...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Alvin Carter, MMATorch Specialist
I am here live at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA for Mossin: God of Martial Arts Pay-Per-View event. This is Moosin's first pay-per-view, and the first MMA pay-per-view event in Massachusetts.
Stay tuned for all of the action. The PPV card starts at 9pm
Flames burst out as Stipe Miocic walks out to the cage. I am good 50 yards away and I could feel the heat. Paul Barry is walking out to Danzig's "Mother" as the flames blast again. I see the theatrics were worked out for this event. OK, now on to the important stuff ... the fights!
Prelims Fight 1: Stipe Miocic (1-0) v.s Paul Barry (3-0)
Round 1
They touch gloves and feel each other out. A few feints, but nothing is connecting. Miocic throws a phantom combo. They almost engage, but nothing has happened. The crowd is booing. Miocic lands a jab. Then he lands a leg kick. Barry hit him with a jab. Miocic charges in, but hits nothing with his hands. Miocic lands a jab and then a straight punch. Barry lands a left hook, and Miocic's cheek is bruised, but he seems hard. Miocic lands a jab straight combo and Barry's nose is bloody. Miocic lands another leg kick, then a jab. Barry with a leg kick of his own. Miocic goes in with a combo, and Barry absorbs and lands a straight on Miocic. Barry's nose is raining blood. Miocic is going for kicks, and Barry keeps defending. Barry seems as if breathing is hard with that nose. He just spit a ton of blood out of his mouth. Micic with another leg kick, and then Barry chases him down for a left body kick right as the round ends.
Round 2
The ring girl was in the way, but so far it seems they each landed a light front leg kick. Miocic keeps throwing out his jab like he is setting Barry up for something. Miocic gets the takedown, and is working vicious ground and pound. The ref needs to stop this. He is landing shot after shot while standing over Barry. He just pushed Barry's head to the canvas as if he was getting tired of landing the shots, and then he lands some more strikes. The ref calls it.
Stipe Miocic def. Paul Berry by TKO (Strikes) - R2 1:30
Post Fight: Barry takes a minute to get up. He's fine. Miocic says this is MMA he went for it..
Fight Rating:**+ The fight was a lot of feeling out, but it gets a + because that ground and pound was serious.
Fight 2: Fred "French Foot Fighter" Belleton (6-2) vs. Anthony "The Recipe" Lapsley (17-4)
Round 1
Lapsley threw a strong right and missed and then immediately goes for a takedown. He breaks his guard and works to improve position. He almost has a knee-on-belly as he is swept, and then Lapsley slaps on a kneebar. That's it, it's over. A quick one.
Lapsley def. Belleton by Submission (Kneebar) - R1 0:59
Post Fight: Lapsley thanks God, and says he trained hard.
Fight Rating: **+ It was quick, and really didn't get started. The kneebar was fantastic though. I guess having a long nickname doesn't mean you are ready for the fight.
Fight 3: Matt Lee (11-9-1) vs. Brett Oteri (5-0)
Round 1
Oteri lands a leg kick. He shoots and gets Lee against the cage. He pushes forward and sprawls. Lee lands a good leg kick, and then Oteri returns. Again Oteri lands a leg kick. Oteri goes for a spinning back kick and misses. Then he charges and pushes Lee acroos the canvas to the cage and takes him down. Lee puts him in buterfly guard and works for a better position. Lee uses a body lock to get up, and then takes Oteri down. They each land a jab, and then Oteri follows with a leg kick and then a side kick. Oteri throws wild hooks and misses. They lock up and and push off. Lee with a BIG leg kick! He sweeps Oteri to the ground and then he pounces for some G&P. Oteri gets him in guard, and Lee advances to half guard. He is working for side control, and lands a big shot before the bell.
Round 2
Oteri throws a leg kick that misses. Lee hits a left right combo. Lee lands a leg kick that hurt Oteri a bit. Oteri is throwing leg kicks that aren't doing anything. Lee stalks Oteri and lands a four punch combo and Oteri backs up. Lee lands a straight and Oteri is bloody. The clinch at the cage and Lee pushes back and throws some glancing blows and then lands an uppercut that knocks Oteri down. Lee goes down to seal the deal, but the ref waves him off.
Lee def. Oteri by TKO - R2 1:46
Post Fight: Lee shouts out to his home town of Worcester and thanks everyone he trains with.
Fight Rating: *** This fight was dynamic. The crowd was into it to support there victorious hometown fighter. Oteri was a bit over matched as far as experience goes, he seemed a bit lost as if he did not have a game plan.
Now it is time for the PPV Card
The place is filling up nicely, but definitely not at capacity. Announcers Bas Rutten, Jeff Gorman, and Tom Megalis adress the fans here and at home as they gear up for the PPV fights.
Fight 4: Ralph Jonhson (4-0) vs. Forrest "The Meat Cleaver" Petz (17-7)
Johnson comes out to some heavy blast beat metal wearing a mask reminiscent of the Scream movie series. Just had to note that.
Round 1
They touch gloves and almost engage. The crowd is behind Johnson who starts throwing hands to a miss. Johnson barely lands a looping right. They clinch to the cage, and Johnson pounds Petz in the face as he works his way of the cage. They have a firefight as they exchange hooks and overhands. They step back and go for a similar exchange again. Petz lands an overhand right and then Johnson lands a head shot. Petz shoots and Johnson gets him square with a knee to the face. Petz holds for the takedown while Johnson is on the cage. He lifts Johnson but can't take him down. They get a wild exchange and Johnson lands some looping lefts and rights and as they back up they talk smack. Johnson looks like he is taunting in a street fight. Petz goes in hard and misses, and then follows with a left hook that connects seconds before the round ends.
Round 2
Gloves touch and then they dance around. Petz lands a jab and a high kick. Johnson is commanding the ring though. He is much taller and has a large reach advantage. Petz hits a light leg kick, then he lands a looping right. Then another. Nothing is really hurting Johnson. There is a lot of dancing around this round. They exchange jabs. Petz throws combos an Johnson slips. There is a lot of feeling out that seems unnecessary on both ends. Round one is already over. Shots are not landing from either, this is a sage round. A brief exchange and Petz lands a left and Johnson punches back with a right hook. Johnson has his hands down and lands a jab out of nowhere. Petz fires back with a combo, and Johnson dances around him. Petz lands an overhand right, but Johnson is not moves. The bell rings.
Round 3
Johnson lands a straight after they waltz around the cage. Petz knows he is bleeding from the previous rounds. Petz clinches and pushes Johnson to the cage. A knee from the clinch doesn't really deliver. Petz moves in for a left to the body and follows with a right to the head, but Johnson throws a counter. Petz feints a leg kick, and Johnson returns to using the jab to keep distance. Petz is starting to move in. He shoots and a knee and gets Petz in the stomach but he still works for the takedown with Johnson against the cage. Johnson does go down, and Petz is now stalking Johnson around the cage. Johnson with a left right combo and Petz with a looping left. They go at it for the last ten seconds, and a each land a couple of stiff shots until the buzzer.
Forrest Petz def. Ralph Johnson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Post Fight: Petz talks about how this could have gone either way, and how Johnson didn't get taken down and is tough.
Fight Rating ** This fight had promise, but they each played it very safe in the second and third rounds. Petz has a win over Dan Hard form 2006 and is a veteran. I think he played it sage because of the reach disadvantage he had.
Fight 5: Ho Jin Kim (7-6) vs. Lukasz "Juras" Jurkowski (14-9)
The crowd goes nuts for Jurkowski with the chant of "Pulska, Pulska!"
Round 1
Jurkowski throws a straight kick and Kim checks it. Jurkowski stalks with the jab and doesn't land anything. He throws another kick and then shoots pushing Kim to the cage, but Kim gets the take down. Jurkowski works his way back up and then puts Kim back on the cage. They both go down and Kim misses an opportunity for an armbar based on the way they fell. They stay clinched and Jurkowski hits him with a knee and then clips him with an elbow and finishes him with two hard rights and knocks him out!
Lukasz Jurkowski def. Ho Jin Kim y KO - R1 2:22
Post Fight: The crowd is too loud to hear, but Jurkowski says he wanted to keep the fight standing, and he address the crowd in english and polish.
Fight Rating: ***+ Now that was a good fight with a clear finish. Jurkowski had the crowd and he had the knockout power to make them cheer. Kim got caught with a great combo that showed Jurkowski was going to impose his will no matter what.
Fight 6: Tara LaRosa (18-1) vs. Roxy Modafferi (14-5)
Round 1
The women touch gloves and feel each other out. Modafferi throws a combo that doesn't connect but then she lands a left. They clinch and exchange. Modafferi throws a high kick that misses. LaRosa shoots and stuffs Modafferi against the cage. they both have a body lock on and no one is moving. Modafferi lands a couple shots well against the cage. they battle along the fence for about a minute and then LaRosa gets a takedown. She tries to advance her position but Modafferi stands up and pushes LaRosa to the cage. They break. Modafferi lands fast hooks (left and right) and puts LaRosa down. She pounces and lands big shots, and advances to knee-on-sternum and starts ground and pound and then the round ends.
Round 2
LaRosa rushes in and lands they exchange. Modafferi gets the better of it and ends up getting LaRosa down. She works in LaRosa's guard and eventual LaRosa gets back to her feet. Modafferi throws a spinning roundhouse that misses. They exchange and LaRosa lands a head shot. They feel each other out and then Modafferi goes in and lands a right and they both clinch. They break and Modafferi lands a flying knee to the stomach. They dance around and then Modafferi establishes distance with leg kicks. Then they go at it exchanging big shots that land on each other hook after hook. It loks like they Modafferi gets a knee off in the exchange and then they swing out of it. LaRosa gets a takedown and then they get back to their feet. The bell sounds.
Round 3
They come out looking to box. Modafferi moves in and lands a big shot, but LaRosa counters and lands a show that sends Modafferi back and Modafferi hits the ground. LaRosa pounces and then Modafferi gets a triangle and LaRosa is lifting her up, but Modafferi tightens it and is going for it. LaRosa tries to pound out, but Modafferi doesn't let go! LaRosa stands up and is still trying to get out of it. She finally gets out of it. They break and then clinch to the cage. Modafferi gets a hip toss and takes her back. She has hooks in LaRosa. LaRosa works her way up as a choke never materialized. They clinch and Modafferi pushes away from the cage and goes for a takedown as the round ends.
Roxi Modaferri def. Tara LaRosa by Split Decision ( 3-27 M, 29-28 L ,29 -28M )
Post Fight: Modafferi is so happy she can barely say anything. She tells LaRosa that they are even so they have to do it again sometime.
Fight Rating: *** This was a solid fight. These two went for it. Modaferri was a bit more dominant, and she had LaRosa in that triangle for the better part of that last round.
Fight 7: Yves "The Texas Gunslinger" Edwards (37-15-1) vs. Mike "The Beast" Campbell (8-2)
Round 1
Campbell lands a leg kick then a nice right to the head of Edwards. Both are very active and moving. Edwards throws a left right combo followed by a kick that misses. Campbell looks hungry as he works to control the center of the ring. He throws a left hook that misses Edwards. Edwards ducks under a right. Campbell lands a body kick, but Edwards pushes forward with a straight that doesn't connect. Edwards lands a leg kick. They are moving and trying to get each ohers timing. both throw looping hooks that miss. Campbell lands a hook to the head. Edwards goes for the takedown and he is pushed to the cage and Campbell reverses and works to get Edwards down with a slam from off the cage. They stand up, but then Campbell gets Edwards down again. He gets up. Edwards goes in with a right and landed a vicious knee that sends Campbell back and cuts his right eye open. They get back up and Campbell throws a hard rear leg roundhouse and Edwards blocks.
Round 2
Edwards goes in with a right fist, then a lead round house followed by a rear leg and then a straight. he gets Campbell down even though Campbell sprawls. Edwards gets his back and almost gets a rear naked choke, but Campbell reverses the body lock and gets into Edwards' guard and posts. They stand up. Edwards slams Campbell HARDDDD! The place shakes. He works a bit, and then they both get up. Campbell looks weary but comes in with some fists. Edwards retaliates with a head kick attempt and some stiff fists. Campbell is getting Edawards with some good hooks. Edwards eats a series of shots and then a big one. He stays on his feet and clinches on the cage. Edwards knees Campbell's legs and Campbell turns around and knees Edwards out of the clinch. Campbell shoots and Edwars sprawls well. The bell sounds.
Round 3
Campbell throws a leg kick, and then another but Edwards checks it. Campbell and Edwards exchange, and nothing really lands. Edwards goes for a perfect head kick and Campbell is lucky it misses. The crowd "ohhhhed" at the attempt as it looked dangerous. Campbell lands a sloppy hook on the side of Edwards' head as Edwards was moving in. Edwards with a leg kick. Campbell gets hard leg kick, and Edwards returns with a nice right. Campbell dodges another game ender in a right hand from Edwards. They move around and Edwards lans a stiff body show. Edwards took the fight to the ground, and Campbell sweeps him. They get up and Edwards lands a knee to the head and right. Campbell shoots Edwards sprawls and stands. Campbell goes for the takedown still and Edwards, with his back against the cage SCOOP slams Campbell down hard and at the very last second Campbell sweeps Edwards. The bell sounds.
Campbell def. Edwards by Unanimous Decision (29-28)
Post Fight: Campbell talks about how he beat a legend tonight, and how he has his mind right.
Fight Ranking **** This was a great fight, but I do not see how Campbell won. Edwards had better position, two slams, and some vicious strikes. Edwards had Campbell's back and every time he sprawled he had body/head control and could have had his back. I guess you can't leave it to the judges. Wow... this is something...
Fight 8: Travis "The Serial Killer" Lutter (10-5) vs. Rafael "Sapo" Natal (11-2)
Round 1
Long feel out period here. Lutter throws a jab and Natal glances with a spinning head kick. Lutter goes for the single leg, and won't let go. Natal almost spins out, but Lutter is locked on like a rabid pitbull. Natal is told to "watch the back of the head" by the ref as he throws a few shots with his back against the cage. Lutter is just tiring himself out at this point. The ref breaks them. Natal lands a leg kick and Lutter shoots, a sloppy shot. Natal spins away as Lutter's head is in the cage crease. Natal hits Lutter with a right cross that seems to have knocked him out, and then pounces and lands a couple, but it's over.
Rafael Natal def. Travis Lutter by KO (Strikes) - R1 4:12
Post Fight: Natal says thank you to everyone and the GRacie team
Fight Rating ***- Nice finish for Natal. He looked good. Lutter looked out of shape in this one, and he gassed early with that longwinded takedown attempt.
Fight 9: Travis "Diesel" Wiuff (60-14) vs. Josh Barnes (7-3)
Wiuff and Barnes circle a bit, and then Wiuff lands two rights, then a left and then a right and Barnes is OUT!. Wow, quick work from heavyweights! Wiuff went in for more, but the ref dived in between.
Travis Wiuff def. Josh Barnes by KO - R1 :34
Post Fight: When the announcer says "you didn't break a sweat", he says, "It's OK, I don't get paid by the hour." Then he gives a shout out to his baby girl who turns three in a week. His next comment was about Bret Favre and the arena went form cheering him to booing.
Fight Rating ***+ Wow, quick work from heavyweights! A highlight real KO for sure.
Main Event
Fight 10: Tim "The Maniac" Silvia (25-6) vs. Mariusz "Dominator" Pudzianowski (2-0)
Pudzianowski came out wit a full concert. He had a hype man singing some industrial dance song that the crowd loved. Flames were flying, and the Polish flag was waving. The crowd chanted "Polska, Polska" again. Silva received boos, but people in the press box seemed excited to see him.
Round 1
They charge and bam! They clinch and work for a takedown. Pudz gets it and almost gets Silvia's back early. They get up and go to the cage and clinch. Sylvia lands a knee. Pudz get in a right. Then another knee that connects form Sylvia. They clinch and another knee from Sylvia and then a right. They exchange heavy shots and both look winded. Pudz is backing away and Sylvia is the aggressor. Sylvia lands a big right. Pudz goes for the takedown and Silvia tosses him with ease. He lands a big right from the guard. They struggle and Pudz almost went for an armbar. Sylvia passes for side control. Silvia has knee-on-belly and drops some hard shots. The round ends.
Round 2
Sylvia stalks Pudz and Pudz shoots. Sylvia lands a big knee, and again. Pudz gets a wrning for grabbing the fence. Sylvia landed a hard jab. Sylvia is landing shots at will Pudz just falls, not because of anyone strike. Silvia kicks at him in dismay. while he lays o the ground. Sylvia goes down for side control and gets some shots in and as Silvia smothers him Pudz just taps... WOW, like he was tired. The tap did not even come from strikes. The 5x Worlds Strongest Man just GAVE UP!
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.