LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — A mixed-martial arts event Saturday night in central Ohio had a decidedly north central Ohio flair.
AFP (American Fight Promotions) 103 combined action in the cage with hip-hop performances Saturday, creating a night that blended sport and culture at the TOCA Soccer & Sports Center in Lewis Center.
Mansfield artists Vaundoom, Zuc, Devy Kay and Thuh Koz energized fans alongside DJ Dro Jack, who kicked off the evening with a pre-show set.
The fights that followed highlighted both rising talent and veteran experience, none more emotional than the return of Ashland’s Chad Trukovich.
At age 50, Trukovich stepped back into the cage for what he said would be his final fight after three decades in combat sports. He left victorious — and reflective.
“At 50 years old fighting competitively isn’t easy,” Trukovich wrote in a statement on his Facebook page. “Your body changes as you get older and reacts differently. With that being said, I went out there with all my heart and glory to give back to the sport.”
He said the night was about honoring those closest to him.
“I couldn’t let my fighters down and I wanted to let all my friends and family witness my passion one last time,” Trukovich said. “A special thanks to my wife, you have supported me so much and watched me transitioned into the animal I had to become one more time. I will love you forever.”
The veteran fighter said his elaborate entrance — standing in a shopping cart and surrounded by black balloons — carried symbolic meaning.
“The shopping cart represents a cage. As in we are all stuck in some type of cage in life,” he wrote. “The balloon’s represent burdens. To be able to step out of the cage in life, you need to let go of your burdens so you can enjoy living a better life.
“That one single balloon was lust, a burden that affected my life greatly. I popped that son of bitch because I knew that burden was no longer gonna burden me.”
After 30 years in combat sports, Trukovich said closing this chapter of his life felt right.
“I gave my all, did exactly what I said I was gonna do and went out on top,” he said. “One that will go down in history.”
PHOTOS FROM AFP 103
📷 Credit: Rob Stroul
