XFL stands for X-treme Fighting League and was put together by one of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s favorite sons and kickboxing legend, Dale Apollo Cook. This week, the XFL puts on its first show of 2010, March Badness, one that follows up a spectacular event that closed out 2009, a card that included such notable MMA names as Tim Boetsch, Jeremy Horn, Jeff Monson, Rich Clementi, and Houston Alexander. That particular card also produced one of the UFC’s newest and promising fighters, Joey “The Mexicutioner” Beltran who won his UFC debut against Rolles Gracie, of the famed Gracie clan.

The XFL is no joke. You won’t find anyone named “He Hate Me” in this league. What you will find, though, is a great local promotion that puts on an entertaining fight card with highly-skilled fighters who know how to put on an action-packed fight.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with XFL founder, Dale Apollo Cook, and main event fighter Levi “The Marine” Avera leading up to the March Badness event.

Dale Apollo Cook is a Tulsa native, local fighting legend, and XFL founder.

FightPros: Dale, it’s an honor and a great pleasure to be able to talk to you. FightPros appreciates you taking time out of your very busy schedule to have a talk with us.

Dale Apollo Cook (DAC): It’s my pleasure. Thank you for doing this.

FightPros: Can you give those that may not know you a little insight into your martial arts background?

DAC: I started in tae-kwon-do in 1974, made my black belt in ’76, and back then there wasn’t a whole lot going on in the fight world. But to become a kickboxer back then you also had to become a promoter. So I started                 promoting and fighting in my own shows and did that for 22 years. Along the way I won 5 world kickboxing titles. I’m too old to fight now, so I’m still promoting.

FightPros: What drew you to MMA?

DAC: Man, to me this is just an extension of kickboxing, the evolution of the sport. To me, I rank everything that has to do with fighting as combat sports. I’ve been a huge fan and advocate of combat sports for a long time. In my opinion, Bruce Lee was the first real mixed martial artist, and that’s what got me into martial arts. I’m glad to see the sport now of mixed martial arts getting the dues it deserves. When I fought in Japan, I saw how this could be a big sport, you know, there were 60,000 people in the Tokyo Dome when it was on free TV. So I believed that this sport had a future because I saw that future in Japan. Of course, now, people talk about coming to the big leagues. It’s here, it’s not in Japan and that’s because of the UFC.

FightPros: How did you get involved in fight promotion?

DAC: I had no choice. If you were in Oklahoma in the mid-70’s and you wanted to be a kickboxer, you had to become a promoter.

FightPros: How did the XFL come about?

DAC: The XFL is really just an extension of the promotion company I started back in 1977. We started doing mixed combat fights way before UFC. Our bouts were judo versus boxing, and tae-kwon-do versus kickboxing, that sort of thing, so we were doing that a couple years before UFC.

FightPros: MMA is easily one of the fastest, if not the fastest, growing sports in the world. What are your thoughts on its growth and where does the XFL fit in the equation?

DAC: I think the sport still has a way to go. It’s eclipsed boxing and wrestling in this country, but still, it’s going to rival football. I really believe that.

Where does the XFL fit in that equation? I think the XFL will probably become a feeder league for Strikeforce, that’s what I think. Sort of like The King of the Cage became a feeder for bigger events. At least that’s our hopes, anyway.

FightPros: Where would you like to see the XFL five years down the road in the fight promotion landscape?

DAC: A league that champions fight and win in the UFC and Strikeforce. A league that was here before those guys and that will be here for a long time. We’d really like the XFL to go to the next level. I really don’t think we’ll be a Strikeforce, but we could be a good partner for Strikeforce or UFC.

FightPros: Alright, let’s get into this weekend’s event…tell us about March Badness.

DAC: It’s a 14-bout card of MMA. It features the return of one of Oklahoma’s favorite sons in Jake Rosholt. Jake attended Oklahoma State University where he was a four-time All-American and three-time National Champion. He progressed, won a couple of MMA fights and XFL produced a show on HDNet that starred Jake and got him his big break. He made it to UFC and had a big win over Chris Leben. He lost his last fight and, I think, got temporarily cut. It’s one of those ‘go win a few fights and we’ll have you back’ kind of things, and this is that fight. We’re glad to have Jake back in the XFL, but we hope it’s not for very long. But, he’s taking on a really tough guy in Rudy Lindsey. Rudy is the current XFL 205lb champion. Prior to that, he held the heavyweight title for three years. He’s coming down to 195 and Jake’s coming up to 195. They’re going to compete at that catch weight. It’s a 50/50 fight, in my opinion. But that’s not the main event. Levi Avera (pronounced Avery) from Team Nogueira, here in Tulsa, will be defending his 170 lb title against Mike Keyon Jackson who is a BJJ fighter who trains now with Matt Hughes, and that’s going to be a barn burner. The guy’s going to try and take the title away from Levi, a title he’s held for three years. That’s the main event. It’s a good full card. It’s our first show of 2010, so we hope to get it started with a big one.

FightPros: What would you tell the average sports fan, or even an avid fight fan, who hasn’t seen a live MMA event? What would you say to get them to come check out this weekend’s event?

DAC: This weekend’s event pits some of the bravest and most skilled athletes that you could ever see competing in…I don’t like the term cagefighting…I believe mixed martial arts is like the ultimate one-on-one competition. You’ve got to be so much smarter in mixed martial arts than boxing and kickboxing because there’s so many ways to win and so many ways to lose. If you want to see the drama of two brave, skilled athletes one-on-one, this is the sport for you.

FightPros: Dale, thank you for your insight to the XFL. Now let’s get to your main event fighter, Levi Avera. Levi, thanks for taking the time out of your fight week to talk with us.

Levi “The Marine” Avera (LA): No problem, man.

FightPros: Tell us a little bit about your background. What did you do before MMA?

LA: I wrestled for about seven years growing up and in high school. Then I went to the marines, and that’s about it. I really didn’t do any martial arts before then. I just played   sports through school, and then just decided to train one day.

FightPros: What got you into MMA?

LA: I was just training because I was a little overweight. I thought I was fat. I always had a six-pack growing up, so after sitting around on the couch drinking 12-15 beers a   night I lost that six-pack. So, I decided to come try out the training. I didn’t even want to fight. I just wanted to train and get myself into better shape. Then about three or four months into training, I was approached about fighting, so I thought I’d try it out.

FightPros: What do you like most about being a fighter?

LA: I just like the competition. Like I said, I played sports my whole life. From the time   I was five and all the way through high school, I played sports, whether it was baseball or whatever. I even tried tennis and soccer. I didn’t care. I just liked sports and the competition. It’s like Dale said, ‘it’s one-on-one.’ You can’t double-team or play zone like in basketball. It’s you against that one guy. There’s nothing better.

FightPros: With a nickname like “The Marine,” you obviously have a military background. Tell us a little about that.

LA: Yeah, I graduated high school and went to the marines. I got to go to Japan and spent a little time in Behrain and Iraq and even spent a little time in Afghanistan.

FightPros: How has that background helped you in MMA?

LA: I don’t fear a fight. I get nervous and I get the jitters just like everyone else, but there’s no fear. That guy can’t kill me. I’ve been to Iraq, and I’ve been shot at, and I’ve seen my buddies die. I’ve had bombs dropped close to me. I’ve held compression on my buddy as he’s gushing blood. This man can’t do that to me, so I don’t have that fear. I just go out there and fight my hardest. Being from the marines, I have a lot of pride, so I don’t want to lose and make the marines look bad.

FightPros: So, you said you’ve seen friends die. Obviously, they didn’t come home like you did, so do you use the memories of your friends who gave the ultimate sacrifice as motivation in your fights?

LA: Yeah, that’s my #1 motivation. I fight so I can win, so I can tell people about them. If I had lost 13 fights and only won 6, I probably wouldn’t be getting this interview and no one would know about my friends and how I fight for them. It drives me to win, so I can tell more people about them and the things they did.

FightPros: What are your goals as a fighter?

LA: I’ve heard some good things from people, so I’m hoping to win a few more fights and move up to a bigger show, maybe Strikeforce. Which I fought the Strikeforce Challengers card and lost but, you know, they’re coming back. So, I hope to win a few more fights and maybe get on another Strikeforce card. If not, then, maybe the UFC or MFC in Canada will want to take a look at me.

FightPros: What’s your style of fighting? What are your strengths?

LA: I’m pretty good on the ground. I got some wrestling experience. When I first started training, we just trained jiu-jitsu. We didn’t do a whole lot of standing. But, I focus now about 90% on my standup because that’s my weakness and I want to get better at it. But I do well on the ground and my standup is getting better every day.

FightPros: Do you have a favorite technique/move?

LA: In the gym, I like to hit the D’Arce choke. For some reason, that’s what I seem to get people into in the gym, but I’ve finished quite a few fights by armbar. I like chokes because if you choke someone and they don’t tap, it’s OK ‘cause they’re going to pass out and you win. It’s easy to fight off an armbar rather than a choke.

FightPros: What do you know about your opponent, Mike Keyon Jackson, and how do you match up with him?

LA: He’s left-handed. They say he’s a pretty good wrestler and he’s a brown belt in JJ, so I think he’s going to be real good on the ground. I heard he doesn’t have real good standup, so I think we might try to push it there. If he takes me to the ground, I think we’ll be pretty even there. Standing, I know I’m goingn to have the edge, so we’re going to push to keep the fight on our feet. If he gets me to the ground, he gets me to the ground. I’m comfortable there.

FightPros: Did you do anything special or make any changes in your training to prepare for Keyon?

LA: I’ve been training super hard. Been doing a lot of cardio and strength training. I train so hard that usually I have to cut 20lbs a month, but because I’ve been pushing my cardio so hard I can’t put weight on. I’ve been training for ten five-minute rounds.

FightPros: You were recently picked up by Triumph United to sponsor you. What does that mean to you as a fighter to have a big sponsor like Triumph step up and sponsor you?

LA: It feels great. I didn’t really know who they were and definitely didn’t think they knew who I was. They sent me some packages and said, ‘Here, wear our gear.’ It helps out a lot getting gear. It helps you train and focus on other things. You’re not worried about stupid stuff. You know you have someone backing you. Free gear is good. Any kind of sponsorship is amazing. I looked at their website thinking it was going to be some small, local sponsor. But when I see the site, there’s huge UFC stars wearing their gear and Dana White wearing their gear, so I was really excited.

FightPros: This weekend, you have the hometown advantage, growing up in Claremore, OK, just a few miles up route 66. How does that play into the fight for you? How big is that for you as a fighter?

LA: It’s pretty big. When you walk into an event and everyone is screaming your name, it’s pretty cool. I remember my second fight walking out, and I only had 12 fans yelling for me and I thought that was cool. Then the guy I was fighting walks out and he has about thirty people screaming for him. It was a huge difference. For this event, I’ve sold at least 200 tickets, so I’ll have at least 200 people yelling for me. And I don’t even know how many tickets they’ve sold at Apollo’s. So, yeah, I guess I’ve become popular so that’s gonna be an advantage for me.

FightPros: What can friends, supporters, and fight fans expect out of you on Saturday Night?

LA: Expect a good fight.  I try not to let anybody down. It’s gonna be a good fight. I’m gonna go out there and do everything I can to win. I hope it’s going to be exciting. I try to get in there and get out. I don’t like to get punched too much. I’m gonna get in there and do what I do, then go out afterwards and have a few drinks with friends.

FightPros: What’s a final message you’d like to give those people?

LA: Just come out and watch me. It’ll be a good show. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

FightPros: Is there anyone specific you’d like to thank?

LA: I’d like to thank my wife, Jenny. She puts up with a lot of crap. I’ve been dieting for a couple weeks now and I get edgy. I get real snappy, so I just want to tell her thanks for putting up with my crap. I know it’s hard to deal with somebody that gripes just for being asked to open a ketchup bottle. She really does do a lot and she supports me, so I want to thank her.

FightPros: Levi, good luck this weekend. I’m sure that, win or lose, you’ll do your friends, family, and the Marines very proud.

I attended the last XFL event of 2009.  Honestly, I was surprised at how smoothly it ran and how action-packed and entertaining the fight card was. I’ve also had the privilege of attending a live UFC event, UFC Fight Night 19 in Oklahoma City. While the UFC may have the big name and the popular fighters, each one of the fighters of the XFL displays the heart and fight of a champion. Come out to March Badness this Saturday at the Spirit Bank Event Center in Tulsa, OK. The doors open at 7:00pm and the fights start at 8:00pm. I agree with Levi, you won’t be disappointed.

–Brandon Wofford, FightPros Contributor

The event includes a 14-bout fight card headlined by former UFC fighter Jake Rosholt and local hometown hero, Levi “The Marine” Avera.

Jake Rosholt, a UFC veteran and three-time NCAA wrestling national champion out of Oklahoma State University returns to Oklahoma after a 1-2 stint in the UFC.  He begins looking to climb back to MMA’s main stage.  On the main card he’ll be taking on Bellator Fighting veteran and the current XFL Light Heavyweight champion, “Rowdy” Rudy Lindsey.  Lindsey is coming off a recent loss against another former UFC vet, Tim Boetsch. Rosholt and Lindsey will be competing at a catch weight of 195 lbs.

In the main event, Levi “The Marine”Avera will be defending his Welterweight XFL title against  the 9-4 Mike Keyon Jackson, a protégé of Matt Hughes and a member of the HIT Squad. Avera (pronounced Avery), touts a 14-6 record and fights out of Team Nogueira in Tulsa, OK.

Doors open at 7:00pm and the fights begin at 8:00pm.

Stay tuned to FightPros.com as interviews with XFL promoter, Dale Apollo Cook, Levi “The Marine” Avera, and Jake Rosholt will follow.

March Badness fight card:

1-MMA 170LBS BOUT
Ronnie Hopkins (Team Roller) VS Clay Simpson (Ft. Smith)

2-KICKBOXING 155LBS BOUT
Bill Rothrock (Apollo’s Owasso) VS Toby Spencer (XFC)

3-MMA 155LBS BOUT
Chris Underwood (LA Boxing) VS Luke Newell (All Star Fight Club)

4-KICKBOXING 150LBS BOUT
Jerod Rouse (Team Rouse – Apollo’s Karate) VS Tyrese Jackson (Ft. Smith)

5-MMA 170LBS BOUT
Richard Fernandez (LA Boxing) VS Jerod Stidham (All Star Fight Club)

6-MMA 150LB BOUT
Demarco Whitley (Muskogee) VS Charlie Mills (LA Boxing)

7-KICKBOXING 155LBS BOUT
TC O’Neal (Apollo’s) VS Matt Ludwick (All Star Fight Club)

8-MMA 180LBS BOUT
Steve Adams (Oklahoma Fight Club) VS Myron Dennis (Team Coleman)

9-MMA 140LB BOUT
Trey Simpson (Apollo’s Owasso) VS Tim Pirtle (All Star Fight Club)

10-MMA 150LBS SUPERFIGHT
Paul Linam (OFC and Mikey Burnett protégé) VS Ramon Barber (XCF champ)

11-KICKBOXING 205LBS SUPERFIGHT
Randy Blake (Apollo’s) VS TBA

12-MMA XFL 185LB CHAMPIONSHIP
Undefeated Trey Houston (Miletich/Apollo’s) VS 185 lb XFL Champ Brandon Gaines (Miami)

13-MMA 195LBS SUPERFIGHT
Jake Rosholt – Extreme Couture [3 TIME NCAA WRESTLING CHAMP AND UFC VET]
VS
“Rowdy” Rudy Lindsey (Garage Boys) [XFL 205LB CHAMPION]

14-MMA XFL 170LB CHAMPIONSHIP
Levi “The Marine” Avera (Team Nogiera) [XFL 170LB CHAMPION]
VS
Mike Keyon Jackson (The Hit Squad) [MATT HUGHES PROTÉGÉ]