Final Round Results

Written by J.R. Gordon

Saturday night September 12, 2009 the Fight To Win promotion held the “Final Round” of their 145 lb. featherweight professional tournament. The softball country pavilions venue was packed from the first row to standing room only against the walls. With 14 bouts on the card those in attendance were treated to knockouts, submissions, back and forth battles and new champions crowned.

Main event: Chase Hackett faced Drew Dober in an 155 lb. professional MMA bout. Dober put his striking on display early landing solid kicks while Hackett looked to get the fight to the ground. Several times Hackett got the takedown and several times Dober was able to work his way back to standing. Near the end of the round Hackett landed an overhand right that dropped his opponent and he followed him to the mat to work GNP including a punching guard pass that had him in side control landing knees to the body then standing to punch to end the round. The first strike in round two was an overhand right from Hackett that dropped Dober. Hackett followed up with a GNP flurry that had many thinking the end was near. Dober however stayed calm, and was able to escape to standing as Hackett was trying to improve his position. In standing the fighters worked into and out of the clinch looking to land strikes as well as trying to set up takedowns. Hackett was able to score with a bodylock takedown and worked GNP from half mount before passing to side control. Dober was able to roll out and worked his own GNP from half mount before a positional scramble ensued that had each garnering dominant position and landing GNP until the round ended. Round three began with Dober landing several hard kicks before Hackett clinched and got a takedown. Dober worked back to standing and to answer Hackett again got a takedown…and Dober again worked back to his feet. Then it was Dober that got a leg trip takedown into the guard of Hackett. In a scramble Dober pulled guard looking for a guillotine choke, but Hackett escaped, backed out and let Dober stand. Hackett again got a takedown and worked more GNP from half mount before transitioning to side control to continue his GNP until the bell ended the bout. The scorecards were tallied and it was an unanimous decision win for Chase Hackett.

Ron Muir faced Nick Mamalis for the final round of the Fight To Win 145 lb. professional title. Mamalis came out with accurate punches before Muir took a shoot for a single leg takedown. Mamalis ended on top, but Muir powered through and was able to get an Iranian lift throw and the fighters scrambled back to their feet. Mamalis again scored with his punching as Muir worked to close in and search for a takedown. In a standing exchange Mamalis landed a thunderous left hand but Muir seemed un phased and again took a shoot that Mamalis countered with a strong knee to the head of Muir that dropped him. Mamalis scrambled into back control but Muir defended and Mamalis eventually backed off and let Muir stand. Muir immediately took another shoot that Mamalis defended. Mamalis used the top position to land an brutal uppercut that pushed Muir back and Mamalis worked GNP from inside the guard of Muir to end the round. Between rounds Muir’s corner elected to wave off the fight and at 5:00 of round one Nick Mamalis got the win and the title by way of TKO.

Brett Roller faced Joe Doeherty for the Fight To Win 135 lb. professional MMA title. Roller came out with aggressive striking to set up the clinch into a takedown. Roller postured up for strong GNP while Doherty worked methodically to set in a tight armbar. Roller escaped the submission and worked more GNP before Doherty again set in an armbar that Roller escaped by way of slam. The fighters scrambled to standing and Roller pulled guard after securing head control looking to close off a guillotine choke. Doherty escaped and in a scramble he got back control and worked some solid GNP. The referee stopped the action after an illegal strike to the back of the head of Roller. On the restart Roller got a hip toss takedown but Doherty reversed him and got back control to set up an armbar attempt. Roller escaped and Doherty set up another armbar attempt from the bottom but Roller again escaped and each fighter landed strikes to end round one. Round two had both fighters striking with hard shots before Roller clinched to set up a head lock takedown. On the ground there was a scramble with each fighter looking ankle and leg locks. Dober ended in side control and landed strong knees to the body as Roller fired off with backward elbow strikes. Roller worked a backdoor escape and ended in the guard of Doeherty. Doeherty was active with submissions and strikes while Roller landed knees. Roller then passed guard and took mount, then back control. Doeherty escaped into the guard of Roller and both fighter was landing GNP as the round ended. Round three opened with a head kick from Dober before he set in a guillotine as Roller took a shoot. Dober then fell back to guard and was able to close off the choke for the title winning submission at :11 of round three.

Matt Simms faced Mike Suksi for the Fight To Win 155 lb. amateur MMA title. Simms opened with strong punches to enter the clinch so as to set up the takedown into mount. Suksi however scored a sweep and ended in the guard of Simms. Simms passed an arm and was able to secure and close off the triangle choke for the title winning tapout at :51 of round one.

Zac Chavez faced Mirsad Bectik for the Fight To Win 145 lb. amateur MMA title. Bectik came out with a punch flurry and Chavez looked to drag him to the mat. Both fighters worked into standing and Bectik got a takedown and ended in north-south position to work his GNP while Chavez worked to escape. Chavez was able to secure a sweep but Bectik set in an armbar. Chavez escaped the submission and landed some GNP to end the round. Round two saw Chavez close in early, but Bectik pulled off a nice duck under to get standing back control. Bectik then pulled Chavez over backward and worked his GNP from back control to get the title winning TKO at 2:03 of round two.
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The rest of the bouts were non title elimination bouts.

Diego Alvarez faced Rob Celani. Alvarez landed with solid striking early with kicks, punches and knees in the clinch. Celani got a takedown into side control and from there he worked GNP to end the round. Round two had both fighters landing often with Celani being swept off of his feet by a low kick from Alvarez. Alvarez let him up and for the rest of the round the fighters exchanged strikes while standing. Round three had Celani getting an early double leg takedown and landing elbows to the head of Alvarez while he answered with knees from the bottom. Celani improved to the crucifix position and worked strikes from the top while Alvarez worked to escape from the bottom. To end the round the fighters scrambled to standing and exchanged punches until the bell sounded. With the scorecards tallied the winner was announced and it was Rob Celani.

Jeremy Gaskill faced Jason Lee round one was all standing striking with a break in the action so Gaskill could recover from an accidental low blow. Each worked probing jabs from the outside and strong knees in the clinch. Round two saw both fighters more active with their striking before Lee scored with a huge double leg takedown. Gaskill tried for a guillotine but Lee escaped and worked GNP before taking mount. Gaskill escaped to standing and escaped the standing guillotine choke attempt. The end of the round was punctuated by another huge scoop slam by Lee as the round ended. Round three was again all standing action with Gaskill flurrying well early and Lee landing strong knees in the clinch. When the bout was scored the decision was in favor of Jason Lee.

Jeremy Hastings faced Carlos Garcia. Hastings knocked down Garcia with an early punch flurry but Garcia scrambled to standing. Hastings then initiated a takedown, but Garcia controlled the fall and landed in side control. Hastings was able to attain guard and each fighter worked GNP. The action then slowed and the referee stood the fighters. Each landed solid hook punches on the other before Hastings got the takedown, passed guard into full mount and used his GNP to set up a top side triangle. Garcia was able to roll and stand, but Hastings kept the choke on and secured the submission win at 2:48 of round one.

Brian Marnec faced Sebastian White. Marnec immediately went into the clinch to set up his takedown and work GNP. the fighters worked back to standing with Marnec trying for a standing guillotine choke that White escaped before getting a hip toss takedown. White moved into back control and the fighters did a front roll/flip with White maintaining back control and then moving into mount when Marnec tried to escape. From the top White worked GNP to end the round. Round two had an early clinch with each landing knees before White got a leg trip takedown into side control. The action slowed and the referee stood the fighters. White landed a flying knee and Marnec answered with a takedown to set up his GNP game. Round three saw White immediately go for a takedown but Marnec stuffed it, secured head control and back rolled looking to set in the choke. White defended and Marnec worked into half mount to work some GNP. White was able to score a sweep to work GNP of his own to end the round. When the scores were totaled the winner by way of unanimous decision was Sebastian White.

Hector Sanchez faced Kyle Nelson. Each fighter landed solid kicks early and after Nelson pushed to the mat he scrambled back to standing and each fighter again landed solid strikes. Nelson grabbed the rope to stop a takedown and the referee put Nelson in the center of the ring on his back. Sanchez entered his guard looking for GNP but Nelson set in an omoplata that Sanchez escaped. The fighters worked back to standing and the round ended with Nelson putting his boxing skills on display. Round two had Nelson starting with punches and Sanchez then securing a bodylock takedown and working GNP. Sanchez worked to full mount and tried for a Kimura, but Nelson bridged, swept and escaped the shoulder lock to work his own GNP attack. Nelson then tried for a omoplata and during the following scramble he landed an illegal up kick that had the referee stopping the bout so Sanchez could recover. The round ended with both fighters showing crisp striking with Nelson looking to have an advantage as the bell sounded. Round three saw Sanchez push forward early but Nelson landed solid counter punches. Nelson then stuffed the shoot of Sanchez, but Sanchez was committed to the takedown and drove forward until he got the leg trip. On the ground Nelson worked rubber guard and Sanchez countered by stacking and landing GNP. Near the end of the round the referee stood the fighters and Nelson threw punches while Sanchez threw kicks. The scorecards were added and the winner by unanimous decision was Kyle Nelson.

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Kyle Lemaire faced Louie Hesse. Both fighters came out punching before Hesse got a double leg slam. Hesse then passed to side control and worked between submissions and GNP. Hesse then transitioned to full mount and then back control for GNP when Lemaire tried to roll to escape. Lemaire was able to turn in to face Hesse who used more GNP to set up the RNC for the win at 2:38 of round one.

Trey Jackson faced Michael Martinez. Each fighter showcased good striking early. Off of a bodylock takedown Jackson was able to secure back control and from there he worked nonstop GNP until the referee stopped the bout giving him the TKO win at 1:31 of round one.

John Kindvall faced Dan Lovato. Kindvall worked low kicks then tried for a guillotine off of sprawling to defend a takedown. Lovato defended the choke and on the ground he got a sweep, took side control, worked GNP, took back control and set in a tight looking RNC. Kindvall escaped the choke but Lovato maintained back control and worked more GNP to end the round. Round two saw Lovato take an early shoot that was defended. From top north/south position Kindvall worked a GNP attack that got him the TKO win at :59 of round two.

Sean Law faced Sonny Sparling. Sparling came out with a furious striking flurry to set up his double leg takedown. On the mat Sparling worked his GNP as Law looked for head and wrist control. The action slowed and the referee stood the combatants. Sparling again got a takedown and worked GNP to end the round. Round two started with Sparling rocking Law with punches to set up a double leg takedown and GNP. The referee stood the fighters and both landed punches before Sparling got another double leg takedown. Again the referee stood the fighters and when they clinched Law landed a knee to the abdomen of Sparling and the strike dropped him. Law followed up with 1-2 punches and the referee stopped the bout giving Sean Law the TKO win at 2:06 of round two.

“Of The Night” moments:

Both comeback of the night and KO of the night go to Sean Law. Law was on the receiving end of his opponent’s attack before he landed the knee that set up the KO win.

Submission of the night goes to Matt Simms for his calm and textbook perfect triangle that got him the title.

Chin of the night goes to Ron Muir. Muir took an overhand left, an uppercut on the ground and a knee while shooting for a takedown; any of which would have rendered lesser fighters unconscious. Muir then came off of his stool looking ready for battle for the second round before his corner elected to stop the bout.

Slams of the night go to Jason Lee for his high amplitude throws that shook the ring and punctuated his win.

Quote of the night goes to Nick Mamalis. When asked how it was to work his way through an tournament he stated, “Next time lets get all the fights done in one night.”

Fight of the night goes to Chase Hackett and Drew Dober. Both fighters displayed phenomenal conditioning, a never say quit determination, great striking combinations and highly technical ground skills. Put all of those attributes together in two fighters and put them in the ring and you have the makings for what was certainly fight of the night and may well end up as fight of the year.

Be sure to check the fight calendar for upcoming events.

Best in Health and Training, J.R. Gordon