Fight Night

Bones crunch this weekend at the Verizon

Comments (0) Thursday, Sep 4 2003

SAT 9/6
Fight Night
Blood. Mayhem. Flying teeth. No, it isn't hockey (even if it does pull in the same big-spending, action-hungry, beer-fed fans). It's extreme fighting. Now in its tenth year, the sport is a far cry from its predecessor, the so-called Tough Guy tournaments featuring tipsy, out-of-shape dudes selected from the audience to puke their way through a couple of rounds of fighting. Extreme fighting rules -- sanctioned by the Texas Boxing Commission -- are myriad, combining elements of boxing, kickboxing, Jet Li street fighting and wrestling. To win, a fighter must knock out his opponent with fist, foot or knee; apply a submission hold until his eyes bulge out of the sockets; or wait around until he gives up. This weekend's "Clash of the Titans" Extreme Fighting match features ten bouts and includes appearances by Houston fighters Lee "The Punisher" King and Randy "The Assassin" Long, both of whom have wacky, cultlike followings. There will also be several superheavyweight fights; expect to see the flab flying as 220- to 300-pounders face off. 8 p.m. Saturday, September 6. Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas Avenue. For information, call 713-225-8551. $25.50 to $56.50. -- Greg Barr

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Madness Method
Darren Levine is one tough dude. The Los Angeles assistant district attorney mercilessly prosecutes violent crimes against police officers and teaches Krav Maga, the Israeli fighting method also known as "fighting dirty." In a two-day "Complete Combat" seminar this weekend, Levine, along with Bas Rutten, who was named "The World's Greatest Martial Artist" by Black Belt magazine, and Amir Perets, a former Israeli soldier, will teach gun, knife, mixed martial arts, and submission and reversal techniques to people who want to be more dangerous and menacing. In recent years, Krav Maga has gotten the Hollywood stamp of approval; Jennifer Lopez, Lucy Liu and Kristanna Loken all have trained using the method. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7. KickSport Martial Arts and Family Fitness Center, 3001 Richmond. For information, call 713-529-4700 or visit www.kravmaga.com. $199 to $299. -- Cathy Matusow