Three friends from Jackson chase careers in MMA

After a recent training session at the Peak Performance Training Center, head instructor DeRay Ivie emphasized the importance of being a team and supporting each other.

Those words rang true for Giovanni Hidalgo, Camden Hooe, and Ethan Rea, three friends from Jackson chasing a professional career in mixed martial arts through the Cage of Honor promotion.

Hooe (4-0) will be defending his bantamweight championship belt against Tyreace Wilborn during COH 89 on Saturday, June 17th at the AC Brase Arena. He won the title by defeating Bryce Crump by TKO in COH87 on November 5, 2022.

"It was pretty crazy," Hooe said on his emotions after winning his first title fight. "I got that quick finish. I was crazy. I was running around the cage.

"The dude was talking [smack] leading up to the fight," he said, "and then I knocked him out in 14 seconds."

Hidalgo (2-2) won his most recent fight, a victory by TKO over Jimmy Bowen in COH88 on March 11. He is slated to fight Sikeston native and Dexter graduate Colton Rodgers in COH89.

Rea has competed in eight COH fights in his amateur career, including his featherweight title-fight victory over Harvey Mardis in COH87. His last fight was also his first loss, a defeat by TKO against Isaac Dancy in COH88.

"It made me want to get into the cage even more," Rea said. "It'll make you feel like I want to rewrite that wrong and go knock somebody else out."

The journey from amateur to pro is not a glamorous one, and balancing that chase with life as a working adult proves challenging.

"I can't have a normal life," Hooe said.

"We have labor jobs," Hidalgo said. "So it puts wear and tear on our body, plus, we're fighting, we're really trying to make a career. We don't even get paid for this."

"It's a lot grind, a lot of time, a lot of money and dieting," Hooe said.

To them, all the grind is worth it once they enter the cage.

"To me, there's no other feeling," Hooe said. "As soon as you make that walk, you're truly free to do what you want."

The trio bonded over combat sports, from wrestling at Jackson High School to fighting under the War Eagle Fight Team banner. Wrestling is the foundation for most American MMA fighters, who pick up striking techniques after grappling.

"Wrestling is kind of similar in a sense," Hooe said, "You're out there in front of everybody you love, and you give your heart out. You're giving it your all. It's the same thing in MMA, but you're punching each other in the face."

They learned to fight under the instructions of the Bang Muay Thai system, taught by Duane Ludwig, an MMA veteran known for winning a UFC fight by knockout in six seconds, and for coaching TJ Dillashaw to a UFC championship.

"We're basically affiliated with a good striking system and legends of the game," Hidalgo said.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at fightforhonor.com and streamed live on mmafutures.live.