PASCO -- Night of Champions was an unabashed hit.
And a kick. And a rear-naked choke.
Billed as the first mixed martial arts event in the
Tri-Cities, Saturday's spectacle at TRAC had the feel of a professional promotion, even if all the fighters were amateurs.
A crowd upwards of 800 forked over from $25 to $50 a ticket, and voiced its appreciation for nearly four hours of fast-paced action.
The 14 bouts were split between exhibitions (three 3-minute rounds), super fights (two 5-minute rounds) and title fights (five 3-minute rounds).
Thanks to a pair of large projection screens showing the action, there wasn't a bad seat in the house.
Without question the highlight of the night was a big-time combination from Pasco's Ernesto Toscano, who stunned Kalvin Froehlich of Yakima with a roundhouse backhand and then flowed into a left kick to the back of his head.
The knockout was instant.
"That's what I was planning to do the whole time," said Toscano, who has a background in martial arts and boxing and improved to 4-1 in MMA fights.
Twenty of the 28 fighters came from the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Yakima or towns in between.
Most of the fighters from the Tri-Cities are on the Northwest Elite team, whose co-owner, Anthony Hamlett, was the promoter of the event.
Many of the fighters are early in their career. Almost all work or go to school full time -- or both.
"I want to keep doing it as a hobby," said J.T. Gonzalez, the former Sunnyside wrestler who won his first fight.
Charlie Shaw, a 31-year-old personal trainer from Kennewick who is another
co-owner of Northwest Elite as well as a fighter (winning on second-round knockout this night), said they hope to host more events in the Tri-Cities.
That would be just fine with fighters like Toscano.
"This is the best show I've been in by far," he said.
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Ever dream about being a cop, robber or superhero?
Now is your chance to be one for a night and help raise money to catch criminals in the Tri-Cities.
Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers has planned An Evening with Cops, Robbers and Superheroes on Saturday at TRAC in Pasco. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is at 6:30 p.m.
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Pasco pizza restaurant robbed Monday night
Pasco pizza restaurant robbed Monday night
PASCO — A Pasco pizza restaurant was robbed Monday night and police are investigating whether there is any connection to Sunday's armed robbery in Kennewick.
Around 7:10 p.m. Monday, an armed robber walked into Sahara Pizza, 6900 block of West Argent Road, and demanded cash from employees, said Pasco police Capt. Jim Raymond.
The suspect was armed with a chrome-colored handgun and was wearing a black ski mask that partially covered his face and a black hooded sweatshirt.
CRIME: Pasco police investigating armed robbery at Sahara Pizza
CRIME: Pasco police investigating armed robbery at Sahara Pizza
A Pasco pizza restaurant was robbed Monday night and police are investigating whether there’s any connection to Sunday’s armed robbery in Kennewick.
Around 7:10 p.m. Monday, an armed robber walked into Sahara Pizza, 6900 block of West Argent Road, and demanded cash from employees, said Pasco police Capt. Jim Raymond.
The suspect was armed with a chrome-colored handgun and was wearing a black ski mask that partially covered his face and a black hooded sweatshirt.
CRIME: Pasco searching for suspect involved in afternoon shooting
CRIME: Pasco searching for suspect involved in afternoon shooting
Pasco police have cordoned off about five blocks between Ainsworth and B streets in east Pasco while searching for a suspect involved in a shooting.
The shooting was near Seventh Avenue and B Street just before 3 p.m., said Pasco police Capt. Ken Roske.
Police received reports of two males on foot who shot a black car. One suspect was arrested fairly quickly after the shooting, Roske said. He said didn’t know if the shooting was related to the Monday night shooting
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