Looking for - and finding - an answer

While tailing a black Buick out to a Selah home near the Yakima Training Center to photograph an organized backyard fight, I couldn't believe Yakima Herald-Republic writer Pat Muir and I had been given access to what appeared to be a semi-seedy, underground fight community. There was a sense of secrecy around the location of the fight, the details were shady and I think both Pat and I felt like we could potentially be getting ourselves into a situation that could be difficult to get out of should something go awry.030208_BackyardFighters-4

However, as more time was spent with fighters "Vengeance" and "Nasty Rob" and the rest of the spotty cast, the more everyone relaxed. By the end of the day, the big question I kept coming back to was "what makes a person want to do this?" There's no money involved, no belt or trophy and seemingly little glory030208_BackyardFighters-6.
"It's a huge rush" Vengeance said in a recorded interview with Pat. "You could probably compare it to being thrown off a plane... it's exciting, there's no feeling like it." I guess I found my answer.

--Kris Holland

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