Mari's Minute

Gladiator Challenge Recap

"Evolution"

February 16, 2008

The Los Angeles FitExpo

L.A. Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

Gladiator Challenge was back in Southern California this past Saturday night as part of the Los Angeles Fit

Expo weekend held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The hundreds in attendance were treated to 11

action packed MMA fights ranging from powerful knockouts to great stoppages from referees Herb Dean

and Larry Landless. 

 Here is how all the action went down:

Alijah Reni was the first winner of the night. Reni defeated Ron Nguyen at 1:57 of round one. Nguyen was

able to slip out of an arm bar attempt early in the round but it didn’t take Reni long to dominate with his

punching power. Reni was able to mount Nguyen’s back and connect with punches to the side of head until

he couldn’t take any more and verbally submitted giving Reni the win. 

Next, Beau Serat defeated a resilient Tony Dalton by TKO after the referee stepped in at 2:01 of round

three due to uncontested punches. Dalton was able to escape a guillotine choke in round one but Serat

dominated with his speed and punching ability.   

Then came the scariest knockout that I have ever witnessed. Adam Watts connected with a right but was

countered immediately by Niko Medina - Medina came in strong with a powerful hook combination that

knocked Watts out cold - and as the referee was coming in to protect Watts, Medina connected with another

powerful right on a down and out Watts. The referee pulled Medina off and medical attention was immediately

called into the cage. Blood just started pouring out of Watts mouth as he was held on his side to keep

himself from choking on his own blood. Watts was taken out on a stretcher to the hospital as a

precautionary measure.

After a 45 minute break, that’s how long it took for the paramedics to return, Jose Reyes took on Larry

Mays and after two rounds of action, the referee (Herb Dean) indicated the fight was over. Reyes' corner let

the referee know that their fighter would not come out for the third round - it was over, Mays won via TKO.

Mays had connected at will with power punches throughout the first two rounds. 

It took Russ Muira 37 seconds of round two to get the submission win over Aaron Miller.  Miller connected

with a beautiful high kick in round one but didn’t hurt Muira at all. And it was all Muira in round two. Muira got

a slam take down and the guillotine choke that gave him the win.

Then came two warriors that gave it there all - G. Karakhanyan took on Chris David. David took the split

decision win with judges scores 29-28 David, 29-28 Karakhanyan, 30-27 David. The fans booed the Judge’s

scores after they were read. I have no idea how one judge saw it 30-27 - the fight was a lot closer than that

score indicated.

The eighth and ninth fight went pretty quick. Andrew Flores punched his way to a guillotine choke win over

Randy Ray at 2:14 of round one. Then Jason High showed his strength, knocking out Troy Acker at 24

seconds of round one. High took it slow but then connected with a beautiful powerful high kick to the face

that dropped Acker. High jumped on him and started pounding away - knocking Acker out.

Another great battle ensued when Art Ruiz faced Mike Sandez. These two warriors went toe-to-toe for two

full rounds - and in round three, Sandez became victorious. Sandez was just too quick in round three and

kept beating Ruiz to the punch. After connecting with a fury of punches to the face, the referee stepped in to

stop the fight. Sandez took the TKO win at 44 seconds of round three due to uncontested punches. 

Next, Tony Lopez did battle with Liron Wilson. Wilson looked to have secured an arm bar in round one but

amazingly, Lopez held on and fought his way out of it. Lopez came back and ended in top position and

connected with bombs. Wilson was able to get away but gave his back allowing Lopez to jump on it and get

the rear naked choke for the win at 4:46 of round one.

And for the main event, it was as good as the rest. Saad Awad took on Nam Pham. Awad was first to

connect in round one - Awad showed a better stand-up game, connecting with punches to the face and

knees to the body of a confident Pham, rocking him at one point. Pham recovered well and was able to

attempt two submission (rear naked choke & arm bar) with no luck. Awad also attempted an arm bar of his

own but Pham rolled out of it easily and ended up in top position for the final seconds of the round. Round

two was all Pham. Pham connected immediately with a low kick and then punches. Awad looked winded

and Pham connected with strikes to the body and face as Awad went down. Pham, from top position,

let loose with the strikes. After a fury of punches and elbows to the face, the referee stepped in...ending the

fight, giving Pham the TKO win at 52 seconds of round two. Awad appeared to have been out and was not

responding well immediately after the fight and had to be taken out on a stretcher and to the hospital for the

precautionary medical evaluation.

The next Gladiator Challenge in Southern California will be on April 12th at the Cahuilla Casino in Temecula -

the card will feature "Mr. Unbreakable" Brain Warren (KOTC, Strikeforce, K-1 veteran).

Until next time,

Mari

TheFightGame.tv

(2/19/08)