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FCF: You have been fighting in the Chicago area for a while now and last year when I came up, Eric Moon [IHC's promoter] told me to watch you fight. What is your background? Jim Theobold: I started training when I was 19; I'm 23 now. I just wrestled one year, my senior year in high school and was pretty good at it. I needed some money to go to school and I heard about this stuff and one thing led to another. I just got me the right people through the years and they kind of molded me, like Chris Brooks, Tommy Bach, and Bob Schirmer recruited me out of a fight that he saw down in Indiana. Bob said that he could work with me so I started making the trip back up here. He's a great coach and I have phenomenal teammates in Shonie Carter, Brian Gassaway and Rolando Higuerros. With teammates like that, you just can't be beat. I have been fighting for those guys forever. I have been doing a lot of my training with Tommy Bach because Chicago is kind of a far drive, but I try to make it out to Bob's, once or twice a week to work on my weaknesses. FCF: Is Tommy your stand-up coach? JT: Yeah, he's a pro kickboxing, undefeated, 2 and 0. He just beat the middleweight or lightweight champ, Bunker. FCF: What is your current record? JT: You wouldn't believe me if I told you. [laughs] I have way too many fights. I just do all the Chicago matches. So I don't even know. I have well over 30 fights. Not all of them are close fist on the ground, some are open hand; some are no hitting on the ground. I've been all over, a lot of Jiu-Jitsu, a lot of Pankration. FCF: How about mentioning some of the more notable fighters that you have fought? JT: I'd like to think that everyone I have fought is notable because they have the courage to get in there and fight. The biggest name I have beaten is Adrian Serrano for the Total Combat title. It was a great fight. It was basically [a match up of] styles that won it. I studied him a lot. Adrian's always been a hero of mine for a long time, so knowing him as well as I did, helped me to win it. I just fight all the time against people with good records. I just do what my coaches say and I do alright. I just beat Danger Zone champ Jason Hallard, Kyle Hennings and Hector Garza. I just beat some of the local fighters here. Roberto [Ramirez], I beat him twice. I won a Pan American Gold Medal. [laughs] Hey Bob, who did I fight? Bob Schirmer: He fights at a moment's notice. A guy will call me and say, "Hey Bob, you got a fighter?" And I will say, "Hey Jim, you wanna fight?" And he'll take the fight. He's just like Shonie, he will just take any fight. JT: [laughing] I'm going to catch up to Shonie [to the number of fights that Shonie has]. BS: Shonie was already bitching that this belt is better than his. FCF: Do you have any fight scheduled? JT: I'm going down to Mexico with Bob. BS: The World Pankration Federation's tournament of the Americas on November 11th. We will be representing the United States. FCF: Do you have any more scheduled? JT: No, but there will be like ten more scheduled by next week. [laughs] I'll probably get some calls. BS: We got a jiu-jitsu championship, my Christmas tournament on December 10th. It will probably have about 180 fighters. It's straight jiu-jitsu. FCF: Where are you heading? You obviously have a bunch of fights, a lot of experience, and a lot of tools. JT: One of the things is that I have great training partners, like I said before. Shonie Carter, Brian Gassaway, Rolando, and all of them and great coaches, like Master Bob and Tommy Bach. Where ever they lead me to go. I mean, I do real well in practice when I roll with these guys and these guys go all over the world. Shonie should have won the Pancrase title. He was robbed. So I figure that if I can go into practice with them and can perform just as well, maybe I can be there, but I'm a schoolteacher first. This is for fun, something that I don't actively pursue. I just talk to Master Bob and he gives me the okay, then we do it. It he doesn't, then cool; I'll just go to school and teach the next day. FCF: So you are not actively seeking a major title? JT: If one comes around, then I'll take it. I won't make a phone call, let's put it that way. BS: If Pancrase or Shooto calls, or someone like that and they have something going, then we'll weigh it and see if the time is right and he's healthy, then we'll take the fight. It depends on what comes up. And that's the same with all of our fighters. If they have enough time to get into super condition, ready for the fight if it is a big fight with a super good fighter, then we'll do it. We try to stay really focused on staying in great shape all the time, so if a fight comes along...that's an opportunity. When you get an opportunity to fight someone with a lot of championships, you got to be ready to take it. FCF: Is there anything else that you want to add? JT: Thanks for coming out to the fight and giving me an interview. Thank you very much. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- According to Jim, "They were tough guys, but they didn't have much ground work... they seemed more like street-fighters. He was a dirty fighter... poked me in the eye, kicked me in the knee, scratched my face... he was real nice afterwards, but he fought funny." He won a medal. So far, Theobald has won every pankration event he has entered. About 12 or 13 all together: Canada, Mexico, U.S.: Kansas City, San Diego, Chicago... "Just about all of Bob's guys won. Jay Estrada, George Spacek, Lincoln Mathews, Bob's daughters, a ton of us won." Jim is an elementary
school (5th grade) teacher, and grew up on a farm, raising peas
to sell to the local grocery stores. Oh, yeah, and he's the 2000
IHC heavyweight champion!!! December 5,
2000
November 5,
2000 MIDDLEWEIGHT
TITLE PRELIMINARY MATCHES: HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
PRELIMINARY MATCHES: NON-TITLE EXHIBITION
BOUTS: LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
BOUT: MIDDLEWEIGHT
TITLE BOUT: HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
BOUT: OPENWEIGHT TITLE
BOUT: SPECIAL AWARDS:
2000 CHAMPIONS:
Special thanks to 19 year old Travis Jansen who drove all the way from Mission, South Dakota to Chicago, Illinois on less than a week's notice, knowing that he would have to face Adrian Serrano if he won his first match. Travis came with no cornerman and no one support. He didn't win, but he did show a great deal of heart, and a lot of skill. Special thanks to Brahm from Yawningman Entertainment for giving us the best ring girls a fight could ever ask for, sisters Traci and Kasi Taylor. Special thanks to our sponsors, Ouano International, World Martial Arts, Full-Contact Fighter, Victory Sports, Choke Athletic, Team Gracie, and Aqua Nightclub. Special thanks to Salvador Villalobos and Camelot Video (www.camelotvideo.com) for the outstanding video and sound production. Clarification,
via Lightweight title competitor Bill Novak: Subscribe now at: WWW.FCFIGHTER.COM
Last year's Ironheart Crown saw relative unknown, Steve Berger, beat perennial powerhouse and UFC veteran Shoney Carter in the first round. Berger is now a hot item in the NHB circuit, thanks in part to his performance in the Ironheart Crown. Submissions, knockouts, and full-length fights graced the card last year; from the looks of this card, there should be more of the same. Solid veterans such as Henry Matamoros, Jim Theobold, and Mark Jacquith head up this year's card, which looks to continue the entertaining reputation that the Ironheart Crown has quickly brought upon itself. Along with these experienced fighters, four titles will be up for grabs, the Lightweight (up to 155 lbs), Middleweight (up to 175 lbs), Heavyweight (up to 200 lbs), and Open weight (over 200 lbs) titles. The weigh-in was held at the popular Aqua nightclub, south of downtown Chicago on Friday night, November 3, 2000. Henry Matamoros, who has fought in the IVC, HOOKnSHOOT, Extreme Challenge, and WEF brings a multitude of fighting experience with him to the Lightweight Title Fight. Bill Novak, a Navy Seal who has ranked first in fitness in his training division, has Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience and is looking to boost his reputation by beating the veteran Matamoros. Keith "the Giant Killer" Hackney's Virgil Strzelecki, the frequent-fighting Adrian Serrano, BJJ fighter Travis Jensen, and Shidokan stylist Erick Synder, round out a talent filled middleweight tournament. Virgil Strzelecki is a local favorite and Chicago Challenge Champion who owns victories in HOOKnSHOOT and Extreme Challenge. The second busiest man in NHB, Adrian Serrano, looks to mix it up with these other savvy competitors. Serrano is a very busy fighter with many fights in many events to his credit. Travis Jensen, a young wrestler and submission artist, entered this tournament on short notice looks to test his skills. Erick Snyder, who has reported that he has won in the Bangkok Brawl, Extreme Combat, North American Combat, and Pankration Gold Cup will be tough to beat. Snyder trains under Shootfighting instructor, Yasunori Matsumoto and at the U.S. Shidokan Academy. This year's Heavyweight tournament features Kestutis Arbocius, a Drago-type (Drago is a character in the Rocky IV movie) Russian fighter, who brings a mysterious feel to the weight class. Arbocius has a reputation of devastating stand-up skills and knock out power as shown as the 1998 World Shidokan and 1999 U.S. Shidokan Champion. Joining Arbocius is Roberto Ramirez, a Bangkok Brawl, Midwestern Jiu-Jitsu Champion, and JKD stylist who trains with Abu Dhabi competitor Joey Gilbert. Team HOOKnSHOOT and Tell City, Indiana's Scott Henze brings a record of nine wins and one loss and wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu background to the tournament. Henze is known for his Matt Hughes-like takedowns that put Chiropractors' kids through college. Jim Theobold is a Bob Schirmer Combat-Do stylist, who also brings an impressive record to the tournament to see where he stands among the best. Fans may remember Theobold as he KO'd Kyle Hensgen in only 34 seconds at last year's Ironheart Crown. Theobold looks to continue his knockouts this year. Hines, who, along with training with the "giant killer" Keith Hackney, has a gold medal in the Chan Challenge in Scotland faces Jesse Gudenschwagger in a single bout. Another Schirmer student, Rolando Higueros, looks to avenge his teammate Shoney Carter's loss in last year's Ironheart Crown as he takes on Cedric Stewart. The final single bout involves an Assou Hamdaoui (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt) student, Erik Bakely fighting Chris Albandia, who has fought in Extreme Challenge, Pankration Gold and Diamond Cups, and the Total Combat Challenge, among others. The main event of the night features local favorite Vaughn "the Vaughnman" Palelei against Matt Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer is a student of local judo and submission instructor Leo Valdez. Palelei, who electrifies the room the moment he enters it, was the hit of the interview section of the weigh-ins. He can also be a stunt double for the Rock, from the WWF. Vaughn talks a good talk and has many titles to his credit. This New Zealand born fighter could be the next great heavyweight. He has a never-say-die attitude and the charisma that will draw fans in with every bit of exposure (or chance of exposure) he can get. The Ironheart Crown has a good combination of talent, youth, experience, and attitude to make it a major player in the Midwest fighting circuit. Chicago fans now have a certifiable quality MMA event here in their hometown. Be sure not to miss these great fights in an event that has grown by leaps and bounds in just one year. St. Andrews Arena 1658 West Addison Chicago, Illinois November 4, 2000 - 7:30 PM FIGHT CARD: Lightweight
Title Fight 4-Man Middleweight
Title Tournament 4-Man Heavyweight
Title Tournament Main Event Non-Title
Exhibition Bouts October 23,
2000 CHICAGO, IL - Who is Kestutis Arbocus, and what business does he have competing in the Ironheart Crown against the likes of Jim Theobald, Roberto Ramirez, and Scott Henze? IHC promoter Eric Moon calls him "Drago," comparing him to the Russian juggernaut from the movie, Rocky IV. "[Mike] Castellano came to me and said he had some Russian guy for the heavyweight division. When I asked what his name was, Mike couldn't tell me. He doesn't speak any English. No one knew his name, so I had to refer to him as Drago!" Having just arrived from his home in Lithuania, this Russian powerhouse barely speaks a word of English, but in the ring, his hands and his feet get his message across loud and clear. Arbocius is not very well known on the mixed martial arts circuit, but he is a heavy name in the kickboxing world. With a record of 13-0, and 8 knockouts under his belt, Kestutis Arbocius is a threat to any man who who faces him in the ring. He is the 1998 World Shidokan Champion, and the 1999 U.S. Shidokan Champion. In a recent bout in Illinois, he added another head to his collection with an early KO victory over Manson Gibson, North American IKF Light Cruiserweight Champion. But how will this kickboxer fare in the Mixed Martial Arts arena? While this remains to be seen, Michael Castellano provides some insight. "He's been training with Keith [Hackney] and I for about six months," Castellano says, "He's still much better on his feet than he is on the ground, but he's got good balance, he's strong as an ox, and its tough to submit him. His division is going to be very exciting. He'll beat anyone standing up. It'll going to take a very powerful grappler to beat him." Did somebody say "very powerful grappler?" Eric Moon, promoter of the Ironheart Crown, has one waiting for him. Scott Henze, of HooknShoot fame, is a long-time wrestler who has put his talents to work for him in the world of submission. A relative newcomer himself, Henze does not hold any formal titles of his own. Nevertheless, his performance in collegiate toughman contests has earned him the title of "Ball State's Toughest Man." Through his participation in Indiana's HooknShoot events, Henze has come to be known for his incredible, Matt Hughes-style, aerial takedowns. They may be a determining factor if he ends up facing Arbocius in the four-man tournament for the heavyweight title. Also competing in the division are Jim Theobald and Roberto Ramirez, two well-rounded Chicago fighters who are adept at all ranges of the game. "Its going to be exciting," Moon comments. "They are all so talented, and their styles are so different. Its impossible to predict how this one will turn out. Anything could happen. The winner of this division isn't going to be the fighter who can hit the hardest, and it isn't going to be the fighter who has the best submission skills. At the end of the night, our heavyweight champ is going to be the fighter who has the ability to control the direction of the fight; the ability to take an opponent out of his element. I've never seen Arbocius or Henze in action, but I know for a fact that Theobald has this ability. We'll just have to wait and see." The Ironheart Crown will be held on November 4, 2000 in St. Andrew's Arena located at 1658 W. Addison in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, contact the promoter at (773)793-6555, or visit the event website at www.ironheartcrown.com.  October 16,
2000 CHICAGO, IL - Don't miss the return of the most exciting MMA event in Chicago fight history! The Ironheart Crown will be held on November 4, 2000 in St. Andrew's Arena located at 1658 W. Addison in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now. Last year's show was an incredible display of MMA action, and this year's production promises no less. Bill Novak combines his Navy Seal training with an extensive background in Muay Thai and Submission Wrestling to offer a formidable opponent to HooknShoot Champion Henry Matamoros in a single bout for the Lightweight Title! The Middleweight division title is up for grabs with Chicago Challenge Champions, Virgil Strzlecki and Ian Armstrong, vying for the title! Total Combat Champion, Eric Snyder, and FFC Champion, Brett Al-Azzawi round out the bracket to make this division an incredible showdown! The Heavyweight division promises to be the most exciting and unpredictable. Kestutis Arbocius is new on the MMA scene, but he brings incredible knock-out power to the ring as the 1999 World Shidokan Champion. Scott Henze, a wrestler with a reputation as "Ball State's Toughest Man" plans to take Arbocius off of his feet with his patented airborne takedown. Diamond Cup Champion, Jim Theobald is a well-rounded fighter who knows the value of strategy. With his experience, he has the potential to weather any storm and emerge victorious. Bankok Brawl Champion, Roberto Ramirez stands undaunted and ready to face this awesome talent, putting the Heavyweight Title up for grabs. And finally, a Superfight in the Openweight division rounds off the night. New Zealand sensation Vaughan Palelei refuses to quit his nasty habit of domination, but a young and hungry Matt Pfeiffer plans to teach Palelei a lesson in humility and defeat! A quarter ton of pure power will rock the arena as these two titans slug it out in the evening's main event. Which of these two juggernauts will claim the Openweight Division Title? Plus: 3 non-title bouts featuring amateur fighters Rob Hinds, Jesse Gudenschwager, Mike Maggiore, Rolando Higuerra, and Chris Albandia! For more information, contact the promoter at (773)793-6555, or visit the event website at www.ironheartcrown.com.
The following is the current fight card: LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
COMPETITORS (135 - 155): MIDDLEWEIGHT
TITLE COMPETITORS (155 - 175) HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE
COMPETITORS (175 - 200) OPENWEIGHT TITLE
COMPETITORS (>200) NON-TITLE COMPETITORS
(all weights) stay tuned for further details.
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CHICAGO,
IL - Once again, the Ironheart Crown returns to Chicago and the
legendary St. Andrews Arena to make a dent in the Midwest MMA
circuit. Eric Moon comes back in his second year as promoter
for the event and adds an important prefix to his name...Doctor.
To my knowledge, this is the first MMA event that is being promoted
by a doctor, which can help bring legitimacy to this struggling
sport. Dr. Moon, as well as being a promoter, is a Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and veteran of many NHB fights as well.
He brings his experience with sport tournaments, fighting in
events, his medical background, and experience from last year
to expand the 2001 edition of the Ironheart Crown to new proportions.