By TXMMA Staff // Dez Moore // Cover photo: Shawn Lord
Middleweights clash in headline title fight; lightweight title on the line in co-main event
Joe Maupin (4-1) will defend his middleweight title for the first time against a well-seasoned Joe Casteneda (4-1) in the main event. Casteneda earned himself a title shot after defeating Rodrigo Martinez at Cowboys Extreme Cage Fighting 19. Casteneda has one prior title fight, a fight that he lost in the fifth round by submission. He is facing a rolling-hot Maupin, who after losing his amateur debut has gone on a complete tear winning all of his fights in the first round and capturing two titles in the process. This will probably be the last time the victor of this fight competes at the amateur level anymore, successfully capturing or defending the PCG middleweight title.
The co-main event will see a new lightweight champion rise when Anthony Ivy (3-0) takes on Jason Laubach-Lents (3-3). Laubach-Lents has had a bit of a roller-coaster ride during his amateur career starting off 1-2 before tallying up two straight finishes to even out his record. Ivy, the not-so-little-brother of professional fighter Dimitre Ivy, has merged into a bright prospect while finishing all of his opponents on chase of the PCG lightweight title. This should be a fun fight with the experienced Laubach-Lents taking on the explosive Ivy in both their first title shot.
Another interesting bout brings the young Kaleb Petereit (2-1) facing off against Armando Villareal (2-1). This will be Villareal’s first fight with PCG, while Petereit makes his fourth appearance inside the PCG cage. Both fighters started their careers off successfully before dropping one fight, then rebounding in their most recent fights. Petereit lost by decision to the recently crowned PCG bantamweight champion, David Miramontes. Villareal lost by way of TKO due to doctor stoppage after a cut above his eye wouldn’t stop bleeding. Both fighters will look to keep their momentum going and rack up two straight victories.
In addition to these three exciting matchups, Cowboy’s Extreme Cage Fighting 22 will feature PCG regular Dominique Gonzalez (2-2) taking on newcomer Stephanie Adams-Hawkins (0-0) in a women’s MMA bout, Joaquin Sanchez (3-4) squaring off with Zachary Balderas (1-2), and heavyweights Matthew Glover and Ezekiel Wily expected to bring the knockout in their debuts.