UNTAMED 17 POST-FIGHT REPORT
Posted on | October 31, 2007 | 3 Comments
UNTAMED 17: CAGED CHAOS
POST FIGHT REPORT
By: Rich Bergeron
Bringing a new dimension to an already stellar fight promotion, Full Force Productions brought their new cage to Plymouth’s memorial Hall for the first time this past Friday as part of a packed fight card in the Untamed series. Headlining the card was a phenomenal match-up between Paul Gorman (Academy of Mixed Martial Arts) and Leandro “Tatu” Escobar (American Top Team) at 135-pounds. Both fighters were coming off tough losses, and they both had plenty of reasons to redeem themselves in the cage in addition to the belt that was at stake to inaugurate the 135 pound weight class in the Untamed series.
Escobar maintained control through much of the first round despite suffering a glancing kick to the face from Gorman in the early going. “Tatu” managed three takedowns in the first. Gorman displayed an exceptional guard and did escape to his feet at one point where he landed some heavy blows, but Escobar’s wrestling skills persevered. He kept his composure and slipped in a few solid hooks to the ribs while manhandling Gorman through most of the round. Gorman through a lot more accurate shots and landed some solid leg kicks in the round, but the fact that he spent most of the round didn’t bode well for the final scoring.
Gorman, notorious for his relentless Guillotine attempts, couldn’t get one locked on Escobar to start off the second round. Escobar managed yet another takedown with a nicely executed slam. Gorman managed to squeeze out again, and he spent the rest of the round hammering Escobar with elbows and punches every time he saw an opening to land. Escobar had no options but to try to sneak in a triangle choke, but he could pull it off.
The third round looked like it might decide everything when it began, and it was one of the closest rounds of the night. Gorman started strong with jabs and combinations landing solidly. Once again, “Tatu” went low and took Gorman down. While Escobar made the best of being in top control, Gorman began to throw some punches from his back. They weren’t very effective, but eventually he managed to hold off any attack from Escobar until the referee stood both fighters up. Gorman’s chances of winning began to wane after Escobar managed to gain the top position again where Gorman could only eke out a few hammer fists before the closing bell.
Despite looking gassed, dejected, and defeated after the fight, Escobar was delighted when the split decision was announced and his hand was raised as the victor in the end. By three scores of 29-28 and only one point deciding the final outcome, “Tatu” secured himself some new hardware by edging out the win.
Ultimately it came down to control, and it seems losing to Spencer Paige in a back and forth brawl this past June forced Escobar to develop a stronger takedown. Paige managed to keep most of that fight on the feet by sprawling every time Escobar shot in on him in that bout. The win over Gorman puts the new champ’s record at 6-3 as a pro. Gorman falls to 5-6 with the loss.
Just before the main event two 155-pound sluggers took to the cage and put on a great show for the crowd. Glenn Brown (3-0, Green Mt. Boys) took on Hitalo Machado (3-1, Best Way/ATT) in the match, showcasing an aggressive style from the opening bell. Early in the fight Brown landed a 1-2, attempted a flying knee, and then brought the fight to the ground with a leg lock. Machado freed himself from the hold and made it back to his feet. Both fighters waded into some awesome toe-to-toe action with Brown getting the better shots in. Brown’s hooks began to take their toll, forcing Machado to go for a Guillotine choke. Brown reversed control and landed a few nice right hands only to fall into a sloppy triangle attempt. Machado transitioned into an arm bar hold that looked like it could end the fight, but somehow Brown escaped at the end of the round and revealed a bad cut on his nose.
Round 2 ended almost as soon as it began. Brown managed to get Machado’s back briefly, but the slippery Machado reversed position. He secured an arm bar of his own to bring the fight to a close with Brown tapping out.
The heavyweights were also entertaining with Randy Smith of Team Bombsquad (2-1) facing Josh Watson of AMMA. For Watson the match would be his first pro fight, though Smith looked more like the rookie in the match. Smith came out with a nice leg kick and some good jabs and 1-2 combinations early, but Watson answered with his own kick, an overhand right, and a slam. Punching from the bottom, Smith managed to escape to his feet again where Watson closed in on him. Smith tried to lock a Guillotine hold, but his massive opponent wasn’t about to go down to the mat. Watson fought off the submission and transitioned from bombing right hooks to straight rights before storming in and lifting Smith off his feet again. Not wanting to take another trip to the canvas, Smith grabbed the cage to the dismay of the referee, and Watson had to trade the slam for a single leg takedown. The round ended before Watson could do any further damage.
The second round kicked off with a flurry of punches from Smith that looked like they might turn the tide in his favor. Instead, Watson steered Smith smack dab into the chain link fence where he crumpled from the impact. Watson didn’t hesitate and stormed his dazed opponent with an absolute barrage of punches. The final flurry of blows was enough for the referee to halt the action and give Watson the knockout in his pro debut.
James Blanco (Pedro/Bucket Brigade) also had an impressive pro debut at 145 pounds against Kurt Calash (IMBCT), who fell to 0-2 with the loss. Blanco secured an early Guillotine only to lose it and give up the takedown to Calash in the opening seconds. Blanco was able to reverse control and get another Guillotine after some sloppy, awkward punches landed. Calash couldn’t escape the new and improved attempt and tapped out at the 2:05 mark of the first round.
Ron McEvilly (Tigon) and Scott Rehm (CCFA) both made their pro debuts against each other at 205. The short, squat, heavy, but tough Rehm was easily the fan favorite and faced a tall, well-conditioned McEvilly. First impressions can be extremely deceiving.
McEvilly launched a high kick early that Rehm simply walked through. Other than a few jabs and a great 1-2 combo, McEvilly couldn’t do much else in the round. Rehm stalked him around the ring throwing overhand rights from all kinds of awkward angles. Rehm also slipped in a few knees. McEvilly escaped early trouble when Rehm pinned him up against the fence and dropped him after an exchange that left Rehm with a serious welt under his eye. McEvilly recovered and mounted a weak rally inside the last minute of the round, but Rehm came right back with his overhand rights and dropped the skinnier man yet again. A series of hammer fists finished McEvilly off and left him bleeding heavily from the nose by the time the referee waded in to stop the match.
The first two professional bouts of the night ended with some great submissions. Untamed veteran Chris Rondeau (Fightzone) improved to 3-2 with an impressive arm-bar submission in the first round over 1-2 Robbie Roberts (Brute Force) in their 185-pound match. Pat Audinwood (Bombsquad) triangle choked his way to a victory over Chris Murphy (Pedro/Bucket Brigade) in another showdown between fighters making their first professional appearances. Audinwood and Murphy fought a pitched, back and forth 170-pound match before Audinwood was able to secure the choke and tap out Murphy at 1:40 in the second round.
The night also included some incredible amateur fights:
145 POUNDS:
John Warnock (ATT) and Tateki Matsuda (Sityodong) featured three solid rounds of action with Warnock getting the Unanimous decision.
155 POUNDS:
Dennis Jones (Aggression) wasted no time tapping out Dustin Lebel (IMBCT) with a reverse arm bar that ended the fight inside the first 30 seconds.
Mark Rodriguez (Boneyard) and Joe West (Bishops) fought through three rounds to a unanimous decision for Rodriguez.
170 POUNDS:
Jim Reopelle (IMBCT) locked in a rear naked choke to finish things early against Dan Conway (Bishops) in the first round.
185 POUNDS:
Dave Stewart (ATT) dominated Matt Burke (Feijao) and finished off the fight with a Kimoura in the second round.
215 POUNDS:
Travis Bartlett (Irish) notched another win to keep his undefeated record (now 4-0) intact with a decision against Leon Dutra (Independent).
220 POUNDS:
Shawn Galano (Eclectic) secured an arm bar at the very last second of the first round in the final amateur fight of the night to submit Eric Spicely (Independent).
UNTAMED 18: Featuring three title bouts, December 15th at Plymouth Memorial Hall promises to be a purely exciting night. Heavyweight Champion Josh Diekman is still looking for an opponent. Visit www.fullforce.tv to find out more about the event and get tickets. Check out the following clip to see more of Josh in action: