Dickey Chavez - Matchmaker for Jackon's MMA Series II
John Fullilove, Jackson's MMA Series
Jackson's MMA Series: What are your thoughts about the last show in June?
Dickie Chavez: I thought the show came out really, really well for our first show. The fight card was pretty evenly matched. I really liked it. I got a lot of compliments on the fight card itself. People are expecting the same and more. I’m going to have to boost it up and see what we got.
Jackson's MMA Series: Last show you brought in Natasha Creger from Chute Boxe late to replace another fighter. Was that difficult or is that what you just have to plan for with any fight card?
Dickie Chavez: What I usually do is that I always have fighters sitting on ice. If I feel a fighter is shaky or something is going to happen then I know what to do right away and call somebody and say, “Hey do you have a fighter?” I would say 80% of the fighters I deal with are always ready to go. Most of the people I work with are professional and are ready to go all the time.
Jackson's MMA Series: The last main event with Natasha Creger and Jennifer Berg as well as the Doug Moore and Matt Leyva co-main fight were highly competitive and extremely hard hitting with plenty of action. Was that luck or was that great matchmaking?
Dickie Chavez: Well, I know my matchups are going to produce those types of fights. That’s why I just love what I do. I love this sport so much. I get along with everyone who fights out of Jackson’s. They’re just like my brothers and sisters but I don’t what to baby them. I want to bring them fighters who are going to bring it to them-to test them. That’s where I’m at right now. The next card is something to watch out for.
Jackson's MMA Series: Speaking of the next event – can you highlight the main event and speak to who is going to be in it?
Dickie Chavez: Coty “Ox” Wheeler, WEC Veteran vs. Ray Robinson, a Rage in the Cage Champion at 135. This is going to be an exciting fight. This fight could go either way. In MMA you never know how it’s going to go. I’m just really excited about this fight.
Jackson's MMA Series: Ox fights out of Jacksons, where does Ray fight out of?
Dickie Chavez: Ray fights out of Southwest MMA in Phoenix, Arizona. That’s a really good camp. A lot of good fighters come out of there. His coach is Santino DeFranco who was on the Ultimate Fighter. I like working with them.
Jackson's MMA Series: Who else from Jackson’s is going to be on the card?
Dickie Chavez: We have Henry Martinez out of Santa Fe, Julie Kedzie, they will put on an exciting fights. The amateur card will be exciting as well. I think I did a real good job on the amateur side. 
Jackson's MMA Series: Are the rules the same for the amateurs as for the pros because it’s on the Isleta Pueblo at the Hard Rock?
Dickie Chavez: The rules, because it is at Hard Rock on the Isleta Pueblo, are exactly the same. They’re the same rules of the UFC. You can use elbows, knees, Muay Thai Clinch. You can’t eye gouge, hit the groin, knee the face of a downed opponent. The amateur and pro rules are exactly the same.
Jackson's MMA Series: Do the amateurs get excited about fighting under those rules before going pro?
Dickie Chavez: I think so because they get a chance to learn those different moves. They get to work on all their techniques. It gets them ready to be on the pro level.
Jackson's MMA Series: How can fighters, managers or other matchmakers contact you?
Dickie Chavez: Email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will go from there.
