LIVE PBP BY Matt Little
Fight #1 155lbs
Faez Miraki (Ironside MMA Pro Debut) vs Elijah Fleites (Kingdom MMA Pro Debut)
Round 1
Faez throws a big high kick that misses. Faez is working the kicks early and clinches, Faez changes levels and hits the takedown, passes to half guard. Fleites working to get back to his feet by sweeping from the deep half. Faez flattens him and they are back to their feet against the fence clinched up. Fleites is working for the single. Faez is working for a standing kimura and lets it go. Faez with a double leg takedown and is trying to work the elbows. Faez moves to mount and now has backmount. Faez ends the round trying to finish an inverted armbar that was very close but well defended by Fleites.
Round 2
Faez with another high kick that partially lands. Faez shoots and finishes the takedown, passing to half guard. They are near the fence and Faez is attacking the head for a mountedguillotine. Now Fleites is back to his feet while Faez is still controlling his head and landing knees to the body. Fleites escapes but Faez puts him on the ground again with a solid takedown. Fleites has no answer for the takedown attempts from Faez tonight. Faez is now working from topside half guard. Fleites manages to put him in full guard. The referee stands them up after only a minute of action which is surprising.
Round 3
By our scorecard, Faez has won both the 1st and 2nd round so Fleites needs to make something happen here in round 3. Fleites is trying to corner Faez and throws a hard shot that partially connects. Faez changes levels and takes him down once again. Fleites is trying to work from his back but is simply stalling Faez. Faez starts landing punches from the guard and is looking dominant here working the body and head. Referee breaks them and stands them up. Faez again with the takedown but has given up his back. Fleites is seatbelting him but not really doing anything offenseive here. Faez is out and on top against the fence. Faez is throwing knees to the body to put a close to this fight. This one is going to decision. We have Faez winning all 3 rounds here.
Official Decision: All 3 judges have it for Faez Miraki by unanimous decision. 30-27, 20-27, 20-27
Fight #2 130lbs
Frank Ortega (Elite MMA 4-4) vs Alex Russ (The Gym 2-0)
Round 1
Russ is visibly pumped up and comes out swinging hard. Russ is the aggressor early on in round 1. Russ is pushing Ortega up against the fence. Ortega jumps guard and trying to hit a guillotine. Russ with a massive slam. Ortega is trying to work for an armbar but nothing doing yet. Ortega with overhoooks, Russ picks him up and slams again inside the guard. Russ is getting really busy with the body shots. Ortega is not able to mount any offense from his back. Referee looks like he may stand them. Ortega may have an armbar but Russ sneaks out and is punching from inside the guard.
Round 2
Russ lands a nice cross and swings wildly. Russ throws a kick, Ortega catches but eats a huge shot that puts him on his back. He is dazed with Russ swinging hard from the top. Ortega manages to defend and avoid too much damage. He sneaks half guard but Russ passes to mount and is landing shots. Ortega is out and trying for a heelhook. Russ escapes and landing shots from the half guard but his left leg is in a horrible position (something that resembles a pretzel) but he won’t stop moving forward. Russ is out and grabs a guillotine that is very deep. Ortega on his knees but cannot escape. Ortega taps out and Russ improves his record to 3-0.
Official Decision: Alex Russ via Tap Out to guillotine choke
Fight #3 150lbs (The scorecards show 150 but they look every bit of 170lbs)
Chris Sellers (Texas Fighting Syndicate 0-1) vs Moises Diaz (The Gym 1-3)
Round 1
Fighters trading early but Diaz ducks under and hits a nice double leg. Sellers is back up as the fighters scramble. Diaz pushes him up against the fence fighting for a single. Sellers does a great job of avoiding the takedowns. Diaz finishes the takedown near the fence but cannot hold Sellers down. Diaz with knees to the legs as the fighters are clinched up against the fence. Diaz picks him up, walks across the cage and lands a big slam. Diaz is threatening to take the back attacking from the turtle position. Diaz is looking very dominant here smothering Sellers at every opportunity. Round ends with Diaz pressing Sellers up against the fence but not landing anything substantial. Positionally he looking good.
Round 2
Sellers fights early for a takedown but is now again on his back. Diaz now has the back but loses it. Sellers defends another takedown but Diaz is persistent and puts Sellers on his back again.
Diaz looking very dominant again here in round 2 landing shots from the open guard. Sellers scrambles to regain the closed guard. Diaz is landing hube elbows with Sellers up against the fence and the referee intervenes.
Official Decision: Moises Diaz wins by TKO stoppage about midway in the round.
Fight #4 170lbs
Brandon Smith (Star Jiu-Jitsu 4-0) vs Roy Spoon (Octagon MMA 5-3)
Round 1
Smith misses a kick and Spoon moves quickly to his back. Spoon is now working a upper body clinch and takes him down working from the half guard. Spoon moves into the mount and working the head. Smith rolls and gives up his back. Spoon sinks a deep RNC but Smith looks to be a gamer here. Smith is free from the choke but still backmounted. Spoon lands shots to the ears and sinks in the RNC again. Smith escapes and rolls into Spoons guard. Smith is passing and landing elbows from the half guard. Spoon regains guard but Smith is working hard landing some shots. Smith survived a really scary start to this fight and looked good finishing the round.
Round 2
Smith gives up his back again to start the round but avoids any damage. Smith is out and landing shots from inside the topside half guard. The fighters scramble for position and Spoon is now inside Smith’s guard who threatens an armbar but Spoon escapes. Spoon passes into the topside half guard. The pace has slowed a bit here. Spoon moves into the full mount and Smith gives up his back again. Smith manages to roll back inside Spoon’s guard and working the elbows. Smith passes to the sidemount, now topside half guard. Smith is landing some quality hammerfists here. The round ends with Smith on top landing shots.
Round 3
Spoon pushes Smith up against the fence and fights for a takedown which he lands. He moves quickly into side control. Smith pushes him back into the half guard but Spoon is landing some elbows and is dominant early in the round. Spoon is landing shots now from the turtle position and Smith doesn’t have any answers. Smith manages to get to half guard again but is pressed up against the fence and doesn’t have much room to work. Spoon is sill landing shots but they don’t have much behind them. He makes a mistake and Smith works to the 50/50 position and is now on top. Both guys looks very tired here. Spoon ends the round landing some quality shots from the topside half guard and probably takes rounds 1 & 3.
Official Decision: Roy Spoon by Unanimous Decision 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
Fight #5 185lbs
Hayward Charles (Pro Debut) vs JJ Holmes (Mohler Jiu-Jitsu 1-0)
Round 1
Holmes lands a couple good shots and looks to body clinch. Charles jumps guard for a guillotine and is met by a big slam. Holmes is out and in topside half guard. Both fighters are back to their feet. Clinched and kneeing near the fence now. Charles lands a good knee but Holmes seems no worse for the wear. Charles body clinches against the fence. Figters break free and Holmes is landing some long, hard shots backing Charles up across the cage. Holmes lands a nice knee with Charles trying to change levels for a takedown to end the round.
Round 2
Holmes shoots early and lands a trip to start the round. Charles lands a nice sweep from the guard but Holmes and Charles both manage to get to their feet in a scramble. Charles is threatening with a guillotine and working towards the back. Holmes is defending from the turtle position and not in a good place here. Charles attempts to roll and take his back but Holmes slips around into guard. Holmes has a forearm across the throat of Charles from inside Charles’ guard and the referee breaks them, stands them back up. Both guys are body clinched and throwing knees near the fence. Holmes hit a beautiful hip throw and working from the side control position. He’s landing some shots, elbows come down hard! Charles eats a couple solid elbows and stops defending. He looks out and the referee stops the fight.
Official Decision: JJ Holmes improves to 2-0 via TKO stoppage.
Fight #6 135lbs
Randy Villarreal (Phalanx MMA 4-3) vs Mike Sierra (The Gym 3-3)
Round 1
Fighters are kneeing early each other early from the clinch. Sierra jumps guard hunting for a guillotine and Villarreal lands a huge slam which forces Sierra to let go. Villarreal works to the back and is landing shots trying to open him up for the RNC. Sierra defends but is forced to tap early in round 1 (under 1 minute).
Official Decision: Randy Villarreal wins via Tap Out to rear naked choke.
Fight #7 135lbs Title Fight
Steven Peterson (North Dallas MMA 3-1) vs Douglas Frey (The Gym 9-4)
Round 1
Highly anticipated fight is underway. Peterson attempts a Superman punch early. Frey is working the clinch and looks to land knees. Both guys are throwing hard kicks. Peterson attempts a spinning back fist which partially lands. Peterson lands a shot on the cup but Frey shakes it off. Peterson fights for the single and lands it near the fence. Frey is threatening to take the back with one hook in. Peterson is now working from the topiside half guard. Frey is now working from his own closed guard. Frey has transitioned to the butterfly guard. Frey tries to sweep but cannot. Peterson is using a strong base. Frey works to secure a head and arm choke from his own guard but Peterson slips out. Peterson is landing some shots from inside Frey’s guard. Fighters are standing but Peterson looks to get the better of the exchange. Frey lands a shot on the cup and both fighters agree a break is in store to let Peterson recover. Peterson lands a hard body shot. Frey lands another shot on the cup and Peterson pleads for a break from the referee. The crowd boos but it was an obvious low blow. Peterson misses a Superman punch. Peterson misses a takedown and Frey capitalizes with a takedown of his own utilizing a trip. Peterson attacks for an armbar which is well defended by Frey to end the round. Very furious action in this round.
Round 2
Fighters exchange and Peterson is getting the better of the shots so far. Frey appears to have a cut over his right eye but nothing that could threaten a stoppage at this point. Peterson hits a takedown near his own corner. Frey scrambles and lands in Peterson’s guard. Peterson is very active off his back landing some elbows and hammerfists. He is working very hard to set up an armbar. His guard is open and Frey stands. Peterson is looking a bit gassed here and Frey looks to take advantage. Peterson lands a a solid combination and may have Frey in trouble. Frey is now cut under his right eye. Peterson hits a single but Frey scrambles. Petereson is working the body from Frey’s butterfly guard. Both fighters are back to their feet but Frey puts Peterson on his back and looking to pass. He is now working from side control and landing short elbows to end the round. The furiuous pace from round 1 did not drop off in this round at all. Doctors check out Frey’s cuts but we are go for the 3rd round.
Round 3
Both fighters look a little worn from all of the punishment thus far. Peterson lands a takedown and Frey attempts a guillotine. Both fighters stand and Frey clinches landing some good shots. Frey lands a hard right and Peterson looks stunned. Peterson shoots but cannot get the takedown. Peterson’s hands are very low and he looks visibly tired. Frey clinches again and is using some dirty boxing from the clinch. The crowd is loud now. Frey is landing some good shots but Peterson attempts a tight guillotine that Frey escapes from. Peterson lands a much needed takedown to avoid damage and is working from Frey’s butterfly guard. Frey is now in Peterson’s guard and defending an armbar, he is trying to pass to
side control. The pace has definitely slowed in round 3 but the intensity is still high. The fighters scramble as Peterson looks deperate to find an arm. The round ends with Frey attacking Peterson from the turtle position.
Round 4
The doctors are checking Frey’s cuts and we look good to start the round. Peterson lands a good shot early and Frey looks like he is on shaky legs. Frey hits a nice double leg but Peterson looks to have more gas in the tank at this point in the fight. Frey passes and Peterson gives up his back. Peterson is safe from the choke and back on his knees. Frey is holding Peterson in a Muay Thai clinch and measuring for a knee. Frey throws the knee which appears to be illegal as Peterson was still grounded. The referee rushes in and halts the action. Peterson looks hurt and not quick to get back to his feet. This fight may not continue. The fight is called by the referee and the doctor is in to check on Peterson. The crowd boos loudly which is really unfortunate as both of these guys have both put it on the line tonight. TDLR and the referees are consulting on how to rule the fight as Peterson is finally up and on a stool. Both fighters embrace in the cage as the official decision is about to be delivered.
Official Decision: 38-38, 38-37, 39-37 Steven Peterson is awarded the decision as he is deemed unable to continue. The crowd reaction is very mixed as NDMMA and The Gym are well represented in the crowd tonight. I think an immediate rematch is in store as both of these guys put on one of the best local fights I have covered.
Fight #8 185lbs
Brandon McDowell (Paragon Austin 32-29) vs Jake Rosholt (Team Takedown 9-3)
Round 1
McDowell is working the jab and Rosholt clinches him against the fence. Rosholt misses a nasty high kick. Rosholt clinches and McDowell drops to his back. He’s up and they trade in the center of the cage. McDowell shoots but Rosholt has none of it. Rosholt is threatening from the side mount. Rosholt is landing some solid shots and the referee halts the action for what appears to be punches to the back of the head. McDowell is being checked out by the ringside doctor. It looks like this fight may be a no contest.
Official Decision: Jake Rosholt is awarded a TKO victory
Fight #9 155lbs Title Fight
Chris Jones (Mohler Jiu-Jitsu) vs Chris Pecero (American Revolution MMA)
Round 1
Fighters exchange kicks to start the fight. Jones catches a kick and fights for the single. He presses against the fence, cirlces and finishes the takedown in the middle of the cage. Pecero working from butterfly guard, both are back to their feet. Pecero hits a big takedown and lands in side control. Pecero solidifies his positioon and is working to land shots, he’s back to standing over top of Jones and lands a nasty shot. Pecero drops down into Jones’s half guard and stays busy working the head. Pecero is back to his feet working to land a big shot onto his grounded opponent. Pecero lands back in the full guard of Jones. Jones is doing a good job of avoiding any damage here. Pecero fights to pass Jones has a good, active guard. Jones hits a sneaky ankle pick from the open guard and is back on top. Pecero threatens an armbar but Jones is out and getting very busy trying and win this round back. Jones has a cut above his right eye but doesn’t look too bad. Pecero lands a nice knee from the clinch to close the round.
Round 2
Fighters check each other kicks and showing good display on the feet opening this round. Pecero lands a nice high kick. So far this has been a good, technical fight. Great shots as each fighter takes turns mounting an offensive slurry of hands. Jones fights for a single against the fence. He elevates him with a double leg and slams Pecero to the mat. Jones is working from the topside half guard. He has a darce choke locked in but Pecero escapes. He fights again for the choke and Pecero is free and working from his closed guard. Pecero attemps to sweep from his guard but Jones keeps him on his back. Jones is landing some kicks to a grounded Pecero but both guys are back to their feet now. Jones grabs an arm in guillotine at the end of the round but Pecero avoids and falls back into his own half guard.
Round 3
Pecero looks aggressive to start the round and backs Jones into the corner of the cage. Percero is landing some good kicks but Jones lands a big body kick that backs up Pecero. Jones is very aggressive and is swinging wildly as Pecero is covering up. The fight is stopped by the referee as Jones was still throwing bombs. Both fighters were on their feet and the fight seems to have been stopped prematurely. The crowd boos loudly in disagreement with the stoppage.
Official Decision: Chris Jones wins via TKO stoppage and retains his XKO belt.