By: Jonathan M. King The Clinch Report
Photos By: John Walsh The Clinch Report
When Juan Archuleta(7-1 MMA) sprinted to the cage Friday night for Lights Out Promotions and Bash Boxing’s Fight Night 4 card, he was definitely doing so in front of a hostile crowd. His opponent Alfred Khashakyan (5-2 MMA) had been riding a hot streak, was fighting in front of his hometown fans, and had already proclaimed this fight to be the launching pad to his burgeoning UFC career. However the Spaniard had other less complicated plans, he simply had a nameless, faceless soul to steal.
As most thought he would, Khashakyan came out with both guns blazing looking for a fire fight and with one of his first shots he cracked Archuleta with a nasty uppercut inspiring a leak right away. One that only made the blood thirsty crowd that much more frenzied. However Archuleta weathered the early barrage, and was able to drag the fight to the mat where it remained for pretty much the rest of the round. Once the fight went horizontal the Purdue wrestling standout went to work soaking up the space and grinding the wind from his opponent.
They say every move has a counter move. If that is the case, Archuleta and his coach must have had them all scouted. Each time Khashakyan engaged (when they were standing) he was taken down. Each time Khashakyan wall-walked to his feet he would get dropped again. After each take down, came some more smothering. At times it seemed like Archuleta would allow Khashakyan to his feet only to take him down again. As if to open the door slightly, giving a glimpse of freedom before slamming it shut. A rather deflating tactic.
To Khashakyan’s credit it didn’t work, he never did quit. He kept fighting until the final bell. He just didn’t have the sauce on the ground to handle a guy with Archuleta’s wiggle. The pressure never relented, and the game plan was executed flawlessly. For three rounds Khashakyan had no answer for Archuleta as he continued to sponge him up like a spill on the floor. It was like watching a Bounty Paper Towel commercial. For three rounds, Archuleta was ‘The Quicker Picker Upper!’
Winning clearly on all three judges score cards, ‘The Spaniard’ slowly broke not only the hometown favorite but the crowd as well. Archuleta, who works on the show “Kingdom” was joined in the cage by his co-stars for the post fight celebration. But that celebration was short lived.
Immediately Archuleta and his coach began to think to the future, even lobbying promoter George Bastmajyan for another fight right away.
Khashakyan will have to return to the drawing board. He is still a very talented fighter with a bright future this has not changed. If anything his path should be clearly defined now. He simply needs to improve his wrestling. Friday night just wasn’t his night, perhaps next time it will be. The good news for Khashakyan is he is the type of athlete that can adapt well and certainly will, providing he embraces the flaw and puts in enough time to correct the issue.
For Archuleta at this point the sky is the limit. After this performance he is certain to receive a few phone calls from eager promoters. However his pedigree and durability make him somewhat of a juggernaut at 135 lbs so don’t expect many fighters to call him out. after all who wants to piss off a demon? Its just not a very smart move. However if something does not present itself soon, maybe we will see him back in the Fight Night cage for the December show. If not be on the lookout for you might end being the Spaniard’s next conquest!
THE CLINCH REPORT 