Fighter is eager to get back in ring for a round

Patrick Villwock is itching for a fight so badly that he'd like one as a present for his 18th birthday July 15.

That present would come in the form of being of legal age and eligible to participate in mixed martial arts, or ultimate fighting, competitions.

But the Geneva High School junior is no stranger to this rugged game, having trained for the past three years in ju jitsu, boxing and wrestling to prepare himself for entry someday into the professional ranks of the growing sport.

Though he is not old enough to be on the fight card for Combat Entertainment's show Saturday night at the Arcada Theater in St. Charles, Villwock sounds much like the promoters who are hoping to fill the theater with fans who will see a live band, video and light show to complement the 10 fights being staged.

"The sport gets bad publicity because the average person looks at it as barbaric," said Villwock, who is currently nursing a broken hand sustained while competing in the 189-pound weight class for the Geneva High School wrestling team. "But many people are changing their opinions now because there are far more rules and regulations governing mixed martial arts."

Villwock, who has competed in 12 boxing matches and 22 ju jitsu tournaments in the past three years, is convinced that ultimate fighting, which usually has three five-minute rounds, is far safer than boxing.

"In boxing, the fighter is getting hit in the head for as many as 12 rounds," Villwock said.

But in mixed martial arts, "there are so many options because it is a combination of boxing, wrestling and ju jitsu, so you can take the fight to the ground.

"No one has ever died that I know of in mixed martial arts since it has been organized in this country since 1993," Villwock said. "I know there is still a lot of debate about it because it looks so violent, but there are rules like no kicking to the back of the head or spine, and they do stop the fights if someone appears hurt."

Villwock has trained at Overtime Wrestling and Jeff Neal Mixed Martial Arts, both in Naperville, the past few years in preparation for his 18th birthday and legal entry into fighting competitions.

"The boxing and ju jitsu has helped me a lot, but my first year of high school wrestling has been good for me too because it calls for the same work ethic and good attitude you need to succeed," he said.

"I've been waiting for two years, and I want it as my birthday present, to sign up for the 'Total Fight Challenge' in Hammond, Ind., that same weekend."