Learning life lessons in the ring
A psychology major and a nurse showed a book can’t be judged by its cover in the world of combat sports Saturday night.
Eric Sambleton, a fourth-year Trent University psychology major, and Lina Le, a nurse from Mississauga, won the co-main events at Kawartha Combat’s Spring in the Ring at the The Venue. About 350 spectators took in the seven-bout amateur muay Thai card featuring eight local competitors.
Sambleton, 23, moved to Peterborough from Markham after he gave up a tier II junior A hockey career to attend Trent. He joined DohJo Muay Thai and he says it’s changed his life.
Sambleton picked up his first victory out-duelling Kawartha Combat’sDerekEmeryinanactionpacked bout at 155 pounds.
“I used to be on medication for ADHD to help me with my school work,” Sambleton said, “but since I’ve started muay Thai I’ve become completely medication-free. I do all my school work under my own will power. That’s one of the main things I really like about this sport and what Mike (Doherty) teaches; it’s not only what you do in the ring but you carry those lessons with you into life. It’s helped me overcome a lot of problems I’ve had in regards to school.”
Sambleton has also show perseverance in the ring not giving up after losing his first two fights and beating Emery who last year won a novice Canadian title.
“My first loss was really close but my second one I really got outclassed,” said Sambleton. “I had to do a lot of soul searching but it really fired me up and showed me what I needed to do to win fights. It revitalized my passion for training.”
Le spoiled the night for hometown girl Ali Hayes of Kawartha Combat winning a close but unanimous decision.
Hayes was disappointed by the result. “I should have pushed the pace more in the first and second rounds, I think I definitely won the third,” Hayes said. “Hopefully we can maybe rematch. It’s very disappointing. I just came off a loss last weekend so it’s a hard pill to swallow.”
She lost a fight in Toronto at an all women’s event after winning four straight fights. She’s planning a trip to Thailand in August to immerse herself in training where the sport originated.
“I want to grow my knowledge,” she said.
Le picked up her third win in four bouts.
“It was a tough fight. She threw some elbows which I’m just getting used to in B class so that was good experience,” said Le, who was pleased to get the decision in her opponent’s hometown. “It gets to be a subjective decision when it’s a close fight so sometimes the crowd definitely plays into how the judges judge.”
Le, 25, from Training Ground Muay Thai, acknowledged people are surprised to learn she is a nurse and a fighter.
“It’s a different side of me I can express, more physical,” she said. “The training helps a lot with nursing because I do a lot of heavy lifting in nursing. Knowing how to properly use my muscles really helps.”
In undercard bouts, Millbrook’s Janet Heeringa, of Kawartha Combat, was knocked down three times and stopped in the second round by Brenda Vargas of Mississauga’s LAnna MMA.
Kawartha Combat’s Josh Todesco picked up his first career win in his second bout with a unanimous decision over Muay Thai Whitby’s Roger Bridge.
Six MMA’s Jordan Ross won a decision over Kawartha Combat’s Tom Green. Whitby’s Kody Smith knocked out Wolf Academy’s Olusegun Villasala in the first round. Kawartha Combat’s Eva Christensen and Ottawa Fight and Fitness’ Sonya Dronsfield put on a demo.