Archive for the ‘UFC’ Category

World Series Of Fighting/BAMMA USA WSOF 28

Posted: February 20, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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Fight #1

Mike Kubeska (0-1-1) vs Fard Muhammad (2-3) 135 lbs

Rd1: Back and forth first round that found both fighters alternating dominant position. Early on it was Kubeska threatening from his back, after Muhammad established the striking game. The end of the round found Muhammad on top, landing with some IQ changing ground and pound.

Rd2:Round two very much like the previous frame. The carousel kept spinning as again each fighter took their turn scoring. Once again Muhammad finished the frame on top, although Kubeska continued to start the round strong.

Rd: After repeated warnings, Muhammad again spit the bit prompting a one point deduction from veteran Referee Mike Beltran. Despite the penalty, Muhammad was still able to emerge victorious in a fight that the judges saw from three completely different perspectives (28-28, 29-27, 28-27) giving Muhammad the majority decision.

Fight #2

Jalin Turner (0-0) vs Eric Steans (4-4) 155 lbs

Jalin Turner briefly found himself grounded by Eric Steans early wrestling based attack. Unfortunately for Steans he could not keep him there. Once standing, Turner uncorked a straight left hand that left Steans in a crumpled heap, halfway between consciousness and unicorns… Turner via KO Rd: 1

Fight #3

Heinrich Wassmer (2-0) vs Keenan Lewis (0-0) 125 lbs

Rd1: Hotly contested first frame. Wassmer seemed content to stand and trade with the much larger Lewis.But eventually found himself  on the mat underneath his larger foe. Lewis took the first frame.

Rd2: Quickly Wassmer closes to get the fight to the mat. After some time without improving his position Referee Mike Beltran stands them back up. A failed takedown from Wassmer finds Lewis on his back. Costly mistake for Wassmer perhaps. Lewis looking for the triangle but ends up too high, allowing Wassmer out via the back door.  Wassmer re-establishes his presence on top to ride out the round. 10-9 Wassmer

Rd3: Again Wassmer finds himself on top, but as previously, he is unable to advance or even threaten. Prompting the referee to stand them up. Back on the feet, Lewis now somehow gets to Wassmer’s Back and sinks a choke. It looks deep. Holy Cow, Keenan Lewis with an amazing come from behind victory. Lewis VIA Submission (RNC) 3:02 Rd: 3

Fight #4

Garrick Evans (2-1) vs Isaias Alvarado (3-2) 190 lbs Catcheweight

Rd1: Alvarado in charge early with the quick takedown. Although Evans able to get back to his feet, Alvarado keeps ahold and again brings the fight to the mat. Back to their feet momentarily before Alvarado again parlays a body lock in the take down. Evans looking for an arm perhaps, but its not there. Big ground and pound from Alvarado and he inspires the knockout.

Evans via KO Rd1:

Fight #5

Steve Ramirez (3-1) vs Kyle Estrada (2-1) 125 lbs

R1: Short feeling out process punctuated by a kick to the nads… Ramirez gets 5 minutes to recover, and Big John tells Estrada to keep the kicks up. Huge left hooks lands in succession and Ramirez drops Estrada prompting McCarthy to step in and stop the fight.

Fight #5

Andrew Ramm (4-3) vs Ozzie Alvarez (6-3) 170 lbs

Rd1: Tremendous size differential obvious from the opening bell in favor of Alvarez. Long feeling out process to start the action with Alvarez circling to his left. Alvarez insight for a clinch and able to get the fight to the mat. Ramm utilizing his guard effectively, preventing any posturing from Alvarez. Ramm threatening from bottom with his elevated legs, but he settles back into the closed guard. Alvarez unable to gain an inch of space. Big John stands them up after a lack of action from both fighters. Round comes to a close, close one to score but we have 10-9 for Ramm as he threatened consistently.

Rd2: A little more action to start the second round, both fighters looking to ignite the stand up affair. Alvarez circle incessantly but appears to be tiring. Ramm continues to stay in the center of the cage landing with the jab sporadically. Alvarez gets the better of a quick exchange then again circles away. Alvarez tries the waters with couple of hook combinations that score. Ramm starting to show some swelling around his nose. Quick barrage from Alvarez finds him in tight, where he is able to again score with the take down. Ramm immediately closes his guard in defense. Alvarez still can’t find any room but he does secure the round. 10-9 Alvarez

Rd3: Ramm charges forward with a combination that misses and finds him on the business end of another double leg. Alvarez looking to posture as Ramm again closes guard. Alvarez still unable to solve the jiujitsu riddle Ramm keeps posing, however he is doing enough to keep the referee at bay. Ramm again looking to elevate with his legs, perhaps setting up a submission. However Big John has seen enough and stands the two back up. Alvarez still circling as Ramm continues to stalk. Ramm flirting with the lead kick but Alvarez just bullies through and almost gets another take down. Big shot at the end of the round. 10-9 Alvarez. giving him the fight on our card. Winner via UD Ozzie Alvarez.

 

 

‘The American Gangster’ Chael Sonnen Has Some Simple Advice for Jon Jones! “Don’t Drive!”

Posted: February 8, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By Staff:

Frequent guest on The Brutally Honest show, Chael Sonnen recently stopped by again to talk MMA with the boys, and when the topic of his former adversary Jon Jones came up, Sonnen offered some very simple advice, “Don’t Drive!” Check out the rest of the interview to hear some other words of wisdom ‘The American Gangster’ had for the former light heavyweight champion

Apparently that advice has fallen on deaf ears. It appears Jones has yet again been caught up in a traffic violation that may or may not have seen him driving without a license (according to several sources). His management team has countered that saying Jones was simply cited for speeding, and that he was fully licensed and insured. A Wednesday court date will clear up any ambiguities in the story.

Hopefully for Jones, this is just a speed bump as his rematch with Cormier having just been announced. Jon Jones is undoubtedly one of the most talented fighters on the planet, hopefully he can continue to keep his life on track!

The Brutally Honest Show is live every Wednesday 8pm pst . You can download episodes from iTunes or subscribe on Soundcloud. The show is also featured each week on .

 

 

The future for Chris ‘The Cutt’ Honeycutt seems bright, Relive his MMA Debut!

Posted: January 28, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By: Jonathan King

Photos By: John Walsh

Chris ‘The Cutt’ Honeycutt (6-0 MMA) is set to take on Bellator MMA’s Paul ‘The Gentlemen’ Bradley in a rematch of their first fight that ended in a no contest, due to an accidental eye poke. Honeycutt, a former all american wrestler and NCAA finalist now a welterweight, has long been considered one of the top prospects in the sport. His unique combination of speed and strength, coupled with his dominate pedigree make him a legitimate threat to the Bellator MMA 170 lbs division.

His first professional fight took place in January of 2013, under the ‘Up and Comers’ banner in Palm Springs CA. His opponent Jesse Torres came in looking to keep the fight standing, however his plans were quickly scrapped with the first single leg of the day.

Honeycutt then went on a 4 fight tear before signing with Bellator MMA, picking up the UPC 185 title along the way. Making his debut at 170 lbs in September of 2014, Honeycutt has remained undefeated picking up 2 notable wins over former UFC fighter Aaron Wilkinson and the previously undefeated Clayton MacFarlane.

A win over Paul Daley will certainly put Honeycutt on a short list of fighters worthy of a shot at the 170 lbs crown.

 

Bellator 148: Weigh Ins Live Stream:

Posted: January 28, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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Staff:

Undefeated welterweight prospect Chris ‘The Cutt’ Honeycutt (6-0 MMA) is set to take on Paul ‘The Gentlemen’ Bradley (22-6 MMA) in the second act of a fight that was originally halted due to an accidental eye poke. Although Bradley maintains a healthy experience advantage however, Honeycutt’s dominant wrestling pedigree make him a nightmare for any opponent.

In the main event English slugger Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley (37-12-2 MMA) will take on Andy ‘Stunner’ Uhrich in another welterweight bout that could have future title implications. Uhrich, is stepping up as an injury replacement for Josh Koscheck who was unable to compete due to an injury.

Editorial Note:We would not be surprised to see the winners of these two bouts face-off in the near future in a title qualification bout!

Make sure you tune in to the weigh ins below which begin at 5pm PST.

 

Bellator 148 Weigh Ins Stream:

Future Fighters Cut Their Teeth on Historic Evening for Spar Star MMA

Posted: January 26, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By: Jonathan M King The Clinch Report

Photos By: John Walsh The Clinch Report

Once again Spar Star MMA invaded the historic Hollywood Park Casino for another night of mixed martial arts action. The bout was chock full of fights as over 100 applicants applied to fight on the card, yielding a historic 20 bout fight card. According to C.A.M.O officials on hand the card was the largest card ever under the sanctioning body, and thanks to them the event went off without a hitch.

The colossal fight card was headlined by a three headed monster of a main event, that held three titles at stake. First Oneida Diaz won a hard fought bout over a very tough Jasmine Pouncey, in a scrap that featured some very entertaining exchanges on the feet however, in the end it was Diaz’s grappling that secured her the title. Once on the ground, Diaz was quickly able to score points with her positional transitions, taking Pouncey’s back on several occasions. Although the finish eluded her, Diaz won the fight on all of the score cards and is now the reigning Spar Star MMA Champion.

The second of the headlining bouts featured Emilias Jimenez vs Joseph Williams. Both fighters came out of the shoot swinging for the fences, but quickly Williams took control and established a clear advantage. Once the fight found the mat, Williams began pounding his opponent, prompting referee Larry Landless to call a halt to the bout only 2:01 seconds into the opening round. An emotional Joseph Williams was then crowned the top dog, in the Spar Star 155 lbs division.

The last of the main event bouts featured two fighters that have appeared a combined 11 times inside the Spar Star cage. Undefeated champion Leo Imai took on a surging contender Victor Rivera. Predictably both fighters came out looking for the quick knockout, throwing leather heavy, and often. However quickly into the exchange, Imai landed a vicious body quick that immediately found Rivera on his bicycle. Imai kept the pressure on, backing Rivera up before finishing the fight via TKO less than 2 minutes into the foray. With the win, Imai earns his second Spar Star title, and hinted during his post fight interview to the possibility of maybe adding a third. Only time will tell.

Some other young fighters also showed promise on this stacked card include:

Rick Zelada: Zelada down two rounds to zero on all cards, was able to catch his opponent from the bottom and secured an arm-bar finish out of nowhere. The slick maneuver had the crowd going crazy, as many were not aware of what they had just witnessed. Zelada not only show cased his jiujitsu pedigree he snatched victory from almost certain defeat, utilizing a fortitude most coaches search for in a fighter.

Sean Crenshaw: Crenshaw needed only :57 seconds to secure a TKO win over a very tough Craig Plaskett. Both fighters came out aggressive and met immediately in the center of the cage. Crenshaw moving forward landed a nasty right hand that folded Plaskett’s legs beneath him. The swarm that followed came quick and heavy, prompting the referee to stop the fight, to Plaskett’s dismay. Crenshaw who started his career without a win in 3 fights, now finds himself in the middle of 5 fight win streak (MMA and Kickboxing). Although normally a lightweight, Crenshaw fought this bout at 170 lbs, with the win up in weight, Crenshaw now finds himself on a short list of fighters in line for the 155 lbs title.

Edgar Marroquin: Making his debut in the sport of mixed martial arts, Marroquin needed only :26 seconds of fight time before securing his first win. Catching his opponent in the first exchange to end the fight, Marroquin actually spent more time walking out then he did actually fighting. Undamaged hopefully we can get another look at this promising 205 lbs fighter in the near future.

Tyler Daulley and Kris Calmes also impressed, winning their fights in the first round. Daulley was able to secure a first round rear-naked choke in only :34 seconds utilizing his superior jiujitsu to inspire the tap, while Calmes was able to send his opponent packing with strikes after only :23 seconds of work.

Once again the folks over at Spar Star MMA raised the bar. Before the record setting evening began, plans for the next event were already underway. The April show is rapidly filling up with applicants as the word is definitely out, the Spar Star Cage is quickly becoming one of LA’s hottest stages.

Make sure you stay tuned for the next Spar Star MMA Event! More photos will be added later, and make sure you check out our friends at www.pugilpix.com for their excellent coverage as well.

Title Fight Gallery Below:

Como spots the Liver
Working the mid section
Rivera tries to slip
Oneida charges
Looking for the neck
Foot meet face!
Pouncey counters aggressively
Another nice counter lands
Domo
Williams
The Finish
Emotional Champion celebrates
Trading hands
Williams looking for the win
Slugfest

 

 

 

 

Fighters Source National Finals: The Organization of The Amateur Ranks

Posted: January 8, 2016 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By Jonathan King The Clinch Report

“The Pedigree of Honey does not concern the Bee!” Dickens

One of the most consistent problems in the burgeoning sport of MMA has been and continues to be, the opacity of pedigree. Countless times undefeated amateurs step up in competition only to learn a very painful lesson: State to state, organization to organization there really is no way to measure pedigree in amateur MMA.

Hopefully ‘Fighters Source’ can alleviate that problem, or at least increase the discussion. ‘Fighters Source’ team owner is ‘Up and Comers’ promoter Jason Weiner in concept is quite interesting. Essentially teams were set up in different cities around the country, featuring the top talent in that specific area. Those teams then took on other teams in a round robin tournament across the country. This accomplished two tasks with one fell swoop. First it collected the best fighters in a region, then through natural selection (in this case winning or losing fights) the elite began to emerge.

Not only is the concept intriguing to avid fight fans, but it seems to be translating to the general public as well. The semi finals leading up to this event were the first ever amateur MMA fights shown on network television. The CBS Sports Network covered the semi finals, and will also be televising the finals which takes place on January 9th at Harrahs Resort of Southern California in San Diego.

One of the finalist is local fighter Amanda Jones (4-2). Jones who fights for the San Diego Valor has been one of the busier fighters in the area the past year competing in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts. She will need utilize all of that experience tomorrow when she takes on a very tough Elizabeth Vanderhorst (3-0). Vanderhorst who fights for the Syracuse Gladius team comes into hostile territory ranked #5 in the State of New York.

In other competition Alexander Lopez (12-3) a local fighter who also competes for the San Diego Valor team will be taking on Brooks Conley (7-1) out of Alabama. Both fighters enter the bout as their States respective #1 contender, the winner will leave with the ISKA National Welterweight Title.

In total the event will feature 15 bouts, with 8 titles on the line. However glory is not all that is on the line. The winners will also receive trips to Brazil, where their fight training will resume with some of the pioneers in the sport. With so much at stake, the fights will certainly be closely contested. However there is more than just individual glory on the line. This promotion could be on to something that could change the sport entirely.

The consolidation of amateur ranks will serve as a better feeder system to the professional ranks. Major League Baseball has a national amateur system (AAA, AA, A etc), The NFL uses the NCAA the same way, the NHL (AHL) has the minor leagues and the juniors systems, and the results cannot be argued. Those that emerge are battle tested, vetted, and in most cases conceptually able to live the life of a professional athlete.

Amateur Mixed Martial arts is often one sided and generally not very appealing to the average fan. However this promotion could very well change that way of thinking. Bringing together all of the regional scenes, in a national setting may very well end up being a game changer for the sport. As the standard continues to improve with promotions like this perhaps too will the meaning of the amateur record. At one time we lauded amateur pugilists as national heroes. The Fighters Source could be the avenue the sport needs to take. After all the Fighters Source may end up becoming the”Golden Gloves” type of minor leagues the sport of MMA has been needing.

For more information on the promotion go to:www.fightersource.tv

Below is the entire Main Card for Fighters Source National Finals at Harrahs Resort of Southern California

 

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UFC 194: A Shot of Aldo vs McGregor with Weidman vs Rockhold chaser!

Posted: December 7, 2015 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By: Jonathan M King The Clinch Report

Champions emerge, by a culling of the common. A lone figure atop a mountain of vanquished demons. The UFC 194 main card exemplifies these laws of natural selection. A historic event with epochal implications. Simply put, if you are going to buy a combat sports PPV this year this is your huckleberry!

When Conor Mcgregor began his meteoric climb through he UFC rankings it became obvious that a matchup with Jose Aldo would be down the line. Once the fight was signed the hype train was derailed by an Aldo rib injury. Forcing McGregor to fight for the interim belt against divisional stalwart Chad Mendes, who he picked apart methodically. Now that Aldo has healed the fight appears inevitable, just days away and the excitement level could not be higher. Both fighters have fight ending-one punch power and can win in a host of different ways. The odds may determine a favorite but in actuality this fight is an absolute toss up!

The hype generated by this matchup alone is leaving some of the Hollywood elite without ticket options. When you add in the fact that the Weidman vs Rockhold middleweight title fight is the chaser for the featherweight shot on the marquee, you might want to consider a cab ride home.

The co main event might end up being the best fight on the card. Chris Weidman has been dominate since rising to the top of the middleweight division. Unblemished, his win over Vitor Belfort in May proved his durability as he withstood Belforts best punches before slamming him to the mat and swarming him for the finish. His opponent challenger Luke Rockhold may be his toughest test to date. Rockhold possesses a unique blend of speed and athleticism that translate well to all areas inside the cage, and his speed and length may prove to be a nuisance for the champion. Another even matchup that only odds makers could fine a margin of advantage.

Also on the card is a middleweight showdown between Yoel Romero and ‘Jacare’ Souza. The classic matchup of wrestler vs jiujitsu will be on display in this fight that will most likely decide the next title contender. Neither fighter has tasted defeat in quite some time, and when you add in the title implications this fight could be a closely contested battle that goes into deep waters. Standing both fighters have advantages, with Romero the stronger of the two fighters he will have a power advantage. However ‘Jacare’s’ ever evolving standup game with grant him with a significant technique advantage. Another very close contest on paper, that will produce a future contender.

Featherweights Max Holloway and Jeremy Stephens will face off in yet another intriguing battle. Both fighters are at a similar junctions in the title picture, teetering on earning a top 5 ranking. If either fighter is going to become a legitimate contender the time is now, and this fight will solidify that claim. Holloway is riding a 7 fight win streak since his decision loss to Conor McGregor, a run that showcased victories over Cub Swanson and Charles Olivera. In his way is one tough son of gun, Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens. Owner of some of the most powerful punches in the division, Stephens is coming of a big win over Dennis Bermudez and is also at the point where he needs to make some noise. At 29 and with alternating wins and losses, this is a huge opportunity for Stephens to steal some thunder by landing some lighting.

Rounding out the main card is welterweight fight that will also have title implications, featuring two grappling wizards. Both Gunnar Nelson and Demian Maia are absolute masters on the mat. Maia having a career resurgence at 170 lbs has been on a roll (pun absolutely intended) since finding a new weight class.  Outside of his close decision losses to Rory McDonald and Jake Shields, Maia has been nothing short of a menace inside the octagon. Fresh off a dominant win over Neil Magny, the Brazilian submission expert is yet again on the verge of another title shot. His opponent Gunnar Nelson will neutralize much of the ground advantage that Maia is used to enjoying over his opponents which could lure him into a slugfest. A grappling expert himself, Nelson also has some accurate hands. Should a toe-to-toe slugfest emerge, Nelson should maintain a significant striking advantage. However with those little gloves anyones lights can go out at anytime, so don’t blink.

However the card ends up, whoever wins, only time will reveal. Two champions will emerge but so too will claim staking contenders nipping at those champions heels. For in MMA you can only celebrate for as long as the champaign stays cold. Once those grapes go stale, the culling will continue. This card not only serves a holiday feast for fight fans, it also sets the table for the next banquet.

NOTE: Urijah Faber will take on Frankie Saenz in a must see fight on the undercard. Also Jocelyn Lybarger will be making her promotional debut against American Top Teams Tecia Torres. This is another promising fight that could produce entertaining results.

Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor For UFC Featherweight Title
Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold For UFC Middleweight Title
Yoel Romero vs. Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza
Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens
Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson
UNDERCARD
Marcio Alexandre Jr. vs. Court McGee
Warlley Alves vs. Colby Covington
Kevin Lee vs. Leonardo Santos
Magomed Mustafaev vs. Joe Proctor
Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz
John Makdessi vs. Yancy Medeiros
Jocelyn Lybarger vs. Tecia Torres

The Ebb and Flow: The Pundit’s Opinion of a Champion

Posted: November 26, 2015 in Combat Sports, UFC
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“People who knew little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little” Jean-Jacques Rousseau

By: Jonathan M. King The Clinch Report

Photos By: John Walsh The Clinch Report

The loss was shocking. Holly Holm deserves all the credit for an amazing win. Yet the pundits pontificate. The so called experts feel compelled inevitably to lend their outside and uninformed ideas. Many times, in this case the reasons for the loss are mentioned more than the person who actually won. The truth is much less complicated. Yes Ronda Rousey was an undefeated mixed martial arts champion, and this loss is certainly devastating for her, but to think this is the first time she has lost is just silly.

To get to this point Ronda Rousey had to overcome so much adversity. She came into the world fighting. As an underdog from the start she was born barely breathing. Doctors gave her little chance of survival, yet she came back. The loss of her father at an early age could have dwarfed her spirit, it did not it only motivated her to becoming a judo champion, and an olympic bronze medalist. Later she transitioned to the sport of MMA. Once there she literally smashed through a glass ceiling that had previously viewed woman’s combat sports purely as a sideshow. Rousey not only single handedly created the division in the UFC, she dominated it for 3 years.

The sad part about the criticism is the pure vitriol imbedded in most of the comments. The qualified opinions and caveated explanations of why she lost are obvious attempts to attach parasitically on the back of a fallen champion. The internet is full of ticks that feed off the blood that others spill. The simple truth of the matter is one champion was created (Holly Holm) and one has the unique opportunity to become one again(Ronda Rousey). The belt is only a piece of metal that catches light, the work is what defines a champion. Ronda Rousey is certainly a champion.

Champions rise. In spite of reasoning or objection, despite criticism and doubt a true champion simply exists. They aren’t born that way, although some are born with gifts that make it easier. Everyone has to walk the walk, the gifted and the underdog the like. There is no chair lift to the top of the mountain. Rousey hiked that mountain, after climbing to the peak of many others. Its sad that so many are looking to make a name for themselves by claiming she took a helicopter to the top. For some reason I feel that most of those opinions will come back in with the tide. It is not a question of if Ronda Rousey can comeback, but more of a question of how Ronda Rousey will come back? And when?

 

Be Warned: Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar My Friend is Blowing in The Wind!

Posted: November 20, 2015 in Combat Sports, UFC
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By Jonathan M King The Clinch Report

Now that the dust has settled, and the shock has worn off. With the arm chair experts finally starting to find something else to pontificate about, the MMA world can go back to business as usual.

Up next is the highly anticipated fight between long time champion Jose Aldo, and interim champion Conor McGregor that will unify the featherweight crown. The event is stacked from top to bottom with exciting fights and also features the middleweight title fight between Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold. However, the one fight that could be is perhaps the one I look forward to most.

I am looking forward to this event on many different levels. The obvious one being both Aldo and McGregor are two of the sports most exciting strikers and when (if) they do face off, it will certainly be an entertaining fight. Aldo has lightning fast hand speed, vicious kicks, and a knack for finding a way to win. In fact he has won 18 fights in a row. However he has performances at times have been uninspired.

McGregor is as long as the day is, and he can touch the Brazilian from across the cage. His straight punches work extremely well when he sets them up with his kicks.  Couple that with his body attacks and it is like he robs his victims off air, before he starches the life completely out of them with his precision striking. However as his last fight with Chad Mendes proved, on the ground he can still be dominated. Aldo although known for his striking is also a wizard on the mat. Should the fight find its way to the ground, Aldo would maintain a significant advantage.

Another reason for the excitement is the injury contingent already in place. Frankie Edgar will be on weight and ready if one of the fighters injure himself. For me, Edgar vs McGregor or Edgar vs Aldo could actually be a more exciting fight then the one already on the marquee.

Arguably Frankie Edgar is the most dangerous fighter in the division right now. His last performances have been nothing short of inspirational. His four fight win streak started by stifling prospect Charles Olivera. It continued with Edgar retiring the legend BJ Penn in a one sided thrashing. Perhaps his most impressive performance came in his next fight when he absolutely decimated Cub Swanson for the better part of 5 rounds before cranking his neck for late submission win. In his last effort, Edgar dominated perennial 2 division contender Uriah Faber in a match that many thought would be even.

The ‘The Answer’ is a little upset. He has been overlooked. Since the McGregor train started rolling Edgar has been the odd man out. For whatever reason to this point, it could be his loss to Aldo (which I though was a very good fight), or it could be a promoters legitimate fear. After all look what he did to prospect Charles Olivera only the matchmakers can answer that question. Maybe the fear is he could make McGregor look just as silly as he has made the last 3 contenders he faced. A bad loss for McGregor would loose some stock value, but should it? Or it could be due to ticket sales and popularity. If the latter is true, it would truly be a shame.

Hopefully the injury bug does not make an impact on this event, hopefully Aldo and McGregor get to tango and we all get to witness. Whoever wins though should be very mindful of the fight the very next day. Should Edgar continue his march through Chad Mendes, you can be sure of one certainty. The Answer has next!

 

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

Champ Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor – for featherweight title
Champ Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold – for middleweight title
Yoel Romero vs. Ronaldo Souza
Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson
Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)

Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz
Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson
Warlley Alves vs. Colby Covington
Kevin Lee vs. Leonardo Santos

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET)

Magomed Mustafaev vs. Joe Proctor
John Makdessi vs. Yancy Medeiros
Marcio Alexandre  vs. Court McGee

The Spaniard Returns to Conquer At Fight Night 4

Posted: October 26, 2015 in Combat Sports, UFC
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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!’

 

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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.

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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!

 

 

 

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