Kickdown Classic 9 Recap

by Jason Martinez

February 20, 2004

 Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado...February 20th, 2004...I-70 & Quebec, Red Lion Inn...This is where you should

have been last Friday night if you are a Colorado based MMA Fan! Kickdown Classic 9: Reunion was

brought to us by Steve Alley's own martialartsradio.com. If you have not been to this web site, STOP...

bookmark this article ;-) and go there NOW!!! Anyway, there was no disappointment as the loyal faces were

in attendance along with some new (we need to market for single ladies looking for aggressive guys). Let's

get to the action...

Fight 1 - MMA Lightweight Title Bout

What I love about the KDC matchmaker is that he does not reserve his title matches for the end of the card.

Instead, he mixes them up throughout the entire card which makes for total electricity throughout the night.

I mention this because Jose Luis Murillo (Bushido, Woodland Park, CO.) was first to put his recently won

gold on the line against Jim "The Animal" Allphin (Ultimate Martial arts, Aurora, CO.). Jose defeated O.J.

Martinez in his last outing, taking over the Lightweight MMA/NHB belt. Allphin starts aggressive but is soon

clinched, then tripped into guard. Allphin works for the reversal, which he gets, as well as attaining mount!

Both working, Murillo catches an excellent headlock from guard, where he is able to reverse. The ref stops

the action due to the ropes and positions the fighters closer to the middle. What the ref fails to do is give

Murillo back the headlock position which allows Allphin to take Murillo’s back sliding in a rear naked choke.

I look for a tap but it is Murillo that is able to escape into guard before the bell. 

Round 2 - both come out with fire as they each lit each other up! Murillo is able to get Allphin back in guard, then to side mount. At 1:20, Murillo locks in a tight arm bar. To my amazement, Allphin fights off the

submission until Murillo is able to land three consecutive hammer-fists from the basic arm bar position! This

either hurt Jim enough to tap out or Murillo was able to manipulate the arm for maximum stress. Murillo

maintains his title at 2:22 of the second round with a tap out from Allphin.

Fight 2 - Kickboxing Bout

Tsevegjav Gumenjav (May-Tec Warriors, Thornton, CO.) made his debut against Billy Dixson (Kongo Do

Kickboxing, Colorado Springs, CO.) in a Kickboxing rules match. Dixson makes first contact with a sharp

right low kick that immediately puts Gumenjav on the canvas. Gumenjav replies with a few heavy handed

combos. Dixson stay's game with counter strikes and a few more right low kicks that keep Gumenjav

hesitant to land more aggressive shots.

Round 2 - Gumenjav ends with the better shots out of a flurry that both men start at the sound of the bell.

From here, Dixson is able to land an impressive spinning back-fist that dazes his opponent. Dixson stays

on top of Gumenjav but is unable to knockout his advisory. We go into a boxing clinch (no hands behind

the head, working for position), Dixson back's Gumenjav into the corner but still cannot power a knockout

before the bell. Gumenjav is unable to answer the bell for the third round. Billy Dixson receives a well

deserved win for a hard fought battle.

Fight 3 - MMA Bout

Next up, Chris Tijerina (Team Dog Pound, Ft. Luptun, C.O.) would make his first appearance in the ring at

19 years of age. Phil "The Ticking Timebomb" Tafoya was our second representative of Chuck Daly's

Kongo Do Kickboxing. This was all Tafoya as he dominated his foe. There was no contact on the exchange

as Tafoya quickly closed the gap and took Tijerina down with a single leg trip. Landing in side mount, Tafoya

landed a few forearms before gaining mount. Tafoya reigned down strikes until Tijerina extended his arms.

At 2:29 of the first round, Tafoya locked in an arm bar on the defensively extended arm of Tijerina. Tafoya

was kind enough to grant me a few minutes to breakdown the lightweight division of the KDC:

"I recently lost to Jim Allphin, so I think a rematch is due. Jose will not be easy, therefore you should see us butting heads in 4-6 months (if both stay on a winning track)." "I expect to stay active between these fights, so don't count me out of the next card!!!"

Fight 4 - Kickboxing Bout

Another belt winner in MMA/NHB by the name of Rob Graff (The Defense Institute, C/S, CO.) decided to

come back to the stand-up game where he is 0-1. Across the ring was Daren Anderson (House of Martial

Arts, Aurora, CO.) who also had a record of 0-1. Graff was first to strike with a flurry of shots that looked to

have Anderson in trouble. Anderson, able to get the clinch, starts in with body shots. After the break, Graff

is able to still make contact with punches as Anderson looks for his reach till the bell.

Round 2 - Anderson starts to find his range, as he connects multiple times with the left jab, followed by an

overhand right. Graff, looking for the one hitter quitter, unleashes another flurry. Graff pins Anderson on the

ropes and works till the bell.

Round 3 - goes to Graff as he keeps Anderson on the defense. Graff lands a left kick to the body followed

by a right kick to the head which leads to his decision win over Anderson.

News Flash

After this fight, Steve Alley announces (as he has always been the ring announcer) that Graff  will vacate his

title to pursue stand-up full-time. Steve then set the moment with a rematch between John Sargent and

Matt DeWolf for KDC 10. These two met at KDC 7 where DeWolf received the belt and Sargent, who was

not so fortunate, received 15 stitches to the face. At KDC 8, Graff won the belt when DeWolf could not

answer the bell for the second round due to a doctors stoppage (fractured nose). Look for both of these men

to give it there all come April.

Fight 5 - MMA Bout

David "the Native Warrior" Felix (self trained, C/S, CO.) was back looking for his first win in the ring.

Mark” Bad Karma” Korzenowski (Kongo Do Kickboxing) holds a KDC kickboxing title and now

would make his MMA/NHB debut. Seeing why Korzenowski is a threat on his feet, he floored Felix with a

thunderous left kick to end the bout in nine seconds. We wish Felix a speedy recovery as true Warriors are

always welcome back to the ring!

Fight 6 - Modified Muay Thai Rules Bout

The first modified Muay Thai bout (allowing a clinch and knees while in that clinch) was set for Todd

Wall (self trained, Monte Vista, CO.) to take on Donald Cerroni (Team Freedom Fighters, Commerce City,

CO.). Cerroni stayed the aggressor through the first round, Wall stayed looking for his shots as well as

matching Cerroni in low leg kicks. Towards the end the round, both exchange right kicks to the head.

Round 2 -  The action picks up with Cerroni landing numerous shots before Wall lands a well placed

spinning back-fist. Wall can not finish Cerroni as they clinch - Cerroni landing good knees while clinched.

Cerroni is quick to gain composure as he stays aggressive till the bell. Cerroni, taking notice of the numbing

effect of that spinning back-fist, starts to throw the same punch with no real connections. Wall stays stable

but does not stalk his opponent. Cerroni attempts three jumping snap-kicks (Karate Kid without the arms)

through out the round, landing the last. Cerroni takes the decision.

Fight 7 - Women's Kickboxing Bout

Next up were two ladies in the ring for a kickboxing war!!! Lisa Ward traveled from Seattle WA., where she

trains with Chris Brennan and also victory athletics. Ward was up against Laura Stevens, a student from

Innovative Martial Arts, in Aurora CO. Ward paced herself well with good leg work, although the elevation

caught up with her at the end of the first round. This is where Stevens looked the strongest as she feed

Ward left jabs (five unanswered at one point), followed by some hard right hands!

Round 2 - Both worked equally hard, Ward regaining her wind while keeping Stevens on her toe's. Stevens

still pushing the fight but not as sharp as in the first round.

Round 3 - Final round saw both looking winded as Stevens tries to be the aggressor. Ward, not getting

pushed around, is able to counter as well as work upstairs better. Stevens comes in wild and pays as Ward

tee's off with plenty of shots to steal the round. This fight ends in a draw.

Fight 8 - MMA Bout

After a short intermission, we returned to see Kongo Do's Pete Saucedo make his MMA/NHB debut

against Luke Holdorf (Ultimate Martial Arts, Aurora, CO.) who was also making a first appearance.

Saucedo came in ready to fight as he scored with a nice takedown into the ropes and almost out of the ring.

Our ref pulled the fighters to the center where he restarted them. Holdorf getting the advantage, catches

Saucedo in a head lock where he reverses for mount. Saucedo scrambles but is unable to avoid a rear

naked choke at 48 seconds of the first round.

Fight 9 - Kickboxing Bout

Our first rematch of the night was "Vicious" Vinny Cano (Kongo Do) looking for revenge against Travis

Sherman (Team Freedom Fighters). Cano dominated the first round with smart combo's and sharp

counters that had Sherman stumped. What was said to be straight Kickboxing (no behind the head

clinches, no knees at all) turned into a warning, and what should have followed, a foul. This due to Sherman

clinching and throwing knees twice before the end of the round.

Round 2 - Sherman was able to stop the onslaught with well placed push kicks that kept Cano at bay.

Cano did not stop being the aggressor as he was able to take Sherman to the ropes and work from there.

Cano countered off several shots, none of which connected with knockout power. A blatant overhand left by

Sherman well after the bell (with the ref in-between fighters) was another sign that Cano had won the

round.

Round 3 -  Sherman threw push kicks followed by the overhand rights which seemed to land on a slowing

Cano. Cano stayed the pace but did not answer back with shots of his own. Sherman finally lands with his

relentless combo, the right flooring Cano for the eight-count. Immediately after, Sherman scores with a push

kick that again floors Cano. Cano is able to last the round but the decision goes to Sherman for the second

time.

Fight 10 - MMA Bout

Back to NHB/MMA. Antonio Sena (May-Tec Warriors) came to face Brian Jeffers (Innovative Martial

Arts), another rookie to the game! Jeffers starts off with a one, two miss - Sena shoots for the double leg,

and passes to side mount. Knee to belly and Sena is fully mounted. Jeffers reverses to Sena's guard.

Jeffers passes to side and Sena is able to scramble to his feet. Sena scores the takedown with the single

leg. Sena is back in mount and at 1:43 of the first round, Sena wins via arm bar.

Fight 11 - Kickboxing Bout

Shawn Kistler (Martial Arts Center, Gillette, WY.) was ready to take on Team Scorpion's Billy Walters

(Rapid City, SD.). Walters exploded out of nowhere leaving Kistler to wait out his opponent, as he was

unfazed by the whirlwind attack's. Unfazed but not unscathed, this fight was called by the doctor due to a

gash over the eye of Kistler leaving your winner Billy “The Kid” Walters.

Fight 12 - Kickboxing/Modified Muay Thai Heavyweight Title Bout

Rufino "Ironman" Soltero (May-Tec Warriors) was back to put his undefeated heavyweight streak on the

line against Tony Kelly (Team Scorpion, SD.). Soltero begins with low kicks to the thighs, while Kelly

counters with reaching right hands and leg kicks as well. Into a clinch, knees are exchanged - one up the

middle has Soltero calling foul, sinking to the mat. Given time ecover, the match is restarted with the bell

ringing soon after.

Round 2 -  We see Kelly landing the leg kicks as Soltero connects with a good three punch combination.

Soltero works the body well in the clinches, landing knees all over the legs and body of Kelly. Kelly watches

for opportunities but there is few before the round ends. Soltero, however, does score four out of six punches

before the bell.

Round 3 - Last round, Kelly looks to be working his clinch as he gets Soltero on the ropes. This is the

extent of the action until Soltero lands a snapping left high kick to Kell's head, which is followed by a flurry

that gets Kelly the eight count. Rufino “IronMan” Soltero remains the men's Kickboxing/Modified Muay Thai

Heavyweight Champion.

Fight 13 - MMA Welterweight Title Bout

Steve Alley made another announcement that this next fight was for the men’s welterweight NHB/MMA title

recently vacated by Jerome Locke. David Lindenmayer (Warrior Dojo, Arvada, CO,) would be facing

Joey Welch (Team Dog Pound). Welch is trained by Eric Heinz and Lindenmayer by John Cronk. If you

follow the Colorado fight scene, you will know that these two are not the least of friends. They last met at

KDC 8 (Main Event), Kickdown's first pro show. Their first meeting we have to go back to Ultimate Athlete 3,

Denver, November 2002. Cronk has been victorious on both accounts. Lindenmayer raises welts on Welch's

legs with swift thigh kicks, Welch answers back but does not put the wince back on the face of

Lindenmayer. There is a long clinch as both have good balance and stop each others take downs. Welch

gets the trip but Lindenmayer is quick to transition for an arm bar. Tangled with the ropes, the ref pulls

them to the middle. Welch in Lindenmayer's guard, picks shots but at 2:58 of the first round, Lindenmayer

secures the belt with a textbook triangle choke.

Fight 14 - Kickboxing/Modified Muay Thai Lightweight Title Bout

Our Main Event of the evening - Randy Mitchell (Formerly May-Tec Warriors, now with Aaron Williams)

returned to put his undefeated 3-0 record as well as his men’s lightweight Kickboxing/MMT Belt. Shooting

for the gold was Mike Baldwin (Team Freedom Fighters) who also has an unblemished record of 3-0. After

a short feel out, these men started to pick each other apart. Baldwin has a few slips going for high kicks

but recovers with better power shots. There is an exchange of low blows before the end of the round.

Round 2 -  Both come out ready to battle, matching strike for strike, the action was fast and each pushed

the other to the brink of exhaustion. 

Round 3 - Our final round holds much of the same action with Baldwin able to land better looking leg kicks,

with a push kick borrowed from stable mate Travis Sherman. Mitchell stayed active and did land shots

that backed up Baldwin. The fight goes to the scorecards.

Judge: Ken Pishna 29-28 

Judge: Rob Matthews 29-29 

Judge: Eric Heinz 29-28

And your .....................................................NEW men's lightweight champion, Mike Baldwin.

I thank you all for the support, E-Mail me at: jason4mma@yahoo.com if you have any comments,

corrections, or Crazy Cab Confessions!!! Those are my favorite!!! Just kidding (Unless its video) LOL 

From - Jason Martinez (with a little editing from us - Highlights, color, etc...)

TheFightGame.tv would like to thank Jason Martinez for his great work!

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(2/23/04)