Mixed martial arts training

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Jeremy Christensen (left) hits a body bag held by Marshall Mooney during practice at Scott Argo's private training studio in Vidor on Thursday, May 8, 2008.


Jeremy Christensen (left) looks for an opening in Marshall Mooney's defense during a practice spar. The Vidor residents are training to compete in mixed martial arts matches.


Jeremy Christensen throws Marshall Mooney during mixed martial arts practice in Vidor.

Beaumont Beatdown

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

Anthony Damingez gets caught against the fence by James "Duece" King, Jr. during the Beaumont Beatdown XTreme Fight Championship at Ford Arena in Beaumont on Friday, April 6, 2007. King won the fight.


Doug Williams (left) connects with a punch as Michael McLennan connects with a kick during the Beaumont Beatdown. McLennen won the fight.





(Above) Daniel Black connects a punch to the head of Jason Wright during the Beaumont Beatdown. Black won the match.

(Right) Tony Guined (right) kicks Chris Andreasson (left) in the head during the Beaumont Beatdown. Guined won the fight.



(Left) Blood spurts from a wound on the face of Chris Andreasson during the Beaumont Beatdown.



Aaron "The Mexicutioner" Flournoy takes Mathew Green to the mat after delivering a knee to his face during the Beaumont Beatdown. Flournoy won the fight.


Jeremiah "Ironman" O'Neal (left) makes Levy Green (right) tap out with this lethal move during the Beaumont Beatdown.

Brandon McDowell lands a fist on the chin of Izzy Johnson during the Beaumont Beatdown. McDowell won the Middleweight Title fight and took the belt from Johnson.



Nick "The Ghost" Gonzales (center) waits to have his belt presented as Adam Johnson (left)gets medical attention during the Beaumont Beatdown. Gonzales won the Lightweight Title Fight.


Jon Anthony "El Jaguar" Kirk tries to land a jump kick on Cedric "Spiderman" Marks during the Superfight round of the Beaumont Beatdown.


The official stops the Superfight round as Cedric "Spiderman" Marks delivers a knockout blow to Jon Anthony "El Jaguar" Kirk during the Beaumont Beatdown. Marks won by TKO.

Award winner:   3rd Place, Sports (single image), Southern Newspaper Publishers Association annual Photo of the Year Contest.


Please read "Contenders square off" by Perryn Keys.

Beatdown knockout

Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The official stops the Superfight round as Cedric "Spiderman" Marks delivers a knockout blow to Jon Anthony "El Jaguar" Kirk during the Beaumont Beatdown. Marks won by TKO.

Award winner:
3rd Place, Sports (single image), Southern Newspaper Publishers Association annual Photo of the Year Contest.

Please see the entire package.

Nursing home entertainment

Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

WIBF light heavyweight champion of the world Valerie Mahfood (left) of Groves referees a boxing match between Pate Austin, 5, of Vidor (center) and Jamie Whaten, 6, of Beaumont (right) at the Beaumont Nursing and Rehabilitation center in Beaumont on Saturday, July 23, 2005. The event invited local celebrities and guests to box three rounds with Mahfood to raise funds to purchase a large screen television for the center's residents.

Sometimes it's too fast

Featherweight open boxer Raul Barrientes (left) takes a shot from Jose Hernandez (red glove right) during the Fort Worth Golden Gloves boxing tournament at the Will Rogers Memorial Center complex on February 23, 2002. Hernandez won the fight.
Mark M. Hancock / © The Dallas Morning News

This is an example of a rare occurrence of my strobes/shutter set too fast. This frame is shot somewhere around f/8 at 1/500 or 1/640. The resulting image looks like the red glove is placed delicately in the frame.

If we look closely, his head is beginning to spin around inside his safety headgear. Had I shot at 1/250 or maybe a little slower to let some available light blur the frame, it would've been more obvious how hard he was hit.

Consequently, sometimes it's important to keep the speed slower than possible. Hockey, boxing and karate look the most strange if there is no touch of motion to give the feel of speed and power. Basketball and volleyball hold up the best at super-high speeds.

Enough for now,