Kyle Green

Essays: Always Someone Tougher

Joel Wyatt faces the biggest fight of his life. Joel is trying to make it in the newly lucrative world of mixed martial arts fighting, hoping to make a better life for his wife and daughter. But standing before him and his dream is an undefeated; 6’2” 205 pound U.S. Marine nicknamed “Mr. Goodnight” for his propensity at knockouts.On the day before his last amateur fight, mixed martial arts fighter, Joel Wyatt, 20, lifts his 9-month-old daughter, Leah Wyatt into the air in his parents’ kitchen. Joel, who lives with his parents to save money, is a plumber by trade, but is trying to make it in the tough world of mixed martial arts fighting. Joel currently has an amateur record of 4-1.
   
Mixed martial arts fighter, Joel Wyatt, 20, has a quiet moment during a break in his training session at Hybrid Martial Arts located on Williamson Blvd. in Roanoke, Virginia. Joel will participate in a mixed martial arts fighting contest called the "Ruckus in the Cage", October 7th at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Joel is a plumber by trade, but is trying to make it in the tough world of mixed martial arts fighting. Joel currently has an amature record of 4-1.
   
Mixed martial arts fighter, Joel Wyatt (bottom, white shirt), 20, and training partner, Chris Elmore (top), collapse after a spirited 30 minute Jiu-Jitsu sparring session at Hybrid Martial Arts located on Williamson Blvd. in Roanoke, Virginia. Joel will participate in a mixed martial arts fighting contest called the "Ruckus in the Cage", October 7th at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia.
     
  
With his wife Stepanie in the background, mixed martial arts fighter, Joel Wyatt catches his breath after a spirited 30 minute Jiu-Jitsu sparring session at Hybrid Martial Arts located on Williamson Blvd. in Roanoke, Virginia. Joel will participate in a mixed martial arts fighting contest called the "Ruckus in the Cage", October 7th at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia.
   
After dropping the necessary weight for his fight, mixed martial arts fighter, Joel Wyatt, 20, gets a goodbye and good luck kiss from his wife, Stephenie Wyatt (right), age 19. Stephanie has to work as a hairdresser, and will not see her husband again until he enters the steel cage to begin his fight. "I don't want to even see her in the crowd", says Joel, "it makes me too nervous".
   
On the morning of the "Ruckus in the Cage" mixed martial arts fight, Joel Wyatt, 20, sits, clothed in a garbage bag covered with two layers of sweat clothes, in a foggy steam room to loose the last pound and a half he needs to loose in order to make the 205 pound limit for his light heavyweight division.
     
  
On the morning of the "Ruckus in the Cage" mixed martial arts fight, Joel Wyatt, 20, towels off after sitting in a sauna and steam room to loose the last pound and a half he needs to loose in order to make the 205 pound limit for his light heavyweight division.
  
To the driving beat of “Remember the Name”, by Fort Minor, Roanoke fighter, Joel Wyatt, walks through smoke and colored lights as he makes his entrance to the ring for the mixed martial arts fight called the "Ruckus in the Cage" held at the Roanoke Civic Center on October 7th.
   
Inside the steel cage, coach, Dennis Hayes (left), gives last minute instructions to his fighter, Joel Wyatt, (right, age 20), before the mixed martial arts fight called "Ruckus in the Cage" held at the Roanoke Civic Center on October 7th.
     
  
Roanoke fighter, Joel Wyatt (top), rains down punches on opponent, Michael Smith (bottom), during third round action at the "Ruckus in the Cage" mixed martial arts fight. Wyatt is a ju-jitsu specialist, and often fights from a prone position, however, good technique allows him to spend most of this fight on top of his bigger opponent. “Joel is what we call ‘retarded strong’”, said his friends at the gym where he works out.
   
Blood covers the floor of the steel cage during a mixed martial arts fight called the "Ruckus in the Cage. Early no-holds-barred matches were so brutal Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, called it "human cock fighting."
   
Stephenie Wyatt (middle left, age 19) cheers as the fight her husband, Joel Wyatt (age 20), is in is stopped, resulting in a victory for Joel. Joel defeated previously undefeated light heavyweight champion, 205-pound U.S. Marine, Michael Smith, by round 3 TKO October 7th at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Virginia.
     
  
Stephenie Wyatt (left, age 19) gives a post fight kiss to her husband, Joel Wyatt (age 20), after his "Ruckus in the Cage" mixed martial arts fight.
   
Roanoke fighter, Joel Wyatt walks away with the light heavyweight championship belt, as opponent, Michael Smith (back left), looks on after the "Ruckus in the Cage" mixed martial arts fight held at the Roanoke Civic Center on October 7th. Joel defeated previously undefeated light heavyweight champion, 205-pound U.S. Marine, Michael Smith, by round 3 TKO.
   
"I'm going to take care of everybody", said Roanoke fighter, Joel Wyatt (age 20) to his wife, trainer, and coach, as he lay, with his newly acquired light heavyweight belt, on the floor of the dressing room area, in the bowels of the Roanoke Civic Center. Wyatt TKO'ed previously undefeated light heavyweight champion, 205-pound U.S. Marine, Michael Smith in round 3 to take the light heavyweight championship. Wyatt will turn professional after this fight, trying to make it in the newly lucrative world of mixed martial arts fighting, hoping to make a better life for his wife and daughter.