TRAVERSE CITY —
The Wolves are about to be caged.
Six members of the semi-pro Traverse City Wolves football team are slated to take part in Saturday's Caged Aggression 36 mixed martial arts event at Streeters.
Traverse City MMA veteran Christos Piliafas — who also plays for the Wolves as a defensive lineman — is the event's promoter.
"I think that's kind of how it started," said Nick Rademaker, a Traverse City native and Wolves offensive lineman. "Christos joined the team and kind of dragged a few of us into it."
Doors open at 7 p.m., with the first fight slated for 8:10 p.m. Veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters Houston Alexander and James Lee are slated to be guest referees.
The Wolves will be well-represented at the fights. In addition to Rademaker, Matt Ohlert, Maurice Gilmar, Justin Fortune, Davonn Cooper and Jesse Kethman are scheduled for bouts.
The lineup is littered with other local fighters, including former Traverse City West wrestler Zach Bragdon.
"There's a lot on the fence," Ohlert said when asked if more Wolves players were considering MMA. "The whole thing about stepping in the cage — it takes a lot just to get in there."
Ohlert will be entering the cage for the third time, while Rademaker is making his MMA debut.
Ohlert is 2-0 and won his first bout by unanimous decision and then pounded out a KO in 20 seconds on Oct. 20. His opponent in Saturday's 210-pound class — Traverse City's Chris White — was also in that event, posting a win in his first bout.
"I was pretty nervous," Ohlert said of his first fight, earlier this year. "But just like any sport, you get in that zone and all the butterflies go away."
Rademaker started training two months ago, and was Ohlert's corner man for both his fights.
"I decided, well, I might as well give it a shot," Rademaker said. "I had a lot of friends tell me I'd do a good job at it. So I'll give it a shot on (Saturday) and see how it goes."
Both describe their style as "ground and pound," meaning they aim to get their opponent off his feet and win by strikes on the mat.
Rademaker was a state qualifier in wrestling as a senior in 2006, and then played offensive line for two years at Central Michigan University at 283 pounds. He's making his MMA debut, taking on Grayling's David Ellingford (3-1).
Ohlert was a standout linebacker for TC Central and both he and Rademaker were Great Midwest Football League all-stars last season. Ohlert wrestled in seventh through ninth grades, but then chose to concentrate on football and baseball.
"I'm one of those guys that I'll try anything once," Ohlert said. "So I started working on my cardio. Ninety percent of MMA is cardio. If you can outlast the other guy, then you've got an edge."
Alexander has posted a 13-9 MMA record and was the co-headlining fight along with Piliafas at KSW 20 in Poland. Alexander lost of Jan Blachowicz in a unanimous decision, while Piliafas was stopped by five-time World's Strongest Man champion Mariusz Pudzianowski.
A Detroit native, Lee has a 14-3 MMA record, although he hasn't fought since 2008. None of Lee's fights have gone the distance, as he's won 10 times by submission and four by knockout.
Fans can receive $5 off admission by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to donate to Toys For Tots.
Earlier Saturday, Alexander and Lee will host an hour-long, hands-on MMA seminar at Sueng Ni Fit Club from noon to 1 p.m. for $10. All proceeds from the seminar benefit Toys For Tots.
Archive: Friday
Wolves take to the cage
Caged Aggression 36 takes place on Saturday night
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FINAL: Joliet 5, Traverse City 2
The Traverse City Beach Bums lost their 2013 Frontier League season opener 5-2 to the Joliet Slammers on Friday night.
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UPDATE: Beach Bums, Slammers tied 1-1 in 4th
The Traverse City Beach Bums are tied with Joliet 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning of their 2013 Frontier League baseball season opener.
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Trojans sweep regional meet
It came down to the final event, but when all was said and done Traverse City Central came away with two regional track championships on Friday.
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Prep sports scoreboard: 05/17/2013
A roundup of high school sports results from across northern Michigan:
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Parking garage rates to rise
The Downtown Development Authority authorized an increase in transient parking rates at the city’s two municipal parking decks.
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Ex-Traverse City Manager Lewis to head St. Joseph
The city of St. Joseph picked Traverse City's former Manager Richard Lewis as their next city manager.
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Festival spotlights science, math
Newton’s Road, a regional nonprofit organization committed to increasing access to and appreciation of learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math, continues its Northern Michigan STEaM Film Festival on Saturday.
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Heroin overdose kills man
Benzie County's struggle with fatal heroin overdoses continues. Authorities confirmed Justin Smith, 23, of Benzonia, was found dead Wednesday night of a heroin overdose. Law enforcement officials arrested a suspect in Smith's death, the fourth heroin-related fatality in the county since 2011.
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Gladiators capture tennis regional
St. Francis tennis coach Jeff Hughes juggled his lineup during the season — and it paid off with a Division 4 regional title Thursday at Traverse City Central.
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Editorial: Obama must set tone for IRS, Justice Dept.
The issue: IRS, Justice Department have much to answer for. Our view: Leadership begins and ends with President Obama.
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Couple's film focuses on Latin American coffee farmers
Have you ever taken a moment to consider where your morning cup of java comes from?
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TCC girls beat Midland, qualify for state finals
Traverse City Central qualified for the girls tennis state finals for the 32nd straight year, handily winning the Division 1 regional at Midland.
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Beach Bums open tonight against Joliet
Jacob Clem will get the start in tonight’s Traverse City Beach Bums opener at Joliet.
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No food truck buffet rolled out on first day
Diners who hankered for food truck fare on the first day the mobile restaurants were allowed downtown came away hungry.
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Papa Roach is still swingin'
Papa Roach is still producing hit songs. It’s just getting harder and harder to get radio stations to play them.
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Letters to the Editor: 05/17/2013
Second to none; Teach more about less.
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Firings anger Grand Traverse Band members
Tribal officials fired six of their Natural Resources Department employees for shooting a rifle off their office’s deck, a move that’s angered some Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa members who said the punishment is too severe.
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One-woman show helps gardens
Emily Dickinson, one of America’s earliest poets, died in 1886. She comes to life this weekend in the acclaimed one-woman play, “Belle of Amherst,” performed by professional actress Sinda Nichols.
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Prep Sports Roundup: Schiller throws no-hitter for TC Central
Ryan Schiller threw a no-hitter as TC Central defeated Benzie Central 15-0 in a three-inning softball doubleheader opener. (Plus more)
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Weekend in Brief: 05/17/2013
Do the BBQ; Benzie Players; Garage sale. (Plus more)
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Low-flying helicopters are coming
Don’t worry: the low-flying helicopters buzzing through northern Michigan are not from the United Nations or some secret government agency.
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Nursing home promises to repay Benzie $484K
The Maples nursing home officials told Benzie County leaders they will repay $484,000 the county loaned the facility by March 2014.
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Traverse City Light & Power joins SUN project
Traverse City Light & Power board members approved the final step in implementing a community solar project in partnership with Cherryland Electric Cooperative.
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Sports in Brief: 05/17/2013
Roller derby bouts this weekend; Blue Star hosting baseball tourney; Screening of 'Signals for Survival.' (Plus more)
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Movie Capsules: 05/17/2013
New this week — Star Trek Into Darkness: After the crew of the Enterprise finds an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.
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FINAL: Joliet 5, Traverse City 2
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom
Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life
The all-new Xbox One
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Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial
VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City
Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble
Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique
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Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you
Reporter Cries Over Devastation
Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye
Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download
IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado
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Robert Pattinson Moves Out
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Khloe Lashes Out at Kim Kardashian's Critics
