Mazurkiewicz suffers first loss in the cage

The fight was billed as the biggest of his budding Mixed Martial Arts career. But former Havre High wrestling standout Myles Mazurkiewicz suffered a difficult setback in the octagon.

At Friday night’s 221 Industries' Intense Championship Fighting 15 at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Mazurkiewicz was defeated by TKO by veteran Spokane fighter Ryan Mulvihill. The loss was Mazurkiewicz’ first since turning professional back in April, and while it won’t hold back his career, it was a setback, because many inside the MMA world noted that a victory over Mulvihill in Great Falls could have been a springboard to bigger venues for the former four-time NAIA All-American UGF wrestler.

Instead, the fight started badly for Mazurkiewicz and was over in just one minute and five seconds.

Mulvihill opened the fight with a takedown. Mazurkiewicz tried to stand back up, but gave up his back to Mulvihill. Mulvihill wrapped a forearm around Mazurkiewicz's neck and applied pressure until Mazurkiewicz went limp. The referee stopped the fight after that.

“I just want people to know I didn't overlook my opponent tonight,” Mulvihill told the Great Falls Tribune. “That's why the fight turned out the way it did. I have lots of respect for Myles. I had to train hard.”

Mazurkiewicz trained hard too, knowing Mulvihill was the most experienced, and most dangerous opponent he was going to see. In his first two professional fights, one in Great Falls and one in Washington, Mazurkiewicz ended things quickly, but knowing the caliber of opponent, he made extra preparations, including spending a couple of weeks training with big-name MMA fighters in Arizona.

Still, things didn’t go his way Friday night, and now he’ll have to wait for his next bout to atone for the loss. There’s no doubt Mazurkiewicz is already a budding start with 221 Industries and the Montana MMA fight scene, but he’ll continue to aim higher as well, and Friday night’s loss will likely turn out to be a painful, but minor bump in the road.