Hall of Fame referee Richard Steele adds MMA at boxing club

Hall of Fame referee Richard Steele has been using boxing to teach life skills to at-risk kids in Las Vegas since opening his boxing club in 1995.

Steele's foundation has now fully committed to mixed martial arts as well, to help communicate the same messages.

"The kids got me to go that way. They really showed the interest, and they are really coming out," he said. "This is a great sport."

Steele always has said MMA was part of the offerings at his North Las Vegas facility, but the number of participants has grown from fewer than 10 to more than 55 in the two months since he hired Hosea Kim to head up the MMA program.

The kids now have several thousand dollars in new equipment, thanks to a donation from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The organization's vice president of community relations, Reed Harris, was on hand with several fighters Thursday to show the kids how to use the gloves, pads and other equipment.

"One of the things (UFC president) Dana White and (CEO) Lorenzo Fertitta told me when I took this job was to focus on Las Vegas and focus on the youth," Harris said.

UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell was among the fighters to meet the kids and offer pointers on the equipment.

"I've been in martial arts my whole life, and I think it's very important for kids," he said. "It teaches discipline, self-control, setting goals and a lot of things they can take into the real world and really help them."

Kim said few parents have expressed concern about their children learning MMA. He stressed the curriculum in his program is designed around life skills.

"We take MMA and use it as a vehicle to push these kids to do well in school and do everything the best you can in life," he said. "These kids want to learn, so when we can have positive role models like this come in here and show their support back to these kids, it's amazing."

Harris said the stigma of MMA leading to violence has greatly diminished in the past few years.

"A lot of parents understand it's better to teach their kids how to defend themselves and, in the process, you're teaching them respect," he said. "We all know the guy that really knows how to fight doesn't fight. The guys that are confident, and the girls too, it stops a lot of the bullying and things like that."

Steele added: "We teach the kids to respect each other and themselves. Discipline is number one. When they come to class, they sit at attention. No tobacco, no alcohol, no drugs. They go through this every day, and they understand mixed martial arts is a sport. They love it because everyone around them loves it."

■ SPIN DOCTOR -- One of the reasons Carlos Condit was able to stick to his strategy for five full rounds and win the UFC interim welterweight title at UFC 143 on Saturday was his ability to not get sucked into a brawl with Nick Diaz.

Diaz is notorious for trash-talking in the cage and taking his opponents out of their game plan. He appeared to be talking for nearly the entire 25 minutes, but Condit didn't take the bait. He did, however, recount one humorous exchange.

Condit threw several spinning back fists and spinning back elbows, and apparently Diaz was caught off guard.

"So, we're throwing spinning (expletive) now?" Condit recounted Diaz saying. "I cracked a smile at that one and just kinda said, 'Yes, I am.' "

■ HOLIDAY CARDS PLANNED -- The UFC has asked the Nevada Athletic Commission for clearance to host events at the MGM Grand on May 26 and July 7. The Memorial Day and July 4 holiday weekend cards are expected to be pay-per-view events.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.