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Wirth takes first step as MMA pro

Bayfield alum wins debut in Towaoc
Kevin Wirth

Repetition builds familiarity.

In a combat-based sport like mixed-martial arts, that can be a good thing if one develops skill-hoping it one day produces victories-through repeated drilling and study.

Of course if one ends up on the losing side, well.nobody wants to become buddy-buddy with that.

And Omar Benjar had seen Durango Martial Arts' Kevin Wirth before when both were amateurs, and he fared exactly the same in their May 14 rematch as professionals in one of the "King of the Cage: Resilient" card's co-main events.

Battling at 135 pounds inside Ute Mountain Casino in Towaoc, Wirth's anticipated pro debut went well as the Bayfield High School alumnus forced Benjar to submit after securing a rear-naked choke 1:51 into the second of three scheduled five-minute rounds.

Wirth had defeated Benjar in March 2013 via the same method-and 16 seconds faster, at 1:35 of the second. The Morocco-born Texan slipped to 1-2 with the loss (coming on his 26th birthday) on the nine-fight lineup.

Representing Westminster's 303 Training Center, Cassie Robb of Casper, Wyo., clamped an armbar on opponent Amanda Lovato, forcing her submission an even 2:00 into the first co-main's initial five-minute frame to earn her first pro victory after three defeats.

Representing Albuquerque, New Mexico's Fighters In Training/No Holds Barred Gym, Lovato dropped to 0-3.

Set to turn 29 on June 6, headlining 170-pounder Steve Hanna of FIT/NHB-by way of DMA and La Plata County-needed only 1:15 to pummel California-born "Gentleman Joe" Miles, 35 and (via Laramie, Wyo.) of Z's Training Gym in Fort Collins, sufficiently to warrant a swift stoppage in a feature supposed to also have been a three-rounder.

With the TKO, his fifth first-round win, Hanna improved to 7-2 and dropped Miles to 5-4.

ADDITIONAL RESULTS (all bouts slated for three three-minute rounds): Khari Snowden (3-0) triangle-choke submission over Joey Trevino (0-1), 2:00, R3; Esias Gordo (7-0) TKO Rene Cedillo (3-2), 2:58, R3; Shawn Hudler (1-0) TKO Andrew Durrall (1-1), 1:23, R1; Anthony Martinez (2-1) split decision over Sterling Peak (0-1), 3:00, R3; Pierre Simmons (1-0) guillotine-choke submission over Matthew Jackson (0-1), 0:46, R1; Aaron Taylor (1-0) split decision over Anthony Chavez (0-2), 3:00, R3.