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Blood-feuding headliner for
‘Snow Brawl’ MMA show
Lauson-Trites headline Dec. 2 at Twin River Event Center in RI
LINCOLN, R.I. (Nov. 10, 2010) – There’s bad blood brewing between the Dec. 2nd main event fighters, Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon (13-4-0) and Damien “The Omen” Trites (5-3-0), on the “Snow Brawl” professional Mixed Martial Arts show, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s CES MMA at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
Trites claims the 22-year-old Lauzon, fighting out or Reality Self Defense, has disrespected him. Lauzon, the youngest UFC fighter ever, is the younger brother of UFC lightweight contender Joe Lauzon (18-5-0), who fights George Sotorupoulos on UFC 123 (Nov. 20 at Auburn Hills, Mich.).
“It’s a big fight because we don’t like each other,” Trites, representing Wai Kru in Boston, said. “There’s a lot of hating between us. This has been going on for six months to a year. This is going to be one of the biggest MMA fights in New England history. We’re going to sell out the place. I really hate him. At one point we were supposed to meet up in a parking lot to fight
“I respect him as a talent, no doubt about it, and I know I have to fight hard. He has a lot more experience than me and he’s had three UFC fights. But I don’t respect him as a person. He thinks he’s a gangster but he lives in East Bridgewater with his parents. I’ve been on my own since I was 16. He’s clueless.”
The feud started, according to Trites, when he went to train one night at Reality Self Defense, owned by Joe Lauzon, with his best friend, UFC fighter Josh “Doomsday” Howard. Trites trained with Joe Lauzon without incident but, as Trites explained, Dan Lauzon basically tried to hurt him.
“Joe was a true gentleman,” Trites remembered. “I like and respect Joe. We’d probably be friends if it wasn’t for his brother, who is the complete opposite of Joe. Dan tried to knock me out but I held my ground. Afterwards, I said I wouldn’t go back to their gym because you don’t train with somebody who is trying to knock you out. It would be like him coming to our gym and somebody there trying to knock him out.”
Trites said that after the initial incident he and Lauzon joked around when they met, but, deep down, they didn’t like each other from the start. Their animosity towards each other climaxed when Trites pulled out of a fight with Lauzon’s teammate, Joe Proctor.
“I had an ankle injury,” Damien added. “I pulled out of that fight but went to an Ultimate Fighter tryout. My injury was risky enough to stop me from fighting Proctor. He had only four fights, but I wasn’t going to pass up the Ultimate Fighter tryout. Lauzon went on my Facebook page, which is really for my friends and family – my mother goes on there a lot – and posted a message that I tried out for Ultimate Fighter and ducked his teammate. He said I was scared and that’s what really started it for us. You don’t go on somebody’s page and show disrespect. I’m not afraid of him or his friend and things escalated from there.
“We’re losing the mixed martial arts spirit -- a lot of guys aren’t humble. Hey, he blew his UFC chance three times. He doesn’t respect me and he’s nothing but a bully. I’m going to stand right in front of him and go at it. If he thinks I’m afraid to fight him, he’ll find out December 2nd.”
Popular Providence lightweight Mike “The Beast” Campbell (8-3-0) plans to get back on the winning track against Detroit invader Tony “Lion Heart” Hervey (12-8-0) in the co-main event.
Rhode Island MMA pioneer Mat Santos (2-6-0), of East Greenwich, will be seeking revenge against BJJ specialist Everilton “Sonca” Silva (3-3-0), of Marlborough, MA), winner of a two-round, split decision against Santos four years ago.
Also fighting on the undercard are Connecticut featherweight Jason Bennett (4-3-0) versus Tateki Matsuda (4-3-0), out of Boston by way of Tokyo, and Brockton (MA) lightweight Lionel Young (4-4-0) taking on Luiz Rodriguez (3-0-0) of Somerville (MA). Pawtucket welterweight Rigo Dominicci (4-10-0) is scheduled to fight on the card against an opponent to be determined.
All bouts feature three, five-minute rounds. Undercard fights will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Snow Brawl,” priced at $25.00 (SRO), $50.00, $75.00 and $100.00 (VIP), are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Snow Brawl.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)
