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Dakota Vance to take undefeated MMA record into April 24 fight card at Mason City Arena

Dakota Vance to take undefeated MMA record  into April 24 fight card at Mason City Arena
Press photo by John Burbridge
Former state wrestling podium placer Dakota Vance currently has a 3-0 amatuer MMA record. He’s due to fight again on April 24 after more than an 18-month layoff.

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — If you blinked, you may have missed Dakota Vance’s first two bouts as a mixed martial arts fighter.

In a combined span of less than 40 seconds, Vance pounded Jon Ware and Trevor Bruse for quicksilver stoppages while earning the Elite Fight League 185-pound amatuer title against Bruse.

Vance gave fans more of their money’s worth in his third fight against Deven Current.

“I was exhausted at the end of the first round … my legs were gone,” Vance said. “I just went into instinct mode from my wrestling background, and battled for survival.”

Vance not only was able to go the distance in the three 5-minute round bout, but managed to get the split-decision win.

That was more than18 months ago. Now, Vance is ready to step back into the cage.

“I don’t know who I’m fighting yet,” Vance said last week about his pending opponent amid the North Iowa Fights MMA card set for April 24 at the Mason City Arena, 11 South Washington Ave.

“It will likely be someone from Minnesota. There are two guys from there who are interested in fighting me.”

Like many aspiring MMA fighters, Vance has been willing to travel far from his hometown of Charles City to train with topnotch fighters and coaches from across the country.

“I loved it out there,” Vance said of stops in California and Colorado, “but my family is here and I’m glad to be back.”

Vance had hoped to be more active since his last fight, but the pandemic has hampered MMA promotions that primarily rely on ticket sales from spectators.

But Vance has not allowed the pandemic to curtail his training, and now fighting at 170 pounds, believes he’s in the best shape of his life.

“I’m in much better cardio shape now,” said Vance, who learned after his bout against Current that he has asthma and is taking medication for it. “I have also progressed mentally.

“When I won my first fights, I went out trying to end them as quickly as possible. I know now that’s not always going to happen. I know I need to be more patient … approach things more like a martial artists than someone going for a quick knockout.”

Vance wrestled at Charles City before becoming a podium placer for Rockford at the State Wrestling Championships in 2017 despite battling an illness during that weekend in Des Moines.

He’s a second-generation MMA fighter as his father, Chad Vance, was a championship belt holder and even fought on the same card with his son. The elder Vance would later win his “retirement” fight at the age of 46.

Like his father, Dakota Vance plans to go pro.

“I grew up with the sport and I’ll probably stay with it for a long time,” Vance said. “After I’m done fighting, I can see myself as a trainer.”

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