Cage Combat 11 should be much like the promotion’s past events and feature some very eager fighters looking to make their way up in the world of Texas amateur mixed martial arts. This includes some returning fighters familiar to the Houston MMA scene as well as some new ones looking to break out with a statement-making performances.
Here’s the current fight card for Garcia Promotions’ Cage Combat 11 as we have it from the most recent update.
CAGE COMBAT 11
FRIDAY SEPT. 28, 2012
PENDING TDLR APPROVAL
1. Victor Lomax (Ground Dwellers) VS. John Ballah (Champions MMA) – 125
2. Julian Rios (One MMA) VS. Ryan Lara (Paragon/FCFA) – 155
3. Willie Nelson (BVMMA) VS. Jonathan Walker (Fusion MMA) – 135
4. Servando Almaraz (GB Westchase) VS. Coltin Boggs (BVMMA) – 135
5. Mario Mancillas (One MMA) VS. Chris Istre (Kingwood MMA) – 180
6. Daniel Heffernan (GB Woodlands) VS. Matt Whichard (Kingwood MMA)– 145
7. Ernest Collins (One MMA) VS. D’Neareon Seymore (Streamline MMA) – 155
8. Sean Jefferson (Paradigm) VS. Chris Jackson (SBA) – 170
9. Chris Rose VS. Joel Garcia (One MMA) – 195
10. Paulo Alcozar VS. James Gonzales (Streamline MMA) – 145
11. Steele West VS. Eric Thompson (Silverback) – 185
12. Ryan Rivera (Paragon/FCFA) VS. David Montemayor (CDM) – 155
13. Hossan Walker (Paradigm) VS. Kolton Englund (Silverback) – 155 Title
Let’s take a look at some of the returning fighters in more detail so fans can put a face to a name and get an idea of what to expect from these fighters.
Cage Combat 11 – Returning Fighter Profiles
HOSSAN WALKER (4-1) – A returning champion out of Paradigm Training Center, 30 year old Hossan won the Garcia Promotions lightweight belt in a hard-fought performance over Aaron Croon in May of last year. All in all he’s compiled an impressive 4-1 record with his lone loss being a decision to future attorney Craig Gardner (who happens to hold a win over Legacy FC interim welterweight champ Jeff Rexroad himself). Having spent the better part of the last year looking to improve his skill set, Walker will no doubt be looking to make an impressive statement over Kolton Englund in his first title defense after the long layoff.
KOLTON ENGLUND (3-3) – Despite his young age (18 or 19), Kolton has already been around the block in Houston MMA and has put up some exciting performances so far. A striker at hand, he loves exhanging on the feet but word is he’s been working his ground game as well. Kolton is coming off an impressive TKO victory over the now-infamous Ralph Garcia heading into this one and he’ll look to use that win as momentum for what should be his toughest career challenge yet in Hossan Walker.
ERIC THOMPSON (2-3) – Calling himself “Da Monster” and also jokingly referring to himself as “the best blue belt in Houston,” this Silverback Fight Club representative is one of those guys that just always seems to be in a good mood all the time. Not too many people know that’s also dealt with plenty of adversity in his young life, including losing both of his parents at a young age. Looking at his MMA career, he’s still trying to find his rhythm as an amateur but may have a good chance to do so against 0-4 opponent Steele West.
JAMES GONZALES(2-3) – With a nickname like “Tank,” James Gonzales has to be likened to a finisher and that’s exactly what he is if this photo of him is of any indication. He knocked out Joel Haesecke in the first round of that bout way back at Cage Combat 4 and he’ll look to do it again when he takes on Paulo Alcozer this Friday night.
CHRIS ROSE (1-1) – Known to those close to him simply as ” Buffalo,” Chris Rose has been around a lot longer than his 1-1 record indicates, running his now-sold cage rental business and fighting on the Indian reservations of West Texas. A native of Huntsville and one of the original members of the “Death Row” fight team, this guy always comes to fight.
JOEL RIVERA (1-0) – Debuting with a first round TKO of Juan Dominguez at Cage Combat 10, Joel now returns for his his second go-around to tango with Chris Rose. We haven’t seen too much of him yet but this one is sure to be a slobberknocker.
RYAN RIVERA (3-2) – At 3-2, 22 year old Ryan Rivera has had himself some solid experience at the amateur level, including a third round title loss in his last fight for a title at Texas Rage in the Cage 12. He now returns after a year off honing his skills and hopes to show some improvement when he takes on undefeated opponent David Montemayor.
DAVID MONTEMAYOR (2-0) – David debuted on the scene impressively with a 2011 split decision win over Kolton Englund. A rangy striker / boxer as a 6’1″ lightweight, David will look to bring his record to 3-0 when he takes on experienced opponent Ryan Rivera.