Whether itB次元官网网址檚 in the way a hook is thrown or a grapple is executed, thereB次元官网网址檚 beauty in the brutality.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 the perspective of Unity MMA phenom Rylie B次元官网网址淐oyoteB次元官网网址� Marchand who, at only 17-years-old, took her first adult amateur bout by technical knock out in the first round against 27-year-old Taylor Pinchak in Rumble in the Cage 60 MMA fight night action in Lethbridge, Alta. No. 24.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more than just exercise; itB次元官网网址檚 more than just fighting and violence. I think all of the aspects of MMA are beautiful,B次元官网网址� Marchand said. B次元官网网址淵ou know, the striking, the jiu-jitsu especially is super fluent and just being able to put it all together is really fun for me.B次元官网网址�

In her amateur debut, Marchand took Pinchak to the ground after confrontation on the cage. She ended the bout via ground and pound to earn a TKO with only 12 seconds left in the first round.

B次元官网网址淥nce I got the takedown and established a good position, I was just looking to stay on top,B次元官网网址� Marchand said. B次元官网网址淥ver the last nine years, IB次元官网网址檝e learned that you can be winning one moment and losing the next, so getting full mount was not a guaranteed victory in my mind. When the referee called the fight there were only 12 seconds left in the first so it very well could have gone another round or two.B次元官网网址�

Marchand said she feels her wrestling game is where she thrives.

B次元官网网址淚 feel that my wrestling has benefited me the most, especially in my last fight where I got tagged a couple times on the feet, I was able to go for the takedown and eliminate myself from that situation, reset, and take advantage of being on top,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥n the other hand, IB次元官网网址檝e had matches where I was winning on the striking side and used defensive wrestling to keep the fight standing.B次元官网网址�

That wrestling prowess is thanks in part to her coach and MMA owner, Raja Kler.

B次元官网网址淪he did a great job of sticking to the game plan and dealing with her much bigger opponent. As for her training over the last year or so, to be honest, it was a little tough with her knees bothering her, which slowed her progress. But, since the summer, she has come back into full swing and seems more determined than ever to showcase her skills,B次元官网网址� Kler said of Marchand. B次元官网网址淲e hope to have her fighting again early in the new year and collecting more Ws. I should add she is a pretty terrific little woman who I think is an inspiration to many of our students here and people in her community as well.B次元官网网址�

After competing in wrestling and boxing, Kler got in the octagon and fell in love with the sport. In 2008, just before Marchand got her start, Kler officially opened Unity MMA and Kickboxing.

B次元官网网址淚 tried out an MMA class, got my but kicked, kind of cried on the way home, and then figured I should probably learn what they did to kick my butt, so I came back a month later,B次元官网网址� Kler laughed.

Now, with about 60 students in everything from kidsB次元官网网址� classes to intermediate students, KlerB次元官网网址檚 pupils are leaving their mark in the octagon.

MarchandB次元官网网址檚 primary training partner, Damon B次元官网网址淥menB次元官网网址� Marlow, 19, is also fresh off his first W after his MMA debut in Chilliwack Nov. 30.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know, I just love training. ItB次元官网网址檚 lots of fun, good people here. IB次元官网网址檝e always just loved watching it and I respect the fighters B次元官网网址� they put in lots of hard work. I just figured IB次元官网网址檇 try it and loved it ever since,B次元官网网址� said Marlow, who competed in other sports prior to starting MMA about two years ago.

B次元官网网址淚 have plans to keep going for some more amateur wins and keep getting more experience and eventually go pro.B次元官网网址�

Kler said Marlow is one to watch in mixed martial arts.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very confident you will be hearing lots from him too. I know that at featherweight (145 pounds) he will be making some waves and collecting some WB次元官网网址檚 en route to getting the belt next year from one of the local MMA organizations,B次元官网网址� Kler said of Marlow. B次元官网网址淚n his debut fight, he fought a more experienced fighter who has been training for six years and was able to pull out a unanimous decision against him and a real chess match.B次元官网网址�

UnityB次元官网网址檚 competitive core is built around six fighters, including Marchand, Marlow, Jordan Cabrejos, William B次元官网网址淏illiamB次元官网网址� Cohen and Kenny Pope.

B次元官网网址淏asically, itB次元官网网址檚 just practice, itB次元官网网址檚 effort, itB次元官网网址檚 time put in. In the future here youB次元官网网址檒l be seeing some more fights coming out of Rylie and Damon and we have some other guys that are coming up,B次元官网网址� Kler said.

B次元官网网址淚 think all fighting sports, all combat sports relate to somebody in some way. ItB次元官网网址檚 the spirit, itB次元官网网址檚 the drive to get better. It is very hard to be good at these sports. They are sports theyB次元官网网址檙e also not sports B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 in the middle. I think itB次元官网网址檚 just the personalities that do it and the hard work. I think people respect that. ItB次元官网网址檚 to see who gets the bone. At the end of the day, who gets the bone.B次元官网网址�

Marchand got her start in the sport at eight-years-old when her brother, then six-years-old, won a free month at the club.

B次元官网网址淗e didnB次元官网网址檛 want to go by himself so I decided to join him and then I fell in love with it. He quit a few years later and I didnB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� Marchand shrugged.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 really like to get back in there soon and keep building my record up B次元官网网址� hopefully, make a career out of it someday.B次元官网网址�

Despite Marchand and MarlowB次元官网网址檚 aspirations to octagon fame, Kler said Unity MMA isnB次元官网网址檛 reserved solely for top competitors. Both kids and beginner classes are available through the club.

B次元官网网址淔or us B次元官网网址� especially when it comes to kickboxing, grappling, MMA B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 all about just coming out, doing something that keeps you going. Nobody has to become professional, itB次元官网网址檚 not like that. I always think that for an exercise, I like to do something that doesnB次元官网网址檛 make me realize IB次元官网网址檓 doing an exercise. I have fun and then IB次元官网网址檓 like, B次元官网网址極h, IB次元官网网址檓 sweaty.B次元官网网址� I think thatB次元官网网址檚 what we can offer people too,B次元官网网址� Kler said.

B次元官网网址淪ky is the limit, right? You can always get a few more people, you can always have more competitors. To be honest, I really just enjoy teaching people and seeing them learn. And, from there, thatB次元官网网址檚 basically my best enjoyment. I donB次元官网网址檛 need to have the biggest club. I want to have the closest club. ThatB次元官网网址檚 more important to me.B次元官网网址�

parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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