Mari's Minute

California Combat Championship Recap \ Results

February 17, 2007

Maywood Activity Center

4801 E. 58th Street

Maywood, California

Last night at the Maywood Activity Center in Maywood, California - Modern Gladiator and In Sync

Productions presented the second edition of the California Cage Championships - and just like the

first edition, it was a great night of action. Notables in attendance included the Mayor of Maywood, Sergio

Calderon, and UFC veteran KIMO.

The show started with an exhibition fight and demo put on by 12 year old Jose Rios and his opponent

Jesus Luna. Both kids were awesome and had the fans applauding their kickboxing skills. These kids gave

the fans a good show. It was a great way to start the night. Then came the scheduled five bouts and this is

how it all went down:

Fight 1 -  John George defeated Ethan Cox by submission tap out due to an arm bar. Ethan starts the

round with a left kick that was caught by George. George didn’t let go of the leg and drops Ethan into side

mount. Ethan was able to get back up. Ethan goes for a back fist and misses, and they go to the ground.

Ethan goes for a choke but George is putting up a fight and strikes Ethan’s body - and that loosens Ethan’s

grip allowing George to grab the arm. As they both struggle on the ground, George is able to better secure

his grip and goes for the arm bar submission and succeeds this time. Ethan had no choice but to tap out.

George wins at 2:58 of round one.

Fight 2 - Greg Dalton defeated Albert Samaniego by way of a unanimous decision after three rounds.

Fight starts for round one and both fighters touch gloves. Both fighters are being cautious as it takes a few

seconds before they both move in for a take down. They tie up on the floor with Dalton on side mount but

struggling to keep position. Dalton was able to connect with a couple of knees to Samaniego’s body as well

as with elbows to the face. Dalton was able to get full mount on Samaniego. Samaniego kept Dalton close

and tight. Dalton returns to side mount where he was able to connect with elbows but soon after, the bell

rings ending the round.

Round two starts with Dalton taking Samaniego down but unable to pass his guard. Now both fighters are

tied up in the corner of the ring. The referee restarts the fight in the middle of the ring. Dalton connects with

a clean left hook to Samaniego’s chin and that is all Samaniego needed to wake him up. Both fighters then

went back and forth with right / left hooks of their own - and most of the punches were connecting.

Samaniego was able to connect a clean left hook that stunned George. “Mano a Mano" - punches - one right

after the other - both men going at it, got the fans on their feet and they got loud. After their fury of punches,

both were exhausted at the end of round two.

As round three got under way, Dalton was able to take Samaniego to the ground into side mount. Most of

the round was on the ground with Dalton being the more active striker. Samaniego appeared to be the more

exhausted fighter. The round ends with Dalton on side mount exhausted but still throwing punches. George

wins a unanimous decision with judges scores of 30-27,29-28 & 29-28.

Fight 3 - Miguel Cosio defeats Macio Silva at 1:12 of third round. These heavyweights didn’t waste any

time - They didn’t even touch gloves. Both rushed in and started swinging. Both were connecting punches

and ended up against the ropes - almost falling out of the ring. It was an even first round as they both were

able to throw each other against the ropes and punch. Jason Herzog (referee) had to stop them a few times

and restart them in the middle of the ring to keep them from falling out of the ring.

As soon as the bell rang for the start of round two, Silva moved forward, going for the take down as Cosio

connected with a knee. Cosio was able to connect with a knee or kick every time Silva went in for the take

down. Silva was able to take Cosio down after a couple of attempts and get in mount position. Cosio was

able to hold Silva in tight, preventing him from doing any damage. Cosio then went for a leg triangle choke

but it was too late as the bell rang ending the round.

Cosio starts round three with a right \ left combo that stunned Silva - and followed it up with a knee to Silva’s

face. Silva was hurt as he wobbled, leaning on ropes. Cosio continued to connect with a series of punches

and a couple of knees - Silva no longer was defending himself. This would have been a really good time for

the ref to step in and stop the bout - Instead, Silva’s corner stepped in and threw in the towel - protecting

their fighter from further harm. Although Silva lost, he put on a great fight pressing forward all of the time,

demonstrating his huge heart. And congrats to the winner Miguel Cosio!

Fight 4 - Joe Camacho vs. Roman Mitichyan. This bout was changed to a submission grappling match.

No striking allowed. After seeing all the action in the previous couple of fights, the fans were on a bit of a low

(striking withdrawal) with the way this match went - Both fighters going for take downs to try to submit one

another. Both fighters showed equal submission skills as both were able to get back up from mount

positions. And Camacho’s jumping flying arm bar attempt in the first round didn't work out - While Mitichyan

was unsuccessful in trying to pass Camacho's guard in the second round. After three rounds of submission

grappling, the match was declared a draw as neither fighter was able to submit the other. Check out our

interview with Joe Camacho early this upcoming week as he explains the reason the bout was changed from

a MMA fight to a grappling match.

Fight 5 - Anthony McDavitt defeated Malaipet MTA by unanimous decision. Both fighters come out and

touch gloves as round one begins - McDavitt is the first to act with a right hook that misses Malaipet. They

then go to the ground with McDavitt in top position. As Malaipet struggles to get back up, McDavitt is able to

get Malaipet’s back for a rear naked choke attempt - Malaipet did a great job keeping his chin down tight and

McDavitt was unsuccessful sinking in the choke but he was able to connect with lots of punches as Malaipet

struggled to get out. Round one ended with McDavitt on top, connecting punches, taking the round.

Round two started with Malaipet throwing a right kick that connected with McDavitt’s legs - dropping him to

his knees - and eventually on his back and that is how the round continued for a while. Malaipet kicking

McDavitt’s legs while McDavitt was on his back, trying to avoid and block as best as he could. After a while,

the referee stepped in and allowed McDavitt to stand back up and they go at it again. McDavitt this time

around was able to mount Malaipet and connect with more punches. Malaipet, utilizing his strength, was

able to get McDavitt off and stand back up ending the round soon after.

Round three started with both fighters throwing and connecting with right \ left combinations. Malaipet was

able to connect with a strong knee that appeared to hurt McDavitt for a moment. Then McDavitt again took

it to the ground. McDavitt now on top position but was unable to pass Malaipet's guard. Malaipet then

maneuvered around and reversed the mount. Malaipet was able to get a full mount on McDavitt but it was

already too late. The round ended soon after and McDavitt pulled out a unanimous decision win with the

judges scoring the bout 29-28, 29-28 and 29-28. And an exhausted McDavitt dropped to his knees in

celebration of his win. Congrats to the winner! 

Congratulations to all the fighters and the promoters for putting on another great show. And although there

were only four fights - the kids exhibition match and demo plus the submission grappling match (which gave

the night a nice change of pace) made the event feel complete (good continuity and great action).

Until next time,

Mari

(2/18/07)