Thursday, November 10, 2011

U of MMA bouts impress under Storm lights


The Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium was home to University of MMA’s November 5th “Storm Cage Fights”. This chilly evening was no match for the warriors who fought in this event.  The weather hovered at around 45 degrees Fahrenheit and the fighters’ breath was clearly visible.

Opening up the night of fights up was a heavyweight collision between Julian “Bimbo Bear” Reveles and Luis Cruz. With a startling right hook, Luis Cruz planted the dazed Reveles to the canvas. Only six seconds and one single punch into the night, Cruz had earned a mammoth knockout.

Winner: Luis Cruz via Knockout

The next fight was a 135-pound battle between the wrestler Dale Jackson and the Jiu-jitsu practitioner Anthony Cortez. Cortez seemed to be controlling the first two rounds with his takedowns. He was able to find takedowns both by catching Jackson’s kicks and executing a relentless double leg. The main point of Jackson’s offense was in the second and third round when he dropped into guard with a guillotine but couldn’t finish either choke. Jackson didn’t have an answer to Cortez’s non-stop wrestling onslaught, but by having the back of Cortez and attempting (not finishing) a rear naked choke when the fight ended, Dale Jackson left a strong message in the judges mind and won the split decision.

Winner: Dale Jackson via Split Decision (29-28.5x2, 28.5-29)

Ruben Covarrubias from Team Quest took on Quentin Triche for a 145-pound matchup. Triche, the striker and grappler, stormed out of the gates with strong standup consisting of punches and sharp leg kicks. Covarrubias took some punishment and then slipped a big punch into a takedown. For the rest of the fight, Covarrubias earned takedown after takedown but wasn’t able to do big damage from the top as Triche controlled his posture from the bottom. Covarrubias takes the Unanimous decision.

Winner: Ruben Covarrubias via Unanimous Decision (29.5-28)

The Boxer Paul Stone would next face Robert Precie in a 160-pound catch-weight fight. Precie was able to show off his strength and wrestling with an early trip, putting Stone on his back hard. Precie went to work with some ground and pound but Stone found his way back to his feet. As soon as Stone throws another punch, Precie slipped it, lifted Stone off the ground and threw him to the canvas like a ragdoll. Out of position from the impact, Stone gave up his back and Precie sunk in the rear naked choke before the end of the first round.

Winner: Robert Precie via Rear Naked Choke

The fifth bout of the evening featured a lightweight matchup between Team Quest’s Mike Hernandez and Jiu-Jitsu fighter Spencer Spiker. As soon as the fight started, both guys began exchanging and landing blows. After a quick stand up battle, Hernandez clinched and dropped down into his guard with an arm-in guillotine that he ended up letting go. As soon as Hernandez had Spiker in his guard he began looking for submissions. First he tried to slap on a triangle, but after Spiker defended the choke Hernandez swung his hips for a picture perfect arm bar causing Spiker to tap immediately.

Winner: Mike Hernandez via Armbar

The Pennsylvanian wrestler Andrew Detweiler who had taken this fight on 48 hours notice would face Ramon Jauregui from Joe Stevenson’s Cobra Kai in a 175-pound matchup. From the start, Detweiler was getting the better of the stand up exchanges. After being taken down by Jauregui, Detweiler executes a wall walk and reversal. Quickly after threatening with an armbar, Jauregui is saved by the bell. In round two, Detweiler shot for the double leg and got it, as he began his ground and pound attack from inside the guard. Surviving the big shots, Jauregui made it through the second round only to be mounted and finished by Detweiler’s ground and pound assault in the third.

Winner: Andrew Detweiler TKO

The following welterweight fight was between street fighter Ken Ocean from Cobra Kai and Roman Rodriguez. This fight was an all out brawl as both men were throwing big punches and landing the entire fight. The first round was a dirty boxing war from the clinch. Ken Ocean came out strong in the second, initiating the punches. As the two became tired the punches were being thrown from the hip and the fight was a complete war. Doing more damage and staying on the offensive, Ken Ocean took a Unanimous Decision making corner man and former UFC lightweight champion Joe Stevenson proud.

“He worked his but off,” Said Stevenson. “That’s what is great about being an amateur; you start off and see where you are at, and where you need to improve, then you turn pro. Ken did great tonight.”

Winner: Ken Ocean via Unanimous Decision (29.5-29)

John Flores would take on Larry Stroud from Team Quest in bout number eight. Stroud showcased some vigorous stand up as he landed a big portion of the many of punches he threw in the first round. Stroud clinched and grabbed under hooks tripping Flores fiercely to the mat. Flores’ rubber guard was only able to control Stroud for a short time and Stroud finished off the round with strong punches. In the second, Stroud exploded out of his corner and shook the cage with a forceful takedown. He got Flores’ back and worked for the rear naked choke until the round ended, but could not sink it in, as Flores was tough to finish. In the third round it seemed as though Stroud had begun to tire. He wasn’t landing as many shots, and Flores took the center of the cage. After clinch knee warfare for most of the third round Stroud emerged victorious with a clear Unanimous Decision.

Winner: Larry Stroud Unanimous Decision (30-27.5, 30-27, 30-26.5)

The main event of the evening featured a light heavyweight matchup between United Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s Tremaine Rider and Cobra Kai’s Nick Banks. The fight started with back and forth strikes but both guys were throwing conservatively. After clinching, these two seriously powerful fighters were battling for position against the cage. Banks showed off his strong wrestling when he came out in the second round and tripped Rider, and attempted an arm bar. Although he couldn’t finish this submission, he was able to get back up and execute another strong takedown. The two strong light heavyweights came out in the last round and Banks gets another single leg trip takedown. Banks worked from side control to a crucifix as he pinned Rider’s right arm down and ground and pounded till the fight ended. Banks made a last minute game plan change and was still able to earn the win.

“He [Rider] came from a Jiu-Jitsu gym so I was expecting to get better control,” Said Banks. “I’m a stand up fighter. I like to stand and bang, that’s my strength, but I heard the mat was slippery so I drilled wrestling in the locker room before the fight, and was able to win this grappling match.”

Winner: Nick Banks via Unanimous Decision (29-28)

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