MMABuzz.com - Kick Down 37 "Lights Out": FULL RESULTS

Kick Down 37 "Lights Out": FULL RESULTS

Article written by J.R. Gordon, lead writer for martialartsradio.com

The Denver, Colorado based fight promotion, Kick Down changed venues for an evening and instead of the fights taking place within the city of Denver they were viewed at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland Colorado. With nary a bad seat in the house, replays on 4 big screen televisions, and special guest Rodrigo Gracie in attendance (and cornering some of the bouts) the fans were treated to another great night of fights that were capped off with a world amateur title being contested in the main event of the show.

Rodrigo Gracie was in town to give a seminar for the Loveland based MMA school, "Infinite Mixed Martial Arts," which is a Gracie affiliate school. During the show, school owner, head instructor, trainer, cornerman, referee and fight judge Adam Martinez received his purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Rodrigo Gracie. Mr. Martinez has been a student of Gracie JJ for 12 years DIRECTLY under Royce Gracie. The purple belt directly from a Gracie family member is a major step that holds a very special meaning to a student/instructor in GJJ. Royce Gracie is preparing to fight Sakuraba and wanted to be there himself to promote Adam as the promotion was somewhat special. Adam was slapped hard on the back with the belt right outside the ring and received the purple belt from Rodrigo. The purple belt directly under the Gracie family is some times known as one of the most difficult promotions in to attain. Congratulations to Mr. Martinez on this milestone achievement. Now...on to the action.

Bout one: Matt Vigil Vs Henry Schmitz. Schmitz got the early takedown and used it to set up Ground-and-Pound (GNP) before working his way to full back control and trying to sink a Rear-Naked-Choke (RNC). Vigil defended both the strikes and the submission and after scrambling to standing each fighter landed good punches and Vigil scored with a strong series of knees to the body as the round ended. Round two started with Vigil landing a strong series of knees that Schmitz answered with punches. Vigil initiated the takedown from the clinch, but it was Schmitz that landed with the better position, and he used it to set up back control. Again, at the end of the round it was Schmitz throwing punches from back control trying to set up a RNC, and again Vigil defended and the bell sounded to end the second round. When it was time to come out for round three Schmitz was unable to answer the bell and it was Vigil that took the TKO victory at 3:00 of round two.

Bout two: Chris Henderek Vs Anthony Werner. Werner looked to use his striking early, but Henderek was able to close the distance, clinch and try for a standing guillotine. Werner defended, escaped and then tried to set in a standing guillotine choke of his own. The fighters fell to the canvas and Henderek took back control and worked between GNP and RNC attempts. The bout was momentarily stopped to check a cut on the back of the head of Werner. The Dr. gave his OK for the bout to continue and from back control Henderek again worked for the RNC before transitioning to an armbar joint lock with 10 seconds left in the round. Werner defended the submission and landed a few good punches to end round one. Henderek immediately clinched and got the takedown at the start of round two and when Werner rolled face down to avoid strikes Henderek closed off the choke. At :52 of round two Henderek was declared the winner by RNC submission.

Bout three: Michael Garcia Vs Ian Stonehouse for the Kick Down, Jr. Lightweight amateur MMA title. After a brief standing exchange of punches Garcia got the takedown and worked his GNP attack. Stonehouse was patient from the bottom and looked to set in a triangle choke. Garcia was able to defend the choke initially, but Stonehouse stayed committed to the submission and he got it sunk in for the win at 1:53 of round one. Stonehouse retains his Kick Down, Jr. Lightweight amateur MMA title.

Bout four: Chris Lippoldt Vs Nick Honstein for the Kick Down Bantamweight amateur MMA title. After Lippoldt missed with a spinning kick Honstein closed in and got a takedown. Lippoldt transitioned well from one submission attempt to another and Honstein had to slam his way out of one armbar attempt, and wait for the bell to sound ending the round to get out of another. Round two started with Lippoldt trying to pull guard from standing, but Honstein controlled the takedown, got mount and when Lippoldt rolled face down to avoid GNP Honstein sunk in the RNC for the win at :24 of round two. Honstein is now the Kick Down Bantamweight amateur MMA title holder.

Bout five: Joey Banks Vs Joe Salley. Both combatants worked well in the opening round with strikes as well as scrambling for position while on the ground. Off of the clinch Banks took Salley's back while standing and he was able to pull him to the ground. Round one ended with Banks working between GNP and RNC attempts. Round two started off promising with action both standing and on the ground until the fighters had to be separated and a point was deducted from Salley for landing an illegal knee strike to the face of Banks. The rest of the round played out with Salley able to get the takedowns, but Banks being able to reverse and bring the fight back to standing. Round three had Banks landing the better strikes early, and briefly working a head and arm triangle choke on the ground, but the referee stood the fighters and when the standing striking continued Salley dropped Banks with 10 seconds left and followed him to the mat for GNP until the bout ended. The judges gave their scores and Banks was the winner by unanimous decision.

Bout six: Brendon O'Dell Vs Kyle Johnson for the Kick Down amateur Welterweight MMA title. After both fighters probed the distance with jabs it was Johnson that landed an overhand right that dropped O'Dell. O'Dell recovered quickly, showed an active guard and Johnson elected to let him stand. Both fighters were active and accurate with strikes in the clinch and Johnson finished off a combination with a hip-toss takedown. The referee stood the fighters and O'Dell landed good foot stomps while clinched in the corner, and he followed them with a punch that staggered O'Dell. After O'Dell got a takedown both fighters scrambled to their feet and Johnson landed a flush hook that dropped O'Dell. He followed him to the mat and threw 1-2 more punches to seal the victory. At 2:58 of one Johnson got the Kick Down amateur Welterweight MMA title with a KO victory.

Bout seven: Louise Johnson Vs Angela Samaro. Both fighters were aggressive with their strikes from the beginning. Each was able to land accurate and hard punch/kick combinations from the outside and good knees while in the clinch. A battle for a takedown ensued and off of the clinch Samaro set in a standing guillotine choke while. Johnson defended the choke well and Samaro had to take the fight to the ground to try to close off the choke. On the mat Samaro had the choke in tight, but still Johnson refused to submit. At 2:58 of round the referee stepped in and called a stop to the bout when Johnson lost consciousness from the Guillotine and Samaro got the win in her debut bout.

Bout eight: Sebastian Puente Vs Shaun Ogle for the Kick Down Middleweight amateur MMA title. Ogle had the upper hand early while using his height advantage to set up good punch/kick combinations. Puente clinched and both fighters threw good knee strikes while inside with Puente landing a solid hook while stepping out. After a scramble for position while standing Puente got a takedown and took full mount. From there Puente worked GNP as well as trying to get in a RNC. From the top Puente transitioned to an armbar, but Ogle defended it until round one ended. When round two was to begin Ogle signaled that he was unable to continue due to an arm injury sustained from Puente's armbar attempt at the end of the first round. Puente retained the Kick Down Middleweight amateur MMA title at 3:00 of round one.

Bout nine: Tommy Johnson Vs Josh Huber for the Kick Down Featherweight amateur MMA title. Thompson got a takedown off of ducking a punch and after some GNP and passing to half-guard he set up an attempted toehold, then switched to an Achilles' lock. Huber defended the foot locks and after both fighters scrambled to standing Thompson again got a takedown and again worked for a foot lock that was defended by Huber until round one ended. Round two saw Thompson getting the quick takedown and transitioning from side control to full mount. From the top Thompson spun for an armbar and when Huber defended it Thompson switched to a triangle choke. At 1:11 of round two Thompson got the submission and he became the new Kick Down Featherweight amateur MMA title holder.

Bout ten: Tom Johnson Vs Eric Allegria in the first professional MMA bout of the night, 2X5 minute rounds. Johnson worked kicks early and he landed a head kick after he defended the takedown attempt of Allegria. Johnson dropped Allegria with a knee to the head (legal in professional fights) and after 1-2 follow up punches on the ground the referee stopped the bout and Johnson got his first professional win at 1:16 of round one.

Colby Snyder Vs Jeff Barney, professional MMA, 2X5 minute rounds. Both fighters came out striking and off of the clinch Snyder got a takedown and Barney immediately began threatening with submission attempts set up with his rubber guard. Snyder slammed his way out of the guard and in the ensuing scramble he pulled guard to finish off a deep set guillotine. Barney escaped the choke and from the top he worked some GNP of his own. Snyder tried to set up a few submissions and when neither fighter was able to improve their position they were stood by the referee. Both fighters were again aggressive with their striking and Snyder got a takedown and landed a solid elbow strike to end round one. Round two had a back and forth exchange of strikes before the fighters squared off, stood toe-to-toe and threw strikes from the outside before clinching. When they separated Snyder landed a series of punches that dazed Barney. After landing a strong push kick Snyder got the takedown and worked between trying to land some GNP and pass the guard. Barney missed with an attempted sweep and Snyder landed a prolonged series of elbow strikes to the head and ribs of Barney. Snyder continued with GNP and Barney with escape attempts until the fight ended. The majority decision gave the win to Snyder.

Bout 11: Brian Cristina Vs Tony Kelley, professional MMA, 2X5 minute rounds. Both fighters came out striking with Kelley using leg kicks to set up strong punches. Cristina clinched and both fighters went to the mat with Cristina trying to set up a guillotine choke. Kelley escaped the choke, stood and let Cristina stand as well. The fighters clinched again and once more Cristina set in a guillotine choke. This time he got full guard and at 1:19 of round one Kelley tapped out and Cristina got the win.

Bout 12: Chris Camozzi Vs Spencer Hooker for the Kick Down Light heavyweight professional MMA title, 3X5 minute rounds. Hooker used strikes to close in for the clinch, then get the takedown. On the mat Hooker quickly took full mount, but was reversed by Camozzi. Camozzi worked some GNP before Hooker tried to set in a Kimura shoulder lock from the bottom. The submission missed, but Hooker used it to set up a sweep. Both fighters threw strong strikes until round one ended. Round two had clinch action with knee strikes early on. Hooker then got the takedown and grabbed the leg of Camozzi wanting to get a heel-hook. Camozzi defended the lock and both fighters stood. Hooker again got the takedown and Camozzi defended the GNP attack and tried to set up some submissions. Hooker once more went for a foot lock and Camozzi defended, then landed an illegal up kick to Hooker who was still down. Camozzi was warned, Hooker was given time to recover and with ten seconds left Camozzi got a takedown and worked GNP until round two ended. Round three had the combatants initially exchanging strikes from the outside before Camozzi trapped a kick and used it for a takedown. The ground action saw several scrambles for position as well as submission attempts. Camozzi created enough distance to scramble into half-mount and work GNP until the bell ended the fight. Camozzi got the win with a split decision and he is now the new Kick Down Light heavyweight professional MMA title holder.

Bout 13. Jack Johnson Vs Darren Snell in the Main Event for the amateur ISKA light welterweight modified Muay Thai world title, 5X2 minute rounds. Both fighters came out throwing hard kick with the occasional punch mixed in. Early in the round Johnson let loose with a hard flurry of punches to the head of Snell. He ended the combination with landing a hard body kick. Johnson backed off for just a moment, then sensing that Snell was hurt he closed in and flurried with punches again. Johnson landed a solid right hook that knocked Snell down and out. At the 1:23 mark of round one Johnson became the World Champion for the ISKA amateur Modified Muay Thai division.

Comments (2) add comment