A different sort of sport
Kilgore's Jones has MMA fight in Shreveport Friday
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE - Kilgore native Chris Jones (above, designated the winner and left, on top) has entered the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting. Jones is 4-0 as an amateur, and his first professional fight is scheduled for Horseshoe Casino in Shreveport Friday night.

Friday night at the Horseshoe Casino in Shreveport, Kilgore native Chris Jones will put his talents on display.

Jones isn't a gambler, or even a singer. He's not technically a boxer, either. He fights in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

Currently as an amateur, he's unbeaten, 4-0, after winning a fight June 22 at the Shreveport Municipal Arena.

Friday's MMA fight at Horseshoe Casino will be his first professional fight. Greg Grigar, who is 1-0 as a pro, will be the opposition.

If his pro career goes as well as his brief amateur career, Jones will be happy. He's classified as the Elite Cage Fights 155-pound Champion, and much like in boxing or professional wrestling, has a large title belt to signify the accomplishment.

Not bad for a young man who only started MMA fighting last October.

"A friend of mine who works out at the same gym I do mentioned (MMA) to me and introduced me to Anthony (Ogden, Jones' trainer and coach)," Jones explained. "I got a kick out of the movie "Fight Club," and I always liked things like that - I started watching Ultimate Fighting when I was younger, and I was intrigued by this. I met with Anthony and it seemed like things just clicked, and before I knew it, I was training for my first fight."

Jones' first MMA fight was in College Station in October, at an event called the Lone Star Beatdown III. His opponent was Leonard Bena.

Jones said his emotions were up and down like a roller coaster before the fight began.

"One minute, I was nervous and anxious and scared," he said. "Then I was OK. And the closer it got to the fight, the more I went back and forth. When the announcer introduced me, I think that's when it really hit home that I was about to be in a competitive actual MMA fight." Jones won that fight by technical knockout (TKO) just a minute into the second round. And the 26-year-old crane operator, who works so often that he barely has time to train, has won three fights since.

Not long ago, though, things weren't so good for Jones. He made some mistakes and found himself on the wrong side of the law. But the reality of having to serve four years in prison woke Jones up, he said.

"I just wanted to do things right," he explained. "I told myself that when I got out, I never wanted to be in a situation like this again, and I wanted to make things different."

After getting a new mindset, Jones earned his GED and taking college courses. He works 60 hours a week, and most of his time is donated to that. But while training and MMA fighting are a side activity for Jones now, trainer Anthony Ogden said Chris has a future.

"Early on, Chris exhibited an overwhelming commitment to training and conditioning," Ogden said, in a statement to the paper through friend Jonn Spradlin. "His 12 to 14 hours of training per week are a big commitment, especially since he works 50 to 60 hours per week and has a family. ...He's so committed. He eats, sleeps and breathes it. He is one of the most committed fighters I've ever trained."

Friday's MMA event at Horseshoe Casino is called Cage Kings, and it begins at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30, and should be available on site tomorrow night. If you'd like to go ahead and get tickets, do so by calling 1-888-512-SHOW, or purchase tickets online at riverdome. frontgatetickets.com.

See results of Jones' fight in Tuesday's News Herald sports section.