WCF 8 Review; September 26, 2009

Review by Gregg Snyder

At the Shriner’s Auditorium in Wilmington, World Championship Fighting returns for another star-studded, action packed event.  This event featured a solid card of 12 fights co-headlined by Mike Campbell v Mike Medrano and Hitalo Machado v John Benoit. 

In attendance, was a star packed crowd of Kimbo Slice, “Big Baby” Davis, Joe Lauzon, Dan Lauzon, Marcus Davis, Jorge Rivera, Mark Dellagrotte, John Howard, Gary Cherone, Jorge Gurgel, John Clark and Dana Rosenblatt.

Gary Hoey was on display as he wailed out the Star Spangled Banner on his guitar and we bring on the first fight of the evening.

Jim Pitner (USMMA) vs. James Boran (Rivera MMA)

Boran enters the ring and taunts Pitner with a staredown right in Pitner’s corner before the fight begins.

Round 1

Boran comes out throwing hands and Pitner is landing leg kicks.  Boran throws a leg kick and a combo of punches that land.  Boran throws more leg kicks and another hard combo of punches.  Pitner catches Boran’s leg but Boran gets free.  Boran throws more big hands and Pitner slips and falls while eating a punch.  Pitner gets caught up in the ropes and is bleeding from the nose.  Boran lands a strong kick to the mid-section and begins working Pitner with the jab.  Strong round for Boran.

10-9 Boran.

Round 2

Pitner shoots but Boran stuffs it.  Pitner moves in again and this time he gets the takedown to end up in Boran’s half guard.  Pitner starts landing hard punches from the top until Boran manages to create some space then kicks out to get back to standing.  Pitner just misses a hard spinning backfist but then takes Boran down.  Pitner leaving a lot of space of the ground and Boran is able to get right back up.

10-9 Pitner

Round 3 – OT

Boran is throwing hands and lands a combo of punches.  Pitner attempts a takedown and Boran stuffs it.  The action slows until Pitner gets a huge takedown slamming Boran to the mat but Boran moves right in to secure an oma plata as the round ends.   Close round.

10-9 Boran.

Official Decision – All three judges score the fight 29-28 for James Boran

Levi Kamenetski (White Water MMA) vs. Joel Ly (Guy Chase)

Round 1

Ly comes out looking to work the stand up by swinging hard and Kamenetski moves in to clinch.  Ly throws knees to Kamenetski and Kamenetski connects with a hard combo of punches.  Ly is showing his strong preference for Muay Thai exchanges until it goes to the mat and Kamenetski gets on top in sidemount.  Ly tries to roll out and Kamenetski gets Ly in a half nelson hold with his left arm and begins throwing bombs from the top with his right until the fight is stopped at 2:21 due to strikes.

Brent Reed (ATT) vs. Aniss  Alhaijavaiy(BTT)

Round 1

The fights starts and they go right to the clinch.  Alhaijavaiy takes Reed down and ends up in Reed’s guard.  Alhaijavaiy gets to Reed’s back and only gets one hook in before trying to setup the choke.  Reed fights for wrist control then manages to get back to his feet.  They engage again and while wrestling on their feet, both fighters end up going through the ropes completely leaving the ring.  There is about a 2-minute delay while both fighters are allowed time to shake off the fall.  Alhaijavaiy lands some punches and it goes back to the ground.  Reed gets mount and lands with strikes from the top.  Alhaijavaiy rolls and Reed takes his back.  Alhaijavaiy rolls again and Reed moves to a triangle from the bottom then transitions to an armbar.  Alhaijavaiy escapes and gets to sidemount just before the round ends.

10-9 Alhaijavaiy.

Round 2

Both come out looking a bit tentative on the feet.  Alhaijavaiy throws leg kicks and Reed catches a leg but Alhaijavaiy gets free.  Reed catches another one and again Alhaijavaiy gets free.  Alhaijavaiy pushes Reed to the ropes and takes him down with a double leg.  Reed reaches for a guillotine choke but Alhaijavaiy gets to mount.  Reed rolls and Alhaijavaiy takes the back and applies the choke until Reed taps at 3:47.

Kevin Corrigan (USMMA) vs. Saul Almeida (Rivera MMA)

Round 1

The round starts with both trading punches on the feet with Almeida continuing to move forward.    Corrigan lands a big punch to get a knockdown but Almeida looks for a leglock from the ground while Corrigan is standing.  Corrigan fighting off the leglock drops to the ground but then gets back to standing.   Almeida gets it back to the ground and gets top control in Corrigan’s half guard.  Almeida attempts a reverse choke from sidemount.  10-9  Almeida.

Round 2

Both are taking their time looking for an opening to engage when Saul shoots for a single leg and gets the takedown.  Corrigan attempts a triangle but Almeida ends up getting to Corrigan’s back.  He gets one hook in and Corrigan rolls to his side.  Almeida gives up the back to take mount, then applies a choke from the side which turns into more of a neck-crank.  Corrigan rolls his back to the floor and then rolls again to give up his back.  Almeida attempts a choke from behind then starts punching the head.  Almeida is penalized one point for a strike to the back of the head as the round ends.  10-9 Almeida.

Official Decision – All three judges score the fight 20-18 for Saul Almeida.

Eddie Felix (Dragon Warrior) vs. Noah Wiseman (BJJ Revolution)

Round 1

Wiseman moves right to the clinch and Felix falls but recovers.  Wiseman begins throwing knees and moves to secure an armlock as they move to the ground.  Wiseman gets to the back of Felix then moves to side control before throwing some big knees.  Back to standing Wiseman moves in to get a thai plum and is throwing more knees.  The action on the ground moves into the corner as Wiseman mounts then gets to Felix’s back.  Wiseman is showing strong ground skills and gets a hook in before applying the choke from behind.  Felix manages to fight off the attempt for a while until he is forced to tap at 3:38.

Travis Lerchen (Wai-Kru) vs. John Ortolani (Gracie Barra NH)

Round 1

They tap gloves and Ortolani throws a leg kick that lands.  Ortolani shoots in and picks up Lerchen for a huge takedown throw.  Lerchen gets back to the feet and Ortolani shoots again.  Lerchen works for a guillotine choke but gets taken to the ground while Ortolani remains standing inside of Lerchen’s guard.  Lerchen is doing a good job of tying up Ortolani’s arms, but Ortolani picks up Lerchen, in guard, and slams him back to the mat.  Ortolani starts working ground and pound and is landing some big punches from the top until the referee steps in to stop the fight at 2:16.  Ortolani lands another big blow as the referee tries to step in to break the action on the ground, deep in the corner of the ring.

Josh Key vs. Louis Felix (Rivera MMA/Burrill BJJ)

Round 1

Both start by circling for some time before Key throws a head kick that misses.  Felix lunges for a takedown and both fighters fall through the ropes.  Key appears a bit shaken by the fall.  Felix shoots another takedown but Key picks up Felix high in the air before slamming him to the mat.  They are right back up to standing and Felix executes a nice hip throw to take Key down.  They are right back to standing and Key gets to clinch.  Another incident where they are back through the ropes before Key lands some big knees to the Felix’s mid-section.  The go to the ground and Key ends up on top in Felix’s half guard.  Close round.

10-9 Felix.

Round 2

Key throws a leg kick then a head kick.  Felix takes down Key with a hard landing and gets on top in Key’s half guard.  After a long struggle Felix mounts then Key escapes the mount into north south.  Key lands a big knee as the round ends with both fighters showing their wrestling skills.

10-9 Key.

Round 3 – OT

Key throws a leg kick and Felix shoots.  Key ends up on top as it goes to the ground and Felix attempts a triangle.  Key escapes then gets to mount.  Felix rolls and Key moves to his back.  Key starts throwing hard punches from Felix’s back until the fight is stopped at 0:51.

Josh LaBerge (Gillete) vs. Dan Bonnell (Renzo Gracie NH)

Round 1

They touch gloves and Bonnell shoots for the takedown.  LaBerge ends up on top and gets to mount.  Bonnell rolls and LaBerge takes his back and gets one hook in.  LaBerge throws strikes from LaBerge’s back until the fight is stopped at 1:20.

Joe McGann (USMMA) vs. Jason Dublin (Dublin Fight Factory)

Round 1

McGann offers to touch gloves but Dublin wants no part of it.  They trade punches on their feet until McGann shoots but Dublin stuffs it.  McGann shoots again for a double leg and takes down Dublin into his half guard.  Back to their feet and McGann clinches and has the thai plum.  Both fighters trade knees until they get caught up in the ropes.  They are restarted back in the center of the ring with McGann on top in half guard.  McGann lands some big strikes as the round ends and Dublin is penalized a point for a violation that is unclear.

10-9 McGann.

Round 2

McGann shoots and Dublin stuffs it.  McGann shoots again for a big double leg slam takedown and gets to side control with knee on belly.  They are back to their feet and McGann gets another big takedown then again gets back to sidemount and is landing big punches from the top.  Both fighters appear exhausted as the round ends.

10-9 McGann.

Official Decision – 19-17, 20-17, 20-17 unanimous for Joe McGann.

Ryan Scheiding (Burgess) vs. Dennis Olsen (Gracie Barra NH)

Round 1

Scheiding is circling the ring with lots of head movement.  Scheiding shoots and gets the takedown.  Scheiding is on top in Olsen’s half guard and Olsen spins his hips out and secures an armbar.  Scheiding quickly taps at 1:04.

Hitalo Machado (ATT) vs. John Benoit (Renzo Gracie NH)

Round 1

Machado comes out moving at a fast tempo and is aggressively pressing the action.  Machado throws an inside leg kick that lands squarely in Benoit’s groin area.  Benoit is given time to recover and the action is restarted.  Machado throws another hard inside leg kick and again catches Benoit in the groin as he was backing away.  Machado is docked one point for the low blow.  The action is restarted and Machado is showing strong footwork moving forward and is doing a good job in cutting off the ring.  Benoit shoots and Machado ends up on Benoit’s back in Benoit’s corner.  Machado secures both hooks then applies the choke as Benoit is forced to tap at 2:04.

 Mike Medrano (Team Rhino) vs. Mike Campbell (Rivera MMA/Burrill BJJ)

 Round 1

Campbell leads off with kicks from range and Medrano shoots but Campbelll stuffs it.  Medrano lands with several leg kicks and Campbell throws a high kick, Medrano catches the leg and takes Campbell down.  Medrano gets on top but Campbell pulls a nice sweep to reverse the position.  Back to standing Medrano shoots for another takedown and is throwing hard punches before Campbell attempts a triangle.  They are back to their feet exchanging and Campbell throws a big flying knee that takes down Medrano.  Campbell gets on top and begins raining punches until the referee stops the action at 3:12.

Results:

Boran def Pitner by decision

Kamenetski def Ly by TKO at 2:22, R1

Alhaijayajy def Reed by submission (RNC) at 3:47, R2

Almeida def Corrigan by decision

Wesiman def E. Felix by submission (RNC) at 3:38, R1

Ortolani def Lerchen by knockout at 2:16, R1

Key def L. Felix by TKO at 0:51, R3

Laberge def Bonnell by TKO at 1:20, R1

McGann def Dublin by decision

Olsen def Scheiding by submission (armbar) at 1:04, R1

Machado def Benoit by submission (RNC) at 2:04, R1

Campbell def Medrano by TKO at 3:12, R1