Loaded Results

by J.R. Gordon

November 20, 2009

The Softball Country Pavilion was packed wall to wall for the fight fans that came out to support the Fight to Win, “Loaded” show. And loaded it was, with one title match, four professional bouts and a host of fighters striving to make their name known in the MMA fight scene.

Pro bout: In the main event Robert Martinez faced Chris Holland. Each fighter came out throwing strong, accurate, crisp, technical and aggressive strikes with each able to stun the other. Holland slipped to the mat and took several punches while scrambling forward trying to secure an ankle pick. Martinez backed out, let Holland stand and at the end of a flurry Martinez landed a left hook that dropped Holland. Martinez followed up with two GNP shots before the referee stopped the bout giving Martinez the TKO win at 1:09 of round one.

Pro bout: In the co-main event Matt Simms faced Steve Simmons. Simms drove forward to secure a bodylock that he turned into a big scoop slam. On the ground Simms took side control to work some GNP. Simmons was active off of his back setting in an armbar that Simms was able to escape. Simmons continued to display a good defensive guard, but in time Simms took half mount and set in a head and arm triangle Choke for the tapout win at 2:04 of round one.

Pro bout: Tom Sarah faced Jeremy Malatere. The bout started out with a prolonged feeling out process with each fighter able to land probing strikes. Sarah pushed Malatere into the cage for a takedown and the rest of the round had Malatere active off of his back with Sarah searching to land GNP. Round two saw Malatere more aggressive with his strikes before Sarah got a takedown to set up some more GNP. Malatere tried for an omoplata that Sarah rolled out of allowing Malatere to end in side control and work his own GNP attack to end round two. Round three had both fighters landing their best strikes including many low kicks. Sarah was able to get a bodylock takedown and after Malatere worked back to standing and after landing kicks to the still down Sarah he closed in for GNP that Sarah defended by way of getting to his knees and turtling. From there Malatere switched back and forth between anaconda and darce choke attempts until the fighters stood and exchanged strikes to end the bout. The judges saw it as an unanimous decision victory for Malatere.

Pro bout: Nick Bushman faced Vellore Caballero. Bushman got an early takedown to set up his GNP attack, and Caballero was active off of his back before the fighters scrambled back to standing. Bushman landed a solid head kick before again getting a takedown and controlling position for the rest of the round while Caballero threatened nonstop with submission attempts. Round two had each fighter landing good punches and kicks before Bushman got a high crotch takedown that he used to transition smoothly into an Americana shoulder lock attempt. Caballero escaped and worked into full mount. Off of his back Bushman stayed calm, effected a backdoor escape, and from back control he flurried with relentless GNP to the head of Caballero until the referee stopped the bout giving Bushman the TKO win at 2:17 of round one.

Jeremy Kimball faced Jason Lee. Lee got a fast takedown and worked GNP until Kimball dropped back for a foot lock. Lee worked to set in an heel hook of his own before abandoning the submission in favor of GNP. Off of his back Kimball tried for an armbar, but Lee escaped and worked more GNP to end the round. After an opening flurry that opened a cut on Lee, Kimball jumped guard looking for a guillotine choke. On the ground Lee escaped and worked GNP to end the round while Kimball was active with his defense and strikes of his own. Between rounds the corner of Lee waved off the fight because of the cut and Kimball got the title winning victory at 3:00 of round two. In his post fight interview Kimball (18 years old) said he is looking to turn pro soon.

Jeremy Hastings fought Chris Blazer. Both combatants landed solid strikes early before Holland went for a takedown. Blazer however landed on top then stood. From the bottom Hastings tried for an ankle pick takedown and the referee stopped the bout when Blazer grabbed the fence to stop the takedown. After the restart the fight almost immediately went back to the ground. Blazer was on his back on the receiving end of Holland’s GNP attack and the referee stopped the bout when Blazer verbally submitted giving the win to Hastings at the 2:38 mark of round one.

Chris Harvey faced Mike Tougisant. Tougisant immediately got a double leg takedown and worked GNP until Harvey rolled to escape. Tougisant was able to secure back control, work GNP and set in a RNC. At 2:06 of round one when Harvey lost consciousness the referee stopped the bout giving Tougisant the submission victory.

Diego Alvarez faced Oscar Jiminez. Alvarez came forward with strong punches while Jiminez worked his counter striking. Alvarez landed a flush head kick that didn’t seem to phase Jiminez. Alvarez then initiated the clinch and spent most of the rest of the round with the Thai plum working strong knee strikes. The round ended with Jiminez landing a solid punch flurry. Round two saw Jiminez take an early advantage by way of strong and accurate punches along with several hard head and body kicks. There was a brief pause while Alvarez recovered from an accidental low blow. Jiminez was given time to recover after an early accidental low blow to start round three. After the restart there was back and forth striking until Jiminez took a shoot that Alvarez defended by way of standing guillotine. Jiminez defended the choke until the round ended. The judges gave their scores and the winner by way of unanimous decision was Jiminez.

Chasen Finklestien faced Jared Hamil. The fighters engaged in a brief striking exchange before Finklestien set up a standing RNC and took Hamil to the mat. Hamil escaped the choke, but Finklestien scrambled up, set in a guillotine, pulled guard and closed it off for the tapout victory at 1:04 of round one.

Josh Goldberger faced Jose Campos. Each fighter landed strong strikes early, but the reach advantage of Campos was put to good use and he scored a knockdown followed up by GNP to get the TKO win at :53 of round one.

Karl Ballard was to face Todd Meredith. However, during the pre-fight inspection by the referee Ballard was deemed to have an illegal balm substance on his body so the win went to Meredith by way of disqualification.

Vinny Palone faced Rich Romero. The fighters met in the center of the cage to exchange strong strikes before Palone landed an uppercut that dropped Romero. Palone followed with a brief GNP attack until the referee stopped the match giving him the TKO win at :42 of round one.

“Of The Night” moments:

Chin of the night goes to Oscar Jiminez for continuing to fight after shrugging off the solid head kick from his opponent.

Submission of the night goes to Mike Tougisant for the RNC that rendered his opponent unconscious.

Heart of the night goes to Jason Lee for continuing to fight after the receiving a head cut so deep it had his corner deciding to stop the bout at the end of the round.

Slam of the night goes to Matt Simms for his huge scoop slam in the opening moments of his bout.

Fight of the night goes to Tom Sarah and Jeremy Malatere. There was a lot of anticipation for this fight and it lived up to the expectations. It went the distance with each fighter epitomizing what it means to be a well rounded MMA fighter.

Thanks to the sponsors: lifetime of sol, Epic vodka, 5280 fighter and ultimate takedown. Without their continued support these events would not be possible.

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Best in Health and Training, J.R. Gordon.