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It's always nice to see former UFC middleweight Nate Quarry in the cage, especially for a good cause.
Quarry retired from fighting in 2010, but he accepted a challenge to help a young man with Down syndrome achieve the dream of competing in MMA.
Having spent four years on the mat, 19-year-old Jake 'The Snake' Beckmann had been pressing his coach Greg Walker to allow him to fight.
"As he would train with me he would ask me all the time, he would say, ‘Hey, when can I compete?' or ‘When can I fight?' said Walker. "And so over the years I would tell him 'Keep training, we'll get there.' Over the years he has worked his butt off. He is probably one of the hardest working students I've ever had."
Walker wasn't sure where to turn, so he made a Facebook post asking if anyone in the Oregon MMA community would help. According to Walker, Quarry replied just two days later.
The pair were then booked in an exhibition match for Apr. 18 at the 'Rumble at the Roseland' in Portland, Oregon.
Clearly a fan Rousimar Palhares, Beckmann dropped down for a leg lock after hitting a takedown, tapping Quarry in the second round.
"Throughout my life, over and over again, I've been given an opportunity to live my dreams," Quarry said after the match. "If I can make the slightest effort to help a young man, not only live his dream but also show his mother, what it could be like to see him follow in his dreams."
Beckmann was crowned 'world heavyweight champion,' adorned with a replica UFC title belt purchased with the help of a Go Fund Me page.
"If I can affect the entire community and let everyone know that special needs people are just a little different. They're just that: they're a little different. They have dreams. They have goals, just like the rest of us. Why should we try to tell them how they should live their lives? If we can break them out of the box I think that's the right thing to do."
The match also raised $1,000 for Create the Connection, an organization working to create meaningful employment opportunities for people in need.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Post show. Ariel Helwani and Chuck Mindenhall break down the top storylines coming out of UFC on FOX 15.
'Tough night.' Luke Rockhold says UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman 'can't stand with me, can't grapple with me.'
UFC on FOX 15 Aftermath. Dave Doyle explains why Luke Rockhold deserves to fight the Chris Weidman-Vitor Belfort winner.
'That's not me.' Chris Weidman says Luke Rockhold was great against Lyoto Machida, but that he's 'a totally different ball game.' 'He's gonna have to deal with a whole different game plan.'
Jacare. Ronaldo Souza believes he should be ahead of Luke Rockhold and be the true No. 1 contender at middleweight. 'I fought Luke a long time ago, everybody knows he didn't beat me. The judges (scored) the fight for him. I come to fight, I'm ready for the title.'
MEDIA STEW
Luke Rockhold's Octagon interview.
Rockhold and Weidman talking about fighting each other.
Dana White talks Rockhold, Jacare and Paige VanZant.
Post-fight presser highlights. (Full presser here)
Khabib Nurmagomedov mic'd up for Donald Cerrone vs. Eddie Alvarez at UFC 178.
Gokhan Saki vs. Sebastian Ciobanu at GFC 3 this weekend.
Long watches.
Countdown to UFC 186: Demetrious Johnson vs. Kyoji Horighuchi
...
Knuckle Up #369: HAHA... Lyoto, Luke, UFC on Fox 15
TWEETS
See how the pros reacted to Rockhold submitting Machida at UFC on FOX 15.
Victory lap.
Unbelievable night. #UFConFOX15 in the books #DragonSlayed https://t.co/X7nyaAEHdS
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) April 19, 2015
Well put it! Thanks https://t.co/PkufSy3TMt
— Ronaldo Jacaré (@JacareMMA) April 19, 2015
Huge shoutout to @CubSwanson it was an honor my man! Thank you!
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) April 19, 2015
Oh boy. The faces I make when I fight haha signed t shirt to the #VanZant who can find the funniest fight face pic of me!
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) April 20, 2015
I'm not an entertainer, I am a martial artist. This is what martial arts is all about! #AllGlorytoGod... https://t.co/1VqoOPJZCz
— Beneil Dariush (@beneildariush_) April 19, 2015
Post fight celebration pic! @headrushbrand @OfficialOPPF #downWithOsp pic.twitter.com/4Ordu0M6L8
— Ovince Saint Preux (@003_OSP) April 19, 2015
Lol thanks pretty lady, hope your well https://t.co/VzhjAbyH3W
— Gian Villante (@GPVillante) April 19, 2015
Left the hospital today & 99% chance they think I have a hernia. Felt weird in the beg of 3rd. Idk what happened but Im blessed I got the W
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) April 19, 2015
Thankyou for all the support everyone!
— tim means (@MeansTim) April 18, 2015
https://t.co/11xUGnq1xA da uma olhada nos bastidores do #UFCNewJersey #TEAMBRANDAO @ufc
— Diego Brandao (@DiegoBrandaoMMA) April 19, 2015
Pumped to get my first win at 185lbs in the @ufc still have lots of improving. But first....I need more followers. RETWEET please!
— Chris Dempsey (@BigDemps2) April 18, 2015
Better luck next time.
Obrigado a todos pelo apoio. Thank you all for the support! #PressLyoto pic.twitter.com/uaYG7FCKB3
— Lyoto Machida (@lyotomachidafw) April 19, 2015
@ChrisCamozzi thank u Chris
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 19, 2015
You did you're thing tonight. Congrats @BlessedMMA
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) April 19, 2015
Sorry everyone. I felt good, had a gr8 camp but just dumped my adrenaline in the 2nd & couldn't recover. Congrats 2 Paige on a gr8 win @ufc
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) April 19, 2015
Other than feeling like i made myself an inch shorter from the last slam, I'm no worse for wear... https://t.co/NZMjdciuf6
— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) April 19, 2015
Took a hard shot to my pride tonight. Sometimes shit happens. I've been down before but I always come back. Congrats @003_OSP
— Patrick Cummins (@OfficialDurkin) April 19, 2015
Yeah buddy!!! $50k fight of the night buddy. Not that my defeat is OK but 50k will help with the time off. #thankful https://t.co/e82ovCyyiw
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) April 19, 2015
Total failure game! It is now up at the rout of. Thank you to everyone supporting me!
試合完敗でした!!いままでで一番の完敗感です。応援してくれたみなさんありがとうございました!!
— Takeya Mizugaki (@takeya_miz) April 19, 2015
I'll be back in the gym this week and working on what needs to be done
— George Sullivan (@Sullivan_UFC) April 20, 2015
Def need a drink after this one smh thank you all for your support I truly believe everything happens for reason pic.twitter.com/VnfkYe4Y95
— Truck Gordon (@TruckMMA_UFC) April 18, 2015
Beef.
Congrats to my kids in the McGregor division last night. Daddy is pleased. pic.twitter.com/2Mio4GuinB
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 19, 2015
@TheNotoriousMMA hahahaha tag me next time don't need this subliminal message shit. We will meet again.
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) April 19, 2015
@sonnench if not shut your mouth, I'm there in your city hit you in the face Cala sua boca ou vou ai na sua cidade te pegar seu folgado
— Wanderlei Silva (@wandfc) April 19, 2015
Get well soon.
Well a broken jaw and a broken right hand...just another day at the office lol. I love all my fans. Thanks for your support ❤️
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) April 19, 2015
Great shot.
Congrats brother you deserve your title shot man. You have come such a long way man. You deserve al... https://t.co/CqYPXkeybY
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 19, 2015
High class cornermen, step your game up people. @dc_mma haha victory is sweet. https://t.co/JlXFrQE7cH
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) April 20, 2015
Cool.
Yesterday was the 1st in my career that I did 10x6 min rounds.. Here is a small peak from about a min... https://t.co/GUTdWKqWFu
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) April 19, 2015
This guy.
Let's go EAGLES!!!! #Repost sportscenter THIS JUST IN: Tim Tebow reaches agreement on new deal... https://t.co/fdUdEXWxUd
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) April 20, 2015
Asking for a friend.
CAN YOU BRING DOGS TO CANNABIS CUP HERE IN DENVER???
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) April 19, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (April 17-19 2015)
NA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via D'arce Coke.
Sunday Morning Matchmaker: UFC on Fox 15 Edition
Well, folks. I think we can all agree that the latest installment of the UFC on Fox series was a great night of fights. Featuring some of the greatest matchmaking in recent history, it gave us a great mixture of prospects making much-needed statements, and veterans reestablishing their place in the greatest MMA promotion. Without further ado, let's see who should fight who next.
Main Card
Paige VanZant def. Felice Herrig
"12 Gauge" Paige really put on a stellar performance on Saturday night, making the best out of her 15 minutes in the spotlight (and surely, there will be more than 15 minutes for her, given her fan friendly style and her looks). Her technical flaws are masked by a relentless style of attack and raw aggressiveness. She will most likely be fast tracked to a bout with champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk due to her popularity and marketability, but I believe she should first face one more test before a shot at the champ. A title eliminator against either Cláudia Gadelha or Maryna Moroz should give us a clear cut #1 contender. As for Felice Herrig, the Lil' Bulldog gave it the ol' college try, but ultimately succumbed to the frantic pace of PVZ. Joanne Calderwood could be next for her, a bout that would reestablish the winner as a top 10 straweight, and most likely send the loser to the bottom of the top 15 and in need for a big step down in competition.
...
Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.
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