opponent, Jay Brugh. By the time he got to the second round, his hands were by his side and he could no longer muster enough effort to fight, causing the referee to stop the match and award the win in favor of Brugh. Will Ackerman proved to be a little more savvy in the ring in his fight. In one of the best submissions of the night, the 185-pounder caught his opponent “Speedy” Mike McClasky in a rear naked choke in the first round and held on tight. The hold was so tight, McClasky was unable to tap before collapsing unconscious to the mat. After assistance from EMTs, McClasky was able to walk out of the ring, but not before Ackerman was awarded the victory. A third Ackerman, Floyd, answered Will's submission with one of the most impressive knockouts of the night. The 170-pounder, in his fifth bout, caught his opponent, Sam Guenthner, in the temple with a right hook that sent Guenthner crumpling to the mat. Cole Takes Horse, the last Frazer fighter of the night, looked exceptional in his fight against Wolf Point's Darren Big Leggings. Takes Horse, a 155-pounder, was clearly giving a lot of weight to Big Leggings in the fight, but made up for it with his length and speed advantages, eventually forcing the referee to stop the fight in the first round. Of the 12 fights scheduled on the night, eight were decided in the first round and seven were decided by submission.