We’ve finally finished the play by play writeup of the last Renegades Extreme Fighting event in Houston on June 15th, 2002.ÿ Check this out for full results and detail on all the action in each fight.ÿ Read More to see the full article.
Renegades Extreme Fighting
June 15th, 2002
The latest edition of Houston trainer and promoter Saul Soliz’s Renegades Extreme Fighting show took place on June 15th in Houston’s Verizon Wireless Theatre, located in the downtown Bayou Place entertainment district.ÿ The crowd of roughly 1500 was one of the largest and most vocal crowds in Renegades history, and proved to be a great crowd throughout the night.ÿÿIn fact one positive sign was that there was far less of the usual heckling of the grappling or open-hand striking elements of the show, evidence that the crowd is becoming more knowledgeable, if not simply more respectful.
Conducted under current legalized Texas MMA rules, only open hand strikes to the head are allowed, and you cannot kick or knee a downed man in the head.ÿ Hopefully relief is in sight for next year, when supposedly new Nevada-style MMA rules will be passed contingent upon the Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation being able to add a few more full time staff members to handle one of the busiest boxing event schedules in the nation.
As for the show, it went off without a hitch, and despite the rules, once again proved to be a good show with excitement and even a little controversy due to the state-appointed referees.ÿ Soliz conducted 3 tournaments with a heavyweight superfight, for a total of 9 bouts for the evening.ÿ The audience certainly got their money’s worth.ÿ The celebrity guests that were there, including UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and fighters Pete Spratt and Yves Edwards, all gave thanks to the crowd for showing their support of the sport.
Overall, Soliz continues to establish Renegades as Texas’ as a well-run show, and currently the most regular MMA show in the state.ÿ Look for Renegades to continue growing over the next year.
Without further ado, let’s get to the fights themselves.
Heavyweight Tournament
Chad Cook
Houston, TX
Patumwadee Muay Thai
vs
Jody Draper
Houston, TX
Torres-Aponte Academy
Cook and Draper close immediately, Cook forced Draper into the corner for a takedown, the two fighters scramble briefly, and Cook quickly transitioned to a heel hook.ÿ Draper attempted to roll and counter, but Cook flowed with it, adjusted, and eventually got the tap at 1:38 of the 1st round.
Conclusions:ÿ Cook, a past tournament winner in Renegades, showed again why he is a heavyweight to watch in Texas, calmly dispatching Draper.
Anthony Bernabeo
Houston, TX
Solis Martial Arts Academy
vs.
Jason Ebarb
Silsbee, TX
Texas Punishment Crew
Bernabeo lands two crisp low kicks, Ebarb is unable to close the effectively at first, but eventually goes for a low single, defended well by bernabeo, who turns the tables and gets the takedown but ends up in Ebarb’s guard, right where Ebarb wanted him.ÿ Bernabeo started his ground and pound and while landing some strikes, Ebarb went for an armbar.ÿ Bernabeo defended several times, but Ebarb continued with more armbar attempts as Bernabeo defended and launched strikes. It was to no avail as Ebarb finally got it locked in and turned face down with the armbar, getting the tap at :59 of round one.
Conclusions: Bernabeo was feared for his striking coming into this match, and Ebarb’s gameplan was to take it to a grappling situation as soon as possible.ÿ Bernabeo would have been better served to escape and force standing striking situations but undoubtedly some first-time nerves were probably in effect.ÿ Ebarb continues to show improving skills each time out and was persistent in his submission attempts.
Conclusions: Bernabeo was feared coming in for his striking, especially his kicks, but his inexperience in his first MMA fight played right into Ebarb’s strengths in the ground game.ÿ Ebarb moves on, and look for Bernabeo to return.
Middleweight Tournament
Randall Ebarb, a past tournament champion, gets a bye into the 2nd round as James “Maddogg” Meals did not have all his required medicals in order and had to be scratched from the card.
Lee King
Houston, TX
Houston Kickboxing Academy
vs.
Jeremiah O’Neal
Arlington, TX
Anthony Macias / Team Mad Dog
O’Neal closed immediately, pushed King to the corner and ate 2 knees for his effort, and immediately went for a standing guillotine on King, who tapped at :31 of round one.
Conclusions: King was primarily a kickboxer, and O’Neal gave him very little chance or room to get strikes off before going for the submission.ÿ As you would expect, King needs to work on his grappling and submission defense – he had no idea how to defend the guillotine effectively.
Lightweight Tournament
Matt Warner
Humble, TX
Fusion Martial Arts / Alvis Solis
vs.
Rocky Long
Houston, TX
The Woodlands Mixed Martial Arts
Round 1:
Both fighters skirmishing with strikes, with Warner eventually getting the takedown and ending up in Long’s guard.ÿ They are stood back up by the ref after a stalemate, more strikes exchanged, Long defended a takedown, they clinch,ÿ more strikes exchanged, more skirmishing, then Long landed a low kick and some palm shots, Warner shot in as a response and Long defended, Long landed some more good shots, Warner retaliating, both fighters going at it in a war.
Round 2:
No clear advantage, Warner manages to penetrate and elevate Long for a slam, Long quickly escapes, Warner then gets another takedown ending up in long’s guard. Long working his legs up to look for a sub, Warner throwing occasaional strikes and defending, referee Rick Blalock stands them up.ÿÿ Warner shoots a low double and gets the takedown. Long looking for armbar but Warner pulls out,ÿ Long looks for another armbar, Warner pulls out again and Long escapes to standing.ÿ Warner attempts a shot to close the round, which Long sprawled on and defended.
Round 3:
Long attempted a low kick but Warner shot in and got the takedown. Warner continued trying to work GNP as Long continued to look for a sub. Standup by ref for stalemate.ÿ Warner shoots and Long defends.ÿÿ Warner shoots again, but this time warner ends up on Long in north south, takes Long’s back, a scramble ensues, Long almost has Warner’s leg for an ankle lock or heel hook but they nearly fall out of the ropes in the corner and they get restarted.ÿ On the restart warner again secures the takedown, there’s a stalemate, standup by referee. Again Warner shoots under Long’s strikes at the end of the round and Long defends to close out the round.
Unanimous Decision – Matt Warner.
Conclusions: This was a close one, closer than the unanimous decision would indicate, most people were shocked that it was unanimous.ÿ Both fighters were game and aggressive but the nod would have to go to Warner for more time spent in positional advantage, and the pure number of successful takedowns.ÿ Long definitely went for more submissions on the ground.ÿ
Nick Gonzalez
Austin, TX
Vasquez Academy
vs.
Patrick Head
Beaumont, TX
Texas Punishment Crew
Round 1:
Nick lands a low kick, 2nd low kick,ÿ head shoots in off another low kick from Gonzalez. they end up in the corner, gonzalez defends well, escapes and lands a coupld of good leg kicks.ÿ Head went for another takedown and Gonzalez defended well, making him work for it, but Head managed to complete the takedown.ÿ Head passed to side control after landing some small strikes from ground and pound, and switched to north-south and went for an armbar, which Gonzalez defended and managed to turn into ending up in Head’s guard, Head then took a kimura and reversed Gonzalez.ÿ Head cranked the kimura and attempted toÿ finalize but Gonzalez managed to hold off and suffer through to the end of the round.
Round 2:
Gonzalez lands a low kick, Head shoots in off a missed Gonzalez kick, Gonzalez sprawls and the fighters are stalemated, restart standup. they skirmish again, Gonzalez lands a good knee which stuns head, Head drops to buttscoot,ÿ gonzalez tells him to stand,ÿ Head then took him down off a low kick attempt. Gonzalez manages to reverse Head on the ground, and escapes, and on the ensuing standing clash, stunned Head with several more good shots, eventually ending up in Head’s guard on the ground and working GNP.ÿ The round ended with the fighters back standing, with Head still having problems defending against Gonzalez’ striking.
Round 3:
Gonzalez more confident in throwing strikes, lands a knee and a couple good shots, both fighters tired, Head shoots and gets a takedown, ends up in Nick’s guard, attempts to pass to side control and Head ends up going for a guillotine which gets stopped by the ref.ÿ The rest of the round, Gonzalez continues to land more and more shots on Head, including one huge kick to Head’s head whichÿlanded with a loud smack.ÿ Head ate more shots from buttscoot and fromÿ scrambles, it appeared that he was out of it for a lot of the remainder of the round. Head absorbed a surprising amount of shots without going down in the last round.
Unanimous decision: Gonzalez
Conclusions: Nick Gonzalez established himself as an exciting fighter to watch and quite honestly, he gave Patrick Head a solid beating.ÿ Gonzalez’s takedown defense and ground game have improved since his first Renegades outings, but are still his main weaknesses.ÿ Head took some hard shots and kept going, proving he definitely has a chin – however Head’s lack of striking skills and defense were the perfect opening for Gonzalez’s offense.
Heavyweight Tournament Final:
Jason Ebarb
vs.
Chad Cook
Round 1:
Cook throws a low kick which Ebarb catches and takes Cook down with, Cook and Ebarb scramble and Cook manages to escape Ebarb’s half mount and reverse, ending up in Ebarb’s guard, landingÿ a few shots to Ebarb’s body before stalemated andÿ they get stood up. Cook attempts to engage Ebarb striking again and Ebarb pulls guard. The two fighters stalemate and stood up again.ÿÿ Cook closes and gets a bodylock and does an outside trip to take Ebarb down, ending up in Ebarb’s guard.ÿ Round ends as Cook is attempting to get some GNP going and Ebarb is looking for submission opportunities.
Round 2:
Cook manages to land a knee to Ebarb’s head from standing to start the round, and Ebarb falls backwards. Cook thought that he had KO’ed Ebarb and turned around with hands raised to celebrate.ÿ Ebarb appeared to compose himself and stand back up, and ref Rick Blalock went to grab the already celebrating Cook (who had his back turned) to inform him that the fight was not over.ÿ Meanwhile, Ebarb swayed drunkenly against the ropes where he had stood back up, and was apparently still discombobulated.ÿ Blalock checked Ebarb, and called the fight, and Cook gets the TKO approximately 30 seconds into Round 3.
Conclusions: Chad Cook wins yet another Renegades match, proving once again that he is no fluke.ÿ Ebarb continues to improve with each outing but Cook’s better standup skills proved to be the catalyst.ÿ Right now, Cook is the man to beat in Renegades’ heavyweight division.
Middleweight Final:
Jeremiah O’Neal
vs.
Randall Ebarb
The fighters clinch, randall tries to pull guard, and tries to go for an armbar but O’Neal pulls out, Ebarb immediately goes for another armbar and O’Neal passes Ebarb’s guard to half guard and again, O’neal escapes. The fighters are restarted,ÿ And Ebarb getst the takedown again and then goes for another armbar which O’Neal again defended.ÿ In the ensuing scramble both fighters ended up with each others’ legs but were unable to capitalize, and Ebarb was able to get control, passed O’Neal’s guard to side control, and went for another armbar, which this time O’Neal was unable to defend.ÿ 1:59 Round One.
Conclusions: Ebarb wins again, again making it look easy.ÿ O’Neal improves each time out, but Ebarb has rolled through everyone put in front of him.ÿ So far, like Cook at heavyweight, Ebarb has made his mark as the man to beat at middleweight.ÿ The only question is Ebarb’s standup, since we’ve never seen a fight last long enough to see any.
Lightweight Final:
Nick Gonzalez
vs
Matt Warner
Round 1:
Warner rushes Gonzalez, and the scramble for control in the corner, Warner lands several good shots to Gonzalez from the clinch in the corner, and attempts to slam Gonzalez, which Gonzalez defends. Referee Rick Blalock eventually breaks the fighters, as the situation stalemates.ÿ Warner got a brief time out as Gonzalez hit him in the groin with a knee.ÿ On the restart Warner again rushes and crowds gonzalez in the corner, throwing a few good strikes that land,ÿ Again Gonzalez throws a knee to the groin and is deducted a point by the ref.ÿ On the restart again Warner attempts to rush Gonzalez, misses on the first attempt and eats a good shot or two from Gonzalez. He does get Gonzalez back in the corner and continues his game of shutting him down and landing occasional strikes.ÿ The round ends with both fighters still in the corner, and with Warner clutching his stomach due to an apparent good knee which landed.
Round 2:
Both fighters skirmish and trade landing strikes at various times, Warner clinches Gonzales against the ropes and manages to take him down, ending up in Gonzalez’s guard. Gonzalez tries to go for a triangle, and armbar, both of which Warner stops before they really get started.ÿ Warner lands a few shots in GNP mode before they are restarted for stalemate.ÿ Warner manages to shoot in and take Gonzalez down in the corner, and takes Gonzalez’s back and went for a choke but the corner of the ring and the turnbuckle were in the way, and made it impossible for him to finalize position.ÿ Gonzalez managed to last through the choke attempt and turned into Warner’s guard, and they were restarted back standing by the ref.ÿ Round closes as Warner is going for another takedown.
Round 3:ÿ
Warner rushes Gonzalez into the corner again and after a few seconds of stalemate is able to change level and suck in Gonzalez’ legs for the takedown.ÿ The fighters are restarted after a few seconds, and Warner is able to again shoot in and take Gonzalez down with a double leg. Warner works some GNP and lands some shots, and Gonzalez looks for the armbar but cannot get it and warner pulls through and attempts to pass to north south as Blalock stands them up.ÿ On the restart Warner again drops level and is able to takeÿ Gonzalez down just as the round ends.
Unanimous Decision: Warner
Conclusions:ÿ Warner played it smart and kept as much of the fight in grappling range as possible – where Gonzalez’ weaknesses lie.ÿ Warner showed good grappling skills but was outgunned in striking and showed few submissions.ÿ Gonzalez, once his takedown defense and ground reversal/escape game are improved, will make for an exciting sprawl and brawl fighter.ÿ Both fighters are young and on the way up, and are explosive to watch.
Heavyweight Superfight:
Brandon McDowell
Austin, TX
Relson Gracie Austin
vs.
Ty Baker
Austin, TX
Integrated Fighting Arts Academy
Round 1:
They clinch,ÿ Brandon attempts the takedown but is unable to secure it as Baker escapes back to standing, they continue to scramble, neither fighter able to secure an advantage. Mc Dowell manages toÿ take Baker down after an attempted Baker kick, and takes Bakers back, throwing strikes at Bakers back as Baker continues to go forÿ McDowell’s foot.ÿ McDowellÿ unsuccessfully goes for Baker’s neck in the choke. Ref Rick blalock restarts them for some reason when McDowell was in control of Baker from the back and throwing strikes.ÿ On the restart, Baker is more aggressive in the striking, but McDowell is able to take him down again with a loud slam at the end of the round.
Round 2:
Baker lands a good knee on McDowell in a scramble standing.ÿ McDowell is able to takeÿ Baker down with a single, and again throws blows to Baker’s back and head without response from Baker, who is content to defend.ÿ The ref restarts them, McDowell again initiates the clinch and pushes Baker into the corner, McDowell attempts to change level and suck inÿBaker’s legs for the takedown, but is unable to complete it, and the fighters and up stalemated against the ropes and they are restarted. The round ends with neither fighter gaining an advantage.
Round 3:
Both fighters clinch, with McDowell again going for a takedown, this time Baker defends and is able to get control andÿ half mount on McDowell.ÿ They stalemate and are restarted. Baker manages to land a Couple of strikes on McDowell, who attempts to shoot in again but is visibly tired, can not complete it before Baker sprawls. The fightersÿ scramble again and Baker ends up in McDowell’s guard, and Mc Dowell attempts to go for a couple of armbars unsuccessfullyÿ before escaping and taking Baker’s back, throwing strikes to Baker’s back and side and going for a choke as the round ends.ÿ Both fighters were visibly tired.
Round 4:
Both fighters are tired, McDowell attempts a slow shot as Baker sprawls and defends,ÿÿand is able to get mount on McDowell.ÿ Baker manages to land a few strikes to McDowellÿ and there is a brief scramble and Baker manages to get side control, but McDowell eventually escapes and tries to take a guillotine. He is unsuccessful and both fighters are now standing, and McDowell tries another takedown and it is sprawled on and defended well .ÿ Again Baker goes for side control and throws a few strikes but is unable to get anything going before the round ends. Baker shows some bad wrestler habits from his background.
Round 5:
The fighters linch, McDowell drives Baker to the corner,ÿÿ Baker manages to get a bodylock and outside trip to take McDowell down, and ends up in McDowell’s guard.ÿ They stalemate and are restarted.ÿ Mc Dowell again shoots for a single and it is sprawled on, but is able to take Baker’s back.ÿ McDowell again throws strikes down at baker that Baker seemingly does nothing to defend and just covers up, and McD is able to eventually sink the rear naked at 2:01 Round 5.
Conclusions: Both fighters put up a great fight and showed lots of heart, however neither was in great condition as both were noticeably winded after the first round.ÿ Showing his wrestling roots, Baker inexplicably seemed like he did not know what to do from the turtle (on all fours) position, where he ended up several times allowing McDowell to take his back easily.ÿ McDowell, before getting winded, showed some solid takedown skills from his wrestling background, but similarly in the later rounds good sprawling skills and takedown defense were exhibited by Baker.ÿ Due to the tiring of both fighters this was one of the more sluggish of Renegades’ superfights in recent history.ÿ Hopefully both fighters will work on their cardio for their next showing.