I am New Yorks First Liberty Games Heavyweight Teen Champion.

[Conner MACHINE Gibbons]

Ok I know it sounds crazy because New York is the only state left where Pro MMA isn't legal and they refuse to sanction or recognize amateur events........but they did at there own Liberty Games. Don't try to figure it out it's New York logic. Lol.

It used to be called The Empire State Games but it was changed to Liberty Games a couple years ago. It is where elite athletes are invited to compete in the sport they are skilled in to try and win gold. It is kind of a mini Olympics of all young athletes in N.Y. In the past many of the competitors have gone onto make the U.S Olympic team.

This was the first year they added No Gi Grappling, MMA and Muay Thai/ Kick Boxing. I entered all 3 divisions. We had a very long rules meeting and the officials begged all of us not to go bat shit crazy and try to kill each other or knock each other out. It was tough but they made it clear that how we handled ourselves would go a long way for the event being left in for next year and getting Albany to accept MMA and change the laws.

I won gold in heavyweight expert no-gi teen division

I won gold in heavyweight expert mma teen division. ( I followed their instruction and didn't knock anyone out. Lol. I could have but I want the people in charge to accept the sport I love) But controlling my power didn't mean I was going to look bad. Lol. I went all 3 rounds for my gold medal match and never had a glove land on me. Slipped every punch and delivered 32 of the hardest leg kicks I have ever landed. I got a standing ovation when the match ended. Felt great !!!

All 3 of the fighters who were matched to fight me in Muay Thai dropped out and refused to fight me. Lol. They offered to gold medal me because of it but I told them to keep it.

[Tony "The Goods" Garcia]

That's right baby! You're down like 4 flats on a Cadillac!

[John Mejia]

That's right baby! You're down like 4 flats on a Cadillac!

Out Fuckin' Standing!

[Sam Sales]

Nice!!! Congratulations

[Chris Herzog]

Awesome work Conner!

Just ahead up Empire State Games used to have huge depth in combat sports Judo, Wrestling and Boxing. It wasn't just for scholastic athletes its was for "Open" adult atheletes as well. Not sure if they changed it with the new format. There wasn't just future Olypians compete in the games there where Olypians in the games as well. They used to be broken into the 5 regions of NY, you had to win your regions trials 2 months before the games to even qualifiy. You are in good company brotha, Scott and Sarkis are past ESG Champs, and I'm a 2x ESG champ

Do they still have the trials? I still have them somene where but when you made the teams they used to give you sweet warm ups, gi patch, t-shirt, etc. for your region.

[Conner MACHINE Gibbons]

Yes coach Zog they still have all that for those fields that you talked about. And it is for all ages. The whole event runs like 2 weeks to get thru all the events. In fact I heard that a black belt guy I used to do some judo work with just went and competed. He has been going for decades and is in his 70's. My dad said Empire games only had the best of the best competing. He said the same thing when I decided to go. He said the same thing you did, judo, boxing and wrestling were the strongest divisions. Filled with champions and future champions.

This was the first year for no-gi jiu jitsu, muay thai/kickboxing and mma and they only allowed competitors up to age 16. They said they did it under those limits to see how it would work and be accepted. I'm sure by the way they were talking they want to expand and open it up like all the other sports in the future.

[Conner MACHINE Gibbons]

P.S. I have seen the warm up jackets they used to give out when you made the team. My dad has one. His is yellow and has blue letters on back that say Empire State games. It's pretty badass. But nothing like that for us, or at least not for the new division this year. Gray T-shirts that say Liberty Games. Lol.

[Chris Herzog]

let me see if i can dig up some empire state game videos

[Chris Herzog]

I'm not sure what year scott took 1st, but heres 2008 Sarkis 1st, Scott 3rd:

[Chris Herzog]

Me winning the 2000 ESG Open Divison (Absolute):