Fight To Win – Rise Results – 2012

Written by J.R. Gordon
at www.MMABuzz.com

Friday July 27, 2012 at the National Western Complex the Fight To Win promotion held their event, “Rise.”  Proceeds from the event went to victims of Colorado wildfires.  There were 12 total bouts including two kickboxing fights, one women’s fight, two title fights and one professional fight.

Main event: Josh Cole vs. Josh Cavan in a 175 lb. professional fight.  The fight started with a jumping kick by Cavan, then, multiple times Cole was able to score takedowns to work GNP but each time Cavan was able to get back to his feet.  The round ended with the fighters clinched against the cage.  Round two went to the mat early with Cole on top.  Cavan got to his feet then went back to the mat in full mount to work GNP.  Cavan lost position when he pulled guard looking for a guillotine choke.  The fighters went to standing and several times Cole got takedowns and Cavan got to his feet.  The round ended with Cavan on his back with Cole working for position from the top.  Round three had a fast start with Cavan looking for a flying knee that Cole countered with an overhand punch that staggered Cavan. From off of the cage Cole got a takedown.  When the action slowed the referee stood the fighters and Cole again took it to the mat and tried for a head and arm triangle choke that was defended.   Once more the fighters worked to standing and again Cole took it to the mat with Cavan looking for a guillotine choke.  Cole escaped and the fight ended with Cole on top. The scorecards were read and the winner by split decision was Josh Cole.

Anthony Aguirre vs. J.  Keven Hernandez in a 145 lb. title fight.  Round one was all standing with Hernandez pressing forward and Aguirre countering.  Round two was also all standing with Hernandez landing several strong combinations that drove Aguirre backward.  Round three had all striking with Hernandez landing a hard spinning back kick and several skip in knee strikes.  The scorecards were read and the title winner by unanimous decision was J. Keven Hernandez.

Canaan Grigsby vs. Nick Brown in a 185 lb. fight.  Almost immediately Grigsby dropped Brown with a right hand.  Grigsby let Brown stand and he closed in and landed a left hook that again dropped Brown.  2-3 follow-up GNP strikes were thrown giving the KO win to Canaan Grigsby at :29 of round one.

David Treanor vs. Malcom Vrecenar in a 170 lb. fight.  The fighters traded hard strikes early and Vrecenar landed a punch combination that staggered Treanor.  As Treanor was falling forward Vrecenar threw a kick, but his knee hit Treanor in the face.  The bout was stopped and one point was deducted from Vrecenar.  On the restart Treanor threw a glancing spinning head kick. More strikes were exchanged before Treanor got a takedown.  On the mat Vrecenar threatened with an armbar but Treanor escaped and tried for back control.  Vrecenar got to his feet and more hard strikes were exchanged.  Treanor tried a spinning leg sweep but Vrecenar avoided it and took top position on the mat.  Off of his back Treanor set in an armbar to get the submission victory at 2:50 of round one.

Isiah Patzkowski vs. Toby Lopez in a 135 lb. fight.  Lopez took a few kicks before opening up with punches that hurt Patzkowski.  Off of the clinch Lopez got a hip toss takedown and on the ground he flurried with strong GNP to get the TKO win at 2:14 of round one.

Taylor Phillips vs. Allen Washington in a 145 lb. fight.  Round one was primarily a feeling out round with neither fighter looking to solidly engage.  Near the end of the round Washington shot for a takedown that was defended.  Round two had an early takedown by Washington after he landed a turning back kick.  On the ground Phillips threatened with submissions before the fighters came to their feet.  Washington again got a takedown and the bell ended the round.  Round three had Washington scoring with multiple takedowns and Phillips scoring a sweep on the last one to end the round working GNP from the top. The scorecards were read and the winner by unanimous decision was Allen Washington.

Sean Johnson vs. Long Lo in a 155 lb. fight.  After a brief striking exchange Johnson scored a takedown and the rest of the round played out with Johnson working GNP and defending against the triangle and armbar attacks of Lo. Round two began with Johnson scoring an immediate takedown and again working hard GNP.  Lo landed several up-kicks to set up a transition to a triangle choke.  Johnson postured and threw punches but Lo stayed committed to the submission and got it set in for the tapout.  Long Lo got the win at 2:25 of round two.

Dylan Davie vs. Bo Yurko in a 160 lb. fight.  Round one was all striking with both fighters mixing their punches and kicks well and each able to land very hard strikes on the other.  Round two had both fighters landing good strikes to start.  Mid-round Yurko swept the leg of Davie and jumped on him to work hard and fast GNP.  Davie recovered full guard and both fighters worked ground striking to end the round.  Round three had more  solid striking from both until Yurko scored a takedown.  From the top Yurko flurried with strikes until the referee stopped the bout due to illegal back of the head strikes thrown by Yurko.  On the restart the fighters landed hard shots before Davie shot for a takedown. Yurko reversed position on the way to the mat and Davie tried for a guillotine that was defended.  The bell ended the fight as both fighters were striking while grounded.  The scorecards were read and the winner by unanimous decision was Bo Yurko.

Charles Tandy vs. Ethan Warren in a 185 lb. fight.  The fighters worked in the early stages of the round mainly in the clinch.  Warren scored a takedown but Tandy got back to his feet quickly.  Warren initiated a second takedown but Tandy controlled the fall and ended the round on top working GNP while Warren showed an active guard.  Round two had the fighters into and out of the clinch with each striking well.  Warren got a takedown and worked between GNP and improving his position while Tandy worked to regain guard.  Round three had Warren pressing forward early with strikes then getting a takedown to work GNP until Tandy got to his feet.  Warren scored again with a takedown and went to mount to work strikes until Tandy reversed and both fighters worked strikes on the ground until the bell ended the fight.  The scorecards were read and the winner by unanimous decision was Ethan Warren.

John Zabala vs. Shaun Cook in a 170 lb. fight.  The fighters traded even punches and kicks before Cook tried for a standing guillotine choke.  Zabala escaped and again the fighters traded punches.  Zabala was able to stun Cook and the follow-up flurry dropped Cook and on the ground 2-3 final strikes from John Zabala got him the KO win at 1:11 of round one.

Zach Powers vs. Jon Wyderko in a 155 lb. kickboxing title fight.  Round one was almost all fought in the clinch with both fighters throwing strong and prolonged flurries of knee strikes.  Round two had Wyderko finding success with several punch flurries and each again landing solid knees in the clinch.  Round three had Wyderko pressuring forward and showing a strength advantage in addition to being able to land two head kicks.  The bell sounded to end the fight, the scorecards were read and Jon Wyderko got the title winning unanimous decision victory.

Gigi Good vs. Melissa Bennett in a 135 lb. kickboxing fight.  Round one was mainly Good working kicks while on the outside and Bennett working into the clinch to land knee strikes. Round two was even exchanges with both fighters landing solid head punches, good leg kicks and when clinched hard knees.  Round three had Bennett landing solid head punches early to earn an eight count and she continued to pressure forward throughout the round while Good looked to counter with leg kicks. The scorecards were read and the winner by unanimous decision was Melissa Bennett.

“Of The Night” moments:
Submission of the night goes to Long Lo for his fight winning triangle choke that he got despite a prolonged defense and strong GNP by his opponent.

KO of the night goes to goes to Canaan Grigsby for his :29 KO victory.

Fight of the night goes to David Treanor and Malcom Vrecenar for their fast paced hard fought  technical fight.

Thanks to all of the sponsors for making the event possible.
Be sure to check the site calendar for upcoming events.

Best in Health and Training,
J.R. Gordon
www.MMABuzz.com