Fight Commentary by Mike Valentine

Fight #1 Jason Villarreal vs. Mike Sierra
Rd.1 – Man, these two don’t like each other. They come out both blazing, throwing and scrambling for position. After a frenetic first half of the round, Sierra ends up in Villarreal’s guard. After some brief ground and pound by Sierra, Villarreal tries a triangle attempt that is passed by Sierra. Sierra then sits back to attempt a heel hook, but Villarreal transitions. Unfortunately, he transitions right into Sierra’s kneebar.
Mike Sierra def. Jason Villarreal via tapout due to kneebar at 2:08 of round 1.

Fight #2 Richard Smith vs. Steve Hess
Rd. 1 – Two powerful 185 lb. fighters right here. They spent most of the first round feeling out each other’s range carefully, with the more effective striking going to Smith due to several hard leg kicks that bothered Hess a bit.
Rd. 2 – Another stalemate against the cage, with Hess landing a few good body shots against the ribs of Smith. After being separated by the referee, Smith’s kickboxing began to open up more holes, with Hess visibly wincing from the effect of the leg kicks.
Rd. 3 – Hess’ efforts against the cage finally pay off, securing a takedown on Smith. Hess is diligent trying to work from the open guard of Smith, but eventually is stood up. Both look a bit winded, and the round winds down with Smith landing a couple of parting inside and outside leg kicks.
Richard Smith def. Steve Hess by unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.

Fight #3 Eli Tamez vs. Kashiff Solarin

Rd. 1 – Quick hands by Solarin shown as they come out, but Tamez rushes in and clinches against the cage. Tamez works good dirty boxing for most of the round, but is paid back at the end with a Solarin takedown and ground and pound.

Rd. 2 – Solarin appears to have the better hands again while standing, but gives up the takedown to Tamez very quickly. Tamez spends the entire round on top of Solarin, working for position and mixing up a punishing variety of punches and knees.
Rd. 3 – More of the same, a back and forth battle of attrition against the cage. Solarin is able to fend off the takedown of Tamez this time, and score one of his own. Solarin probably got the better of Tamez this round, but was it enough . . .
Eli Tamez def. Kashiff Solarin via split decision 29-28, 28-29, 28-29.

Fight #4 Randy Villarreal vs. Douglas Frey
Rd. 1 – After brief circling and jabbing by Villarreal, Frey plum clinches and knocks Villarreal into orbit with a brutal knee to the temple.
Douglas Frey def. Randy Villarreal via TKO due to referee stoppage at 1:08 of round 1.

Fight #5 Brian Cheatham vs JJ Holmes
Rd. 1 – HUGE double leg takedown puts Cheatham on his head, then his back. Holmes works great ground and pound as Cheatham has no answer to the wrestling skills of Holmes. Cheatham is able to stand momentarily but is again dumped by a takedown as the round ends.
Rd. 2 – Holmes explodes into Cheatham standing this time, throwing huge shots. Cheatham drops and Holmes goes for the throat, landing time and time again to the downed Cheatham. The referee stops the action as Cheatham slips into unconsciousness.
JJ Holmes def. Brian Cheatham via KO due to strikes at :24 of Round 2.

Fight #6 Quaint Kempf vs. Steven Peterson
Rd. 1 – Kempf shoots Peterson into the corner and gets the takedown. On the way down Peterson attempts a guillotine choke that Kempf escapes. Peterson quickly transitions to an armbar and gets Kempf’s arm locked tightly. Kempf cannot tap at first as he is pinned against the cage, and once the referee separates the combatants, Kempf shows obvious pain and distress.
Steven Peterson def. Quaint Kempf via tapout due to armbar at :24 of round 1.

Fight #7 Burt McDonald vs. Moises Diaz
Rd. 1 – Great action in the first. Diaz scores a takedown after an early flurry from McDonald. Diaz works to the body and head of McDonald, scoring some valuable points. McDonald gets to his feet and again unleashes a lightning-quick flurry, but Diaz scores another takedown as the round ends.
Rd. 2 – Diaz shoots again, but this time McDonald stuffs the shot with a sprawl. Diaz hits a fantastic switch and gets control, again working the ground and pound. McDonald reverses out and takes the back of Diaz, locking in a body triangle and attempting the rear naked choke. Diaz defends as the round ends.
Rd. 3 – The third round is nearly a carbon copy of the great fight we saw waged in the second. Diaz storms through with a double leg that finds a home, and goes back to what has paid dividends thus far. McDonald sneaks out the back using the cage and locks up another tight body triangle. The fight ends with Diaz warding off another choke attempt. Fight of the night so far.

Burt McDonald def. Moises Diaz by unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

Fight #8 Jarret Jones vs. Chris Pecero
Rd. 1 – Chris Pecero closes the distance and lands a knockout left hook that sends Jarret Jones down to the mat. Another candidate for KO of the night.
Chris Pecero def. Jarret Jones via KO at 1:00 of round 1.

Fight #9 Ox Jones vs. Brad Cox
Rd. 1 – Cox opens up the round with a nice cross than stuns Jones momentarily. Jones recovers and circles but is swept by a leg kick from Cox, who allows him to stand. Cox now scores a takedown and works patiently for an opening. Jones lands a nice elbow off his back as the round ends.
Rd. 2 – Another productive round from Cox. After the fighters exchange flurries, Cox again takes Jones to the mat. This time Cox is able to move into mount, and rains down punches, most of which are blocked or avoided. Cox keeps control until the end of the round.
Rd. 3 – The last round changed the tide a bit. Cox, looking a bit gassed, can’t finish the takedown. Jones starts to throw down elbows which open a nasty cut above Cox’s eye. Cox continues to be stuck under the sprawl of Jones as the round ends.
Brad Cox def. Ox Jones via unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.

Fight #10 Clay Hantz vs. Kano Gregoire
Rd. 1 – Gregoire storms out and scores a takedown. Although Hantz is on his back, he shows good control with his guard and lands several solid elbows off his back, cutting Gregoire badly. The round ends with Gregoire trying to finish a rear naked choke to no avail.
Clay Hantz def.Kano Gregoire via ref stoppage due to cut at 5:00 of round 1.