Team Extreme not for faint of heart

Justin Verdin doesn’t need to visit the horror section of the local Blockbuster to experience blood and gore.

As coach of Team Extreme, a mixed martial arts and boxing organization headquartered at Extreme Fitness in Houma, he sees it on a regular basis.

&#8220We’ve had black eyes, busted mouths and nose bleeds because we do intense training and sparring,” Verdin admitted. &#8220It’s like practice fighting.”

And it’s all preparation for the real thing – sanctioned bouts between other MMA/boxing teams from cities such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

&#8220These guys love trophies,” he added. &#8220That’s why they do this.”

Verdin, 24, does it out of an innate passion for teaching.

Even though he’s experiencing a sterling degree of success as a professional boxer (3-0 record) and a mixed martial artist (1-0), Verdin thoroughly enjoys molding his corps of fighters into better people.

&#8220I really want all of my fighters to become disciplined people,” he said. &#8220That’s why I really do it.”

Team Extreme was launched two years ago in a shed behind Verdin’s home.

As enrollment swelled, so did his interest in investing in a gym.

These days, a talented lineup of fighters with backgrounds in wrestling, Muay Thai, karate and jujitsu meet three times a week at Extreme Fitness. The training regimen increases to five consecutive days during the week leading to a Saturday event.

&#8220Justin is a good coach and a very good motivator,” said Team Extreme 140-pounder Blake Verdin. &#8220When we put on our gear, he pushes us really hard because he wants to see how much heart his fighters have. He tests our limits, because they will be tested during out matches.”

So far, many of Verdin’s brawlers have been passing said tests with flying colors.

Especially his mixed martial artists.

Blake Verdin boasts a 3-0 mark.

Lanny Dardar (170 pounds) is riding high at 3-1 and Patrick Billiot (130) is 4-2, with both of his loses coming at higher weight classes.

Dardar dropped his last bout when his opponent, Matt Rangle, landed a devastating blow that dislocated his jaw and stopped the contest in the opening minute of the second round.

The injury sidelined Dardar, one of Verdin’s most vaunted fighters, until spring.

&#8220I was dominating him at the beginning, but he (Rangle) threw one good punch that broke it (jaw) in two places,” Dardar explained. &#8220I didn’t really feel it at first because of all the adrenaline. But after that wore off, the pain was pretty bad because I couldn’t move it. I couldn’t sleep that night, even with all of the pain pills I took. The back of my gums were also cut pretty bad.”

Getting sliced and diced, of course, is a day at the office for anyone who steps into the octagon or boxing ring.

The payoff is victory.

&#8220No matter what happens, you’re probably going to get hurt,” Dardar said. &#8220Everybody always gets beaten up, but you have to be able to endure the pain and not be scared of it. You have to want to win more than anything.”

Team Extreme fighter Lanny Dardar (right) mixes it up in a recent bout.