Caveman Rickels headlines a new era of Wichita MMA fighters

Before Wichita could become relevant in the mixed martial arts world, it needed a star to elevate itself on the national stage.

David Rickels, a 27-year-old from Derby, is the right fighter (he is 17-4 in his career) with the right charisma (his antics as the “Caveman” have made him a fan favorite) that came along at the right time to bring his sport to prominence in his hometown.

Bellator will return to the Wichita area for the second time this year on Friday night at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane for Bellator 159. It will be the 17th Bellator fight for Rickels, the most for the company, but equally important to Rickels, the card will feature five other local fighters who train at the same Wichita gym as him.

“I kicked enough butts to get them to come to Kansas and take a chance on the Caveman,” Rickels said. “Apparently it’s paid off pretty well because they keep coming back and they do great ratings when they’re here. It’s so cool that I’m able to do something I love so much and bring it here for everyone else in the city that loves it. It makes me a happy Caveman.”

Great fighters from Wichita existed before Rickels. He can rattle off their names, reciting a list of his inspirations when he began training with Andy Zerger in 2008. But none of those names put Wichita on the map.

Rickels is different, but in a way the same. Like many others, his career started with humble beginnings. His first fight was on dirt inside of a barn in Guymon, Okla., which ended with a first-round knockout victory. There has never been a platform for the sport in Wichita, but what makes Rickels different is that he created one — for himself and for others.

“His success has created this trickle-down effect,” Zerger said. “Now we’ve got several fighters that can jump on Bellator cards and that just didn’t happen five, six years ago.”

Zerger heads the JanJira Muay Thai Kansas gym at the Genesis Health Club on West 13th Street. His training is renowned not only in the state, but in the region. Fighters come from Kansas and Oklahoma to Zerger in search of improving their striking ability, which is what his fighters are known for.

He has always been able to pump out quality fighters, promising to make them better, more technical fighters. But Zerger has never been able to guarantee them exposure until Rickels took off.

“It’s actually kind of cool to step back and look at it,” Zerger said. “JMTK opened the door for Dave and Dave opened the door for literally the entire state of Kansas.”

Now others from the JMTK gym are looking to capitalize on their opportunities Friday. Jessica Middleton, Manny Meraz, Chris Harris and Brandon Phillips will all fight on the preliminary card.

Middleton, an East High graduate, is a scrappy strawweight fighter who went viral in 2014 for her spinning backfist knockout. But she desperately wants to prove she is more than a 15-second highlight and will make her professional debut against undefeated Bruna Ellen (2-0).

“I think it’s an amazing thing,” Middleton said. “I told David I honestly don’t think any of this would be possible if it wasn’t for him and I’m thankful for that. I don’t think I would be where I’m at right now in my career if it wasn’t for Bellator and for him.”

Harris, a 6-0 welterweight; Meraz, an 8-2 middleweight; and Phillips, a 5-1 featherweight, are all promising fighters whom Zerger believes could become stars with the right breaks. Now those breaks needed to jumpstart a career, like a dominant victory or a vicious knockout in front of the right people, are available to them on Friday.

Like Middleton, they recognize opportunities like this did not exist in the past for Wichita fighters.

“In my opinion, Dave’s the reason why Bellator comes to Wichita,” Harris said. “It’s all thanks to him. If it wasn’t for him, none of us would be where we are right now.”

Friday is important to Rickels, who can take a step closer to earning another shot at the title belt with a victory, but it’s equally important to the JMTK gym.

A new era for mixed martial arts in Wichita is coming and it’s being ushered in by rising talents like Middleton, Harris, Phillips, and Meraz, but it still needs a star.

Once again, Rickels is the right guy in the right place at the right time.

“That’s why I’m the king of Kansas,” Rickels said.

This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Caveman Rickels headlines a new era of Wichita MMA fighters."