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Knox fighters hit cage for combatives titles

FORT KNOX, Ky. — After more than six hours and almost 120 bouts, the field of 63 fighters was narrowed to the final 20 soldiers who will step into the cage Sunday for a shot at Fort Knox combatives glory.

The fighters competing Sunday will achieve at least two firsts for this Kentucky post — this is the first time Fort Knox has had a post-wide combatives tournament, and it also is the first time the finals of an official Army combatives tournament will take place in a cage instead of a boxing ring.

Officials at Fort Knox have put a lot of energy and resources into its combatives program in the past year, said Col. Peter Utley, commander of 1st Armor Training Brigade, which organized the three-day tournament.

“It’s a very important skill that the soldiers need,” Utley said, as he watched one of the preliminary fights on the mats in front of him in Sadowski Field House. “The bottom line is the majority of my soldiers have been to Iraq or Afghanistan. You never know in combat when you’ll have man-on-man combat. It’s the essence of being a soldier.”

Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Duncan, the noncommissioned officer in charge of combatives at Fort Knox, agreed.

“It’s changing people’s perception of what [combatives] is,” Duncan said. “The chain of command in general will accept a soldier getting a torn ACL from playing basketball but they freak out when soldiers get a broken nose from combatives. Which one are you going to take into combat? Are you going to take a basketball? I don’t think so.”

As for the cage, Utley and Duncan both said it is safer than a boxing ring because there’s no chance for fighters to fall through the ropes and onto the ground.

“When everyone thinks cage they freak out,” Duncan said. “[But] we’re trying to talk about safety for soldiers.”

After the weigh-ins in Friday, the soldiers, divided into five weight classes, took to the mats Saturday to fight their way to Sunday’s final. One of Saturday’s fights lasted a mere 33 seconds, while others took as long as 10 minutes.

Capt. Colin Johnson, of 3rd Battalion, 16th Cavalry, will fight Sunday to be the tournament’s lightweight champion.

“In this day and age of warfare, I encourage all my soldiers to be as well rounded as possible,” Johnson said about why he chose to compete in the tournament. “Not only is [combatives] helpful if you’re involved in hand-to-hand combat but it instills confidence.”

Soldiers who perform well this weekend will be considered when Duncan and his trainers build a team to represent Fort Knox at the all-Army combatives tournament this fall at Fort Benning, Ga.

Who’s fighting Sunday?

Flyweight (150 pounds and less):

For first place: Sgt. David Adams, 2-46 Infantry, vs. Staff Sgt. Jacob Hanna, 2-81 Armor

For third place: Staff Sgt. Jonathon Whitmire, 2-81 Armor, vs. Sgt. 1st Class Adam Sanchez, 2-46 Infantry.

Lightweight (151 to170 pounds):

For first place: Capt. Colin Johnson, 3-16 Cavalry, vs. Capt. Matthew Larrison, 84th Army Reserve Readiness Training Center

For third place: 1st Lt. Bernard Gardner, 5-15 Cavalry, vs. Staff Sgt. Keith Gates, 2-81 Armor

Middleweight (171 to 190 pounds):

For first place: Staff Sgt. Jacob South, 2-46 Infantry, vs. Sgt. 1st Class Guy Sing, 1-81 Armor

For third place: Sgt. Joshua Langlois, Law Enforcement Command Military Police Detachment, vs. Capt. Rikk Walters, 4th Cavalry Brigade

Light heavyweight (191 to 210 pounds):

For first place: Staff Sgt. Chris Nichols, 100th Division, vs. Sgt. 1st Class James Boston, 1-81 Armor

For third place: Staff Sgt. Walter Brogdon, 3-81 Armor, vs. Capt. Matthew Ziobro, 3-16 Cavalry

Heavyweight (211 pounds and more):

For first place: Sgt. Doug Winn, 2-81 Armor, vs. Spc. Todd Raymond, 100th Division

For third place: Staff Sgt. Dustin Alsey, 1-46 Infantry, vs. Sgt. Heath Wells, 2-16 Cavalry