麻豆社区

Stamped onto his shirt, "redemption鈥� is written across Miller Rogers' back.

Rogers, a member of Whitehorse's Avalanche MMA crew, was in Chilliwack, B.C. over the weekend to compete in WarPath VI.

He entered the ring coming off a loss to Rico Brinson in WarPath IV in February.

That loss, which dropped his amateur record to 3-1, came down to a judge's decision.

His latest fight had Rogers stacked up against Christiaan Allaart, 2-1, from WestCoast BJJ.

Once again the fight came down to the judge's scorecards.

In a split decision, Rogers' record fell to 3-2.

Rogers described it as his toughest fight to date.

"It could have went either way but he got the nod,鈥� he said. "So I decided I'm no longer going to be going to decisions.

"The only thing on my mind is I need to be back in the gym. I was going to take a week off to rest but I want it to so bad. I don't like this whole losing thing. I'm looking for redemption.鈥�

Momentum was in Rogers' favour early in the fight, when he was able to lock Allaart up with a standing guillotine hold in the first round.

Cliff Schultz, the co-owner of Avalanche MMA, said Rogers might have drained his energy with his explosive first round attack.

"Near the end of the first Miller almost had him finished,鈥� said Schultz. "He almost had him tapping with a guillotine choke. He used all his gas in the first.鈥�

"I definitely thought I had the win,鈥� said Rogers.

"I thought I did enough in the first two rounds to take it. The first round was mine and in the second round I thought I was in control. I went into the third round thinking 鈥業 just need to survive this round,' instead of thinking 鈥業 need to win this round.'鈥�

Unfortunately for Rogers, Allaart was able to tie him up in a submission hold in the last 30 seconds. Rogers didn't tap but it was enough to persuade the judges to give the decision to Allaart.

"Miller did quite well but near the end that guy (Allaart) just tweaked it out where he ended up getting a split decision,鈥� said Schultz. "It could have gone either way.鈥�

"I can see how the judges could see it that way,鈥� added Rogers. "I understand the loss.鈥�

Rogers recently recovered from strep throat and said his cardio would be one of the focus points of his future training.

The day after the fight, despite some bruised and possibly cracked ribs; he was back in the gym, taking part in a training seminar with Neil Melanson, the head grappling coach at Xtreme Couture Las Vegas.

"I'm going to be training my cardio like crazy,鈥� Rogers said.

"My cardio is going to get to the point where at every point in the fight, I'm going to be able to do anything I want.鈥�

He also wants to improve his technique, so the next time he's able to wrap an opponent up in a guillotine hold he'll be able to finish it.

"I felt him almost tapping but I didn't want to gas my arm out,鈥� he said. "I felt him slightly get out of it so I gave up on that but I definitely want to work on that and make sure I finish it next time.鈥�

Avalanche MMA recently purchased Peak Fitness on Lewes Boulevard and Schultz said the larger space, accompanied with better access to equipment, has the club training at another level.

"We're training with all types of equipment now,鈥� he said. "Miller will be back in here training and what I've been telling him is you can't leave it to the judges.

That's what ended up happening and the decision went the other way.鈥�

Schultz said Rogers would likely be in the ring next in August.

"In August we're going to be going out again and then we have fights in September and October. It's going to be busy.鈥�

Rogers said he'd be ready to go the next time his name is called.

"Whatever coach says. I'm just going to get in the gym and push myself harder than ever before,鈥� he said.

"It was a crappy thing to happen but it was a learning experience, my head is still as high as it was yesterday and my ego is still through the roof.

"I've just got to move forward and can't look back. I'm definitely going to give it 500

per cent next time.鈥�

Rogers also extended his thanks to his sparring partners, trainers and sponsors: Earl's Restaurant and Never Tap.