Steve Carl (Grapplers Lair) d. Henry Buchanan (Solidarity JJ): Decision
Ed Rhue (Gracie Barra) d. Shawn Freese (Strikeforce): Freese could not continue for R2
TJ Waldburger (Grapplers Lair) d. Sammy Say (Strikeforce): Triangle 1:57 R1
Ryan Larson (Relson Gracie Austin) d. Timothy "Kanrock" Williams (Iron Fist): Decision
Vince Libardi (Texas Powerhouse) d. Adam Suave (Vasquez Academy): KO :32 R2
Travis Joiner (Vasquez Academy) d. Devon Miller (Gracie Barra): Anaconda Choke 2:28 R1
Nick Gonzalez (Vasquez Academy) d. Adam Arredondo (Anthony Macias): Decision
Steve Jimenez (Krav Maga Austin) d. Corey Salter (Independent): Salter could not continue for R3
Isaac Eubanks (Texas Powerhouse) d. Jeremy Cross (Solidarity JJ): Ref stop 2:21 R1
Aaron Rosas (Kru Pet / SA Muay Thai) d. Matt Thompson (Vasquez Academy): Decision
A few random notes on the matches…. Shawn Freese put several high-amp slams on Ed Rhue and looked to be dominating him from top on the ground early in the match. Rhue weathered the storm and came back against Freese, who blew much of his energy trying to put Rhue away. Apparently the word on Ryan Larson was so good that absolutely no one wanted to step up and fight him and there was a good chance he was not going to fight on the card. Kanrock, despite losing to Larson, was the only one to step up, and did so with only 24 hours notice and no preparation – and still managed to take the match to decision. The expectation among many was that the talented Larson would crush Kanrock early, but obviously someone forgot to tell Kanrock. Adam Suave showed a great mix of skills in his last victory in Renegades (amateur), but unfortunately made his pro debut against apparently unstoppable up and comer Vince Libardi, who continues his roll through the lightweight division. Suave had some sharp exchanges with Libardi but was TKO’ed in grand fashion with a right hook that dropped him, and a followup right hook a second later that caught him in the jaw perfectly while he was on the way down. FFC lightweight champ Nick Gonzalez made a victorious return to the MMA ring, and almost got caught trying to slam his way out of the same armbar that Adam Arredondo caught Carlo Prater with in the IFC a short while back, but managed to violently twist and roll out of it (not before a few pops however). Corey Salter could not answer the third round in a fight he was winning, for the second time now in Renegades. The first time (a while back), he was dominating Xavier Mejia for most of two rounds. This time, he was getting the better of Steve Jimenez on the judges’ scorecards and winning the standup exchanges. Aaron Rosas, another fighter on the rise, turned in a solid performance against past heavyweight prospect Matt Thompson, who despite coming in with a new ungroomed serial killer look, seemed rusty and tentative in his return after a long layoff from MMA.
This event seemed to go over fairly well, and one random example that the sport is actually getting some kind of (small) mainstream following is that in some clinches when space opened up between the fighters, you actually could her a collective couple hundred people actually yell KNEE in the crowd. And the number of jokes I heard yelled out during ground grappling were at an all-time low compared even to events from last year. So, something is changing. The sport is not mainstream, and probably never will be in a certain regard, but the crowd last night has me encouraged that this next year or two is going to be a great one for everyone in the sport.
-Paul
