BK NEWS
04-13-2008, 08:47 PM
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/StoryTitle.jpg
Craig Coombes and Nick Lakich touch gloves to start the event.
For more then a decade, North Carolina has been without Mixed Martial Arts. With the state legalizing MMA recently, Spartan Entertainment Group brought the City of Fayetteville, NC its first ever MMA event. Close Quarters Combat In The Cage.
Having Fort Bragg near brought all kinds of fight fans in addition to those traveling from across the state to see their hometown heroes in action. Sponsors made announcements about future events and even local band, Motor Junkie, was on hand to provide pre-show music.
Prior to the first fight, two local favorites were brought into the cage to talk about this monumental, first event. Tara LaRosa, top ranked female MMA star of BODOG, and Tim Kennedy of the IFL MW division. They expressed how great it felt having MMA in back in the state and especially in the city where their team trains.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/TerraTimPreEvent.jpg
Tim and Tara in the cage.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/Tara.jpg
Tara prepares to enjoy some great MMA action.
The event featured six amateur and three professional bouts with every fight being action packed and exciting.
The first fight was set in the 185lb division with Craig Coombes facing Nick Lakich. Early in the first round, Craig scored with a textbook take down and using hammer-fists and elbows, eventually worked his way to side control where both fighters were using their knees on each other until the bell sounded.
The second round also featured a quick take down by Craig where he immediately got side control. Nick tried to escape but eventually gave up his back where Craig scored the tap out win via rear naked choke at the 1:44 mark
After the fight, Craig had this to say about being the first winner, of the first fight, of the first event in Fayetteville.
?It was awesome, and that was my first fight!?
In regards to his strategy he stated that he wanted to get the take down and move into a better position and the knees his opponent threw did nothing to stop his aggressive attacks. A great game plan that resulted in a great win.
Craig is here attending college where he is majoring in Professional Golf Management. He plans on using his degree to work and train during the summer, and line up some fights in the winter back in his home state of New York.
What a great fight to start off this event!
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/CraigPostFight.jpg
Craig post fight.
Another action packed amateur bout featured another pair of 185lb fighters. Dave Cavanaugh took on Grant Holland. There was not a dull moment in this fight with both leaving everything in the cage.
Grant scored a take down in the first and both fighters continued switching positions and working for a dominant position. Grant had the better positions for most of the round.
The second was a great display of stand up with Grant landing some brutal shots keeping Dave back-pedaling and looking to get a big shot of his own. There were some great exchanges throughout the round.
In the third, Grant continued his dominance in the stand up until Dave scored a take down and fell into Grant?s guard. Even in this position, Grant showed to be the fresher fighter and tried various submission attempts from the bottom finishing off the round with an omoplata/triangle attempt.
Grant won the Unanimous Decision with two cards of 30-27 and the final card 29-28.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/GrantHolland.jpg
Grant Holland post fight.
In the 155lb division, Justin Goff and Tim Miller put on a great fight that featured big hits, a punch to choke slam transition, and a close guillotine finish all in the first round. Justin Goff scored the tap out victory by rear naked choke at 2:09 of the second.
Other results from the under card:
Brad Richardson defeated Ryan Hanseler via rear naked choke at 1:48 of round 1.
Will Estes defeated Scott Stagner via unanimous decision.
Tim Stone defeated Adam Jetton via majority decision.
The first fight on the professional card was set in the 170lb division with Dale Wooden facing Devon Plaisance.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/DevonEntrance.jpg
Devon Plaisance heads to the cage.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/DaleEntrance.jpg
Dale Wooden heads to the cage.
Both fighters came out swinging hard and it appeared the fight was destined for a quick KO. After a solid punch by Devon, Dale took the fight to the ground and was immediately put into defensive mode as Devon tried to score with a guillotine and an arm bar. Dale escaped and got the fight back to the standing game. After another quick flurry, Dale scored a TKO with Devon crumbling to the canvas.
The next fight put two 145lb fighters in the cage with Brandon Garner taking on Bryan Herring.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/BrandonGarnerEntrance.jpg
Brandon walks to the cage.
Early in the first round, Brandon shot in on Bryan fast and scored a take down jumping into side control with little effort. Brandon moved Bryan against the cage and moved into the crucifix position. With the cage and Brandon preventing an escape, Bryan was forced to tap out from the barrage of punches.
In his post fight interview, Brandon thanked everybody for their support and those who helped make the event possible and bring MMA back to North Carolina.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/BrandonGarnerPostFight.jpg
Brandon post fight.
Next up was an announcement. There was supposed to be a fight in the 170lb division. Rhomez Brower was set to take on Ralph Green. Apparently Ralph had not shown up or called the promoters to inform of any problems after several conversations the day prior to the event. The ring announcer declared Rhomez the winner via tap out, due to punk out.
The main event was now set to have Jason Palacios face off against Patrick Lopez in the 155lb division.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/PatrickLopezEntrance.jpg
Patrick walks to the cage.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/JasonEntrance.jpg
Jason heads to the cage.
As soon as the bell sounded, the lightweights exchanged punches back and forth with neither seeming to gain an advantage. Jason pressed Patrick against the cage and tried delivering knees. The fight made its way back to the center where Jason threw a right high kick connecting and causing Patrick to drop a little. Jason wasted no time in securing a take down and taking Patrick?s back. Unable to secure the rear naked choke, Jason switched to an arm bar just as the bell sounded.
The second round was a bit slower with Jason locking Patrick against the cage until an elbow forced Jason back. Jason scored a take down and tried working his way to side control. After a bit of a slow down, the ref stood the fight back up in time for the bell to sound, ending the round.
At the start of the third, Jason threw a kick that set up a big take down into half guard. He was able to move into side control and put Patrick into a bad spot locking up his arms in the crucifix and throwing punches. Patrick was finally able to roll out and gave up his back where Jason was happy to try to sink in a choke. Patrick stood up with Jason still on his back and jumped backwards slamming both fighters to the canvas. That did nothing to prevent Jason from hanging on and getting the tap out by rear naked choke at 3:49 of the third round.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/JasonPostFight.jpg
Jason post fight.
The promoters did an absolutely awesome job setting up this event and the match ups were on par with some of the bigger shows of recent. With a crowd of an estimated 2,700 on hand, this show was a great success. The promoters told fans to expect more of the same as they have plans of doing more shows.
A very big thanks to Spartan Entertainment Group and all of the event sponsors for making this possible.
Jim "Chivo" Schnepp (http://www.bloodyknux.com/forum/member.php?u=993)
Craig Coombes and Nick Lakich touch gloves to start the event.
For more then a decade, North Carolina has been without Mixed Martial Arts. With the state legalizing MMA recently, Spartan Entertainment Group brought the City of Fayetteville, NC its first ever MMA event. Close Quarters Combat In The Cage.
Having Fort Bragg near brought all kinds of fight fans in addition to those traveling from across the state to see their hometown heroes in action. Sponsors made announcements about future events and even local band, Motor Junkie, was on hand to provide pre-show music.
Prior to the first fight, two local favorites were brought into the cage to talk about this monumental, first event. Tara LaRosa, top ranked female MMA star of BODOG, and Tim Kennedy of the IFL MW division. They expressed how great it felt having MMA in back in the state and especially in the city where their team trains.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/TerraTimPreEvent.jpg
Tim and Tara in the cage.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/Tara.jpg
Tara prepares to enjoy some great MMA action.
The event featured six amateur and three professional bouts with every fight being action packed and exciting.
The first fight was set in the 185lb division with Craig Coombes facing Nick Lakich. Early in the first round, Craig scored with a textbook take down and using hammer-fists and elbows, eventually worked his way to side control where both fighters were using their knees on each other until the bell sounded.
The second round also featured a quick take down by Craig where he immediately got side control. Nick tried to escape but eventually gave up his back where Craig scored the tap out win via rear naked choke at the 1:44 mark
After the fight, Craig had this to say about being the first winner, of the first fight, of the first event in Fayetteville.
?It was awesome, and that was my first fight!?
In regards to his strategy he stated that he wanted to get the take down and move into a better position and the knees his opponent threw did nothing to stop his aggressive attacks. A great game plan that resulted in a great win.
Craig is here attending college where he is majoring in Professional Golf Management. He plans on using his degree to work and train during the summer, and line up some fights in the winter back in his home state of New York.
What a great fight to start off this event!
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/CraigPostFight.jpg
Craig post fight.
Another action packed amateur bout featured another pair of 185lb fighters. Dave Cavanaugh took on Grant Holland. There was not a dull moment in this fight with both leaving everything in the cage.
Grant scored a take down in the first and both fighters continued switching positions and working for a dominant position. Grant had the better positions for most of the round.
The second was a great display of stand up with Grant landing some brutal shots keeping Dave back-pedaling and looking to get a big shot of his own. There were some great exchanges throughout the round.
In the third, Grant continued his dominance in the stand up until Dave scored a take down and fell into Grant?s guard. Even in this position, Grant showed to be the fresher fighter and tried various submission attempts from the bottom finishing off the round with an omoplata/triangle attempt.
Grant won the Unanimous Decision with two cards of 30-27 and the final card 29-28.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/GrantHolland.jpg
Grant Holland post fight.
In the 155lb division, Justin Goff and Tim Miller put on a great fight that featured big hits, a punch to choke slam transition, and a close guillotine finish all in the first round. Justin Goff scored the tap out victory by rear naked choke at 2:09 of the second.
Other results from the under card:
Brad Richardson defeated Ryan Hanseler via rear naked choke at 1:48 of round 1.
Will Estes defeated Scott Stagner via unanimous decision.
Tim Stone defeated Adam Jetton via majority decision.
The first fight on the professional card was set in the 170lb division with Dale Wooden facing Devon Plaisance.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/DevonEntrance.jpg
Devon Plaisance heads to the cage.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/DaleEntrance.jpg
Dale Wooden heads to the cage.
Both fighters came out swinging hard and it appeared the fight was destined for a quick KO. After a solid punch by Devon, Dale took the fight to the ground and was immediately put into defensive mode as Devon tried to score with a guillotine and an arm bar. Dale escaped and got the fight back to the standing game. After another quick flurry, Dale scored a TKO with Devon crumbling to the canvas.
The next fight put two 145lb fighters in the cage with Brandon Garner taking on Bryan Herring.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/BrandonGarnerEntrance.jpg
Brandon walks to the cage.
Early in the first round, Brandon shot in on Bryan fast and scored a take down jumping into side control with little effort. Brandon moved Bryan against the cage and moved into the crucifix position. With the cage and Brandon preventing an escape, Bryan was forced to tap out from the barrage of punches.
In his post fight interview, Brandon thanked everybody for their support and those who helped make the event possible and bring MMA back to North Carolina.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/BrandonGarnerPostFight.jpg
Brandon post fight.
Next up was an announcement. There was supposed to be a fight in the 170lb division. Rhomez Brower was set to take on Ralph Green. Apparently Ralph had not shown up or called the promoters to inform of any problems after several conversations the day prior to the event. The ring announcer declared Rhomez the winner via tap out, due to punk out.
The main event was now set to have Jason Palacios face off against Patrick Lopez in the 155lb division.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/PatrickLopezEntrance.jpg
Patrick walks to the cage.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/JasonEntrance.jpg
Jason heads to the cage.
As soon as the bell sounded, the lightweights exchanged punches back and forth with neither seeming to gain an advantage. Jason pressed Patrick against the cage and tried delivering knees. The fight made its way back to the center where Jason threw a right high kick connecting and causing Patrick to drop a little. Jason wasted no time in securing a take down and taking Patrick?s back. Unable to secure the rear naked choke, Jason switched to an arm bar just as the bell sounded.
The second round was a bit slower with Jason locking Patrick against the cage until an elbow forced Jason back. Jason scored a take down and tried working his way to side control. After a bit of a slow down, the ref stood the fight back up in time for the bell to sound, ending the round.
At the start of the third, Jason threw a kick that set up a big take down into half guard. He was able to move into side control and put Patrick into a bad spot locking up his arms in the crucifix and throwing punches. Patrick was finally able to roll out and gave up his back where Jason was happy to try to sink in a choke. Patrick stood up with Jason still on his back and jumped backwards slamming both fighters to the canvas. That did nothing to prevent Jason from hanging on and getting the tap out by rear naked choke at 3:49 of the third round.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/BKChivo/JasonPostFight.jpg
Jason post fight.
The promoters did an absolutely awesome job setting up this event and the match ups were on par with some of the bigger shows of recent. With a crowd of an estimated 2,700 on hand, this show was a great success. The promoters told fans to expect more of the same as they have plans of doing more shows.
A very big thanks to Spartan Entertainment Group and all of the event sponsors for making this possible.
Jim "Chivo" Schnepp (http://www.bloodyknux.com/forum/member.php?u=993)