Boomtown Brawl 2: Wrestling rig hand takes to MMA ring

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Shane Bennett’s workout is a little different from that of top-level professional mixed martial artists.

While they’re punching bags and grappling in gyms, Bennett is climbing ladders, throwing pipes, chains and bars on an oil rig.

“Work’s a workout in general,” he said with a laugh.

The 23-year-old former Dickinson State wrestler has worked the past 10 months as a derrick hand. He is employed by Hamm and Phillips and said balancing his work with workouts hasn’t been too bad, though his schedule is a little unorthodox.

“I’ll go to the gym when I get off work — I get off work at 6 a.m. and go to the gym for two hours,” Bennett said.

Bennett works a schedule of two-weeks on and two-weeks off, meaning his training schedule gets revamped every two weeks right along with the rest of his life.

But, it keeps him from falling into a lull and keeps his body guessing — the same as his diet. Rig work doesn’t often lend to great eating habits. Bennett said in his case, it has helped him fend off unwanted weight gains.

“You’re pretty busy out there,” he said.

This weekend, though, the rig work can wait.

Bennett faces Jerome Jones during Boomtown Brawl 2 in the middle of the fight card that begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Dickinson Recreation Center.

Bennett, a native of Belle Fourche, S.D., has records of 5-1 as a professional and 5-1 as an amateur.

He took down Bismarck’s Chris Hugh with an arm bar in 2 minutes, 31 seconds during the first Boomtown Brawl, the most recent in the series of Pound ‘em Productions fights on May 7.

Bennett likes taking his bouts to the mat. His own research tells him James is a stand-up fighter.

“I don’t mind fighting guys who are stand-up,” Bennett said. “I’m a ground guy, but I’ll be on my feet if I have to. Guys who are good in stand up easily get lost when I take them to the ground.”

Klauzer, Leiss fighting in pro debuts

Neither Justin Klauzer nor Landon Leiss have much experience in an MMA ring.

But one of the tall, rangy fighters will pick up his first professional victory on Saturday in a bout set at a 177-pound catch weight.

Klauzer, a 29-year-old Baker, Mont., native is the older brother of popular Dickinson heavyweight fighter Kylan Klauzer. He hasn’t been in an MMA fight since his early 20s when he had a few bouts in Montana amateur scene.

“I didn’t find the time to get back to being in shape where I can be competitive in it,” Klauzer said. “Now that I’m older and wiser, I can.”

Klauzer, a former wrestler, said he’ll likely want to take the fight to the mat.

Leiss, a rangy 24-year-old Dickinson native, would like to stay on his feet but doesn’t oppose moving the fight to the mat.

“I’ll fight standing up or right on the ground, it doesn’t matter,” said Leiss, who is giving the sport a shot after picking up jujitsu. “I just want to come out with a win.”

Boomtown Brawl 2

7 p.m. Saturday

At Dickinson Rec Center

Tickets: $35

Fight card

(subject to change)

Jacob Harkness, Spokane, Wash., vs. Jacob Hauck, Billings, Mont.

Clint Mrnak, Ekalaka, Mont., vs. Jason Brown, Rapid City, S.D.

Matthew Marsh, Dickinson, vs. Travis Hoffman, Dickinson

Justin Klauzer, Baker, Mont., vs. Landon Leiss, Dickinson.

Cole Ackerman, Glendive, Mont., vs. Charles Cheeks, Bismarck

Shane Bennett, Dickinson, vs. Jerome Jones, Spokane, Wash.

Wes Kill Eagle, Havre, Mont., vs. Jesse NewBreast, Butte, Mont.

Deven Fisher, Winner, S.D., vs. Jon Knutson, Rapid City, S.D.

Tags: boomtown brawl, mixed martial arts, shane bennett, justin klauzer, landon leiss, sports