Written by J.R. Gordon at www.MMABuzz.com
Friday September 14, 2012 at the National Western Complex the Fight To Win fight promotion held their “Warriors” event. The show featured three kickboxing fights, four amateur fights and four professional fights.
Main event: Chase Hackett vs. Gilbert Jiminez in a 155 lb. professional fight. The fighters traded strikes early with Hackett using his reach advantage well and Jiminez showing fast footwork. The fight went to the mat and Hackett secured top control and worked for a prolonged time between GNP and improving position. Off of his back Jiminez worked to escape and land strikes. The fighters worked to standing and Hackett pressured forward and landed a spinning backfist that dropped Jiminez. The GNP flurry following the knock down scored Hackett the TKO win at 4:48 of round one.
Joey Banks vs. Matt Vigil in a 145 lb. professional fight. Banks pressed forward with varied strikes and landed a head kick. Vigil shot for a takedown, but Banks evaded and the fighters went back to striking. After backing up Vigil with punches Banks landed a flying knee and dropped Vigil to end the fight. The TKO win came for Banks at :41 of round one.
Jeremy Hastings vs. Ben Deanda in a 145 lb. professional fight. Hastings used solid striking combinations early and Deanda stayed patient and countered. Hastings slipped and Deanda went to the mat with him. Hastings tried for several heel-hooks and worked to escape, but all round Deanda controlled position, evaded submissions and worked solid GNP. Round two went to the mat early by way of a Deanda takedown and all round Deanda worked between improving position and working very hard GNP while Hastings worked for several submissions off his back and to defend strikes and try to escape. Round three had good punch exchanges before Deanda trapped a kick to get a takedown. On the ground Deanda went into full mount and worked GNP until he got the TKO win at 1:17 of round three.
Vellore Caballero vs. Jeremy Martinez in a 145 lb. professional fight. Caballero slipped throwing a head kick and he pulled guard when Martinez closed in. Martinez pushed Caballero into the cage, but Caballero quickly set in a triangle choke, adjusted his position and got the submission victory at :47 of round one.
Canaan Grigsby vs. Reed O’Malley in a 185 lb. title fight. The fight started with O’Malley pressing forward and backing Grigsby into the cage. The fighters battled for position and takedowns until the referee separated them and warned Grigsby for grabbing the shorts. On the restart Grigsby landed a series of 3-4 left hooks to drop O’Malley. 2-3 follow up GNP strikes were enough to get the referee to stop the fight giving the title winning TKO to Canaan Grigsby at :44 of round one.
Tony Dominguez vs. Chance Chin in a 145 lb. fight. The fighters each threw multiple head kicks to start and after a good flurry of punches from Chin Dominguez scored a takedown and transitioned to full mount. On the ground Chin worked to escape and defend submissions but finally Dominguez got an RNC set in for the submission victory at 2:24 of round one.
Joe Gustafason vs. James Vigil in a 205 lb. fight. Gustafason landed a leg kick then secured head control when Vigil looked to shoot. Gustafason picked up Vigil and set in the standing guillotine choke to get the submission win at :17 of round one.
Corey Sandhagen vs. Daymar Ortiz in a 150 lb. fight. Ortiz opened with a strong flurry of punches. Sandhagen clinched and got a takedown that he used to work into mount. Ortiz escaped and got to his feet and in a striking exchange Sandhagen landed a knee strike that dropped Ortiz. 1-2 follow-up GNP strikes were enough for Sandhagen to get the TKO win at :43 of round one
Bryan Youngs vs. Shane Weingardt in a 170 lb. kickboxing fight. Round one showcased the fast hands and punching combinations of Weingardt while Youngs displayed crisp and classic Muay Thai techniques with good knees and head kicks. Youngs had several very strong flurries including leg kicks, knees to the body and head kicks. Weingardt looked to answer back, but the pressure was too much and Weingardt waved off the fight giving Youngs the TKO win at 1:42 of round two.
Roman Carson vs. Cruz Soltero in a 170 lb. kickboxing fight. Round one had Soltero working leg kicks and Carson having success with knees in the clinch. Carson dropped Soltero for an eight count mid-round and both fighters finished the round strong. Round two saw Carson using his size and strength advantage and landing well with several series of knees in the clinch and Soltero working good punches and several spinning techniques. Round three saw Carson landing hard punches to rock Soltero into the cage. Soltero looked to answer back with power strikes, but Carson was technical and precise with his attack and landed several good flurries. The scorecards were read and the winner by unanimous decision was Roman Carson.
Peter Straub vs. Stephen Nicholson 170 lb. kickboxing fight. The fighters had even exchanges to start with Straub favoring kicks and Nicholson working mainly punches. Mid-round Nicholson briefly staggered Straub, but he recovered and ended the round well. Round two had more even exchanges with Nicholson once more dazing Straub and Straub recovering well. To end the round the fighters stood toe-to-toe and flurried punches. Round three was nearly a replay of rounds one and two with both fighters landing well and each showing increased intensity to end the round. The scorecards were read and the winner by split decision was Peter Straub.
“Of The Night” moments:
Submission of the night goes to Joe Gustafason for his :17 standing guillotine whereby he literaly lifted his opponent off of the ground.
TKO of the night is a tie. Joey Banks for his :41 round one flying knee TKO. Chase Hackett for his third round title winning TKO by way of spinning backfist.
Fight of the night goes to Jeremy Hastings and Ben Deanda for their highly entertaining action packed three round professional fight.
Thanks to all of the sponsors for making the event possible.
Be sure to check the event calendar for upcoming events.
Best in Health and Training,
J.R. Gordon
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