By TXMMA Staff | Cover Photo: Charles Nguyen
Legacy Fighting Championship travels out of state; Oklahoma first to host out-of-Texas Legacy event
TULSA, OK, March 22, 2014 – Mick Maynard took the Legacy Fighting Championship outside of state lines for the first time last night. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma played host to the first such occasion for the Houston based promotion. Legacy FC 29 was headlined by Paul Buentello and Myron Dennis challenging for the vacant light heavyweight title. The show also featured UFC vet Jonathan Brookins making debut versus Cody Fuller along with Texas veteran Chris Pecero against local favorite Thomas Longacre. In addition, the card originally had 145 lbs. champ Leonard Garcia defending against Shane Howell and Gilbert Burns (Durinho) making his Legacy debut but both those bouts didn’t make it. The show must go on however and it was a good night of fights nonetheless.
Myron Dennis upsets Paul Buentello to become Legacy FC 205 lbs. champion
The main event featured a surprise ending. With his UFC pedigree, Paul Buentello was a big favorite against Myron Dennis, the local Oklahoman. The fight began with “The Headhunter” coming forward and stalking his opponent. Paul looked knockout-minded and scored the first big shots in the fight, winning the first two rounds. The tides turned in the third though with Myron landing a big combination on Buentello against the cage that hurt him. Then came the fourth and fifth rounds. It was there where the judges deemed Myron Dennis did enough to win the close split decision via the judges’ cards even though many observers had it going for Buentello.
With this win Myron Dennis become the new Legacy FC light heavyweight champion while Paul Buentello had his four fight win streak snapped.
Jonathan Brookins makes weight; successful in flyweight debut
TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins was able to successfully reinvent him as a flyweight following his first bout outside the UFC promotion. The TUF 12 winner was let go over a year ago by the UFC following a 3-3 record with the promotion. He had always fought as a lightweight and featherweight but after some soul searching and taking up yoga, he comes back a 125 lbs. fighter. Brookins was a heavy favorite against Legacy FC 29 opponent Cody Fuller and showed by in short order but dominating the Oklahoman in the grappling department. He took Fuller’s back early in the first. He’d attack the submission but didn’t get it early. He got it eventually though with the bout ending in the second round by rear-naked choke.
Corpus Christi’s Chris Pecero wins fourth straight fight
Chris Pecero traveled up from South Texas to take on a risky fight with undefeated local Thomas Longacre. The Oklahoman was undefeated at 6-0 prior to this fight and has a striking pedigree including a stint in the World Combat League. None of that mattered to Chris as he matched him strike for strike while threatening with an active guard whenever the fight hit the ground. Pecero would also come on stronger late in the close fight, winning the third with a timely sweep that allowed him to mount and control his tiring opponent to end the fight.
The bout would make Longacre’s first defeat in six years while Pecero wins for the fourth time in a row as he makes a strong case for championship caliber fights in the near future.
US Army Sniper Andrew Todhunter makes Art Parker pay; Jerod Spoon submits Daniel Hauenstein
For US Army sniper Andrew Todhunter wanted to make Art Parker pay after the latter showed up weigh-ins nineteen pounds over the day before. That’s exactly what he did from the get-go in this fight quickly taking down his opponent and having his way with him on the ground. Todhunter likes the submission but preferred to use his punches and elbows in this one for the most part before slapping on the fight-ending rear naked choke less than a minute before the end of the first round.
Meanwhile in the first bout of the night Jerod Spoon was able to work through his height disadvantage to Daniel Hauenstein and land a big right hand that hurt his opponent halfway through the first round. From there Spoon wasted no time in capitalizing, landing a flurry of punches that caused the referee to step in and call the TKO victory.
Check out complete results from all the night’s action at Legacy FC 29 below.
Legacy Fighting Championship 29 Quick Results
LFC 29 Main Card (AXS TV)
- Myron Dennis def. Paul Buentello by split decision (49-46, 47-48, 49-46) * for vacant light heavyweight title
- Jonathan Brookins def. Cody Fuller by submission (rear-naked choke) – RD 2, 3:02
- Chris Pecero def. Thomas Longacre by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
- Andrew Todhunter def. Art Parker by submission (rear-naked choke) – RD 1, 4:05
- Jerod Spoon def. Daniel Hauenstein by TKO – RD 2, 1:04
LFC 29 Preliminary Card
- Zach Church def. Brandon McDougal by submission (Brabo choke) – RD 2
- Jarrett Rouse def. Larry Garcia by submission (armbar) – RD 1
- Daryl Wilson def. Josh Anderson by unanimous decision – RD 3
- Blake Nichols def. Josh Parrish by TKO – RD 1
- C.J. Harris def. Aaron McKenzie by split decision – RD 3
