11/30/01 Article Reprint - Morongo Casino Opening

From The Record Gazette - Nov. 30, 2001
By Rees Lloyd

San Gorgonio Pass - The Casino Morongo Entertainment Center opened with a spectacular, world class "Ultimate Pankration" competition on Veterans Day which drew a galaxy of martial arts and Hollywood Stars, and approximately 4,000 fans, to the huge new center which is intended to become an entertainment mecca in the Inland Empire.

... Among those on his feet and applauding the performance of Ruas, and all the other outstanding martial artists who competed, was Chuck Norris, one of the greatest martial arts champions ever, and now a movie and television star.

"I think it is great that people of this area of California are able to have a world class event like this close to home. The people here have always been very hospitable to us, and I've always liked this area," said Norris in a ringside interview with the Record-Gazette. Asked who was the beautiful woman with him, Norris beamed and happily reported, "My wife. We just had twins a month ago."

Norris, down-to-earth, smiling and gracious to all despite his international celebrity status, must have shaken a thousand hands as fans passed by to meet him during the intermissions between bouts. Each received a big smile, handshake, and, it appeared, Norris' joyful report of the birth of his twins.

While so many fans left their seats to meet Norris, he left his seat to round the ring to specially greet and embrace another martial arts legend, Gene LeBell, guru of grapplers, and long a member of the Black Belt Martial Arts Hall of Fame. "Gene LeBell is a legend, one-of-a-kind, a great man," said Norris about LeBell, who, too, was surrounded by well-wishers most of the night.

"That's very kind of Chuck to say," said LeBell, when informed of Norris' remarks by a Record-Gazette reporter. Almost as famous for his wit as his legendary martial arts talent, LeBell beloved in the martial arts world, offered up one of his classic lines: "You know, when I'm gone, chuck [Norris] will be the greatest ever. But - I'm feeling fine," said Gene LeBell with a mischievous grin.

Norris and LeBell were but two of the martial arts champions drawn to Ultimate Pankration in the Pass. Other champions ... Randy Couture, Bas Rutten, Maurice Smith, Pedro Rizzo, Tito Ortiz, Dan Henderson.

... Other martial arts movie stars included Michael Dudikoff, Daniel Bernhardt, Hector Pena.

... Other celebs included Ed O'neill, Kevin James, Reggie Arvizian, Joe Rogan, Matt Lindland and Jonathan Lipnicki.

Richard Norton, Australian-born martial artist who has starred in more than sixty movies and has played the "bad guy" in fight scenes with Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan, was the celebrity color-commentator at the event, at which even the ring announcer, Bruce Buffer, has celebrity status with his distinctive elocutions.

... The event included tournament competition in which fighters had to triumph twice in order to carry home the victor's trophy. Unusually, both tournament winners won with application of the "triple chokehold," a difficult hold to apply which is rarely seen in competition.

In the super heavyweight division, Harout Terzyan of Las Vegas, a 226-pound grappler who trains under Gene LeBell and Gokor Chivichyan, both of whom were in his corner, won a bruising battle against Aaron Brink of Huntington Beach, a 237-pound Pankration-style fighter (now 14-5) who "tapped out" when Terzyan managed to apply a submission armbar.

Terzyan faced a 290-pound "streetfighter" Mark Smith for the super heavyweight tournament trophy. Smith had earlier defeated Zane Frazier, 270-pound kickboxer and jiu-jitsu stylist who tapped out in the first round after a series of head punches from Smith.

Teryzyan, bearing the bruises of his fight with Brink, seemed to be overwhelmed by the 290-pound Smith, who took Terzyan down and appeared dominant. However, in a sudden move, Terzyan applied the rarely seen "triple chokehold," causing the huge Smith to "tap out." Terzyan was hoisted in the air in a victory celebration in the ring by ecstatic Gene LeBell.

Although the "triple choke" is rarely seen in competition, it also brought victory to heavyweight tournament winner Amir Rhanarvardi (a 205-pound practitioner of Bas Rutten Pankration).

... "All in all, this was one great night of world class competition," summed up Gene LeBell. "Great fights, a great crowd, and a great new arena. I'm glad that we were able to be a part of it, and I salute the Morongo Tribe for making it possible. I'm looking forward to more great events in the future."