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Kickdown Classic 10 Recap by Jason Martinez
April 17, 2004 Denver, Colorado
Hello fight fans, Jason Martinez bringing you another ringside report. Last I wrote, I covered Kickdown Classic 9 (KDC) this past February so I am amped to bring you this write-up! Martialartsradio.com owner Steve Alley seems to be on the right track with his shows as they always offer multiple title matches. KDC 10: Battleground was no exception as we were treated to eight NHB/MMA bouts - three of which were title matches. We also witnessed five stand-up matches, one for a belt. Without further delay, let's get down to business!
Fight 1 - Light Heavyweight Title Bout (vacant) Never to keep the crowd waiting, our first match was for the vacant light heavyweight NHB belt. Mario LaRosa (6'2", 200 lbs.) came to the ring with a 6-2 record in NHB; Mario was our first fighter out of Chuck Daly's Kongo Do Kickboxing school in Colorado Springs, CO. His opponent, fighting out of rival Colorado Springs school, The Defense Institute, had a 5-3 record, Jeremy Brown (6'1", 198 lbs.). Jeremy wastes no time in shooting for a double leg. Mario, with a nice sprawl, keeps Jeremy from scoring the takedown. As Jeremy continues to look for the take down, Mario holds position and slides in a forearm for an attempt at a front choke. Mario, sinking the choke deeper, rolls into guard and extends his hips. Jeremy stays working, and is eventually able to escape the hold. Jeremy is able to attain mount from Mario's guard. At 2:18 of the first round, Jerome Locke (the ref) steps in to stop the fight due to Mario turning his back as Jeremy rains down strikes. Jeremy Brown becomes the new men’s light heavyweight champion for the KDC.
Fight 2 - Lightweight Bout The line-up continues with another NHB battle. Danny Orona (5'4", 150 lbs.), with a record of 1-0, was our second fighter to represent Kongo Do Kickboxing. Across the ring, May Tec Warriors' (Thornton, CO.), Antonio Sena (5'6", 148 lbs.), with a record of 1-3, would be the challenger. Danny is the aggressor as he lands a solid leg kick, followed by a straight right punch. Sena, seeing an opening, shoots for a successful double leg and lands in half-guard. As both men work for position, it is Sena that is able to secure a key lock to the left arm of Orona for the tap out at 1:09 of the first round.
Fight 3 - Kickboxing Lightweight Bout Our first Kickboxing match saw Marlon Canete (5'9", 150 lbs.) making his fight debut for Keith Shmelzer and Vic Brabo's Team Freedom Fighters out of Golden, CO. Also making his fight debut for The House Of Martial Arts in Aurora, CO. was Jack Johnson (5'8", 150 lbs..). Both of these warriors held nothing back as they began to throw blows with no feel out. Canete starts with the better connections, as he scores with a low leg kick, followed by a left, right, straight. Johnson looks more off balance than hurt as he slips to the mat. I don't think the ref calls it as a knock down as he restarts the action. Johnson, frustrated for falling, comes back strong, pushing his man to the ropes twice with combo's. Johnson capitalizes on his position by keeping Canete on the defense until the bell.
Second round - Both men are aggressive as they each connect with flurries - Canete stopping Johnson in his tracks with a solid right cross. Johnson feeling the effect of the hit, ties up Canete in a corner. Canete is able to land a few more combo's as Johnson is only able to muster a few single shots.
Round Three - both men look extremely gassed as they throw single shots to start the round. Johnson lands two kicks to the body, which look to steal the remaining wind from Canete's sails. Johnson controls the rest of the round, landing combo's that end Canete in a corner three times before the bell. Johnson is able to edge a split decision win over Canete with the Judges scores as follows - 29-27Johnson, 30-29 Canete, 30-28 Johnson.
Fight 4 - Welterweight Bout Team Scorpion's (Rapid City SD.) Josh Usera (5'8", 155 lbs..), with a record of 1-1, would return to the ring to take on Rex Payne Jr. (5'11", 155 lbs.), who's coming in with a record of 0-1, hailing from New Orleans, LA., and fighting for Team Anaconda. This would be our third NHB fight. There is a short feel out as Payne attacks the legs with kicks. Usera, finding his reach, lands with a nice right. Payne, walking right through the punch, lands a few blows of his own. Payne continues to come forward checking with the leg kicks. Usera, waiting for the shot, stops Payne where he stands with another right to the jaw. Usera moves in for the clinch, landing knees to Payne's gut. At 22 seconds of the very first round, Payne walks into the third right that puts an end to his night.
Fight 5 - Kickboxing Welterweight Bout Kongo Do's third fighter, Billy Dixson (5'9", 157 lbs..), coming in with a record of 2-0, took on 3-D Martial arts' (Clarence Thatch's school in Denver) Jason Burton (5'8", 157 lbs..), with a record of 2-2, in the second Kickboxing bout of the fight card. Dixson controls the action with low leg kicks followed by flurries that allow Burton to work Dixson to the ropes. While on the ropes, Burton lands the better punches, Dixson landing kicks to escape. Again, Burton is able to corner Dixson and land before the sound of the bell.
Second round - Burton looks to check the leg kicks as well as attempt a few of his own. At 56 seconds of the second round, Dixson lands his kick, followed by a right straight down the pipe to floor Burton. I did not think Burton was as hurt as he was until the ref hit seven on his count. When Burton made no attempt to stand, I knew Dixson had won the fight.
Fight 6 - Light Heavyweight Bout Les Harness (6'0", 200 lbs..), with a record of 1-1, was yet another Kongo Do fighter taking on Brighton Co.’s. Team Dog Pound Joe Sena (6'0", 200 lbs..) who was making his debut. We see the fighters meet in the middle and go toe to toe. Each lands there fair share of shots, but it is Sena that catches Narness with a hard right that puts Harness on his back. Harness still game, shoots a heel kick from the mat - this allows enough time for him to stand back up. Unfortunately for Harness, Sena connects with a monstrous right that drops Harness again. Sena is able to land one more strike before the ref steps in at 37 seconds to end the fight.
Fight 7 - Kickboxing Super Heavyweight Bout This third kickboxing brawl was between two Super Heavyweights - both coming from Rapid City, SD. Tony Kelly (5'9", 245 lbs..) with a record of 6-1, came to the ring representing Dynamic Martial Arts. Pat James (6'1", 255 lbs..), sporting a 1-0 record, was our second stable mate of Team Scorpion. We start with a feel out followed by Kelly striking the legs. James keeps moving forward, lands a few leg kicks, right punch combo's. James comes on strong before the bell, scoring with a flurry of punches.
Second round - We see back an forth action - each man stunning the other, but not able to finish. Kelly lands a beautiful left hook to the ribs, then goes upstairs for a thumping right to James' head. Due to the combo at the end of round two, Pat James is unable to answer the bell for the third round.
KDC 10 Action
Fight 8 - Kickboxing Middleweight Bout Rob Graff (5'11", 174 lbs..), with a record of 1-1, from the Defense Institute returned for his seventh appearance in the KDC. This would be a kickboxing bout against House of Martial Arts' Colby Snyder (5'8", 172 lbs..), coming in with a record of 4-2. There was no time lost as these two were butting heads at the bell. Snyder stays his distance as he lands a straight left, then a right high kick to the head. Graff, not liking the attention, rushes Snyder to the ropes where he throws a flurry of punches, and a kick that lands as a knee. Graff receives a warning for kneeing, and the action continues. Snyder is able to land first with a low kick, left, right punch. Graff's answer - rushing Snyder to the corner with wild punches. Graff lands a few punches before they clinch; We have a ref break, and Snyder again combo's, Graff pushing him to the ropes. Snyder lands another high kick to the head to end the round.
Second round - Graff starts to answer back with counters off the combo's of Snyder. Just when Graff seems to have found his ring presence, Snyder lands his low kick, left, right punch combo, and Graff rushes him to the ropes. Snyder is able to fend off most of the rushes with leg kicks. Snyder ends strong with a straight right punch that stuns Graff.
Third round - Snyder continues his game plan as Graff tries to push him to the ropes. Snyder finally starts to circle out so he does not get caught on the ropes. Graff does not pick up the pace as Snyder wins by unanimous decision.
Fight 9 - Middleweight Bout Our ninth (fifth NHB) fight features another one of Kongo Do's men, Phil Tafoya (5'8", 170 lbs.), with a record of 3-2. Joey Welch (5'7", 170 lbs.), coming in with a record of 1-1, was opposite Tafoya, representing Team Dog Pound. This match was quite uneventful as the action ended the same way every time there was a stand-up. Tafoya throws a low kick that is caught by Welch, and then Tafoya gets the double leg. We have a stop in action to move the fighters to the middle of the ring. Tafoya does an excellent job of nullifying the attack of Welch, as he stays busy with feet on thighs.
Second round - Tafoya throws the low kick which Welch catches for the double leg. Another move to the middle restarts the action with Welch in Tafoya's guard. There is a stand-up due to lack of action. Again, Welch gets the takedown. Welch stands while still in guard to land a few shots. This gives Tafoya enough leverage to reverse position. The round ends with Welch pulling guard.
Third round - Both looking gassed out, Tafoya again makes the mistake of kicking - Welch gets the double leg but no action has the ref standing the fighters up. This time, Welch flick's a few punches out, and Tafoya tries to counter. Welch clinches and begins to land knees and strikes. Tafoya looks to turn his back as he grabs the ropes. At this point, the fight is over - unfortunately, our ref does not agree. A good 20-30 seconds pass, Tafoya, holding onto the ropes, does not get a warning. The crowd begins to get irate as they scream for the ref to get the fighters off the ropes. Tafoya eventually taps out at 2:35 of the third round.
Fight 10 - Super Lightweight Title Bout Up for grabs in this fight was the super lightweight NHB title. Josh Barlow (6'0", 152 lbs..), sporting a record of 3-1, representing Team Scorpion, took on Beau Whipple (5'8", 152 lbs..) with a 11-2 record who represents Team War Party out of Denver. Whipple looked to be the aggressor as he connected with a left low kick, right punch combo. Barlow unfazed, countered with a left hook. Again, Whipple comes in with a leg kick but it is Barlow who connects with a straight right that puts Whipple on the canvas. Whipple recovers quickly as Barlow jumps on him for some ground and pound. Unable to finish Whipple, Barlow attacks the legs with submissions. It looks like Whipple will survive as Barlow stands-up with Whipple's leg still locked. In an amazing move, Barlow applies a standing Achilles ankle lock at 33 seconds to win the super lightweight NHB belt.
Fight 11 - Middleweight Bout In what was the turn around fight of the night, Kongo Do's Donnie Lyles (5'10", 178 lbs..) began his career against Pat Smith's Team Torcher student, Joe Trujillo (6'0", 178 lbs..), with a record of 1-0 in our seventh NHB battle. Trujillo came in with a sculpted physique plus Pat Smith's tutelage which had me thinking this is a mismatch. Lyles, surprising all in attendance, immediately clinches and gets an outside leg trip landing in Trujillo's half guard. Lyles is unable to maintain position as Trujillo reverses into mount. Underestimating Lyles, Trujillo sits up and tries to finish the fight with strikes. Lyles easily reverses and gains mount. Now it is Lyles' turn to deal some punishment. Lyles lands two shots to the face as Trujillo gives his back. Lyles sinks in his hooks and at 1:14 of the first round, Trujillo is tapping to a rear naked choke. Lyles proved to all in attendance that training hard and never giving up gets you a long way in our sport. I will take nothing away from Lyles by saying - I can't wait for a rematch!!!
Fight 12 - Kickboxing Welterweight Title Bout Advantage Martial arts' (Arvada, CO.) Byron Sowell (5'11", 160 lbs..), with a record of 2-0, was set to take on Donald Cerrone (6'0", 160 lbs..), also undefeated at 4-0, who fights for Team Freedom Fighters. The winner of this Kickboxing match would earn the men's lightweight kickboxing title. I was very impressed with Sowell as he seemed to stick to his game plan. Although Cerrone had the heavier handed single shots, it was Sowell who stayed the pace with better combo's and effectively using the ring. Cerrone landed a push kick to the gut, followed with a right that had Sowell hitting the floor. Sowell quickly gets up but still receives the standing eight count. Cerrone runs across the ring trying to land his flying snap kick which misses. Sowell counters with a right that sends Cerrone to the ground and gives him a standing eight count.
Second round - Cerrone begins to string punches together for some nice combo's. Sowell still trades with his man but is unable to hurt Cerrone. Before the bell, Cerrone puts Sowell back down for an eight count.
Third round - Is all Cerrone, as he score's three knockdowns before the ref declares him the winner and new lightweight kickboxing champion.
Fight 13 - Main Event - Middleweight KDC Title Bout Our main event was the long anticipated rematch from KDC 7 (Oct. 4, 2003), between Matt DeWolf and John Sargent. In their last meeting, DeWolf landed a left hand in his guard, which gave Sargent a gash over the right eye that stopped the bout with seconds remaining in the first round. DeWolf received the Belt; Sargent received 17 stitches and has had six months to heal. A little background - Matt DeWolf was handed his first loss against Rob Graff at KDC 8 (Jan. 17, 2004). Strange but true, this bout ended in much the same way as DeWolf/Sargent I. Graff landed a glancing blow that fractured DeWolf's nose. The fight was stopped by the doctor and Graff became the belt holder. At our last Kickdown, KDC 9 (Feb. 20, 2004), Graff gave up the belt to pursue his stand-up career.
Now back to our Main Event at KDC 10, the men's middleweight NHB title match. Matt DeWolf (5'9", 185 lbs..) with a record of 7-1 and a Team Scorpion team member would rematch California's self trained John Sargent (5'7", 185 lbs..), sporting a record of 2-1, to see who would become the true champion. Much like there first meeting, Sargent scores the double leg takedown into DeWolf's guard. Sargent attempts to pass guard with no luck. Making the mistake of extending his arms, DeWolf takes advantage with a textbook arm bar. At 1:04 of the first round, DeWolf is able to make Sargent tap out to become the champion for the second time in Kickdown history.
From - Jason Martinez (with a little editing from us - Highlights, color, etc...)
TheFightGame.tv would like to thank Jason Martinez for his great work!
(4/18/04)
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