Rencountre earns victory in MMA Oklahoma debut, remains undefeated

NEWKIRK — In his Oklahoma professional debut, Chance Rencountre recorded a first-round technical knockout Saturday night to remain undefeated as an MMA welterweight fighter.

The 26-year-old Pawhuska native was declared the winner by TKO after two minutes and 16 seconds of his match against Rashid Abdullah of Austin, Texas. Their 170-pound bout came midway through a nine-fight program at the Council Bluffs Events Center of the Otoe-Missouria’s First Council Casino.

It was Rencountre’s 11th consecutive victory as an MMA fighter and his third triumph since he turned professional late last year. Rencountre, a 6-2 lefthander, took a unanimous decision over Wesley Sullivan in his first pro bout in March and won by TKO in an Aug. 30 match with Jason “The Vanilla Gorilla” Witt. Prior to that, he posted an 8-0 record as a mixed martial arts amateur.

Rencountre, an Osage, uses the fighter nickname “Black Eagle” to acknowledge his Native American heritage.

A former Pawhuska High School wrestling standout, Rencountre went on to achieve All-American status as a wrestler at Labette Community College in Parsons, Kan.