MMA FANS BRAVE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO CATCH CAGE FX 7 MIXED MARTIAL ARTS EVENT IN MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS SATURDAY

Posted on | December 20, 2009 | 4 Comments

By: Rich Bergeron

The word is the UFC will be stopping in Boston for an event in August of 2010, but Massachusetts MMA Promoter Linda Shields didn’t wait for regulation to take effect in March next year. Her fledgling CAGE FX organization closed out the Bay State’s MMA year with a bang in what really proved to be a LUCKY 7th show.

CAGE FX’s Mayhem in Mansfield 2 began under the threat of blizzard conditions, though the snow wouldn’t really start falling until the action was well underway. The fighters seemed to sense the need for quick victories, with only two amateur fights going the distance and all the pro fights ending before the final bell of the second round. It was as if the victors were intent on sending everyone home early enough to beat the bulk of the storm.

Four Amateur bouts kicked off the fighting festivities. South Shore Sport Fighting’s Brenden Flemming battled through all three rounds against Team Fury’s John Santos in the opening 145-pound contest. Flemming took the Unanimous Decision with 30-27 scores from all three judges. Prime Athletic Club’s Dave Irving (See Video Below) took control against Eclectic’s Brad Craig in the follow up match , another 145 pound fight that went the distance. Irving outpointed Craig with a more well-rounded game, but he couldn’t put his opponent away when he had the advantage. Heavyweights Greg Armstrong (Bishops) and Pedro Rivera (Independent) scuffled only briefly before Armstrong caught the mount-minded Rivera from the bottom with a quick arm bar early in the first round. “The Grizzly Bear” got out of a hairy situation with picture-perfect technique and set a tone with his timing that every winning fighter after him tried to follow. No fight would escape the second frame after Rivera tapped out. Brockton’s own Shawn “The Neck Breaker” Baker closed out the amateur matches with a sound beating of Glenn Reaves (MMA of S. Maine). “Wai Kru is in the house,” Baker shouted into the microphone in celebration after getting his hand raised. Baker’s dominant performance (See Video Below) was the first of 4 spectacular finishes by Wai Kru (Allston, MA) fighters on the card, giving the team a sweep of the event.

The first professional bout, a 185-pound contest, featured the fastest win of the evening. Borges MMA’s Lionel Young instantly locked a guillotine choke onto the neck of Independent Fighter Anthony Dick, who tapped out before passing out inside the first 30 seconds.

Wai Kru’s “Relentless” Robbie Leroux was almost as quick on the draw as Young against his opponent: Team Xtreme’s Luca Campbell. Leroux scored an easy takedown first, and Campbell could only try to punch his way out. Leroux shifted position and took Campbell’s back. Leroux’s deep Rear Naked Choke ended the fight soon after.

Heavyweights George Papoutsidis (Independent) and Shawn Galano (Eclectic) put on a sloppy but entertaining show next, throwing their weight and heavy hay-makers around the cage the whole time. The fight was one of only a handful of bouts to even get into the second round, where Galano scored the TKO only 47 seconds after the round’s opening bell (See Video Below).

Another Wai Kru fighter came next at 165 pounds, continuing the trend of his cohorts with a submission win at the 2:36 mark of the first round. Damien Trites proved to be a very resourceful fighter with unique and superb technique that overwhelmed Independent Fighter Matthew Kaponis. Trites landed a few early leg kicks to get things going. As Kaponis tried to work a takedown, Trites hammered home a 1-2 combo to the head and stumbled while throwing a glancing kick to the head. Kaponis threw a wild right at Trites, but more 1-2 combos and an uppercut from Trites forced Kaponis to go for a desperate Guillotine. Kaponis seemed to be blocking OK and getting close to bucking off Trites, but he never saw the final move that took him right out of the fight. Trites dropped a succession of right hands and elbows from the top before completely changing course and maneuvering into a triangle choke that forced Kaponis to tap out.

Renzo Gracie’s Dan Bonnell had fans feeling Deja Vous after his fight against Revolution Academy’s Doug Sonier. The 145-pound battle concluded after the fighters traded Guillotine attempts. Neither one could keep the hold, but Bonnell won the fight with quick thinking after his try slipped loose. Bonnell sunk the triangle the more traditional way and made Sonier tap out.

Heavyweights Jason Dolloff (Team Angry) and Chris Bagge (Bishops) featured one of the most impressive comebacks of the night. Round one did not go so well for Dolloff (See Video Below). The second round, (which we couldn’t get on video due to technical difficulties) saw Dolloff take over quickly and end the action with successive unanswered strikes.

DOLLOFF VS. BAGGE VIDEO (Round 1 Only):

A prospect cultivated by Lauzon Brothers Joe and Dan would get the night’s only tap out due to strikes in the next 170-pound fight. Chuck O’Neil dominated Joe Kavey (Independent) after an early leg kick and a takedown. O’Neil went for the mount as he threw wild punches at Kavey’s head. Kavey turned over on his stomach only to get swarmed by more shots to the head, forcing him to slap the mat to end things without suffering a severe concussion.

170-pounders John Reverdes (Tri-Force) and John Daniels (Don Grady’s Academy) continued the first round finishing theme in their fight. Reverdes wound up on his back after an unsuccessful takedown attempt, and Daniels took complete advantage of the situation. Some early bombs from Daniels gave way to a Kimura attempt. Unable to sink that technique, Daniels teed off with punches and elbows. Finally, Daniels worked in an Americana Arm Lock Submission that gave him the win.

Another Lauzon fighter, Brett Oteri, took on Fight Factory’s Jason Dublin in the next fight at 170 pounds. Dublin had the better game plan in the first frame and looked to be leading on points going into the second. Oteri’s most impressive showing included a few well-placed leg kicks and some nice knees against the cage fence. Dublin started off with great boxing and even better takedown defense. He hit Oteri with a knee to the chest followed by a takedown. Dublin spent the better part of the first round in ground and pound mode. He landed a bunch of rib and head shots on Oteri, and he was able to really unload late while in full mount. During the opening moments of the second round, Dublin looked like he must have been fighting injured, wincing at anything that contacted his ribs. It was tough to see what caused Dublin’s problem, but once Oteri recognized his opportunity, he capitalized immediately. A swift kick to the chest sent Dublin to the canvas, and before any more damage could be done when Dublin reached his feet, the ref wisely stepped in to stop the contest when Dublin motioned for his ribs and turned away from his opponent.

Two quick knockouts followed. First Wai-Kru’s Steve Dunn turned in a spectacular professional debut over Independent Peter Reveredo in their 170-pound clash. Dunn landed the first takedown attempt and grounded and pounded his way to a stoppage in only 47 seconds (See Video Below). Todd Chattelle (Tri-Force) and Jerry Spiegel (Independent) went toe-to-toe at 185-pounds next. Deciding to brawl early proved to be futile for Spiegel, aptly nicknamed “The Punching Bag.” The knockout (See Video Below) seemed particularly embarrassing for the veteran Spiegel, who remained woozy for a few moments after the stoppage, shaking his head in disgust. He even tried to exit the cage early, before the decision in favor of Chattelle could be announced.

STEVE “SANDMAN” DUNN VS. PETER REVEREDO:

Renzo Gracie’s Chris Grandmaison and Doomsday’s Franklin Isabel started off their 145-pound fight with a slugfest. Isabel tried to slip a guillotine on his opponent only to be denied and smothered with punches. Grandmaison soon took Isabel’s back and sunk a Rear Naked Choke in tight and deep to end the bout and make way for a bloody finale.

Mark Griffin and Josh Watson slugged it out in the main event with Griffin looking great early. Unfortunately for Griffin, of Lakeville MMA, Watson (AMMA) cut him open with a vicious elbow that closed the show before the first round ended. The stoppage came after the doctor cleaned away the unbelievable amount of blood and examined the deep gash on Griffin’s forehead. Check out the video to see the carnage first-hand:

Cage FX 7 ended just in time for most fans to get home in time to avoid the most treacherous weather conditions. There were only a couple inches of snow on the ground when the last fight ended, and most of the cars had already left the parking lot in the exodus of fans that came after Steve Dunn’s fight. Overall the night was a smashing success with guest appearances by Cage FX Fighters Lee Beane and Josh Diekmann as well as UFC stars Dan and Joe Lauzon and John Howard. Even Santa Claus and The Grinch made appearances with a gift-wrapped present tossing skit that had the crowd in stitches during one of the intermissions.

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