Sports of all Sorts: Fox Lane, Somers Grads Win "Fight of the Night"

Donny Angiello and Kado Ford work hard each week teaching the martial arts at Premier Martial Arts in Bedford Hills.

But the two, who are both former high school football standouts from Northern Westchester, have not lost sight of one very important thing.

"When you actually fight yourself, I think it makes you a better teacher," said Angiello, a 2004 Somers High School graduate.

Angiello and Ford, a 2006 Fox Lane grad, were each named co-winners of the "Fight of the Night" award at the Battlegrounds Fighting Championships held in Bergenfield, N.J., on May 1.

Their fights were among 12 "smoker" or exhibition fights featuring competitors from the Jersey Shore, Long Island, New York City and Westchester. Each fight consisted of three, two-minute rounds.

Angiello, who competed in the 170-pound weight class (after weighing in at 165), fought against Kyle Dunham of New Jersey, who weighed in at 171.

"He came out strong," Angiello said. "He hurt me pretty bad with a flying knee to the sternum midway through the first round. I felt like I was almost going to go down, but I held it together."

But Angiello came back strong in Rounds 2 and 3.

"I felt I was able to kick his legs," Angiello said. "That's where all the power is. They serve as your base. You really don't punch with your arms. You punch with your legs."

Ford, who fought in the 150-pound weight class, was pitted against Jonathan Braschetta, who, like Angiello's opponent, is a New Jersey resident.

"I started out as the aggressor," said Ford, the head instructor at Premier Martial Arts. "I threw a right kick. Then he threw a right kick, but I caught it."

Things escalated from there.

"It was exciting and hard fought," Ford said. "It went back and forth. I caught a pretty solid shot to the stomach, then he caught a few good shots. I think we both got better as it went on."

Angiello said he first became interest in MMA while a freshman on the football team at St. Peter's College in 2004. He later transferred to Western Connecticut State University.

His first amateur kickboxing fight occurred last year at LA Boxing's Fight Night in Mamaroneck. He recorded a first-round knockout with a big overhand left.

Angiello, who is the program director at Premier Martial Arts, said he thinks MMA athletes are the best athletes in the world.

"In order to compete, you need to be an expert in at least one fight style and able to fight in a variety of other styles as well," he said.

He said he first became interest in MMA while a freshman on the football team at St. Peter's College in 2004. He later transferred to Western Connecticut State University.

Angiello's his first amateur kickboxing fight occurred last year at LA Boxing's Fight Night in Mamaroneck. He recorded a first-round knockout with a big overhand left.

Like Ford, Angiello thinks that being a competitor helps him be a better teacher.

"It's great," Ford said. "It gives you insight into what you know. As you get better, your students get better."