Mari's Minute

Invincible Fighting Championship 4 Recap

Doc Hamilton Video Interview

July 21, 2007

Ontario Convention Center

Ontario, California

 

 

Another fantastic night of fights this past Saturday at the Ontario Convention Center. The thousands in

attendance were treated to nine action-packed bouts and quite frankly, the first fight of the night could have

been the main event as it was the first time I've ever seen a referee taken down by a Judo throw in the midst

of stopping a fight...and it didn't end there. Invincible Fighting Championship 4 presented by BodogFight.com

didn’t disappoint and this is how it all went down:

 

Fight 1: Nick Willert vs. Bryan Joplin

They touched gloves and the fight began. Willert threw a weak jab that didn’t connect. Joplin then countered

with a jab that connected to the face of Willert. Willert went down and kind of turned on all fours, and Joplin

came in with some punches to the side of the face. Willert, not defending anymore, might have tapped (hard

to tell) as the referee (Doc Hamilton) moved in to stop the fight...But wait, that's when the real action began.

 

Willert looked to have been down and out - The referee got Joplin off Willert (Willert

appeared to be in a trance). Willert, almost on all fours, saw the refs hand come in

and grabbed it and flipped him (judo throw). The ref ended up on his back with Willert

on top of him in side mount - right away, the ref grabbed behind Willerts neck and

under his armpit to pull him forward. Then, for what seemed like forever, the ref kept

holding him there so that Willert couldn't create space and punch. With the ref still

holding onto the back of the neck and armpit of Willert (and having his knees and feet

almost in a butterfly guard), a commissioner finally came in...a big guy...pulling

Willert to the side telling him it's over, it's over. Willert, still in fight mode, tries to

double leg the commissioner - the commissioner holds onto the cage not wanting to

fall on Willert or anyone else (he was about 6'6" and at least 300 lbs). The

commissioner, not wanting to hurt anyone, just stayed in that position until more help

arrived. Finally, Willert realized what was going on and stopped the attack as more

commissioners and security came in to help.

 

Oh, I almost forgot - the winner, Bryan Joplin by TKO at :14 seconds of the first round due to uncontested

strikes. We couldn’t resist and had to interview the referee after the fights. Doc Hamilton talked about his

ordeal so make sure you check out the video interview - Cable \ DSL: 13.7 MB, 56k Modem: 5.25 MB,

Audio Only: 831KB.

 

Fight 2: Erne Calma vs. Randy Bowers

Round One - They tied up early in the round after both throwing some strikes. They ended up on the ground

and Bowers was able to connect with strikes to the face from a side mount position. Bowers took control

from the side mount position and continued to connect with strikes. Bowers saw an opportunity and went

for the arm bar attempt - Calma got out of it and was able to get top position for just a second as he rolled

out of the arm bar. Bowers once again regained top position and ended the round with strikes and eventually

an unsuccessful rear naked choke.

 

Round Two - Bowers landed a knee that hurts Calma. Calma came back striking and they went to the

ground. Bowers was able to get the neck for a standing guillotine choke attempt. Bower’s pressed down and

on the ground, got the tap out and the win. Bowers won by submission at :56 of the round.

 

Fight 3: Pete Sabala vs. Miguel Linares

Round One - Linares was first to jab but missed. Sabala circled the cage and went for a take down attempt -

unsuccessful, a stronger Linares got the take down and top position. Linares, from half mount, was able to

work on the body and face as he connected with strikes. Sabala tried to hold him in tight - preventing some

strikes. Linares connected with an elbow before the referee stood them back up. Towards the end of the

round, Sabala connected with a clean high kick to the face but the round ended with Linares connecting with

knees  of his own.

 

Round Two -  Sabala started the round with another right high kick and barely skins Linares. They went to

the ground and Linares ws able to get Sabala’s back. Linares connected with plenty of strikes to the head

and body. Linares saw an opening and hooked the neck for the rear naked choke - Sabala had no choice but

to tap and does so intelligently. Linares won by submission at 1:22 of the round.

 

Fight 4: Joseph Silva vs. Emre Ozgur

Round One - Ozgur missed with a weak low kick. Silva threw a jab that grazed Ozgur. Ozgur connected with

a couple of low kicks to the legs as Silva connected with the jab. They took it to the ground with Ozgur in

full mount position - both connected with punches. Ozgur attempted an arm bar but wasn’t successful. They

continued to pound away connecting every time.

 

Round Two - A tired and beat up Silva was still pressing forward as Ozgur connected with a couple of kicks.

Then Silva came back with a couple of jabs that stunned Ozgur for a second. Ozgur took him back to the

ground where he was most successful and from top position, attempted a guillotine choke - but once again,

Silva got out and rolled to top position. Now, both fighters are bleeding everywhere. The round ended with

Silva connecting with another strong right hand punch.

 

Round Three - Silva was back and connected with a couple of strong punches to the face of Ozgur - A

stunned Ozgur took a step back. Both fighters went at it - connecting with lots of back and forth strikes.

They were exhausted but Ozgur still continued with the low kicks as Silva countered with his punches. Silva

connected with a left, right punch combination that had to have Ozgur seeing double for a moment - and

soon after, the bell rang ending this action packed bout. These two warriors came to fight. After three (three

minute) rounds, Ozgur won a majority decision with judges scores of 28-28, 29-28, 29-27. A disappointing

outcome for the crowd as they booed the result and applauded a heartfelt performance by Silva.

 

Fight 5: John George vs. Maurice Doucette

They touched gloves and Doucette connected with a low kick - George countered with a couple of

strikes. George moved in for the take down but Doucette connected with consecutive power punches to the

face that knocked George out. George, bleeding from the face, took a moment to regain consciousness.

Doucette won with an impressive powerful performance by way of knockout at :22 of the very first round.

 

Fight 6: Travis McRoberts vs. Bobby Sanchez

Round One - A slow start as they circled the cage. A quick exchange of strikes and once again, they circled

the cage. A couple of jabs from McRoberts hit the air and Sanchez countered with a couple of his own that

did nothing. McRoberts continued to circle the cage and the “boos” from the crowd began. Not much action

from the fighters. Another quick exchange - Sanchez missed with a strong jab.  McRoberts once again just

circled the cage and finally, the referee stops the action...I mean fight...no wait, bout - asking them to fight.

Soon after, the bell rang and a slow round one ended.

 

Round Two - McRoberts came in with a couple of punches that didn’t really connect but the momentum

took them to the ground. Sanchez rolled into top position and got the neck for a guillotine choke attempt.

McRoberts escaped and rolled into a guillotine choke attempt of his own. McRoberts held on strong and

tight and got Sanchez to tap out. McRoberts won by submission at 1:09  of the round.

 

Fight 7: Nick Braker vs. Ben Jones

Round One - Jones connected immediately with a right, left hook combo as Braker tried to hold him in tight.

Jones then connected with a knee to the body and Braker went for the legs and the take down. Braker got

the take down but Jones immediately stood back up. They tied up against the cage - now Jones got his

own take down but Braker got up as well. They clinched and moved across to the other side of the cage.

Braker connected with an accidental knee to the groin area - Jones dropped immediately and took his five

minutes to recover. Braker was penalized a point before restarting the fight. Jones, fueled with anger from

the low blow, came back strong and connected with powerful punches that took Braker back and down.

They tied up again - with both connecting with strikes ending the round.

 

Round Two - Once again, Jones rushed in and they tied up. Braker got a slam take down that brought the

fans to their feet. Jones was able to get the neck for a unsuccessful guillotine choke attempt from the bottom

position. Fast forward a little, Braker mounted Jones’ back and attempted a rear naked choke. Braker let go

of the neck for a moment as he realized he didn’t quite have it. Once again Braker, after a couple of strikes,

was able to get the rear naked choke for his second attempt...and he got it in deep. Jones, unable to hold on

this time, tapped out. Braker won by submission at 1:59 of the round.

 

Fight 8: Lee Chapman vs. Mike Penafiel

Chapman with a low kick started the round. They tied up and then dropped to the ground. Penafiel ended up

on top but was unable to strike as Chapman was holding him down tight.  After no immediate action, the

referee stood them back up. As soon as they restarted, Chapman connected with a powerful right punch that

dropped Penafiel on to his knees - He appeared to be out for a second but the referee didn’t see it and that

allowed Chapman to follow it up with additional power punches that woke...and then knocked Penafiel out for

a second time...and it appeared to have happened for a third time as well. Finally, the referee stepped in and

stopped the fight. Chapman won at 1:10 of the very first round.

 

Fight 9: Jesse Juarez vs. Jaime Fletcher

Round One - They touched gloves and the main event for the middleweight championship got underway.

Fletcher missed with a low kick and Juarez got the take down. Juarez had Fletcher against the cage in side

mount position but struggled to get the full mount. Juarez, in half mount, connected with consecutive elbows

to the head. Juarez tried to pass guard and connected with additional elbows in his attempt. Fletcher

attempted an arm bar but was unable to get his legs high enough.

 

Round Two -  They touched gloves as a sign of respect once again. Fletcher jabbed a couple of times and

missed. Juarez came back with a jab of his own and moved in for the take down but Fletcher was able to

stay on his feet. They tied up against the cage but Juarez was able to slip away and step back. Juarez

faked a punch and got the take down. Juarez struggled to connect from top position as Fletcher had a good

hold of the arms. Juarez ended the round connecting with a couple of strikes from top position.

 

Round Three - Fletcher faked a punch as Juarez connected with a jab and got the take down. Juarez, now in

top position, connected with elbows as he had been throughout the first two rounds. The referee (Doc

Hamilton back in action) stood them back up but soon after, Juarez got another take down and top position

again. After no real action, the ref stood them back up. Fletcher then turned the tables and got a take down

of his own. Fletcher was now in top position but a little too late - The bell rang ending the round not giving

Fletcher any time to profit from his position.

 

Round Four - They tied up immediately - Juarez went for the take down...and got it. Juarez, once again in

top position, connected with the elbows. Fletcher attempted an arm bar and then a leg triangle from the

bottom but Juarez slipped away. Juarez, still on top, was unable to get any clean shots. The referee stood

them back up. They tied up again - fast forward a little and they rolled around ending with Juarez on

Fletcher’s back. Juarez, dominating the ground game, was able to get under the neck for the rear naked

choke attempt with just seconds left in the round but Fletcher held on - Juarez didn’t have enough time to

finish the job and the bell rang.

 

Round Five - They tied up again and on the canvas they went - again, Juarez in top position. Fletcher

attempted a guillotine choke followed by an arm bar but Juarez got away. Standing, the fighters once again

clinched and down they went - Juarez ending up on top. With a stall in the action, the referee stood them

back up. Fletcher came in but did no harm. The round ended with Juarez on top connecting with strikes to

the body and face. Juarez won a five round unanimous decision with judges scores of 50-45, 48-47, 49-46.

 

Until next time,

Mari

 

 

 

(7/23/07)