By Thomas “Psychic Tom” Padgett
Las Vegas, Nevada. On Friday, September 5th, the
packed house at the Silverton Casino's Veil Pavilion witnessed a night of
exhilarating, raw, blood-and-guts amateur MMA and Muay Thai competition that
left the crowd totally spent by the night's end.
The card was the second promotion of Real MMA (www.realmixedmartialarts.com)
and featured six MMA fights and five Muay Thai battles. As always, every single
fighter “brought it”, and gave it their all.
The action took place in a hexagon, which is a ring with six
equal sides. Also, in lieu of a cage, the boundaries of the hexagon were ropes.
This served to prevent excessive standing clinches, or what is often referred
to as “wall & stall.” In addition, the view of the action was very clear
for the fans, regardless of where they were sitting.
The first bout of the evening was in the lightweight division and
featured Julius Lopez squaring off with Bryce Kim. Early in the first round,
Kim demonstrated his Taekwondo skills by throwing some wild, high spinning
kicks, which gave Lopez something to think about. Bryce then shot in and took
Julius down. Lopez immediately pulled guard, but Kim was able to progress to
half-guard. But Lopez regained full guard as Bryce began a ground & pound.
With seconds left in round one, Lopez secured a triangle choke, but Kim hung on
and unfortunately for Julius, the round ended.
In round 2, Lopez came out strong, and was met with more high
kicks from Kim. Bryce once again scored a take-down, Julius pulled half-guard,
and Kim began a ground & pound, similar to the first round. Also like the
first round, Lopez secured full guard, and toward the end of the round, clamped
on an arm-bar. But as before, he ran out of time.
Round 3 witnessed Lopez again coming out aggressively, only to be
taken down. As Julius scrambled to pull guard, they wound up in the north-south
position, then Kim moved to side mount. Julius fought him off, and they both
were back to their feet. Bryce then scored a brutal, slamming take-down, and as
the round ended, Lopez was attempting a kimura from the guard.
Kim was awarded a unanimous decision. But Lopez is to be saluted
for his submission skills, along with his presence of mind. Bryce also kept
calm in defending against these submissions, and fought a smart fight. Both of
these young fighters deserve to be watched closely, as they will only be
getting better.
The second fight of the evening was a Muay Thai contest that seen
Bryan Moonsinghe going against Paul Madrid. Right from the outset, Madrid's
strategy became quite clear: he felt that his edge was in the clinch, and he
used all of his physicality to push that issue. Moosinghe, on the other hand,
had somewhat more of a technical approach, which made the fight difficult to
score.
In round 2, Madrid suffered a point loss, due to grabbing the
ropes. Both exchanged powerful kicks, and the pace slowed a bit. Moonsinghe
kept cool, and stayed with his clean, crisp technique, which made for another
close round. Madrid kept up the pressure, and was a tad bit more aggressive.
Going into the third round, it was anyone's fight, and it
unfolded pretty much the same as the first two rounds. The fight was scored a
draw, which appeared to be the correct call, even though both fighters had to
be disappointed.
The third fight of the night featured heavyweights Cole Curtiss
going up against Josiah Alipate. Both fighters had a vibe about them that
screamed “Buckle up” when they entered the hexagon...and they didn't
disappoint. Alipate charged forward with bad intentions, and landed a powerful
kick to Cole's left leg. Cole shot in and took Josiah down and began raining down
a vicious ground & pound. Alipate tried rolling over, but was not quite
quick enough to avoid the rear naked choke, which forced him to tap out at 0:38
seconds of round one. Both fighters have a large local following, and both will
hopefully be returning to action soon.
The fourth fight of the evening was a Muay Thai rumble between
Tommy Morales and Frederic Fine. Real fights, including boxing, Muay Thai and
MMA, are not always thrilling, back-and-forth barn-burners. For the most part,
when a fighter is hurt, it is very difficult to come roaring back, like a Rocky
movie. But there are those rare fights when both fighters rise to the occasion,
and even go beyond it...in essence, becoming seemingly possessed with something
beyond themselves.
This has nothing to do with supernatural “possession” or anything
along those lines. No, this refers to the fighter becoming “more than himself”,
and creating a classic. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what this force is, but
fans know it when they see it. And they undoubtedly seen it in this classic
struggle. Both fighters went well beyond the call of duty, much to the delight
of the fans.
In round one, Morales began quickly, landing a spinning back kick
directly to Fine's chiseled, six-pack abs. Fine answered with a devastating
punch combination...and the battle was on. The toe-to-toe action continued
non-stop, with both fighters giving and taking, much to the delight of the
crowd, which roared its approval. Morales seemed to be gaining a slight edge,
and was successful in launching spinning attacks. But Fine didn't seem to know
how to open his dictionary to the word “quit”, and gave almost as good as he
got.
After the first round ended, Fine hobbled back to his corner,
with his foot bleeding. The doctor immediately went to Fine's corner to check
on the foot, and the crowd gave a collective sigh of relief when Frederic was
ruled able to continue.
The second round began where the first one let off. One of
Tommy's powerful kicks put Fine down, but it was ruled a slip, not a knockdown.
Morales also seemed to be favoring his foot, but it didn't slow the insane pace
a bit. Almost like a macabre game of tag, one fighter would land a combination
that would knock down a cement wall, then the other would come roaring
back...like a movie!
This may be a stretch, but they almost seemed to be defying the
laws of physics. Back and forth, ebb and flow...the three minutes of round two
must have seemed like an eternity to the gladiators engaged in this war. Toward
the end of the round, Fine trapped Morales in a corner, and unleashed an
annihilating onslaught of knees, one right after the other. Tommy didn't go
down, and came blasting back with combinations of his own to set Frederic back
on his heels as the round ended.
The crowd was strangely silent, considering the blistering pace
of this struggle, and it took an admonishment from the ring announcer to get
them back into the fight. It appeared that they were awestruck over the
pier-six brawl they were watching.
Round three began right where the second round left off. Blood
was pouring from Fine's nose, and Morales looked slightly worse for the wear
(who wouldn't be?). But neither fighter was willing to give in to their pain
and fatigue...and began the rumble for one final round. The pace immediately
cranked up, and seen both fighters once again threw caution to the wind. About
half-way through the round, Tommy unleashed a punch combination from hell that
had to be seen to be believed...left hook...right cross...left uppercut...right
cross...left hook...right cross...all landing precisely on Frederic's chin! The
crowd was gasping, and the question in everyone's mind had to be “WHAT'S
HOLDING FINE UP?” Fine staggered backward, but hung on and, in Zombie-like
fashion, somehow found the where-withal to move forward and land a combination
of his own!
The last thirty seconds was a scene from “The Night of the Living
Dead”, with both fighters totally spent. But their incredible fighting hearts
propelled them forward, and the crowd erupted in a loud, well-deserved standing
ovation for both warriors.
Morales was awarded a well-deserved, unanimous decision. But what
a battle...what a battle! Afterward, the referee, the experienced UFC and K-1
veteran Chris Tognoni, stated that this was “The best amateur Muay Thai fight I
have ever seen”, and coming from Chris, that's really saying something.
Both fighters were respectful of their opponent in post-fight
interviews. Fine stated that he sprained his foot in round one, and that's why
he was relying on punches more than kicks. He had nothing but praise for
Morales, and Tommy felt likewise. The great sportsmanship displayed by both
fighters exemplified the spirit of martial arts. In truth, there was really no loser
in this fight. Both fighters seen their stock rise dramatically, and both are
names to watch in the future.
The fifth fight on the card was an MMA heavyweight contest, and
featured the return of Jose Camacho taking on Alan Aldabbagh. Alan is a
professional wrestler, but confessed to not having trained specifically for
MMA, and was curious to test his skills. It was assumed that Alan would attempt
to take the fight to the ground, but Jose didn't give him that option. Camacho
mixed punches with knees and brutal kicks, seemingly landing at will. To his
credit, Alan hung tough, but just didn't have an answer to the withering
barrage of strikes that he was subjected to. He was fighting back, but never
seemed to come close to a take-down, and the referee soon had seen enough,
stopping the contest at 2: 27 of the first round.
Congratulations to Camacho for rebounding from a tough, close
decision loss in his last fight. He showed a leaner, meaner version of himself,
and will attempt to build on this momentum. As for Aldabbagh, he proved his
courage, and showed the ability to take a shot and keep on coming. But if he is
going to continue in MMA, he will need to focus on his stand-up game, both
offensively and defensively.
Real MMA is blessed to have Lisa “The Black Widow” King as its
ring announcer. After her “bring down the house” performance at Real MMA's
inaugural event, it was hard to see how she could possibly live up to those
unbelievably high standards...yet she did, and then some!
Like a maestro conducting a sympathy orchestra, Lisa has an
uncanny sixth sense for the crowd's energy level. When she felt it was waning,
one or two words from her worked like the flick of a conductor's switch,
bringing the crowd right back into things, with more energy than ever.
Without a doubt, Lisa is the total package. From her background
as a professional Muay Thai fighter and her study of the fighters, to her
stunning presence and dazzling beauty, it is not difficult to see why she is in
such demand. Check her out at www.blackwidow.us
If you are looking to meet world-class fighters, RealMMA is the
place to be. Maurice “The Gorilla” Jackson was introduced to the crowd, and was
well-received. Ranked at number 19 in Bellator's heavyweight division, Maurice
is climbing the ladder, and will be fighting next month on one of Bellator's
televised promotions. Jackson has a devastating stand-up game, and is also
bringing in new tricks on the ground. With his impressive physicality and his
insane work ethic, Maurice is a definite title threat, and is an exciting
fighter to watch. Don't forget to tune in next month and see him in action.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight champion, Bernard Stiverne
also was in the crowd, as was Ishe Smith of The Contender fame. Both
were introduced, and pumped up the crowd. Stiverne recently captured the title
with a sixth round TKO of Chris Arreola, and is looking forward to a possible
clash with Wladimir Klitschko. For his part, Smith won his last fight, and is
looking to return to action soon.
The crowd was also treated to an exhibition of Muay Thai,
courtesy of NAKMUAYTHAI of Las Vegas, as well as a T-Shirt toss.
The sixth fight of the evening was a Muay Thai match-up featuring
Eric Watt throwing down with Robert Lara. The powerfully built Lara immediately
decided that his edge was physicality, and he intended to impose his will in
the clinch, with several knees. However, the quick-handed Watt was having none
of it. After a separation, Lara moved in to again make the fight “in a phone
booth”. But Watt launched a missile of a right hand that landed exactly where
he wanted it: on Lara's chin. Robert made every effort to get up, but it was to
no avail, and was counted out at 1:25 of round one.
Remember the name of Eric Watt. He has crisp, clean technique,
superb conditioning, and is truly a thinking man's fighter. He should be moving
to the top quickly.
The seventh fight on the card was an MMA battle, and witnessesed
the popular local favorite Kaine Marzola get after it with Alex Giron, a tough,
no-nonsense fighter. Early in round one, Giron threw a straight kick, which was
caught by Marzola. Kaine secured the take-down, went to side mount, then full
mount. But Alex didn't come to roll over, and was able to reverse the position.
With both fighters back on their feet,
Kaine was able to get the fight to the floor again, and began a ground and
pound, and attempted various submissions. Giron was able to fend them off, but
Kaine was persistent with his ground and pound. Giron had no answer to the
bombardment, which caused the referee to stop the fight in round one.
Marzola has strung together a few wins, and is dedicated to his
craft more than ever. Stay tuned for his next fight.
The eighth fight of the night seen Anthony Arroyo square off in a
Muay Thai contest with Jo Jo Aluague. Arroyo was coming off a decision loss,
but shrugged it off and landed a devastating head kick early in round one.
Aluague was unable to continue, and that one kick earned Arroyo the Knockout of
the night. Anthony certainly showed how to make a quick comeback!
The ninth fight was an MMA scrap between Shawn Dodaro and Alesio
Velasquez. Shawn quickly took the fight down, went to side mount, then mount,
then took Alesio's back, put the hooks in and secured a rear naked choke,
forcing the tap out at 1:15 of round one. This was an excellent display of
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu 101.
The tenth fight was a hard-fought Muay Thai action that seen
Damian Jackson sqauring off against Ryan Spellman. The first round was a chess
match, with two highly-skilled Muay Thai technicians probing for openings. It
appeared that Spellman was a little more active, but the round was close.
In round two, Jackson came out aggressively, and pushed the pace
enough to win the round. In the third, Spellman suffered a low blow, which
resulted in a point deduction against Jackson...which had huge implications in
the scoring. Spellman was awarded a close, split decision.
The final fight of the night witnessed Adrian Gutierrez taking on
Saul Ayon in an MMA contest. Gutierrez was coming off a win in his last fight,
and wasted no time in this one. He immediately clinched and delivered a power
slam that practically shook the rafters. This lead to an arm-bar that forced
the tap out at 46 seconds of round one.
Gutierrez without a doubt seems to be putting it all together,
and his future opponents had better be ready for war...because that's what
Adrian brings.
Fight of the night (FOTN) went to Tommy Morales and Frederic Fine, and
as mentioned earlier, KO of the night went to Anthony Arroyo.
Thanks goes out to the folks at Real Water who worked so hard
behind the scenes to make this event the huge success it was: Anthony,
Nicholas, Amy, Melissa, Blaine, Bailey and the “California crew” of Jack and
Tony. Also, kudos to Rudy “Ruthless” Morales, who did an outstanding job as
matchmaker. Rudy fought as an amateur for Real MMA, and has launched a
successful pro career, competing in BAMMA, Bellator, and currently in the World
Series of Fighting (WOSF). Rudy definitely has the potential to become a future
world champ, and his fights should be added to your “must see” category.
Also, thanks go out to Ralph Cook, the
Nevada State Director of the International Sports Karate Association (ISKA).
Mr. Cook explained the rules to the fighters in a no-nonsense, clear-cut manner
that left no doubt as to what was expected of them.
Special thanks to the sponsors of the event:
ü Tapsnap
ü Graphics
2000
ü Herbally
Grounded Herbal Supplements
ü Winder
Farms
ü Max
Health
ü Vegas
Royalty
ü Sup Kulture
ü Veterans
in Politics
ü ISKA
Mixed Martial Arts
ü Preferred
Chiropractic of N. Las Vegas
ü iHumanityCharity.org
ü Nevada
Beverage Company
Finally,
don't forget to try Real Water.
Real Water is a purified water that has been treated by a
unique, revolutionary process called E2 Technology. This exciting,
cutting-edge breakthrough adds electrons to the water, giving Real Water it's
ability to alkalize the body.
Real Water is able to dissolve and remove toxins from the cells
far more efficiently than regular tap water. Tap water has a high concentration
of hydrogen ions, which makes it acidic. After being treated with E2
Technology, Real Water forms hydroxyl ions, which is the secret that
makes Real Water highly alkalized.
What does this mean to you? Simply this: The molecular structure
and electrical charge of Real Water allows it to quickly and
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dehydration...and making the cells far more efficient in removing toxins.
Let Real Water protect you by solving several potential
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Remember this: an acidic body is a breeding grounds for disease, and
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Stop these problems before they happen...with Real Water! You will taste
and feel the difference.
There is no doubt that Real MMA is rapidly expanding. The goal of the
organization is to be known as the most “fighter first” and “fighter friendly”
organization in the world of MMA and Muay Thai. With more events of this
caliber, this vision is well on its way to becoming reality. Stay tuned for
more exciting action, and watch tomorrow's champions today!
