Miguel,(the Pikee), Devares Wins Debut Mma Fight

For some winning isn't everything; it's the only thing. For Miguel Devares, (The Pikee), winning is only part of the equation; part of his accomplishments and his life's goals. It sounds hard to believe when you're 1 - 0 and a new comer to the world of MMA, but in Devares' case winning is a catapult that has made him for now the face of the MMA in the Hispanic community of the South Bronx.

The 5-foot-9, 225-pound-er left 31-year-old Gary (The Monster) Brand crumpled in his wake early Wednesday afternoon in front of a near sellout of 2,000 at the Badger Kicks Dojo. The MMA debut of The Pikee was promised to be  very exciting and after only 1 min. and 38 seconds in the first round it was short from glorious.

Devares, 26, won his first ever mixed martial arts fight. Brand did the same thing 6 years ago when he beat Maurice Smith but mixed martial arts was in its infancy then.

Most fighters are nowhere near the MMA after one fight, but Devares is different, an imposing physical specimen with a background that includes military hand to hand combat, and hard core Jiu Jitsu training.

“The Pikee is an amazing athlete and such a well rounded guy,” MMA veteran  Dan Henderson, who was there for the fight, said. “So far he has won because of his athleticism and size. As he continues to grow as a fighter and gets more technical, God knows what this guy’s going to do.”

The fight ended when Devares caught Brand (15-3) with a right handed upper cut to the chin. A stunned Brand went down — “Next thing I know I was on the ground, eating leather” — and Devares pounced, delivering more than two dozen hammer-fists and punches until referee Mario Yamasaki stepped in one minute thirty-eight seconds into the first round.

Yamasaki would have done Brand a favor by stopping it earlier, though Brand seemed fine after the fight other than some facial lumps and abrasions.

"Everyone has dreams, but it is up to you to pursue them", Devares said. "I have always dreamed of one day becoming a professional athlete, I had my chances with the NFL, but I would have never dreamed that I would be involved in the world of MMA." Devares showed excellent sportsmanship for a rookie when after he celebrated went over to see how Brand was. When asked who helped him reach the dream of entering the MMA he responded; "There are so many people I would like to thank but I would not be here if it were not for two people who are near and dear to me two people who I love and adore, my wife and my son, who I do everything for. I would like to also thank Larry Johnson of Vale Tudo Gym for believing in me and pushing me to the max."

 The MMA world and I believe that there will be plenty more great fights to come from the rookie Miguel, (The Pikee), Devares. We are all pretty sure that after the show he put on for us on Nov. 26, all of his fights will have you on the edge of your seats, and screaming his name.