This series explores the raw energy and vulnerability of fighters, many stepping into the cage for the first time.

The Mall Fights

For three years, I documented amateur MMA fights held in an abandoned JCPenney in Bartlesville’s deteriorating mall. This series explores the raw energy and emotional intensity of fighters, many stepping into the cage for the very first time.

"Mall Fights" delves into themes of resilience, transformation and community. Against the backdrop of a space marked by decline, the fighters’ passion and courage bring it to life, creating a striking contrast that speaks to both personal and physical battles.

This work is evolving into a larger project, with plans to publish a book showcasing the series in its entirety. Additionally, a touring gallery will feature select images, offering viewers an intimate and immersive look into this extraordinary world.

Young girl in MMA fight attire with boxing gloves, standing in a gym.
A black-and-white photo of a woman with braided hair wearing a tank top, surrounded by other people, in a close-up shot.
A shirtless male mixed martial artist with short hair in a fighting stance inside an Octagon cage, wearing MMA gloves, during a fight or training session.
A young male mixed martial artist is standing inside a cage, wearing gloves and sports shorts, with a focused expression on his face.
Black and white photo of a young man with a bandana on his head, shirtless, displaying a large intricate tattoo on his shoulder.
In a sports setting, a male fighter with curly hair and facial injuries is sitting against a chain-link fence, receiving medical attention from a person whose hand is placed on his head. The fighter appears exhausted and emotional.
A young girl with pink braided hair is being helped by a man to put on a blue and black helmet.
Black and white photo of a shirtless male mixed martial arts fighter in a cage, with one hand against his face and the other held up in front of him, wearing gloves and shorts that say "HAWK."
A person lying on the ground behind a chain-link fence, holding the fence with one hand. The image is in black and white.
Black and white photo of two mixed martial arts fighters on the ground during a fight. One fighter is on top, pinning the other under him, with a tense expression.
A man with long hair and a beard wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses on his head is leaning down and talking to a woman, with a chain-link fence and bokeh lights in the background.
A shirtless male mixed martial artist in gloves, sitting and holding a water bottle, after a fight, with a distressed expression, in a cage or octagon.
A shirtless man with tattoos flexing his biceps and making a muscle pose inside a gym or locker room, with wooden shelves in the background.
Two young boys engaged in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappling match, with one boy on top and the other on the mat, in a gym with a mat and equipment in the background, black and white photo.
Two mixed martial arts fighters grappling on the mat, one on top of the other, in a black and white photo.
A black and white photo of a shirtless young man being prepared for a photo or video shoot, with a hand adjusting his face, in a dark setting with high contrast lighting.
Two men walking together in a dimly lit indoor space, one with an arm around the other's shoulders, with colored lights illuminating the background and a few people sitting and standing in the distance.
A young male fighter with a distressed expression, shirtless, in an MMA octagon, being comforted by his coach and surrounded by other team members after a match.
  • Group of four people standing in a dimly lit room, with a focus on a bearded man wearing a black sleeveless shirt featuring a graphic design. The others include two young men, one shirtless and one in a jacket, and a woman with headphones, all looking in different directions.
  • A man with tattoos on his arms, wearing a red baseball cap backwards and a sleeveless black shirt with a graphic of a roaring lion, appears to be shouting or yelling during an event in a dimly lit indoor setting. There are people seated in the background, and a woman in a red shirt is standing nearby, taking a photo with her phone.
  • A man in a white suit looking at his phone in a large, empty room with a wooden shelving unit and several people in the background.