Saul Soliz runs another successful show, with a sellout crowd of 2200, and a new lightweight star is born.ÿ Look below for quick results, and click on READ MORE to see more detailed descriptions of the fights and my summary of the event.
Renegades Extreme Fighting, Feb 1st 2003
Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX
QUICK RESULTS:
Lightweight Tournament
Hiro Kamikozono (Lion’s Den) d. Rocky Long (Third Column) 2:35 R1 triangle/armbar
FINAL: Hiro Kamikozono d. Matt Horning (Hammer House) 1:45 R1 triangle
Middleweight Tournament
Lee King (Houston Kickboxing Gym) d. Naji (Nova Uniao / John Lewis) TKO early R2, accidental eyegouge
Carlo Prater (Third Column) d. Jeremiah O’Neal (Anthony Macias) 1:22 R1 armbar
FINAL: Carlo Prater d. Lee King 1:04 R1 guillotine
Heavyweight Tournament
Sam Adkins (Mousel’s) d. Elias Siam (Torres-Aponte Jiu-Jitsu) unanimous decision
FINAL: Sam Adkins drew Luis Garcia (Houston BJJ Club) majority draw
Superheavyweight Tournament
Corey Salter d. Edwin Allseitz (Independent) :43 R1 guillotine
Ashley Rivers (Southern Submission Fighting) d. Matt Green unanimous decision
FINAL: Corey Salter d. Ashley Rivers 2:46 R2 guillotine
Renegades Extreme Fighting Coverage
Feb 1st, 2003 @ Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX
Paul Erickson / TXMMA.com
Feb 1st, 2003 @ Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX
Paul Erickson / TXMMA.com
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On February 1st, 2003, Saul Soliz’s Renegades Extreme Fighting returned to Houston’s Verizon Wireless Theater and made its mark on Texas mixed martial arts history in a number of ways.ÿ The sold-out show took place in downtown Houston’s popular Bayou Place entertainment district and drew a crowd of 2200 spectators, the highest attendance of any showÿsince MMAÿbecame fully regulated in the state of Texas.ÿ A notable sign of the maturing of audiences in the sport, there were far fewer boos for stalled groundwork than any show I’ve seen in the state in a long time.ÿ Most of this was due to the work of referees Rick Blalock and Vanya Dedushev, who kept the action brisk by proactively standing up ground stalemates.ÿ The slight tradeoff between having time to really get into a ground game versus forcing fighters to be active/aggressive or risk a standup, seems worth it in terms of giving the mainstream crowd their money’s worth in terms of excitement.ÿ “Reverend” Bart Stewart helped keep the crowd pumped during the event with his trademark high-energy microphone work, as well.
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Several MMA stars were on hand at the show, most notably Renegades veterans Yves Edwards and Pete Spratt, along with UFC Heavyweight Champion and friend of Saul Soliz, Ricco Rodriguez, and Lion’s Den icons Guy Mezger and Tra Telligman.ÿ All gave the crowd thanks for supporting the sport and really pumping up the event with their energy.ÿ Edwards and Spratt both helped promote the show as the place in Texas to see the stars of tomorrow, and the place that helped get them to their upcoming UFC matches.ÿ Edwards also promised he was going to knock someone out, or at least beat the hell out of them, at UFC 41.
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As far as the action, the crowd received their money’s worth with no less than 4 4-man tournaments.ÿ A couple of competitors had dropped out of the event, but the event was still nearly 3 hours full of crowd-pleasing action.ÿ Of particular note were Hiro Kamikozono of the Lion’s Den and Corey Salter from Dallas.ÿ
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Hiro, one half of the legendary but woefully underexposed Japanese dynamic duo at the Dallas Lion’s Den (the other half being Takashi Inoue), first impressed me almost a year ago.ÿ In a past interview with Guy Mezger, Guy had mentioned both Kamikozono and Inoue as up and comers, however I did not really start taking note until a weekend where Kamikozono substituted for an ill Inoue and fought 2 nights in a row (Martial Arts Fight Night 1 and Xtreme Knockout). Kamikozono finished both opponents with fast submissions in the first round, but not before showing some crisp striking ability.ÿ The same transpired at this Renegades event; Kamikozono finished both opponents quickly on the ground after trying some go-for-broke striking.ÿ A well-rounded threat with a crowd-pleasing style, look for Kamikozono to terrorize the lightweight division, and a showdown with past Renegades lightweight division champion and Relson Gracie purple belt Phil Cardella seems inevitable.
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Corey Salter had a dominating win as an amateur at one of Steve Armstrong’s Martial Arts Fight Night events in Dallas, but was not initially given a lot of chance in his pro debut at this event in a superheavyweight bracket that contained two scrappy and experienced veterans, specifically Edwin Allseitz and Ashley Rivers.ÿ Salter managed to submit both with guillotines, ironically both the end result of failed/stalled takedown attempts, and made his mark in his pro debut.ÿ Salter will likely in the future face the winner of McDowell-Baker III taking place at The Showdown event in Austin on February 15th.
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With this event, Saul Soliz helped further cement Renegades as Texas’ strongest professional MMA show, with a record-setting sellout crowd of 2200 and the announcement of the first Renegades amateur MMA event, March 5th’s Club Combat at City Streets in Houston.ÿ Club Combat will be the first cooperation with Dallas amateur Muay Thai and MMA promoter Steve Armstrong, and promises to be a great start to complementing Renegades with a strong and organized amateur feeder event.ÿ With an aggressive upcoming show schedule that includes the upcoming amateur event and professional shows in Austin and the Rio Grande Valley, Saul Soliz’s Last Man Standing Productions continues to set the standard in advancing the sport of mixed martial arts in the state of Texas.
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For more information on Renegades Extreme Fighting events, call the Renegades information line at (713) 794-0054.
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Now, on to summaries of the fights themselves:
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Match 1 Lightweight
Rocky Long (Third Column) vs. Hiro Kamikozono (Lion’s Den)
Round 1
Long opens up with strikes and the two figthers fight for control in the clinch.ÿ This goes on with both fighters stalemated in the corner until theyÿ break loose, Long catches Hiro’s leg in an exchange, takes Hiro down, upon which Hiro immediately goes to guard andÿstraight into the triangle/armbar, loses the armbar, cranks the triangle, eats a hard palm from Long, but in the process regains control of the arm and turns face down with it to finally complete the triangle/armbar, and Long taps at 2:35 R1.
Rocky Long (Third Column) vs. Hiro Kamikozono (Lion’s Den)
Round 1
Long opens up with strikes and the two figthers fight for control in the clinch.ÿ This goes on with both fighters stalemated in the corner until theyÿ break loose, Long catches Hiro’s leg in an exchange, takes Hiro down, upon which Hiro immediately goes to guard andÿstraight into the triangle/armbar, loses the armbar, cranks the triangle, eats a hard palm from Long, but in the process regains control of the arm and turns face down with it to finally complete the triangle/armbar, and Long taps at 2:35 R1.
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Match 2: Bye
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Match 1 Middleweight.
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Naji (Nova Uniao / John Lewis) vs. Lee King (Houston Kickboxing Gym)
Round 1
They circle, skirmish with a few strikes,ÿ feeling each other out.ÿ Naji obviously looking for the opening, shoots and eats a knee, continue to skirmish. King lands a couple more times, Naji continues to try and find an opening to shoot, he comes close but king effectively keeps him away and lands an occasional clean shot, Naji is being chased around the ring, giving ground to King, King lands a good mid kick.ÿÿ Naji keeps trying to close uwith punches but Kingÿ continues to frustrate him..ÿ Round ends.
Round 1
They circle, skirmish with a few strikes,ÿ feeling each other out.ÿ Naji obviously looking for the opening, shoots and eats a knee, continue to skirmish. King lands a couple more times, Naji continues to try and find an opening to shoot, he comes close but king effectively keeps him away and lands an occasional clean shot, Naji is being chased around the ring, giving ground to King, King lands a good mid kick.ÿÿ Naji keeps trying to close uwith punches but Kingÿ continues to frustrate him..ÿ Round ends.
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Round 2, more of the same.ÿ Naji still unable to find an opening, eating the occasional shot from King.ÿ Fight stoppped to check Naji, who apparently got accidentially gouged in the eye and could not continue after being looked over.ÿ King wins.
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Match 2 Middleweight
Carlo Prater (Third Column) vs.ÿ Jeremiah O’Neal (Anthony Macias)
Round 1
Praytor tries a kick wihich O’Neal catches, tries to take him down but Prator resists for a few seconds until being finally taken down with a slam.ÿ O’Neal ends up in Praytor’s guard, beginning to go to work, but Praytor quickly brings his legs up, turns his hips, and goes for the armbar, O’Neal defends and tries to keep Prator’s top leg from hooking under his chin to be able to complete the armbar, but is eventually unsuccessful and is forced to tap at 1:22 R1.
Carlo Prater (Third Column) vs.ÿ Jeremiah O’Neal (Anthony Macias)
Round 1
Praytor tries a kick wihich O’Neal catches, tries to take him down but Prator resists for a few seconds until being finally taken down with a slam.ÿ O’Neal ends up in Praytor’s guard, beginning to go to work, but Praytor quickly brings his legs up, turns his hips, and goes for the armbar, O’Neal defends and tries to keep Prator’s top leg from hooking under his chin to be able to complete the armbar, but is eventually unsuccessful and is forced to tap at 1:22 R1.
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Match 1 Heavyweight
Sam Adkins (Mousel’s) vs. Elias Siam (Torres-Aponte Jiu-Jitsu)
Round 1
Exchange on the feet, Siam tries to clinch but eats HARD body shots from Sam, during the heated exchange, apparently Adkinsÿ threw a closed fist and the fight was momentarily stopped , an apparent cut on Adkins is a non-factor and the fight is restarted.ÿ The two continue to exchange in the clinch, as Siam tries to drive Adkins from corner to corner looking to take him to the ground.ÿ Sam backs off and they go back to exchanging in and out of the clinch.ÿÿ Adkins is stunned by a hard shot from Siam momentarily, Siam tries toÿ capitalize but Adkins recovers and tries to take a guillotine, falling back to guard.ÿ He is unable to complete it though, Siam pulls out and starts to go to work but the round ends.
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Round 2
A bfief echange ends with Siam taking Adkins to the ground, and ending upÿ in Sam’s guard.ÿÿ Siam passes to Sam’s half guard and continues to throw strikes and look for submissions.ÿ Adkins, possessing limited ground skills, is unable toÿ escape Siam’s half mount, Siam closes the round with a ground and pound series.
A bfief echange ends with Siam taking Adkins to the ground, and ending upÿ in Sam’s guard.ÿÿ Siam passes to Sam’s half guard and continues to throw strikes and look for submissions.ÿ Adkins, possessing limited ground skills, is unable toÿ escape Siam’s half mount, Siam closes the round with a ground and pound series.
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Round 3
The round barely begins when Adkins drops Siam with a huge shot, Siam gets back up and the fight is restarted but Siam is still stunned, and in the following several exchanges he eats a few more solid shots from Adkins.ÿ Siam Stays on his feet though, and Adkins backs him into the corner, throwing body shots.ÿ The two continue to fight in and outof the clinch, Siam appears to clear the cobwebs out but is noticeably slowed.ÿ The round ends with both fighters still infighting within the clinch.ÿ Fight scored 29-27, unanimous decision for Sam Adkins.
The round barely begins when Adkins drops Siam with a huge shot, Siam gets back up and the fight is restarted but Siam is still stunned, and in the following several exchanges he eats a few more solid shots from Adkins.ÿ Siam Stays on his feet though, and Adkins backs him into the corner, throwing body shots.ÿ The two continue to fight in and outof the clinch, Siam appears to clear the cobwebs out but is noticeably slowed.ÿ The round ends with both fighters still infighting within the clinch.ÿ Fight scored 29-27, unanimous decision for Sam Adkins.
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Match 2 Heavyweight – Bye
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Match 1 Superheavyweight.
Edwin Allseitz (Independent) vs.ÿ Corey Salter
Round 1
Allseitz goes right for a low single out of the gate, Salter sprawls and stops the takedown.ÿ Edwin is still unable to convert the takedown after the sprawl, meanwhile Salter has worked in a guillotine while sprawled and taps Allseitz at :43 R1.
Edwin Allseitz (Independent) vs.ÿ Corey Salter
Round 1
Allseitz goes right for a low single out of the gate, Salter sprawls and stops the takedown.ÿ Edwin is still unable to convert the takedown after the sprawl, meanwhile Salter has worked in a guillotine while sprawled and taps Allseitz at :43 R1.
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Match 2 Superheavyweight
Ashley Rivers (Southern Submission Fighting) vs. Matt Green
Round 1
Green goes for a takedown, Rivers sprawls andÿ takes Green down, ending up in Green’s guard.ÿ Rivers begins to land some ground and pound shots. Green defends butÿ Rivers is persistent and the shots that he does get through begin to take their toll.ÿ Rivers takes mount and Green is still totally defensive as the round ends.
Ashley Rivers (Southern Submission Fighting) vs. Matt Green
Round 1
Green goes for a takedown, Rivers sprawls andÿ takes Green down, ending up in Green’s guard.ÿ Rivers begins to land some ground and pound shots. Green defends butÿ Rivers is persistent and the shots that he does get through begin to take their toll.ÿ Rivers takes mount and Green is still totally defensive as the round ends.
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Round 2
Rivers lands a good shot to Green’s head, stuns Green, Rivers rushes in and takes him down, again ends up in Green’s guard, throwing GNP.ÿ Rivers passes to side mount and continues to work GNP.ÿ Rivers continues to work from side mount and Green is not able to do anything except defend, and the round ends.
Rivers lands a good shot to Green’s head, stuns Green, Rivers rushes in and takes him down, again ends up in Green’s guard, throwing GNP.ÿ Rivers passes to side mount and continues to work GNP.ÿ Rivers continues to work from side mount and Green is not able to do anything except defend, and the round ends.
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Round 3
Rivers again is able to get the takedown and ends up in half mount, throwing heavy shots but only a few are getting through.ÿ Green is able to eventually get full guard butÿ is still unable toÿ stop Rivers from passing to side mount and landing clubbing shots again.ÿ The two are stood up and Green tries a fatigue-slowed takedown that Rivers is able to sprawl on andÿ again transition to side mount from. The round ends and Rivers wins by unanimous decision.
Rivers again is able to get the takedown and ends up in half mount, throwing heavy shots but only a few are getting through.ÿ Green is able to eventually get full guard butÿ is still unable toÿ stop Rivers from passing to side mount and landing clubbing shots again.ÿ The two are stood up and Green tries a fatigue-slowed takedown that Rivers is able to sprawl on andÿ again transition to side mount from. The round ends and Rivers wins by unanimous decision.
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Lightweight Final
Matt Horning (Hammer House) vs. Hiro Kamikozono (Lion’s Den)
Round 1
Hiro shows fast striking right at the start, both skirmish, Horning is definitely outgunned on the feet, Hiro goes for a leaping knee and Horning catches a leg, drives forward, and gets the takedown.ÿ Horning begins to work GNP as Hiro goes for the triangle.ÿ The ref stands them back up after Horning attempts to go through the ropes to break the hold.ÿ Hiro goes for a spinning kick and Horning shoots under and gets the takedown, again Hiro works from guard immediately going for a triangle and then another.ÿ Horning is unable to defend against Hiro’s tenacity in locking in the hold progressively tighter, and finally taps to the triangle. 1:45 R1.
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Middleweight Final
Carlo Prater vs.ÿ Lee King
Round 1
Prater immediatelyÿ clinches and takes King down.ÿ As the kickboxing-centric King attempts to escape the ground and stand back up, Prater takes the guillotine and falls back with it for maximum leverage, and taps King out at 1:04 R1.
Matt Horning (Hammer House) vs. Hiro Kamikozono (Lion’s Den)
Round 1
Hiro shows fast striking right at the start, both skirmish, Horning is definitely outgunned on the feet, Hiro goes for a leaping knee and Horning catches a leg, drives forward, and gets the takedown.ÿ Horning begins to work GNP as Hiro goes for the triangle.ÿ The ref stands them back up after Horning attempts to go through the ropes to break the hold.ÿ Hiro goes for a spinning kick and Horning shoots under and gets the takedown, again Hiro works from guard immediately going for a triangle and then another.ÿ Horning is unable to defend against Hiro’s tenacity in locking in the hold progressively tighter, and finally taps to the triangle. 1:45 R1.
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Middleweight Final
Carlo Prater vs.ÿ Lee King
Round 1
Prater immediatelyÿ clinches and takes King down.ÿ As the kickboxing-centric King attempts to escape the ground and stand back up, Prater takes the guillotine and falls back with it for maximum leverage, and taps King out at 1:04 R1.
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Heavyweight Final
Sam Adkins vs. Luis Garcia (Houston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club)
Round 1
They feel each other out, Garcia looks for an opening as he skirmishes but avoids exchanging inside with Adkins.ÿÿ Waving his hands to distract/bait Adkins, he sets up an excellent and fast shoot for the takedown, going fromÿ Adkins’ half guard to sidemount toÿ north/south trying to get a submission.ÿ He catches Adkins in a guillotine from top but Adkins is able to get out and back to half guard.ÿ Ref Blalock stands them back up after a stalemate as the round ends.
Sam Adkins vs. Luis Garcia (Houston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club)
Round 1
They feel each other out, Garcia looks for an opening as he skirmishes but avoids exchanging inside with Adkins.ÿÿ Waving his hands to distract/bait Adkins, he sets up an excellent and fast shoot for the takedown, going fromÿ Adkins’ half guard to sidemount toÿ north/south trying to get a submission.ÿ He catches Adkins in a guillotine from top but Adkins is able to get out and back to half guard.ÿ Ref Blalock stands them back up after a stalemate as the round ends.
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Round 2
The two skirmish with Adkins again landing heavy blows to the body, but again it is Garcia with a quick takedown who gains control quickly.ÿ Garcia quickly gains mount and begins to work for the submission but is unable to do anything before they are stood up by the ref.ÿ Upon restart Garcia again executes a solid takedown, slamming Adkins loudly to the mat.ÿ Garcia is able to control and work for the top position, but unable to secure anything before the end of the round.
The two skirmish with Adkins again landing heavy blows to the body, but again it is Garcia with a quick takedown who gains control quickly.ÿ Garcia quickly gains mount and begins to work for the submission but is unable to do anything before they are stood up by the ref.ÿ Upon restart Garcia again executes a solid takedown, slamming Adkins loudly to the mat.ÿ Garcia is able to control and work for the top position, but unable to secure anything before the end of the round.
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Round 3
The tide turns somewhatÿas as Adkins takes the advantage on the ground for a while, and later with his trademark heavy handsÿis able to knock Garcia down during a standing exchange. After the standing 8 count, Garcia quickly shoots in with the double leg takedown and elevates Adkins for a huge slam.ÿ Adkins goes for a guillotine on the way down but is unable to get it locked in before Garcia gains control on the ground.ÿ The round ends with Garcia in control.ÿ Much to the crowd’s displeasure this match is ruled a majority draw by the judges.
The tide turns somewhatÿas as Adkins takes the advantage on the ground for a while, and later with his trademark heavy handsÿis able to knock Garcia down during a standing exchange. After the standing 8 count, Garcia quickly shoots in with the double leg takedown and elevates Adkins for a huge slam.ÿ Adkins goes for a guillotine on the way down but is unable to get it locked in before Garcia gains control on the ground.ÿ The round ends with Garcia in control.ÿ Much to the crowd’s displeasure this match is ruled a majority draw by the judges.
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Superheavyweight Final
Ashley Rivers vs. Corey Salter
Round 1
The two feel each other out, with Salter throwing heavy blows that stun Rivers on the way in but Rivers closes immediately and takes Salter down. Rivers begins his trademark heavy ground and pound attack, scoring several hard shots.ÿ Salter tries to defend but Rivers is still able to accumulate occasional shots from within Salter’s guard. End of round.
Ashley Rivers vs. Corey Salter
Round 1
The two feel each other out, with Salter throwing heavy blows that stun Rivers on the way in but Rivers closes immediately and takes Salter down. Rivers begins his trademark heavy ground and pound attack, scoring several hard shots.ÿ Salter tries to defend but Rivers is still able to accumulate occasional shots from within Salter’s guard. End of round.
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Round 2
Salter lands a low kick, skirmishes with Rivers and is better able to keep Rivers away, then Rivers answers with a low kick and combo of his own to set up the takedown, but is unable to complete the takedown as Salter is able to get his hips out of danger.ÿ Salter is saved from being taken down somewhat by the fact his back was supported by the bottom two ropes, and meanwhile goes for a guillotine.ÿ Though not a clean choke, it wears on Rivers, who is still attempting to salvage the takedown.ÿ The two manage to get more to a standing position in the corner, but Salter continues to work the guillotine from standing, and eventually gets the tap from Rivers. 2:46 R2
Salter lands a low kick, skirmishes with Rivers and is better able to keep Rivers away, then Rivers answers with a low kick and combo of his own to set up the takedown, but is unable to complete the takedown as Salter is able to get his hips out of danger.ÿ Salter is saved from being taken down somewhat by the fact his back was supported by the bottom two ropes, and meanwhile goes for a guillotine.ÿ Though not a clean choke, it wears on Rivers, who is still attempting to salvage the takedown.ÿ The two manage to get more to a standing position in the corner, but Salter continues to work the guillotine from standing, and eventually gets the tap from Rivers. 2:46 R2
