Brad ‘Bad Brad’ McDonald of Oakdale MMA continues his 6-1 professional fight career with an anticipated showdown with MMA veteran Sergio Quinones during a Tachi Palace fight card in Lemoore on Friday.
Meanwhile, 10 other Oakdale fighters continue their six-week pre-fight keep in preparation for tests across various leagues and divisions of combat in the state.
McDonald, the younger brother of teammate and highly regarded UFC fighter Michael McDonald, is soaring on the momentum of two 2011 victories, including a stunning 25-second knockout of Thomas Bishop (0-2) on Feb. 20 and a thrilling split decision win over Jesse Bowen (7-6) on May 6.
Quinones (5-7) has won three of his last five fights, including a unanimous decision victory over winless Matt Pea on April 2 of this year. Quinones split wins and losses to start his career, but was submitted via triangle choke by Oakdale High graduate and Oakdale MMA standout Bill Theofanopoulos in the midst of a four-fight losing streak for over a year in 2008 and 2009.
Brad McDonald knows Quinones, won’t be a pushover, but is certainly prepared to come away the victor.
“I’m feeling really good right now,” he said on Monday. “I’m excited, and I can’t wait to get out there and put on a great show.
“(Quinones) has a lot of experience and he is a really tough guy, so to beat him I will have to be on my ‘A’ game.
McDonald isn’t the only Oakdale fighter training for game opponents. OHS graduate Martin Sandoval is expected to defend his 125-pound flyweight belt during a Rebel Fighter title fight with Randy Rodoni on Aug. 13.
It’s the same card that will feature Oakdale MMA light-heavyweight Angel DeAnda, 135-pound Ramoni Koeut, 145-pound Junior Villanueva and 135-pound amateur Eloy ‘The Gun’ Garza.
On Aug. 20, Lamar Reed (185) and Nathan Schindler (205) will tackle opponents in an amateur Camo Tournament.
Less than two weeks later, entertaining Muay Thai fighter Quincy Shoemann will appear in an International Kickboxing Federation card at the Double Tree Hotel in Sacramento on Sept. 2. Schoemann fights former Muy Thai Association of America National Champion Bounthong Syvanthong in the main event.
The Oakdale MMA lineup continues in September with fights for DeAnda, Villanueva and always exciting sluggernaught Justin Smitley on an All Pro Show card at the Turlock Fairgrounds.
Villanueva, Grace Magnussen, Sandoval and McDonald also tackle the Merced Fairgrounds and an All Pro Show on Oct. 15.