UFC 209 Inside the Main Event

On a night featuring numerous memorable moments, maybe the spectacle of skill on display for the Welterweight Crown warranted more attention than MMA fans could possibly muster at Madison Square Garden’s inaugural fight card, UFC 205 in November (11/12/16). New York City’s first ever UFC event lived up to the tremendous hype that preceded it. Three Title fights toped the stacked lineup of competitors. Sandwiched between Strawweight Champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s successful Title defense against Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Conor McGregor’s Second Round TKO of Eddie Alvarez to become the Lightweight Champ, Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson offered Five Rounds of the most competitive action of 2016. In a division that has historically been the most closely contested Woodley and Thompson set a new bar. The fight was ruled a Majority Draw, because a tie just isn’t satisfying UFC 209 is headlined by the Rematch, Thompson VS Woodley for the Welterweight World Championship belt, March 4^th.

Much is made of Wonderboy’s highlight finishes of the UFC’s 170 lbs roster, but Champion,

Tyron Woodley is as exciting a finisher as the sport has to offer. The Chosen One has stopped top ranked opponents dating back to his 2013 Knock Out of Josh Koscheck (1^st 4:30) at UFC 157. The following year a leg-kick caused, long time Title contender, Carlos Condit a fight halting leg injury at UFC 171. Later that year UFC Fight Night 48 Woodley stopped Dong Hyun Kim’s four fight win streak with a First Round TKO (1:01). Finally, last year The Chosen One Knocked Out former Champ, Robbie Lawler just 2:12 into their UFC 201 Title match up. Each opponent offered varied stylistic game-plans yet Woodley found quick solutions with his forward pressure, strong grappling and clinch game married with unmistakable power.

Not to be overshadowed, Stephen Thompson is undefeated in his last eight (including Draw with Woodley) and has devastating finishes on his record as well. An opening Round Head-Kick Knock Out in Thompson’s debut, over Daniel Stittgen at UFC 143, showed fans, Wonderboy is for real. Back-to-back TKO finishes of Chris Clements (UFC 165) and Robert Whittaker (UFC 170) added to the legend.

And Thompson’s Spinning-Hook-Kick Knock Out of Jake Ellenberger at TUF 21 Finale is as clean a technique ever seen in the Octagon. Stephen followed that First round stoppage with another, stopping former Champion, Johny Hendricks by TKO just 3:31 into their UFC Fight Night 82 bout. Last June Thompson won a Five Round Unanimous Decision over the man to deal Woodley his latest loss, Rory MacDonald. Thompson won all five rounds on two of the three Judges’ scorecards at UFC Fight Night 89.

Both Fighters fair best when they are moving forward, offering pressure. Volume striking is Wonderboy’s strong suit while Woodley counters with the power advantage. Woodley was able to take advantage when on-top at 205, but Thompson’s Take-down defense made it difficult for The Chosen One to continuously get the fight to the mat. Woodley also appeared stronger in the clinch, but again Thompson used footwork to avoid tie-ups and fight in open space often. The skillsets appear so even following the first fight, leaving fans salivating for more. Woodley was closer to finishing the fight on numerous occasion, so if there is a psychological edge it belongs to the champ.

LFA 4 Breakdown

               

                                              A pair of Title fights headline Legacy Fighting Alliance’s fourth event since the merger of Legacy FC and Resurrection Fighting Alliance on February 17^th at the Horseshoe Bossier City Hotel and Casino, Bossier City, LA. In the Featherweight Division two former LFC Champions battle for the strap when 11-1 Kevin Aguilar faces 11-1-1-1 Damon Jackson. In the Women’s Flyweight Division, Andrea KGB Lee takes on Heather Hand Guns Bassett for the inaugural 125lbs Belt.

               

Twenty-eight year old, Kevin The Angel of Death Aguilar has won his last three bouts, most recent, a Split Decision at LFC 57 (7/1/16) over Tony Kelley to become the promotion’s final Featherweight Champion. Aguilar’s last six fights were under the LFC banner, including his only career loss, a First Round (2:57) TKO by former UFC star, Leonard Garcia at LFC 26 (12/6/13). Aguilar rebounded with a Third Round (3:13) TKO of Alex Black at LFC 39 and a Second Round (2:04) TKO win over David Bosnick at LFC 49 (12/4/15). Fighting out of Longview, Texas The Angel of Death has finished nine of his eleven wins (7 KO/TKO).

               

Originally the former RFA Featherweight Champ, Raoni Barcelos was scheduled to face Aguilar, but a Barcelos injury caused LFA to find another opponent. They called up another LFC FW Champion, Damon The Leech Jackson. Jackson won the belt with a First Round Arm-Triangle Submission of Leonard Garcia at LFC 33 (7/18/14). Jackson never defended his belt, following the Title win, he received the call up to the UFC for three fights (the only career blemishes to date) one loss, one draw, and one No Contest. Jackson returned to Legacy FC last October at LFC 61 earning a Unanimous Decision victory over Levi Mowles. Jackson competed at LFA 1 earlier this year, Submitting Charles Cheeks III in the Second Round (1:24) by Rear-Naked-Choke. The Leach has a tendency to stick to his opponents, forcing the Tap, he has eight submission finishes. An All-American Wrestler at Missouri Valley College, Jackson went 5-0 in Legacy FC with four wins by Submission.

               

Shreveport’s Andrea KGB Lee comes into this Title fight fresh from a KO win at Invicta FC 21. A Body-Shot just 1:14 into the contest sent Jenny Liou to the canvas and gave Lee her fourth stoppage win, second by KO/TKO. Twenty-eight year old, Lee fought for Legacy FC at LFC 49 (12/4/15) stopping Ariel Beck with a Third Round (4:22) Arm-bar. Despite only seven Pro MMA bouts, KGB is an experienced fighter. Besides her amateur MMA record of 9-3, Lee also has over sixty amateur Muay Thai fights and USA Boxing matches under her belt.

4-2 with four finishes (2TKO/KO, 2 Sub) Heather Hand Guns Bassett is building a reputation in the Flyweight Division. Bassett has gone undefeated in King of the Cage (4-0), last February at KOTC Frozen War, Hand Guns let those hands go, stopping Shaena Cox in the Second Round by TKO (0:43). Prior to that, Heather displayed her Submission game at KOTC Bear Brawl (11/21/15) forcing Taylor Turner to tap 1:39 into the opening round to Rear-Naked-Choke.

               

Finishers of a combined thirty-two fights collide when 18-9 Derrick Krantz faces 14-6 Hayward Charles. The two combatants have finished each of their respective wins before the final horn. Derrick D-Rock Krantz has eleven wins by Submission and seven more by KO/TKO. D-Rock went 7-3 in Legacy FC and has won four of his last five. At LFC 57 (7/1/16) Krantz halted Dave Burrow by Rear-Naked-Choke in the First Round (4:22). He also stopped Brock Larson by Knock Out in the Third Round of their LFC 43 contest.

               

Hayward The Hybrid Charles has Submitted his last four opponents, he has collected thirteen over his career. The Hybrid’s last bout was nearly seventeen months ago, with Hero FC promotion (fought his last 3 there in 2015). 9/26/15 the tap came 3:27 in the Second Round, three months earlier he secured one of his patented Arm-Bars just 1:03 into the fight, and in January won by Arm-Triangle 1:05 into the opening frame. Charles fights out of Fort Worth, Texas and went 1-1 in Legacy FC (the win, an Arm-Bar of course).

LFA 4 Airs live on AXS-TV 2/17/17, check local listings.

LFA 3 Breakdown

               

Legacy Fighting Alliance offers up their third MMA card since the merger of Legacy FC and Resurrection Fighting Alliance from Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Lake Charles, LA on February 10^th and broadcast live on AXS-TV. In the Main Event undefeated Trevin Giles takes on Twenty-five year old, Ryan Spann in a Middleweight contest.

               

Houston’s Giles competed for both LFC and RFA in 2016. The Twenty-four year old submitted Isaac Villanueva in the Third Round (1:45) of their September fight at LFC 59 by Arm-Triangle Choke and in July, Giles stopped Josh Clark 1:10 into the Second Round by Rear-Naked Choke at RFA 41. All eight of Trevin’s wins have come by early stoppage, five Submissions and three TKO/KO (four wins in the First Round 2Subs, 2TKO/KO).

               

Ryan Superman Spann towers at six foot five. The Beaumont, Texas native is 9-3 in his career with seven wins by Submission. Spann dropped his last to undefeated BJJ ace, Robert Drysdale at LFC 58 (7/22/16) by Second Round (2:56) Rear-Naked Choke in the Light Heavyweight Division. He returns to the Middleweight class for his bout with Giles. Prior to the loss in July, Superman went 2-1 in Legacy FC, collecting a pair of First Round finishes. At LFC 52 he cinched a Guillotine Choke on Aaron Davis 2:53 into the fight (3/25/16) and at LFC 42 (6/26/15) he Knocked Out Larry Crowe in only eight seconds.

               

    Also in the Middleweight Division, Twenty-one year old, Brendan Allen faces thirty-one fight veteran, Jon The Jaguar Kirk. 6-1 Allen has won his last four, all by Submission. In December at Valor Fights 39, Allen cranked a Keylock that forced Sid Wheeler to tap 0:29 in the Second Round and in July he caught Clovis Hancock in a Rear-Naked Choke (2^nd Round 1:54) at LFC 58. Following a win on the Tenth, the full time college student hopes to squeeze a fight for the vacant LFA Middleweight Title into his busy Spring schedule.

               

Thirty-eight year old, Jon Kirk has only been to decision twice in his Thirty-one fights (1-1). Eleven of his eighteen finishes have been by Submission, including his most recent an opening round Rear-Naked Choke (2:09) of Richard Knapp at Fury FC 13 (11/6/16). The Jaguar is riding a three fight win streak (2Subs, 1TKO). Kirk’s first pro fight took place in 2005 and he has competed in IFL, Elite XC, Bellator, LFC and others. The 6’2” Texan has the experience to test the seventeen year junior, Allen.

               

In the Lightweight Division, The Ultimate Fighter Season 22 alumni, Thanh Le meets 11-4 Alex Bet On Black. Thirty-one year old, Le competed on Team Faber, Knocking Out Andres Quintana in the Second Round to get into the TUF House. He was later Submitted by Martin Svensson’s Second Round Rear-Naked Choke ending his tournament competition. Le’s official record is 5-1 (4 TKO/KO, 1 Sub). In June he stopped Cody James in the First Round by TKO at MCF Productions MCFP1 in his home state of Louisiana.

               

Alex Black has just one loss in his last ten bouts. Bet On has won three straight, a pair of First Round Submissions and a Decision win in his latest, over Warren Stewart earlier this year at TKO Fight Alliance KnockOut Nights (1/13/17). Black last competed for Legacy FC in May at LFC 55, Submitting Edgar Juarez 4:41 into the fight. Eight of the Texans eleven wins have been by stoppage (6 Subs).   

McCall to Return Versus Debuting, Brooks at UFC 208

Despite not competing in over two years, if Ian McCall and opponent Jared Brooks can both make it through this final week (various problems have caused last minute cancellations for McCall lately) expect McCall to look sharp at UFC 208. Uncle Creepy spent the majority of the second half of 2016 in Training camp, having three fights cancelled in four months.

                13-5-1 McCall debuted in the UFC in 2012 competing in a four-man Flyweight Tournament to determine the promotion’s inaugural FW Champion. McCall entered the fight on a four fight win streak and undefeated at his new weight class (125lbs) at 3-0. Joseph Benavidez faced Yasuhiro Urushitani (W-Benavidez 2^nd TKO)

and McCall faced Demetrious Johnson at UFC on FX2. Uncle Creepy gave DJ the toughest fight of his career at Flyweight, battling to a Draw.

                A rematch was scheduled with Johnson (6/8/12) and 5’5” McCall dropped a three round Unanimous Decision to the Division’s best. He lost to Benavidez at UFC 156 (2/2/13) first back to back losses of career. Unable to be held down, McCall rebounded with a UD victory over Ilarde Santos at UFC 163. Following the win a trend of injury and fight cancellation began for the Dana Point, CA resident.

               

That December McCall was scheduled to face Scott Jorgensem at UFC on Fox 9, but pulled out due to injury. Then in March of 2014 he was to fight Brad Pickett in London and again was forced to withdraw with an injury. Ian won a UD when fight with Pickett was rescheduled to 7/19/14. Just a few months later at UFC Fight Night 56 one day prior and after he and opponent John Lineker both made weight, McCall was pulled from fight due to a blood infection. The fight was rescheduled to January at UFC 183 and despite losing at the scale, Lineker was able to win at the scorers’ table, the UD halted McCall’s two fight win streak.

               

From there McCall’s luck worsened. An August 2015 rematch with Dustin Ortiz was scrapped due to McCall injury. McCall took his time nursing wounds and signed to fight Justin Scoogins 7/30/16, but just two days prior to the UFC 201 bout, Scoogins announced he would not be able to make weight and the UFC cancelled the fight. In September Ian signed to face Ray Borg at UFC 203, but Borg pulled out three days prior with an injury. Just one day before UFC Fight Night 99 (11/19/16) illness forced McCall out of yet another fight, with Neil Seery.

               

If McCall and opponent, Jared The Monkey God Brooks can successfully make it to Feb 11^th,  it will be Uncle Creepy’s first time in the Octagon in over two years and Brooks’ debut. Twenty-three year old, Brooks comes in undefeated at 12-0. Brooks last fought at Pancrase 281 in October, handing Jun Nakamura his first career loss (7-1) a Second Round KO. Warsaw Indiana’s The Monkey God has finished seven of his twelve wins, five by First Round Submissions.

CES MMA 41 recap

               

                            Matt The Mangler Bessette pushes his win streak to six straight and makes his first defense of the CES Featherweight Title he won in August, with a Third Round TKO (0:32) of Kevin Croom at CES MMA 41 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI. Bessette improves his record to 21-7 and the TKO marks his sixth consecutive early stoppage (4 Subs, 2 TKO). Following the victory, T

hirty-two year old, Bessette asked UFC President, Dana White to give him a shot to compete in the Octagon, during his post-fight interview.

                Fighting out of Columbia, MS. Kevin The Hard Hitting Hillbilly Croom drops to 17-8. Croom started tough, winning the opening round with constant forward pressure and top control. In the Second Round the pair exchanged leather, but Croom wound up bloodied and breathing heavy, spitting his mouthpiece for the second time in the fight. By round’s end he looked exhausted. Croom began the Third with a spinning-backfist that Bessette countered with a right hand that floored Croom. The Mangler unloaded, a flying knee and then kicks and punches until Referee, Kevin MacDonald finally stepped in to call the bout by TKO (3^rd 0:32). 

                          

10-2 Pat Walsh and 6-4 Kevin Haley competed in a new weight class, Cruiserweight Division 225lbs limit. There is a sixty pound difference between Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight and many have called for a cruiserweight division to be established for fighters in that lower HW range.

                Stoughton MA native, Walsh earned his second career win by Submission in the Second Round when he cinched a Guillotine-Choke as Haley shot in for a Double-Leg Takedown. The opening round saw Walsh land his own takedown and control his opponent with a shoulder lock. Walsh used the hold to pass into Side-Mount where he continued to work the Kimura until the end of the round. Haley tried to turn the tables on Walsh, attempting to take the UFC veteran down at the top of Round Two, but left his neck exposed, the tap came 0:23 in the 2^nd round.

               

Dinis Sweetbread Paiva improves his record to 9-6 with a Unanimous Decision over Albuqurque’s Jordan Espinosa in the Bantamweight Division. Paiva, from near-by East Providence, was a heavy crowd favorite, finding his striking range in the opening round. He twice sat Espinosa down and waived him back to his feet. In the Second Round, Espinosa landed a Head-Kick that sent Paiva to the canvas. Paiva scrambled back to his feet, and stalked Jordan as he countered on his bicycle. In the final round Paiva landed a Back-Fist that floored Espinosa again. Sweetbread kept the forward pressure for the remainder of the bout. In the only fight of the Main Card that went to decision, all three judge’s scored it 29-28 for Paiva.

               

Kody Nordby improves his record to 8-4, collecting his seventh win by Submission. Nordby faced La Grange, IL native, David Garcia in the Bantamweight Division. In the Second Round Nordby landed a three-strike-combo and finished with a Takedown. Once on the ground Kody jumped Garcia’s Guard and set up a Ten-Finger Guillotine-Choke. The Tap came at 4:20 in the middle frame, following the bout 5’4” Nordby announced he was moving down to the Flyweight Division (125Lbs).

Also fighting on the Main Card:

                                                                                Keith Bad Newz Bell improved his record to 8-9-1 with an Opening Round KO of Tyler King. Virginia’s Bell took the fight on two weeks’ notice, replacing an injured Juliano Coutinho and earning the upset in the Heavyweight Division.

                                                                                Undefeated, Carlos Candelario collects his fifth win and fourth by stoppage, a Second Round Rear-Naked-Choke sub of Miami’s Miquel Restrepo in a Flyweight bout.

                                                                                Heavyweight, Greg Ribz Rebello earns his twenty-first TKO/KO win and improves to 21-7, making quick work of Danyelle Williams in the opening frame.

Undercard fights:                                                                            

                                                                                Milford, Ma native Kris Moutinho landed a Head-kick on Ohio’s Jason Rine, just ten seconds into the contest. The KO was the first for Moutinho, the Bantamweight remains undefeated at 3-0.

                                                                                Connor Barry and Travis The Sauce Foster battled back and forth in a Lightweight scrap, in the end Barry came away with the Split Decision victory, earning his third win (3-0).

                                                                                Bantamweight, Richie Santiago improves to 3-0, winning by Sub due to an injury to Raymond Yanez 0:34 into the second round.

                                                                                Hector Sanchez charged straight into a Mike Rodriquez front kick. Rodriquez improves to 6-2 and gains some bragging rights earning the fastest KO in CES MMA history 0:07 (First Round) of their Light Heavyweight contest.

                                                                                In the Flyweight Division, David The Honey Baxter improved to 4-1, earning his second career win by sub. He apprehended Daniel The Hamburgler Cormier in a Second Round Triangle-Choke.

                                                                                In the evening’s first fight, Framingham’s Maria Rivera landed an Overhand-Right that floored Sarah Click, Rivera followed Click to the ground for more strikes before Referee, Dan Miragliotta pulled her off. Rivera wins her debut by First Round TKO.  

All Fighters make weight CES MMA 41

All fighters for CES MMA 41, on Friday Jan. 27^th, 2017 made weight at the official weigh ins. CES MMA 41 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI will air live on AXS-TV at 9:00 PM ET, with the preliminary card to begin at 7:00 PM.

In the event’s Main Event 20-7 Matt The Mangler Bessette puts his Featherweight Title on the line when he faces Columbia, Missouri’s Kevin Croom. Thirty-two year old, Bessette weighed in at 145lbs. The Mangler extended his current win streak to five straight at CES MMA 37 and collected his eighth win by Submission, catching Joe Pingitore in a Second Round (4:38) Heel-Hook to win the CES FW Title. In addition to the August win, Bessette also halted three more opponents’ nights early in 2016: He stopped Ran Weathers with a First Round (4:50) Guillotine-Choke 6/10/16, In April at Bellator 153, Bessette was awarded his fifth win by TKO/KO over Keith Richardson, due to Doctor Stoppage in the Second Round (3:14), and at CES MMA 33 Taureen Bogguess got caught in a Bessette Triangle-Choke in the opening Round (2:41).

Kevin The Hard Hitting Hillbilly Croom weighed in at 146lbs. Croom has thirteen finishes in his sixteen wins (8 by Sub). Living up to his nickname, The Hard Hitting Hillbilly has stopped three of his last four wins by First Round TKO/KO. The Twenty-nine year old went 1-1 in 2016, Tatsuya Ando choked Croom unconscious in the Second Round (3:13) in November at Shooto 11/12. In April Croom stopped, the last opponent to beat Bessette and the only person to KO the Champ, Lenny Wheeler in just 0:26 (First Round) at Triumph FC 1.

In the Heavyweight Division Greg Ribz Rebello weighed in at 240lbs and opponent Danyelle Williams at 231lbs. A Third Round TKO loss to Ashley Gooch in August broke up a four fight win streak (3 by TKO/KO) for Rebello. Twelve of Rebello’s thirteen stoppage wins are by TKO/KO. The Cranston RI fighter’s last eight have been with CES, twelve in his career so far 8-4 with 5 TKO/KO, 1 Sub.

Danyelle Southern Boy Williams fights out of Owatonna, MN and hasn’t competed since 2014 when he went 3-1, 3 TKO and a Decision loss to Travis Wiuff. The Thirty-five year old, stopped Joe Sullivan 0:34 into the Second Round (11/15/14) and two months earlier did the same to Brian Heden in the Third 0:54 (9/6/14). Six of Williams eight wins are by stoppage (5 TKO/KO).

 Other Fighters making weight and competing:

PAT WALSH

Stoughton, Mass.

8-2, 3 KOs

225

KEVIN HALEY

Rollinsford, N.H.

6-3, 2 KOs

215

DINIS PAIVA 

East Providence, R.I.

8-6, 5 KOs

136 ¼ 

JORDAN ESPINOSA

Findlay, Ohio

8-4, 1 KO

136

KODY NORDBY

Woonsocket, R.I.

7-4

135 ½ 

DAVID GARCIA

La Grange, Ill.

4-6, 2 KOs

135

TYLER KING

North Attleboro, Mass.

12-4, 3 KOs

236

KEITH BELL

Newport News, Va.

6-8, 4 KOs

265

CARLOS CANDELARIO

New Britain, Conn.

4-0, 1 KO

130

MIGUEL RESTREPO

Miami, Fla.

4-2, 2 KOs

131

KRIS MOUTINHO

Milford, Mass.

2-0

133

JASON RINE

Fredericktown, Ohio

0-1

135

CONNOR BARRY

Stoughton, Mass.

2-0

160

TRAVIS FOSTER

Newark, N.J.

0-2

160

RICHIE SANTIAGO

Milford, Mass.

2-0

133

RAYMOND YANEZ

Columbus, Ohio

4-8

138

MIKE RODRIGUEZ

Quincy, Mass.

5-2, 3 KOs

199

HECTOR SANCHEZ

Woonsocket, R.I.

3-13, 3 KOs

199

DAN CORMIER

Pawtucket, R.I.

4-6, 1 KO

124

DAVID BAXTER

Bellingham, Mass.

3-1, 1 KO

126

SARAH CLICK

Bourne, Mass.

1-1

117

MARIA RIVERA

Framingham, Mass.

Pro debut

116

 
        Tickets are available at www.cesboxing.com www.twinriver.com www.ticketmaster.com
Doors open at 6:00 PM ET, Preliminary card at 7:00 and AXS-TV Main Card at 9:00 PM