MMA Championship Comes to Mid-South

DESOTO COUNTY, MS (abc24.com) - When the 3rd installment of the Mid-South Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championships gets underway on Saturday, October 8, 2011, at the DeSoto Civic Center, a unique cast of personalities will enter the cage to compete.

One of them, Derek Lehmann, is a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army who has seen 4 years worth of active combat duty.

"I served 4 years total during 4 separate deployments. 15 months and then 12 months in Iraq and then 15 months and 12 months in Afghanistan," Lehmann told abc24.com.

Lehmann said that while military training and MMA training are very different, his experience in combat helps him compete in the cage.

"After being over there, in real, life-or-death situations, getting in the cage is easy," he said. "Some people are afraid to get in the cage and fight, but after my service in the Army, I have no fear."

Another competitor whose job inadvertently trained him to not be afraid to fight is Memphis police officer Brian "The Law" Hall. Hall's professional debut has been long-awaited by those who follow the sport. He spent 4 years as an amateur competitor before getting permission to turn pro.

"The MPD approved my request for secondary employment, so now I can fight professionally," a visibly happy Hall said.