Woodbridge fighters win big in Florida

Brian Van Hoven says he knew someone was going to get knocked out when he last stepped into the ring. He’s glad it wasn’t him.

The 36-year-old mixed martial arts fighter from Woodbridge, weighing 155 pounds and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, traveled to Orlando, Fla. three weeks ago and knocked out his opponent, Vinnie Samero, one minute and 55 seconds into the fight.

Everyone in the stands was stunned to see the hometown fighter – who is one year younger than Van Hoven, stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs the same – taken out so early, he said.

“When my left glove hit his face, and I knocked him to floor, I knew by that time it was over,” said Van Hoven. “When I hit him, I heard everyone gasping as if the air had come out of the entire arena.”

In a sport where the fighters often end up battling it out on the floor, neither man went to the ground, said Van Hoven. It was a surprising fighting style, one that you can never fully be prepared for, he said.

“I knew he would try to take me down, and he started doing circles around me and started throwing jabs, but I evaded and knocked him out with my left hand,” said Van Hoven.

Van Hoven was the 36-year-old underdog in the fight. His latest win brings his professional MMA record to six wins and one loss. He is proud to represent the Northern Virginia area, which is full of up and coming MMA fighters, he said.

One of those fighters, Elijah Harshbarger, owns the gym in Woodbridge where both he and Van Hoven train.

Harsbarger, 28, with a five win one loss record, also fought that night in Orlando, beating 37-year-old James Brasco.

Going into the fight, Brasco had six wins on his record, one more than Harshbarger.

“It was the toughest fight of my life. Brasco is a legit Brazilian jujitsu black belt and has fought on some big cards. I broke my foot about 30 seconds into the fight, so it was an uphill battle the whole way,” said Harsbarger.

Harshbarger said his opponent underestimated his skills and ability, and hoped that having an entourage all showing off Brasco’s black belt while standing near the ring would intimidate him.

“He was wrong,” said Harshbarger.