HOUSTON, TX, January 22, 2012 – The Legacy Amateur Series has four new titleholders after an exciting seventh event at Houston’s Arena Theater last night. The promotion’s champions were replenished in the flyweight, bantamweight, lightweight, and middleweight divisions in the final four fights of a fifteen card slate that started off Legacy’s 2012 amateur campaign with a bang.
Highlighting a night in which the academy went 4-0, Elite MMA took home two of those coveted belts with Robert Yamashita and Julian Vega earning submissions to win the middleweight and lightweight titles respectively. It was an impressive showcase of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in those fights with both men neutralizing any offense their opponents threw their way with timely takedowns and aggressive transitions on the ground that led to both finishes. Vega in particular was extremely impressive on the night with an aggressive performance that saw him possibly dislocate his opponent’s arm in the first stanza. To his credit, DFW native Delis Borges would go on fight one more round before finally succumbing to the arm bar in the second.
Elsewhere in championship action, Gracie Barra Texas fighter Roberto Sanchez earned the belt at bantamweight with an impressive albeit razor-close split decision over Silverback Fight Club’s Ramiro Cortina. This was a close fight characterized by plenty of clinch work and hard-earned takedowns by both fighters. Cortina landed more takedowns throughout the course of the three round fight with Sanchez countering that with submission attempts from the bottom. In the end, the judges saw it in favor of Sanchez, giving him his second victory and 1st title belt of his young career.
Rounding out the championship action was the flyweight title joust between Gracie Barra’s Ricky Turcios and Hard Heat Hitter Ryan Hollis. Both these guys fought gamely with Turcios the aggressor on the feet and Hollis looking to finish with his submissions for the full three rounds of action. When it was all said and done, the title would go around the waist of the childhood Dragonball Z fan for the win.
Aside from the championship bouts of the evening, the rest of the undercard also impressed as fighters went after it to gain points in Legacy’s 2012 amateur tournament which will ultimately reward the top fighters with a pro contract.
Below are the full results from the Arena Theater along with photos from last night’s event. Don’t forget to tune in to our TXMMA Facebook Page for more there as well.
Legacy Amateur Series 7 – Quick Results
185 Title – Robert Yamashita over Kaileb Cummins by submission (triangle choke) in round 3.
155 Title – Julia Vega over Delis Borges by submission (arm bar) in round 2.
135 Title – Roberto Sanchez over Ramiro Cortina by split decision.
125 Title – Ricky Turcios over Ryan Hollis by unanimous decision.
125 lbs. – Jacob Silva over Hugo Delafuente by TKO at 2:50 of round 3.
170 lbs. – James Powell over Ricardo Perez by submission (arm bar) in round 1.
185 lbs. – Aaron Reeves over John Paul Moreno by unanimous decision.
145 lbs. – Omar Hillail over Raul Rodriguez by unanimous decision.
135 lbs. – Mike Trinh over Eric Hendon by unanimous decision.
185 lbs. – Angel McFarlane over Roceal Houston by submission (guillotine choke) in round 2.
155 lbs. – Leroy Vasquez over Tien Nguyen by submission (RNC) in round 3.
155 lbs. – John Gorrell over Brandon Hanna by split decision.
145 lbs. – Eric Valdez over Chris Tornero by submission (RNC) in round 2.
185 lbs. – Mike Eaglin over Jacob Elliot by submission (RNC) in round 1.
155 lbs. – Luis Lara over Marcus St. Germain by submission (kimura) in round 2.
Legacy Amateur Series 7 – Photo Gallery
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