HOT SPRINGS, Ark.—Damon “Natural Born Killer” Miller and Blake “The Bezerker” Vonheeder out of DeRidder have been training to be the best mixed martial arts (MMA) possible on a daily basis for several years. Miller and Vonheeder will have a chance to make all of their hard work payoff when they go in the ring for MMA Cage Fights Saturday night in Hot Springs, Ark.

This will be the first MMA fight for Miller (6-0, 195) and his opponent will be Richard Werheim out of a ju jitsu school Texarkana, Texas. Werheim has a 1-0 record in his fights.

“It’s (being in a MMA fight) been a dream of mine for a long time,” Miller said, adding he has been working to get to this point since he was a teen and participated in taekwondo and hapkido.

Vonheeder (5-7, 160) has a 2-2 record in his previous fights and his opponent will be Daniel Weber, also out out of a ju jitsu school in Texarkana, Texas. Weber has a 1-2 record in MMA fights.

“I enjoy it (MMA),” Vonheeder said. “I studied this when I was 15-years-old.”
MMA fights consist of kickboxing, boxing, ju jitsu, judo, muaythai, wrestling, grappling and jeet kune do.

Miller and Vonheeder both learned MMA at Double Dragon Martial Arts School in DeRidder. They are the first students from the school scheduled for MMA fights and their instructors were proud of them.

“I’m excited about it,” James Halbert, Double Dragon Martial Arts School owner/head instructor, said. “It’s been coming for a long time for us as instructors and school owners.”

“In general we like to offer the support to our students,” Brandon Fletcher, Double Dragon Martial Arts School owner/head instructor, said. “It gives them an opportunity to test themselves and find out who they are.”

Both Miller and Vonheeder were inspired by some of the best fighters.

Miller enjoyed watching Royce Gracie.

“He’s the best in Brazilian ju jitsu,” Miller said. “He’s the man.”

Vonheeder watched the Ultimate Fighter Championship (UFC) on TV.

“The one that caught my attention would be Matt Hughes,” Vonheeder said.

Now Miller and Vonheeder hope to take their strengths to the ring and come home with victories.

“I’m more of a study fighter so I’m looking for a knockout,” Miller said, adding he could also win through striking.

Although it is Miller’s first match at this level, he has competed in other fights. He has been training in MMA for three years.

“I’m not used to it (MMA), but I got the feel of the crowd,” Miller said. “It’s going to be great.
“I’m ready to do it and I’m coming home with a win.”

Vonheeder’s experience from four previous fights has helped his game become more well rounded.

“I do have a big ground game, but this time I have a little bit more than that,” Vonheeder said. “They’re going to be shocked when they see it.”

The opponents will be tough, but Miller and Vonheeder are prepared.

“Being this is my debut, it’s going to be a good fight for me,” Miller said.

“I’m in it to win it. I think this is going to be a really good fight for me.”

Vonheeder said he would deal with the fight like another day at the office and go home with a win.

“You can’t underestimate anybody,” Vonheeder said.

Halbert said game plans could change midstream during the fights if Miller and Vonheeder see things they do not expect. He added the fight itself was the easiest part of the process and the training was where it was tough.

“We put them through hell,” Halbert said. “Training is extremely, extremely rough.”

Miller is currently a construction worker. He hopes to be able to do MMA for a living at some point.

“[I would like to] do something I like to do that I’m good at,” Miller said.

Vonheeder is still in high school.

“It’s just a side thing for me,” Vonheeder said, but he would like to eventually fight on a regular basis.

Participating in other sports also helped prepare Miller and Vonheeder for their fights Saturday.

Miller was a pitcher and played first base for the DeRidder Dragons baseball team.

“That’s probably why I’ve got a good right hand,” Miller said.

Vonheeder played defensive tackle for the Rosepine Eagles.

He said that helped his grabbing and other parts of his game in MMA.

Miller thanked the sponsors for making it possible for him to fight Saturday. He thanked his wife Jessica for being there for him. He thanked his instructors, which included Halbert and Fletcher.
His Japanese ju jitsu instructor for a year was Joey Harvey and his prodigy MMA instructor was Zack Strickland.

Vonheeder thanked his family, friends and teammates. One teammate was Chad Booth, who is also a cage fighter and supported and worked with Vonheeder. Vonheeder thanked Halbert and Fletcher and his prodigy MMA instructor Strickland.

Halbert and Fletcher have 30 years of experience combined in martial arts.

Double Dragon Martial Arts School started in Halbert’s living room. Until recently, that was where Miller and Vonheeder trained.

“Most of these guys first session with me was in my living room,” Halbert said.

Now that there is a mixed martial arts school in DeRidder, Halbert said he expects more of his students to be in MMA fights in the near future.

“We’re going to make a lot of noise,” Halbert said.