Palmer’s Jake Heun has been cleared to fight again and is wasting no time getting back to work. The 31-year-old brawler is set to make his return in the Japanese mixed martial arts organization Rizin Fighting Federation next month at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Heun (11-7) hasn’t fought since his devastating flying-knee-to-the-head knockout… Read more »

Austin Vanderford’s extensive background as a champion wrestler paved the way for the 28-year-old from Ninilchik to win his fifth straight pro mixed-martial arts fight. The former NAIA national champion and two-time state champion earned his second consecutive win via rear-naked chokehold as he got Angelo Trevino to tap midway through the second period. The… Read more »

By the end of the year, Palmer’s Jake Heun hopes to be a million bucks richer. The 30-year-old MMA veteran has joined the new Professional Fighters League, which kicks off an 11-event promotion Thursday in New York City that will award each of the six weight-class champs $1 million on New Year’s Eve. Heun, of… Read more »

Austin Vanderford of Ninilchik inched closer to his dream of fighting in the UFC by catching on with Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. The UFC president created the weekly fight series last year to promote unknown fighters. In some ways, it’s also a tryout. Either way, it brought the Alaskan closer with his dream… Read more »

She didn’t win the fight, but Eagle River’s Lauren Murphy’s toughness and tenacity surely won the respect of anybody that watched her in action at UFC Utica in New York. The 34-year-old bruiser never stopped charging and battled to the end before dropping a unanimous decision in the women’s flyweight bout to UFC newcomer Sijara… Read more »

Making his promotional debut for Victory Fighting Championship, welterweight prospect Austin Vanderford of Ninilchik overcame a slow start to come out victorious. The 27-year-old won by second-round submission over Kenny Licea in the opening fight of the VFC 59 card in Omaha, Nebraska. Vanderford, of Ninilchik High fame, improved to 3-0 since turning professional this… Read more »

After dropping three of her previous four decisions, Lauren Murphy of Eagle River finally had one go her way. The 34-year-old flyweight outpointed former Invicta FC champ Barb Honchak by the slimmest of margins, winning 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 to claim the three-round mixed martial arts fight at the Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale event in Las… Read more »

Despite violent nature of MMA, the sport brings out the softer side in many fighters. Anchorage’s Dominick Meriweather is no different. Raised by an abusive father, he lived with rage and carried it everywhere. He needed an outlet. “I was really angry when I got involved with mixed martial arts,” he told me. A formula… Read more »

Palmer’s Jake Heun delivered a flurry of punches, kicks and knees, and controlled the mixed martial arts fight for all three rounds to win by unanimous decision at ROAD FC41 in Wonju, South Korea. Heun beat hometown hero Mu Bae Choi, a decorated former Greco Roman wrestler and one of his country’s first MMA fighters…. Read more »

Professional mixed-martial arts fighter Jake Heun of Palmer has a take-all-comers attitude. He’ll take on anybody, anywhere. Even a different country. The Honey Bear is headed to South Korea to take on Mu Bae Choi, aka, the Heavy Tank of Busan, a decorated wrestler and one of his country’s first MMA fighters. It all goes… Read more »