For the week of November 20 - 26, 2002

Lee Anderson earns a "Best Fighter" sword

Not-so-easy superfighting at The Big Easy

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Fairfield’s Lee Anderson went down to The Big Easy concert house in Boise on Saturday, Oct. 26—but he wasn’t attending a music concert.

Fairfield’s Lee Anderson dishes out some punishment in a recent “superfight” bout. Courtesy photo

As one of the main competitors in the Superfights II "Unfinished Business," event that was unleashed by John Holsman Productions, Anderson was fighting in front of a crowd. A big crowd.

Anderson said, "It was packed. The energy was unbelievable. It really motivated me."

Superfights are mixed martial arts, "No-Holds-Barred," events modeled after the Ultimate Fighting Championships on pay-per-view television.

Anderson was making his "No-Holds-Barred," debut against the more experienced and highly-touted Marcos Rodriguez of Boise—and it was a successful debut for Anderson.

The crowd-pleasing, exciting bout between Anderson and Rodriguez was easily the most exciting confrontation of the evening.

It was hard-fought on both sides.

From the opening bell Anderson showed his aggressive strategy. He took the fight to Rodriguez. After a quick exchange with both fighters on their feet, Anderson took Rodriguez to the mat and gained the advantage.

Anderson struck the head and body of Rodriguez. But Rodriguez proved to be a tenacious and intelligent adversary. His defensive skills kept Anderson from finishing him off in the first round.

In the end, Anderson prevailed and was declared the winner by decision. He was also named "Best Fighter of the Night," and was presented with the "Gladiator’s Sword."

Anderson prepared for the fight with boxing trainer Matt Croner of Fairfield, and also with Dean Heileman of Precision Jiu-Jitsu at Falls Fitness in Twin Falls.

The young man who graduated in 1989 from Hailey’s Wood River High School also trains and teaches both boxing and Jiu-Jitsu at Peak One Cross Training Center in Fairfield.

Anderson, 31, has been participating in no-rules fighting since 1992 and has done martial arts since he was 12 years old.

The Anderson Asphalt worker is currently preparing for another match in the next edition of Superfights, slated for January or February 2003.

And he’s excited about it.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.