Gabe Rednose reflects on his Pan-Am silver
GABE REDNOSE, far left, holds up the American flag while standing on the medal stand at the IMMAF Pan-Am Championships. Rednose was defeated in the light heavyweight championship by Mexico’s Aaron Rios, who is standing next to him. [Photo provided]
A disappointed Gabe Rednose, right, poses with Aaron Rios after losing their light heavyweight fight at the Pan-Am Championships last week. [Photo by Juliana Daguano]
It wasn’t the finish Gabe Rednose wanted, but it was the experience he expected.
Rednose had to settle for runner-up last Friday after the light heavyweight championship fight of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Pan-American Championships.
Mexico’s Aaron Rios was able to lock in a knee bar, which forced Rednose to submit 55 seconds into their title fight in Monterrey, Mexico.
“I just got too excited and rushed into my pass after getting the takedown,” said Rednose of the moments leading up to the end of the fight.
The Kingfisher High School graduate was able to take Rios to the mat before the fight turned against him.
“I had good control leading up to him being inverted,” Rednose said. “He just capitalized and caught me where I was vulnerable.”
The loss ended a tournament that started with Rednose needing just 1:29 to earn a first-round TKO against Ronnie Chadband of Trinidad and Tobago in the previous day’s semifinal.
Rednose entered the final confident.
“Overall, I’m very disappointed and I know I was very capable of winning that fight,” he said. “It will haunt me for a long time.”
However, said Rednose, he was able to represent more than just his hometown and his Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes at the international competition.
“I was blessed with the opportunity to represent Team USA,” he said. “The experience was everything I expected.”
As for what’s next, Rednose said he’ll take some time to make his decision.
“I’m not sure when I’ll get back into the cage again. This one will sting for awhile,” he said.
“I’m going to take a few weeks and get some much-needed family time in. I’ll recover and go from there. I do know that I’ve appreciated everyone who supported me. It really means a lot.”