February 19, 2010

...the Stampede night club hosted an evening filled with all kickboxing matches put on by the Fight To Win Promotion. This was the second all striking event for the promotion and the fans let it be known that they like the action by showing up in force to cheer on the 14 bouts, including three women's matches. All bouts consisted of three two minute rounds.

Main event: Brian Scraper vs Kreg Hartel. There was a strong exchange to start the bout with relentless punches and knees while in the clinch. Mid-round saw Scraper landing a knee to the abdomen of Hartel that dropped him for an eight count. Upon the restart Scraper landed a head kick that again dropped Hartel, and that ended the round. Round two had Scraper open with a head kick, then a crescent kick, and Hartel answered with solid punches before the fighters clinched where each landed knees. After breaking Scraper again landed a solid head kick, but Hartel shook it off and landed strong knees in the clinch before Scraper again targeted the head with kicks as the round ended. Round three had strong punches from both fighters to start and the action continued with good infighting from each. Scraper was able to stun Hartel and followed with strong clinch work, but Hartel answered with hard punches. To end the bout both fighters flurried with punches to the body. The judge's cards were tallied and the winner by unanimous decision was Brian Scraper.

Co-main event: Nick Laney vs Matt Young. All of round one was fast paced action with each fighter landing strong punches and kicks when outside and hard knees and punches when clinched. Round two saw Young trapping a teep kick to set up a sweep and after the restart there was a strong exchange of knees in the clinch. Mid-round saw Young accurate with his strikes from the outside while Laney landed power punches when in close. After a brief clinch Laney threw, and landed a powerful head kick that got him the KO win at 1:48 of round two.

Mike Wright vs Steve Hanna. Wright was very aggressive early while Hanna landed a solid head kick in return. Mid-round had Wright attacking with punches while Hanna countered with combinations. Hanna then scored with a head kick that dropped Wright for an eight count to end the round. Round two saw Hanna landing a quick overhand right that dropped Wright for an eight count. The fighters restarted and Hanna landed a head kick-low kick-overhand right combination that dropped Wright. The referee determined that Wright was unable to continue and it was Steve Hanna that got the KO win at :43 of round two.

... February 20th

Ben Ashauer vs Jeremy Osheim. The fighters quickly clinched with both able to land strong strikes and each was able to briefly push the other against the ropes. After the referee separated the fighters Osheim landed a skip in knee strike to the liver of Ashauer that dropped him. Ashauer was unable to rise in time to beat the count and it was a TKO win at 1:13 of round one for Jeremy Osheim.

Delisa Novak vs Sami Bookout. Bookout landed low kicks early and followed with strong head punch combinations while Novak spent the round working counter strikes. Round two had Bookout pressing forward with strikes all round while Novak looked to keep her distance and use her reach advantage to land counter strikes. Round three saw Novak pushing forward more, but Bookout landed the most solid head punches of the fight. Each fighter got in solid low kicks to end the bout. The cards of the judge's were used to determine the winner and that winner was Sami Bookout by way of unanimous decision.

Bernardo Fanti vs Anthony Pierce. Both fighters came out with strong kicks to the legs and body before Pierce was dropped for an eight count. To end the round Pierce fired off with punches while Fanti used knee strikes. Round two had Fanti landing strong punches before Pierce trapped a kick to get a sweep. Fanti answered with a sweep of his own. Pierce pressed forward with punches while Fanti switched between kicks from the outside and knees when clinched. Round three saw Pierce pushing forward with a strong punching attack while Fanti mixed punches and kicks from the outside before getting a takedown. Fanti was able to back Pierce into the corner, then against the ropes to land strong knees to end the bout. The cards of the judge's were used to determine the winner and it was Bernardo Fanti by unanimous decision.

Monica Grosfield vs Courtney Scherer. Both fighters showed a fast pace early with each landing punch combinations from outside and knees while clinched. Round two had each pushing forward with strong combinations, and again each landed knees in the clinch. Round three saw Grosfield use a punch combination to set up a flurry of knees in the clinch while Scherer fired back with body and head punch combinations. To end the round both landed strong and technical combinations. The judge's cards were used to determine the winner and it was Courtney by way of split decision.

Kyle Cambell vs Richard Smith. Cambell came out with a very fast pace, while Smith scored with knees in the clinch. The fighters traded back and forth and both went to their corners bloodied. Round two again saw the fighters engage immediately with each landing combinations from the outside and knees while clinched. Mid-round, Smith landed a series of hooks, uppercuts and low kicks, but Cambell continued to press forward and land head shots until the round ended. Round three began with low kicks from Smith before a prolonged punch flurry from both fighters. Knees in the clinch were traded before Smith used low kicks to set up his punches; but Cambell flurried with combinations that stunned Smith as the round ended. The cards of the judge's determined the winner and it was Richard Smith by unanimous decision.

Ryan Wolf vs Greg Juarez. Wolf had accurate punches and kicks land to open the round while each fighter stayed busy in the clinch. Both landed solid head punches to end the round. Round two was action packed and fast paced all round with each pushing the other backward and landing strikes that seemed to hurt the other. Round three had Juarez pushing forward early while Wolf answered with strong strikes. Lots of clinching followed with both displaying strong infighting skills and working nonstop to end the bout. The judge's scorecards were totaled and the winner by unanimous decision was Greg Juarez.

Josh Martinez vs Rudy Hoguin. Martinez came out with hard body kicks. The action was stopped after an accidental low blow and upon restarting both fighters threw hard knees in the clinch. Martinez dropped Hoguin with a low kick and the round ended with several strong flurries from each fighter. Round two saw Martinez scoring again with low kicks, then head kicks followed by knees in the clinch. The referee stopped the action to take two points from Martinez. One was for grabbing the head and pulling while the other was for an illegal knee to the head. The restart had Martinez land kicks from the outside that were strong enough to drop Hoguin for an eight count. Hoguin beat the count, but the referee determined he was unable to continue and it was a TKO win at 1:50 of round two for Josh Martinez

Michael Madrid vs Zach Gonzales. Madrid came out with solid combinations that Gonzales answered by way of accurate counter punching. Both fighters threw solid knees in the clinch and Gonzales was able to drop Madrid for an eight count with an overhand right to end the round. Round two saw the fighters clinch early with Madrid using body punches and Gonzales favoring knees. Mid-round, Gonzales was again able to drop Madrid before the action stopped so Madrid could recover from an accidental low blow. Punch and kick combinations were used by both to end the round. Round three saw Gonzales able to push Madrid against the ropes and land an overhand right to get a knockdown and an eight count. The corner of Madrid indicated they wanted the bout stopped and the winner by TKO at 1:20 of round three was Zach Gonzales.

Leo Grachev vs Brian Coursey. All round Coursey had strong punches from the outside while Grachev scored with knees in the clinch. Grachev ended the round with a head kick. Round two again saw Grachev with strong strikes from outside while Coursey answered with power shots when the distance closed. The round ended with the fighters clinched. Round three began with Coursey getting in more power shots and each going to knees in the clinch. The rest of the round had the fighters trading punches and kicks from all ranges. The judge's scorecards were tallied and the winner by split decision was Leo Grachev.

Garrett Cambell vs Samuel Hernandez. Each fighter opened with body kicks before a strong back and forth flurry of head punches was exchanged. To end the round Hernandez landed solid body and head punch combinations. Round two had Hernandez open with a strong flurry that Cambell answered with a head kick. A strong exchange followed with Hernandez landing solid enough head shots that the corner of Cambell called for a stop to the bout. Samuel Hernandez got the TKO win at 1:00 of round two.

Lauren Mcgunity vs Amber Duval. Mcgunity opened with a hard kicks before Duval pressed forward with punches. Mcgunity answered with a head kick and relentless combinations including knees in the clinch. For round two Mcgunity opened with a teep kick followed by a punch flurry. Knees were thrown by both in the clinch. Duval got several takedowns but Mcgunity pushed the majority of the action. Duval opened round three with strong punches before Mcgunity got the clinch to set up a flurry of knees. The round ended with a back and forth exchange. The judge's scorecards saw the winner as Lauren Mcgunity by way of unanimous decision.

"Of the Night" moments:

TKO of the night goes to Jeremy Osheim for his knee to the liver of his opponent that had him unable to beat the count.

Chin of the night goes to Kreg Hartel for taking several very head kicks and continuing in his bout through all three rounds.

KO and kick of the night goes to Nick Laney for his victory by way of head kick KO at 1:48 of round one.

Fight of the night goes to Brian Scraper and Kreg Hartel for their exciting match that showcased the technical prowess, conditioning, heart and toughness of both combatants.

Thanks to all of the sponsors for making the event possible.

Be sure to check the site calendar for upcoming events.

Best in Health and Training,
J.R. Gordon.