Michaud (right) overcame a height disadvantage to secure a win. COURTESY/Victory fighting championships
The heavy handed Oglala closed Scudder’s left eye with punches. COURTESY/Victory fighting championships
Michaud wins tough fight at Civic Center
State attendance record of 2,500 fans see a real war
By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Managing Editor RAPID CITY— In what one fan called the most action packed MMA fight he had ever seen, Pine Ridge’s David “Bull Dawg” Michaud (Oglala Lakota) managed to feed off the energy of the partisan crowd inside the Rapid City Civic Center’s ice arena to earn his fifth professional victory inside the cage over Omaha’s Mark Scudder. The fight which was hosted by the largest and most influential Mixed Martial Arts promotion to ever come to South Dakota brought the top fighters in the state to compete in front of a crowd of 2500, the largest to ever watch an MMA event in the state’s history. Victory Fighting Championships based out of Omaha, NE has launched the careers of multiple elite fighters including UFC champion Benson Henderson. The first round saw both fighters attempt to assume control of the center of the cage and the 6’3” ultra-tough Scudder attempt to utilize his height to control the fight with jabs and attempted Muay Thai clinches. However the shorter Michaud managed to overcome his 6 inch height disadvantage to edge out the round with a steady mix of his own stand up game and control of the cage. “This guy was tough. I hit him hard a few times and all I could think was why won’t he go down,” said Michaud. “I know I had him in trouble a couple of times in the first round but this was definitely the toughest fight I have had in my career.’ The second round was dominated by Scudder. The Omaha based fighter seized control of the round when he connected with a vicious lead elbow to Michaud’s head that he used to counter a looping overhand right from Michaud. The elbow sent the Pine Ridge native reeling and on to his back. “I remember getting hit with the elbow and I wanted to stand my ground because I knew he would be on the attack but my body wouldn’t listen,” said Michaud. Once in control the lengthy Scudder managed to reign down multiple heavy blows to Michaud’s head. Michaud attempted to control Scudder from the bottom but struggled to keep the crafty veteran from scoring with elbows and fists. When the second round ended both fighter seemed to be gassed as they made it back to their corners. “I really started to have an adrenalin dump in the first round. At the end of the second I had nothing left and no clue how I would be able to pull this out. I think most people thought it was over,” said Michaud. Going in to the third round it was apparent that both fighters’ conditioning would be put to the test. The one thing that Michaud had on his side however was the 2,500 person crowd that contained a significant portion of people from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. As the round started and the crowd rose to its feet, Michaud reverted to his wrestling roots and secured several solid take downs. The takedowns found Michaud on top, a much better place for a wrestler. In the third round Scudder attempted a couple of submissions targeting Michaud’s surgically repaired knee. However several kicks to Scudders abdomen redirected his attention. “I was worried that if he did hook in a heel hook I would have had to tap. I may have come back a little early because my knee didn’t have the spring that I am used to having,” said Michaud. He injured his knee while trying out for the “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show on FX. At the end of the third round the fight went to the scorecards. All three judges scored the fight in favor of Michaud. “Between the second and third rounds I was tired but I thought about my fans, I thought about everyone there who came to support me, and I thought about my little buddy Trace who I know was there with me.” Trace Davis was a 13-year-old tribal member and wrestler who died in an ATV accident earlier this year who Michaud coached and mentored. The three round war earned the “Fight of the Night” award from Victory and led promoter Ryan Stoddard to post on his Facebook page that he would welcome both athletes back. “I wish David Michaud and Mark Scudder could fight on every show for the rest of Victory’s history,” said Stoddard. The victory and the way it was earned are sure to open up some doors for the now 5-0 Michaud. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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