The sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) has drawn wide criticism over the years. From the start, people said it was too barbaric and just a glorified street fight. While some of the criticism was true, the sport finds itself in a whole new light these days. Weight classes and regulation have turned a sport that some referred to as human cockfighting into one of the best displays of athletic talent of any sport. Dr. Wayne Hogenson of We Care Chiropractic here in Warsaw has been around for the entire ride. As much as the sport evolves, it’s clear that one thing remains – the art of wrestling stands alone as the best base a fighter can start with. For Hogenson, he’s knows this all too well. Growing up in Bettendorf, Iowa, wrestling was second nature. Hogenson competed with his high school wrestling team and had a standout career at Luther College in Iowa. His career path led him to Palmer College of Chiropractic, where he earned his Doctor Of Chiropractic Degree. Even through his college years, he continued his strong bond to Bettendorf through world-class grappler Pat Miletich, and at the time a young Robbie Lawler. While Warsaw has many connections to the professional sports world, Dr. Wayne Hogenson might have the most interesting. The Miletich fighting system out of Bettendorf has produced some of the sport’s biggest stars and world champions. While Hogenson would help train with Miletich before fights, it was his chiropractic knowledge that might have paid the most dividends for Miletich. In 1999, at UFC 18, Miletich was supposed to defend his Welterweight title against Jorge Patino. A shoulder injury threatened to keep Miletich out of his title fight. He had been to numerous chiropractors and doctors with little success. Hogenson was able to adjust him to the point where he was able to fight, and win by decision. From that point on, Hogenson went on to work on a who’s who list of MMA world-class talent. Tim Sylvia, Matt Hughes, and even Hershel Walker enlist his services. To an MMA fighter, his body is something that has to be maintained, and Dr. Hogenson is a key piece to that puzzle. Saturday, Hogenson will find himself front and center once again, as longtime studen, and friend “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler will compete in San Jose, California, at UFC on Fox 12. The bond between Hogenson and Lawler started when Lawler was in middle school and was being taught the art of wrestling through Hogenson. The relationship was so strong that after moving to Warsaw to pursue his chiropractic business, Hogenson would travel to Bettendorf on Saturday evenings to be with Lawler during his high school wrestling matches. “I would drive 600 miles round trip to Bettendorf to corner Robbie through his high school career,” said Hogenson. “We had a system that only he and I understood.” With a win Saturday evening, Lawler should once again be fighting for the UFC Welterweight title later this year. That will add more travel to an already busy schedule for Hogenson. Luckily, Hogenson didn’t have to look far to find a doctor to handle business while he is gone. Dr. Matthew Palladino was a standout wrestler at Warsaw Community High School. He, much like Hogenson, found success at the college level of wrestling as well. While taking a similar path through wrestling, Palladino also has the same physical makeup as Hogenson. That allows their clients at We Care Chiropractic to get similar care, with a well-qualified doctor, while Hogenson is on the road. “He adjusts very similar to me,” said Hogenson. “His technique is very similar. I needed someone who could emulate me while I’m gone and Matt does it the best that I have seen.” At the end of the day, Hogenson’s office in the Marketplace Shopping Center has plenty of history lining the walls. Hopefully, after Saturday, more history can be added.
