Legacy Amateur Series – May 2011 Results, Recap, and Photos!

May 15, 2011 – The Legacy Amateur Series wrapped up another show at the Houston Arena Theater last night.

In addition to an exciting showcase of Houston’s next generation of MMA fighters, the event also featured several announcements from the Legacy organization regarding upcoming fights to be featured over the course of the summer and beyond.

Read on here at TXMMA.com for a full digest of last night’s action.

Quick Results

• James Powell over Joe Moreno by submission (guillotine) in Round 2.
• Monica Earnshaw over Tina Gomez via TKO (strikes from mount) in round 1.
• Mike Alvarez over Ryan Josey via submission (RNC) in round 3.
• Ricky Turcios over Hugo De La Fuente via TKO (punches in back mount) in round 3.
• Tucker Dierksheide over John Rodriguez via submission (guillotine) in round 1.
• Brandon Boyd over Jesse Martinez via unanimous decision.
• Trent Draper over Jose Pacheco via unanimous decision.
• Jacob Silva over Alex Ramirez via unanimous decision.
• David Montemoyor over Kolton Karl Englund via split decision.
• Tony Orozco Jr. over Angel Zamora via TKO (strikes from mount) in round 1.
• Kaileb Cummings over Mike Eaglin via majority decision.
• Manny Lozoya over David Armas via unanimous decision. (Wins 135 title)

Legacy Announcements

Originally supposed to fight for the welterweight title on this card, Levi West of Team Tooke will get that opportunity at the next Legacy Amateur show against Kevin Thomas of IV Ounce Fight Club.

With her dominating win last night, Monica Earnshaw of Bushi Ban will get the chance to win her first amateur title against Kristy Kester of Team Bailout on what should be the next Legacy Amateur show if both fighters are in agreement.

On the professional front, it was announced that the main event of the July show will be none other than “Neo” himself in Carlo Prater (27-10-1) taking on UFC Veteran and “Ultimate Fighter” show winner Efrain Escudero. Prater is coming off two dynamic submission wins (over Henrique Mello at IFC in Recife, Brazil and Bryan Travers at Strikeforce Challengers) so look for him to try and gain the hat trick against the Zuffa castaway.

Last but not least, the next opponent for former Mighty Morphin’ Power Ranger Jason David Frank was announced to be none other than Team Hoger’s Shawn Machado. With fan voting determining this matchup, Machado received over 41% of fan votes to earn the right to face the former actor. Frank, who recently joined Silverback Fight Club will go into this bout looking to avenge Machado’s most recent victory over his new coach, Tony Orozco.

Highlights and Top Performers

Manny Lozoya Wins Bantamweight Title

The event was highlighted by a back-and-forth scrap for the bantamweight title between former childhood soccer teammates Manny Lozoya and David Armas. The two traded advantages for three rounds in a bout that could have gone either way had it been able to go the full five championship rounds. Unfortunately, with their current records, the TDLR felt neither had enough experience to be approved for a five-round affair so three was all they had to make their impression. Very well-deserved win for the new champion Manny Lozoysa but one can’t help to wonder if there shouldn’t be a rematch of this highly-entertaining affair. Look for big things ahead from both these guys in the near future.

Tony Orozco Jr. Finishes Opponent on the way to the Prom

At only 17-years-old, Tony Orozco Jr. is one of, if not the youngest, fighters hailing out of the Houston area. Taking on a man twice his senior in 39-year-old Angel Zamora last night, the prodigious silverback succeeded in getting his milestone second TKO before leaving in a hurry to make it to his high school prom! Oh, to be young again. Not many have had a life experience quite like this one. What a night for that guy.

Women’s Bout Ends in Emphatic Fashion

Heading into this bout, the debate was whether the striking of Tina Gomez would win out over the grappling of Monica Earnshaw. Local opinion was split either way until Earnshaw ended it in emphatic fashion. The Bushi Ban product wasted no time in securing the takedown and the mounted position en route to about 100+ strikes in a row to her opponent’s cranium. Tough loss for the tough Tina but she should be back. With this win though, Monica should be the one on to a more pressing challenge against Kristy Kester, the gritty winner of Legacy amateur’s 1^st female bout over Jordan Gaza. That fight should be a doozy!

New Potential Stars Emerge

All the winners of last night’s bouts deserve recognition for accomplish their goals in getting their hands raised in victorious fashion last night. And all the ones that fell can hang their hat on the fact that the cage experience they gained will bring them one step closer to their own wins.

Now here’s a listing of the performances I deemed to be most impressive outside the ones mentioned above:

Ricky Turcios – To a man, this bout could have contended with any other on the card for fight of the night honors. Turcios got dropped momentarily in the first round but showed resiliency (not to mention submission defense and solid wrestling) and en route to finishing his opponent in round 3. With this win by the Filipino sensation, it looks like the 125 division definitely just got deeper here in Houston.

Tucker Dierksheide also showed impressively in his submission victory over John Rodriguez. The kid walked into, and out of, the cage showing Fedor-like emotion as he routinely went out and scored the guillotine over his taller opponent for the quick victory. The crowd didn’t see too much this time around but look for more from this kid in the near future.

David Montemoyor and Kolton Englund put on a fun exchange of punches in their fight. In the end David was able to use his reach to keep the forward-moving Englund away in a close but entertaining fight. Expect excitement next time either of these fighters steps into the cage.

Congrats once again to all the fighters mentioned above along with James Powell, Mike Alvarez, Brandon Boyd, Trent Draper, Jacob Silva, and Kaileb Cummings on their wins!

Photo Gallery

Click HERE or on the photo above for the full gallery and slideshow!