Each step resembles someone digging through a silverware drawer.
However, that pales in comparison to the thunderous clang of metal colliding, where some strikes made by the armored warriors resonate like gunfire.
Adding to the atmosphere is the seemingly endless loop of a Black Sabbath cover of “War Pigs.”
This chaotic soundscape is brought forth by the first-ever Sin City Knight Fights, embodying an underground fight club vibe. The event allows participants to test their skills—both physically and in terms of their equipment—while highlighting the rise of buhurt, a combat sport often dubbed “medieval MMA.”
‘I spar with 57-year-old women’
“We kicked off with one steel helmet and around six or seven individuals eager to form an armored combat team in Vegas,” shares Triston Tinoco, the founder of Side Quest Sports and captain of the Las Vegas Death Dealers.
The early days in 2019 were challenging as Tinoco and his team trained in parks, focusing on endurance while wielding blunted swords and axes encased in 80 pounds of armor.
“We started with a group of enthusiasts who had little to no experience in physical sports,” Tinoco reflects. “Then we told them, ‘Now you’re going to become athletes.’”
‘Learning through experience’
The initial journey was filled with obstacles.
“As you accumulate armor, you soon learn what is effective and what isn’t,” Tinoco explains, detailing how they sourced equipment from shops in Ukraine, Poland, and Russia. “You invest significant amounts of money only to discover that certain pieces are unusable in real combat.”
This investment isn’t an exaggeration; mid-range armor sets cost around $2,500. From that original half-dozen helmet-sharers, Tinoco now has 20 participants equipped with full armor sets, plus another 30 who are in the process of acquiring gear.
‘Inclusive training environment’
Side Quest Sports, which opened in November at 2893 N. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson, serves as their training headquarters.
It is open to anyone interested in learning the sport, with monthly memberships available starting at $40 for youth and $60 for adults. Soft kit classes teaching proper techniques with foam weapons and protective gear cater to a broad range of ages—from 6 to 60.
“I spar with 57-year-old women,” says the robust 32-year-old Tinoco. “I find no issue with it.”
‘Recreating historical tournaments’
Tinoco might be the first to champion the historical accuracy of “A Knight’s Tale,” the Heath Ledger film that features jousting tournaments accompanied by Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
The movie captures how knights would venture from town to town for tournaments when not engaged in actual warfare.
“We aren’t reenacting battles; instead, we’re reviving tournament-style matches,” Tinoco clarifies.
‘Competing nationally and internationally’
In buhurt, these matches consist of 90-second rounds where contestants earn points for strikes to the head or body, and two points for a takedown, allowing 10 seconds of blows on the downed opponent.
“You’ll see various judo and grappling techniques, with participants swinging at full force,” Tinoco notes, emphasizing that stabbing motions are prohibited.
Tinoco and the Death Dealers participate in and compete nationwide, aspiring to represent the U.S. in global competitions.
“The armor is effective,” Tinoco remarks when asked about the impact of the strikes. “It doesn’t feel comfortable to get hit.”
With padding worn beneath the armor, he likens the experience to being “inside a steel can, cushioned by an oven mitt.”
“You feel the blow,” Tinoco admits, “but it’s manageable. I’ll keep pushing forward.”
For more information, contact Christopher Lawrence at [email protected] or 702-380-4567.
