MURRIETA – Local youth MMA fighters from Hernandez Kickboxing in Murrieta took to the road late last month traveling to LumColor Arena in Ontario where they competed at the USFL Nationals Saturday, May 20. The group from the Murrieta based kickboxing and MMA training gym had eight fighters competing and seven of them made it to the final podium, with three of those fighters placing first at Nationals.
The USFL tournament helps select the official U.S. Youth team for the 2023 IMMAF World Youth MMA Championships in Abu Dhabi, Aug 2-5. (World Championship divisions are only for ages 12-17.) The International tournament ranks among the most unique, unforgettable and motivating events on the MMA calendar.
The national title holders were Lariah Gill, now a three-time USFL National Champion and two-time IMMAF World Champion, Uriel Cruz, who had two submission wins by armbars and Zadkiel Cruz, who also had two submission wins by armbars. With their wins, Lariah and Zadkiel punched their tickets to Abu Dhabi for a second consecutive year.
Hernandez Kickboxing also had the following fighters place third:Â Isabella Campos, Jersie Brodowski (13 years old and this was her first time fighting and she fought up an age/weight class to 16yrs & 160+), Ethan Barrett and Alyssa Campos (first time fighting).
To find out more about Hernandez Kickboxing, www.facebook.com/HernandezKickboxingFitness or email hernandezkickboxingfitness@yahoo.com.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
