Knock Out Dog Fighting // Kris Crawford and Anthony Johnson Battling Myths Of Pits and MMA

- Kris Crawford

Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Knock Out Dog Fighting: Battling Myths Of Pits and MMA
Todd Jackson, Hurts Bad MMA & Bleacher Report and Kris Crawford
March 31, 2010

Tonight is the night. I have been trained for this moment. I chose months ago to compete against another warrior. Tonight I fight, I am a mixed martial artist.

Surrounding me are my friends and family, all comrades that would do anything to help me succeed. They helped me become the fighter I am. They have taken every measure to ensure my safety, and my ability to succeed.

I wait in my room for the announcer to call my name. The hair on the back of my neck raises ever so slightly. My team walks behind me, supporting me, pushing me, inspiring me. We are ready to go to war.

The walk is a long one, the music and the fans deafening. I feel like my feet are not quite touching the ground. I approach the cage, give my best to my team, I enter the cage. I am ready to fight.

I am exhilarated, I am ready, I am a mixed martial artist. Win lose or draw, I will live to fight another day. This is the life I have chosen.

Tonight is the night. I have been starved, beaten, and neglected. I have no power over my place in this life. I am where I am as a result of unfortunate circumstances. I don't want to fight, but tonight I will, as I have no choice. Tonight I fight, I am a pitbull.

Surrounding me are the only family I have ever known. They are not my friends, but I am loyal regardless. They will do anything to see me succeed. They have prodded me, and provoked me into a frenzy. They have prepared me for this fight.

I await my turn for battle. The rusty cage that holds me is cold, the chain around my neck heavy. The hair on the back of my neck raises ever so slightly. He tugs my chain, yanks me away from the cage, pulling me a direction I don't want to go. He is ready for war.

The walk is a long one, the drunken spectator's, and junkie's screams hurt my ears. I am overwhelmed but proud. I approach an empty swimming pool where I see my opponent. No love is given before I enter, only more provocation. Why must I fight?

I am anxious, I am nervous. I am scared.

My heart begins to race, they are loosening my chain, if I don't fight I will surely die a horrific death. This is not the life that I have chosen. I am a pitbull.

Many times in the public eye, mixed martial arts is seen as nothing more than human dog fighting. It is perceived as a blood thirsty sport, that is lawless and reckless. To those that understand the sport, nothing could be further from the truth.

Like MMA, the pitbull is a highly misunderstood creature. Many see a blood thirsty, uncontrollable and dangerous beast. To those that understand the breed, nothing could be further from the truth.

For both MMA, and the pitbull, the work to gain acceptance and understanding is never over. There is no end to the necessity to both change perception, and battle myth and ignorant behavior.

For MMA it is as simple as pressing on and further establishing itself as competition and sport. For the pitbull it is not so easy. So that is why the efforts of Kris Crawford are so crucial to the future of the breed.

She educates people on not only the breed and responsible dog ownership, but battles the actions that facilitate the negative imagery of the pitbull, primarily dog fighting. She does so by working with at-risk and gang-impacted youth, who are prone to dogfighting due to the glorification of the practice by their role models.

Kris is not alone in her campaign to save not only the animal, but the youth and the communities that are effected. Her program called Knock Out Dog Fighting employs the efforts of many well known figures in MMA.

The list of her active supporters is a star studded line up with names like Andre Arlovski, Anthony Johnson, Brett Rogers, Josh Thomson, Jake Shields, Cung Le, Meisha Tate, Rodney Wallace, Kim Couture, Jose Palacios, Paul Buentello and many more. So with a small army of celebrity fighters behind her, Kris and Knock Out Dog Fighting are doing their part to end this madness.

Kris and Anthony Johnson were kind enough to share some thoughts about what it is that they do. Kris is a world class dog trainer and trains pit bulls for life-saving search and rescue efforts, therapy and service dog work, and "Rumble" Johnson owns six pits of his own. Both posses extremely compassionate natures, and it shines brightly in their efforts.

Kris first talked about how Knock Out Dog Fighting took shape. She is the founder of a 501(c)3 non profit organization called For Pit's Sake. She is also one of the first people certify pitbulls in the field of search and rescue and her dogs became some of the best in the world.

Crawford is an expert in the field, as are her search dogs. "My dog Dakota was so well respected, we were hand picked to search for American heroes - the astronauts that lost their lives in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Over a decade ago I started bringing my dogs to schools. Because my dogs were involved with law enforcement in search and rescue, we had the access and the ability to go into schools and talk to kids. We'd talk to the kids about survival skills if they get lost, dog bite prevention, stereotypes and also brought humane education to them and awareness about cruelty and abuse. The high-profile arrest of Michael Vick a few years ago brought unprecedented media attention to the sadistic world of dog fighting so we started focusing more on dog fighting during our talks with the kids because they were hearing about it on TV."

The Knock Out Dog Fighting program has evolved into something that sees not just Anthony but many fighters work with kids at schools, juvenile detentions centers, anywhere a child might need guidance.

Josh Thomson, Paul Buentello, Anthony Johnson, Mona Liza Reyes, and Kris Crawford w/Cheyenne, Tahoe and Dakota

Kris saw a strong association between MMA and the pitbull breed and felt the two may be able to thrive in positivity and help each other change negative perception that surrounds them each. "One of the things that happened when Michael Vick was arrested, was a lot of his high profile football playing buddies publicly defended him by equating dog fighting with mixed martial arts, which of course couldn't be further from the truth."

Kris went on to say, "So I reached out to Anthony and several other MMA fighters because they are experiencing something similar to what the pitbull is going through. The pitbull is being banned all across the country, because people think they are a bunch of crazy monsters. Unfortunately lots of people think MMA fighters are a bunch of crazy monsters too. So I asked the fighters if they'd team up with me and we could dispel the myths and misconceptions by working together to stop cruelty and abuse."

Kris talked about the power of an athlete like "Rumble" Johnson when it comes to the teens he works with. "He's a very powerful, positive role model for these kids. A lot of urban kids are getting involved in dog fighting because they've seen a high profile role model involved - Michael Vick. Unfortunately they don't care that he got caught."

Kris knew the kids needed an alternative. "So what we've done, is we are showing these kids that there are positive role models out there who don't believe it's a sign of strength, power, or greatness to abuse or fight their animals. I've teamed up with the baddest, toughest people on the planet to show these kids that fighters protect those who can't protect themselves."

Anthony Johnson spoke about his involvement with the cause. "I'm just here for the kids, and I'm also here for the dogs, and just to show the community that pitbulls aren't vicious animals if you raise them right. As far as talking to the kids, I talk to the kids just to let them know that just because they might be in a crappy situation, it doesn't mean its the end of the road for them."

Johnson talked about his approach with the youngsters. "I'm always trying to build up their confidence and let them know, hey, just because you hit a brick wall doesn't mean it can hold you back in life. There are always second chances in life and you can always keep going." The example he sets in just being there is priceless in and of itself, much less the ripple effects of what is to come years later with these kids.

It wasn't a hard sell for Kris to get "Rumble" on board. "We just started talking one day and within probably five minutes I was hooked on it," Johnson said. "Helping Knock Out Dog Fighting stop dog fighting and animal abuse, going to youth detention centers and talking to the kids, for me its just been a dream come true."

The memebrs of Knock Out Dog Fighting don't just talk to these kids, they train them, and educate them to become better citizens. "Something else that's remarkable about what we're doing is that we stop dog fighting by helping kids get out of gangs and showing them positive alternatives. What we do is teach these kids healthy alternatives, like MMA, while at the same time teaching them other things to do with their dogs. We also give them something a lot of them really need, and that's hope."

Anthony and Kris at a Boys & Girls Club

Teaching troubled youth how to fight is not without its questions. "A few people have asked 'why are you teaching them how to fight', and we bring up that MMA fighters are some of the most disciplined athletes in the world. Refusal skills are something we need to develop with these kids. The self discipline involved in MMA helps these kids develop refusal skills and also the self esteem to go back to their community and say no to all the things that can get them into trouble."

Knock Out Dog Fighting has really become recognized as a strong and positive influence in the community but not without some irony. "We've teamed up with gang prevention task forces because our fighters and pitbulls can get these kids attention like nobody else can. We use their already established resources to help get these kids out of trouble and on the right track", said Crawford. "We had a pretty serious violent gang attack in a local community a few months ago, and what was interesting was school officials contacted us, a group of pitbulls and fighters, to work with the kids at the alternative schools to help make the community safer."

The Knock Out Dog Fighting program really is a win-win in every way. "What better way to change the perception of the pitbull and MMA than to have MMA fighters and pitbulls actively involved in making our communities safer?" Crawford said. "We're not only saving the dogs, but were also saving kids, and helping make communities safer." Any time ignorance can be overcome through positivity, you're winning the battle.

Anthony talked about how kids can get confused about the nature of a dog. "Most of the dog fighting is in the projects, and these kids, that's all they know. 'Hey, I want to see who has the baddest dog, let my dog fight your dog and see which one is the best.' Its really not about that when you have these dogs, because these dogs are so loyal. I try to show the kids that dogs are for companionship, not status symbols."

Anthony speaking to over 100 kids at an Alternative School

Johnson brings a lot to the table by encouraging these kids, and inspiring them in his own life. "I think I bring new hope to these kids that they can do something and achieve goals in life."

It has been very rewarding for Johnson. "Some of them have written me on Facebook, some of them have looked me up on MySpace and said 'Thanks for coming by and talking to us, I got involved with MMA, I got a pitbull and I promise I'll take care of it.' Through Knock Out Dog Fighting I get to help change somebody's life. for the better. That makes me happy." The sport could use more ambassadors like Anthony Johnson at the gates to set the bar on how to represent not only themselves, but their sport.

You listening Mr. Vick?

Kris wanted to be sure and acknowledge just how special and genuine Johnson's efforts are. "Anthony isn't doing this for the publicity, he's doing it because it's the right thing to do. He pays for his own gas, he takes time out of his day to come with me to work with these kids, as opposed to someone like Michael Vick who is doing it because he got caught and part of his probation. It's great that Vick is out there trying to help, I'm just saying our athletes can speak about the courage it takes to say no. Because they have been there too, in similar situations...but they chose to say no to dog fighting."

It's people like Kris Crawford and Anthony Johnson who should be celebrated. When news gets told about pitbulls it's always about an attack. When news gets told about MMA, rarely is it about anything but controversy. What people should be hearing about is highly trained pitbulls searching for our nations fallen heroes, they should be hearing about the efforts of a man like Anthony Johnson and Knock Out Dogfighting.

Rest assured, ask any one of the kids these people or these dogs have helped, and they surely will tell you this is the biggest news about the breed or the sport. Thank you to Kris and Anthony, and all the fighters at Knock Out Dog Fighting. Your efforts are priceless.