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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING 12
AUGUST 9, 2014
LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
The show's delayed a bit as they're doing some follow up on NBC Sports Network for their boxing Fight Night event, but the first fight should begin shortly!
FIGHT ONE: BRYSON HANSEN VS. MATT SAYLES (BANTAMWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: They clinched early and jockeyed for position for a while, with Hansen then breaking off with a big strike. After separating, Hansen dropped Sayles with a strike and threw a big flurry against the cage. Sayles somehow managed to make it back to his feet, slow things down in the clinch, and then separate to reset. After a few strikes were exchanges, Sayles again clinched. It was brief and they separated. Hansen landed a hard strike. He got in a body lock, picked Sayles up, and slammed him hard. Sayles got to his feet as Hansen tried to get his hooks in. Hansen held his back standing, but lost the position. Sayles separated with a spinning back fist. Hansen landed a left. Hansen slipped on a kick and Sayles tried to take advantage, to no avail. They traded leg kicks. Hansen landed the left hand again. Sayles landed a hard leg kick that was nearly caught and countered. Both missed some strikes late in the frame to the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Hansen. He did a lot of damage there midway through the round, but Sayles survived nicely to make the latter half of the frame competitive.
ROUND TWO: Sayles tossed out some hard kicks early. He connected on a right hand. It's possible Hansen punched himself out trying for the stoppage in the first round. Sayles looked much faster, and he landed a couple of hard right hands followed by a straight kick to the face. Hansen fired back with a left. Sayles continued throwing strikes, and his movement picked up. He kept up the output, while also moving back and forth around the cage. Sayles landed a hard knee to the body but ate a right hook. Hansen tagged him with a few strikes and backed him to the cage. Sayles turned him around and got in a kick and a knee. They traded strikes. Sayles landed a few jabs and continued utilizing his movement well. He threw a jumping kick that connected to the body. Hansen's stuck looking for the power strike as Sayles was just dancing around him and landing. They clinched briefly and each connected on some hard strikes in close. Sayles connected to the body. Sayles missed a superman punch. Hansen caught a kick and tried to counter with a takedown, but Sayles nicely got out of it. Sayles with a right hand. Back to the straight kicks. Sayles landed a hard right hand. He connected on a combination. Hansen landed a left. Sayles landed the right. They clinched again, with Sayles getting the better of it before backing out. Sayles kept throwing strikes and landed a few more before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Sayles. Kid's in his third fight at only 20 years old, and he's showing some exciting flashes here as he's taking advantage of a tired out Hansen.
ROUND THREE: Hansen closed the distance and tried for the takedown, but Sayles held him off in the clinch and landed several strikes before separating. Hansen landed a right hook. Sayles connected on several kicks. Sayles landed a nice right hand. He blocked a strike thrown by Hansen. Sayles again connected with a nice strike. Both missed a couple of strikes. Sayles landed a hard straight right. He landed a nice kick to the leg, then went up to the face. Hansen clinched, ate a knee, and got shrugged off. Hansen landed a left. Sayles pressed in with a couple of kicks. Hansen shot in and again got stuffed. Sayles landed a left hook as he got out of a brief clinch. Sayles landed another strike. He nicely feinted with a body strike and connected with a straight right to the head instead. Sayles again landed the right hand. He landed it again.. More straight kicks. Sayles landed a few more strikes in combination, blocking some returns from Hansen. Sayles went for a flying knee to the body. Hansen ducked under a strike for a big slam, but Sayles popped right back up, landing a couple of strikes before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Sayles. This was just his third career fight, but Sayles did some really effective things in this fight, and had a really nice showing in the final ten minutes.
WINNER: Sayles via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (**+) From nearly getting stopped in the first to taking over the final ten minutes, Sayles had a bit of a rollercoaster tonight, but the kid has a lot of really nice instincts in there offensively, and he was fun to watch.
-Our commentators tonight are Bas Rutten and Mike Corey, and thus far Corey's seemed solid enough in his role. Better than Todd Harris to this point at any rate.
FIGHT TWO: ALEXIS VILA VS. BRANDON HEMPLEMAN (BANTAMWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Hempleman rushed forward with jabs and tried to press Vila backward. Vila briefly clinched, but Hempleman backed out. Vila missed a couple of strikes. Hempleman landed a couple of strikes. Vila missed a big overhand strike. He connected on the next one, then landed a big left. Hempleman's head popped back hard but he took it like it was nothing. Hempleman connected back with a strike. Vila landed a couple more hard punches. Vila continued finding a home for a couple of strikes at a time. Hempleman tried to get his head out of the way. Hempleman got in a good leg kick and a few jabs behind. Vila landed a good leg kick. Vila missed another big overhand right. They traded strikes. Vila went to the body with some kicks. Hempleman landed to the body. Vila landed the right hand again. Vila landed a kick and Hempleman connected on a couple of counter strikes. Vila shot in but gave it up quick. Vila landed two hard kicks. Hempleman landed a good leg kick. Vila landed a vicious one to the body just before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Vila. Close, competitive round, but it seemed Vila landed more effective strikes, and connected on the hardest strikes of the round as well. Not a blowout, but I give him the edge in a close one.
ROUND TWO: Renzo Gracie has joined commentary for the round. They traded shots early on, with Vila connecting on some good kicks. Hempleman fired back with several strikes in combination. They traded leg kicks. Vila landed a jab. Vila ducked under a few strikes. Hempleman was moving forward a bit more. Vila landed the overhand right again, but Hempleman just kept moving forward. Vila landed an inside leg kick and a nice left hook behind. Hempleman landed a leg kick. Vila blocked a couple of strikes thrown and fired back to the body. Vila missed the overhand right. Hempleman landed several leg kicks to the inside and outside. Vila landed a nice body strike. Vila landed the left hook again. He went high with a kick, then came back with another big strike. Vila landed to the body again. Vila again landed that overhand right, but Hempleman's chin has been ridiculous in this fight. He kept moving forward, but Vila was still having success with some of his strikes. Hempleman shrugged off a brief takefown attempt. He moved in and they traded leg kicks before the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Vila. Again, more effective strikes coming from Vila in this one, even as Hempleman keeps moving forward.
ROUND THREE: Hempleman moved in aggressively and landed a hook. Vila fired back with several strikes in combination. Vila landed the left hook again. Hempleman kept Vila on his horse backing up, but Vila was avoiding much of what he tried to throw. Hempleman landed a kick to the groin and the action was stalled for a bit. After they started up again, Vila connected on a few more. He landed another overhand right. Hempleman connected on a fe strikes of his own. He landed a couple of hard leg kicks in a row. Hempleman kept up the kicks, but didn't land much else in that stretch. Things slowed down a bit as they reached the final two minutes. Vila landed a few jabs. He was slowing down, and looked labored in his attacks, but he was still connecting on some winging strikes. Hempleman was looking bruised up. They traded more strikes. Vila was slowing further. He shot in and got stuffed. They traded strikes to the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Vila. Hempleman had more energy at the end, but he just wasn't all that effective with his strikes in this fight.
WINNER: Hempleman via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
STAR RATING: (**) Was I watching a different fight here? I don't understand that score at all. Apparently Hempleman just moving forward got him the edge on that one. He did land more strikes overall, but it was Vila connecting with a lot more power overall. I don't agree with that score at all, but perhaps I'm alone here.
FIGHT THREE: ELVIS MUTAPCIC VS. KELVIN TILLER (195 LB. CATCHWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Mutapcic opened with a leg kick. He ducked under a hook. Tiller landed a hard outside leg kick. Tiller timed a shot well and scored an easy takedown into half guard. Tiller tried to briefly trap an arm but couldn't. He tried to pass to side control. Mutapcic tried to escape, but Tiller grabbed for a choke. Mutapcic nicely got out and to his feet, and hit Tiller with a short combination. Tiller threw a straight kick that caught Mutapcic in the groin and action was halted. Mutapcic came out with a flurry as they restarted. Tiller landed a hard hook, then a leg kick, and a right hand before they traded strikes again and clinched. Mutapcic scored his own takedown and passed quickly to mount. Tiller tried to escape, but Mutapcic held control and passed to side control. He got the mounted crucifix and landed a few strikes. Tiller bucked out and got him to half guard. Mutapcic tried to pass, but Tiller reversed and got on top. He stood up and dropped down with a strike into half guard. Tiller stood again as Mutapcic kicked him off and stood up himself. Tiller went for a spinning heel kick and slipped, allowing Mutapcic to get on top and pass to side control. He again got to the mounted crucifix before the horn. Tough round to score.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-10. Really even round. Tiller had his easy takedown and some solid ground work, along with combinations and a nice reversal. Mutapcic had several dominant positions and a few flurries of his own on the feet. I'd lean more towards Tiller, but it was an even frame.
ROUND TWO: Mutapcic caught a kick but failed to taked Tiller down. They traded strikes in the center. Tiller landed a good strike. Mutapcic failed on a takedown attempt and ate some hard strikes. Tiller popped his head back with a jab. Tiller landed a couple more. Mutapcic landed a short elbow. Mutapcic worked hard on a single leg, and scored the trip by the cage. Mutapcic landed some strikes from the top, and held Tiller in place as Tiller tried to escape from the bottom. Mutapcic passed to half guard. He trapped the arm briefly and landed some strikes. Mutapcic tried to stay busy in half guard, but he wasn't landing much of significance. Tiller moved back to guard. Mutapcic postured up and landed some strikes. Mutapcic landed a few hard elbows from Tiller's guard. He connected on more short elbows and forearm strikes. Tiller tried to gain wrist control, but couldn't hold on. Mutapcic rode out the round on top.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Mutapcic. Not much to the round at all, but the takedown and ground and pound take it for Mutapcic.
ROUND THREE: Tiller came out a bit aggressive, but it was Mutapcic who landed some big strikes early. Tiller delivered a jab and dropped his hands. Mutapcic grabbed a standing headlock, and used it to drag Tiller forcefully down to the ground. He sat in Tiller's guard and landed several strikes. Tiller tried to attack from the bottom. He landed a hard elbow that drew a little blood. Mutapcic fired an elbow back. Tiller tried to kick him off, but Mutapcic moved back in and passed through his guard. Tiller was real tired, and that appeared to be his issue here. Mutapcic again went for the crucifix, but Tiller easily bucked out of it and back to half guard. Mutapcic briefly went for an Americana, but he lost position. He landed some elbows back in guard. Tiller landed a hard strike from the bottom. He again threw his legs up for an attack to no avail. Mutapcic held position in guard, throwing a few strikes before the horn. Fairly dull final ten minutes.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Mutapcic. Not much to it other than Mutapcic controlling position and doing just enough offensively.
WINNER: Mutapcic via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (*) Competitive first round, not so much after that, and there just wasn't much to the fight in general.
FIGHT FOUR: RONNY MARKES VS. CULLY BUTTERFIELD (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Markes landed a hard opening leg kick. He rushed Butterfield and scored a takedown after they traded strikes. He tried to get his hooks in, but Butterfield wisely defended and stood up. Butterfield turned back into him, but Markes picked him up and took him right back down. This time he worked from half guard. Markes went for a kimura, but Butterfield defended. Butterfield reversed as Markes tried to get to mount, but Markes again took him down. This time, he got his back, put both hooks in, and pulled Butterfield backward. Markes went for a neck crank and flattened him, but Butterfield got out of it and rolled back through. Markes wasn't progressing much, but held position. Butterfield looked a bit frustrated as he couldn't escape. Markes rolled through trying to get to mount. Butterfield reversed late and got on top, throwing a bunch of strikes from the top to the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Markes. He won the round, but his inability to stop it there, along with the energy expended, could be bad for him as the fight goes on.
ROUND TWO: Butterfield circled around the outside. Markes closed the distance and they clinched. Butterfield went for a takedown, but that allowed Markes to counter and take him down instead. I don't know what he was thinking there. Markes quickly took his back again. Butterfield landed some strikes to Markes' face while defending. He was looking at video in the arena to see where to throw strikes, ala Urijah Faber vs. Iuri Alcantara. Butterfield escaped and turned into Markes. He looked to posture up and landed a few elbows from the top. Markes pressed him off and landed an upkick as Butterfield dropped back into his guard. Markes tried to hold control of him on the ground. Butterfield looked for a spot to posture up, but wasn't getting much offense in. Both fighters seemed very tired. Markes exploded with an armbar attempt, but gave it up. Instead, he took Butterfield's back once again. Markes tried to set up a choke, but got him flattened out instead and started throwing strikes. Butterfield covered up as Markes got warned for back of the head strikes. Butterfield survived the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Markes. Sealed the round with that final flurry.
ROUND THREE: Markes landed some leg kicks on the outside. He landed another one, but Butterfield caught it and took Markes down. He landed some hard strikes but Markes worked to his feet. He was bloodied up from that flurry. Markes kept himself up with a little assist from the cage. Markes turned back into Butterfield in the clinch. He went for a takedown of his own, then got Butterfield's back standing. Butterfield countered the first takedown attempt, but Markes dragged him back in ugly fashion. He again got Butterfield's back. Butterfield turned into him again and stood. Markes threw an upkick. Butterfield landed an elbow. He tried to get in some damage and ended the round on top. Just such an ugly fight.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Butterfield. Maybe? Does it matter? He lost this fight anyway at this point.
WINNER: Markes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
STAR RATING: (*) Just so damned ugly. Markes looked terrible at times despite being in control and winning the fight. Butterfield had some moments, but harmed himself as much as he helped with some of his decisions.
MAIN EVENT FIGHT FIVE: LUIS PALOMINO VS. LEWIS GONZALEZ (LIGHTWEIGHT)
ROUND ONE: Palomino landed a hard leg kick but it was partially checked. Gonzalez tried to rush in with a takedown but Palomino avoided it easily. Things were really tentative in the first minute and a half, with neither really connecting on anything of significance. Gonzalez finally connected on an overhand right. Palamino moved in after more inaction and scored a strike to the body. Gonzalez missed a winging overhand right. Gonzalez got stuffed again on a takedown attempt. Gonzalez landed a left hook lightly. Palomino got in a left hand. Palomino rocked Gonzalez badly with a left hook after a leg kick. Gonzalez survived the onslaught and got back to his feet bleeding badly from the top of the head. Gonzalez rushed in and scored a throw, but couldn't keep Palomino down long. He ate a kick to the body. Palomino landed another hard strike that caused Gonzales to briefly drop. Palomino then landed a head kick and Gonzalez went down hard! He landed a few more strikes and Gonzalez went out cold. In the pre-fight interview, Gonzalez said he'd never at any point been knocked out cold. Well, now he has. Brutal finish. On replay, it was actually Palomino's knee that connected for the knockdown. Similar to T.J. Dillashaw's win over Issei Tamura where he threw it as a kick but it landed at the knee.
WINNER: Palomino via KO at 4:42 of the first round
STAR RATING: (**+) All for the finish. The first three and a half minutes weren't all that good, then Palomino exploded in that final minute with more than one knock down, and he got that excellent kick/knee to the head for the finish, and it was very good. That's two KO wins in a row for Palomino in the WSOF.
-That's our card for tonight. It's been a two and a half hour event that felt like an eight hour card. Now we turn our attention back to the UFC, as they bring four events in a 14 day span beginning next Saturday with UFC Fight Night 47 on Fox Sports 1 from Bangor, Maine.
DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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