CAGE TITANS VENDETTA: REVIEW
From: Old School

The final fight card of the spring season got under way last night at the IBEW local 103 on Freeport St. in Boston as Mike Polvere and the Cage Titan Carnies brought their MMAction packed show to town. The night was Saturday, June 25, and the crowd was pumped to see Notorious Nick face The Violence; but first we would be treated to 17 other cage fights. Now I’ve always gone on record as one who thinks the perfect number of fights is nine, but you can’t have everything…where would you put it! The crowd saw 18 fights: 13 Amateur bouts with three three minute rounds, one Amateur title fight with five three minute rounds, and four Pro bouts at three five minute rounds. Mike started the Ammy card at 7:15 pm in order to get in all 18 fights and be out of there as early as possible.

The IBEW Local 103 is a beautiful facility with great parking and wicked easy access on and off the highway. The parking was super convenient as well. Mr. Polvere made sure the press had real good seats and total access to fighters and locker rooms. The two wall sized screens also were a nice plus. But the cherry on the MMA sundae was our own personal attendant, Shelly the Waitress; this lovely young lady kept us in hot dogs, pizza, drinks, and snacks all night long…Thanks Mike and Shelly!

The crowd seemed to hover around 750 earlier in the evening, as the fights started early, but I estimate it peaked out later at around 1,000 or so! Chuck O’Neil was in the house, cornering Jimmy Quinlan. The Boss Reep with his brand new camera was also on hand. Paddy Thompson and Jason Sarbacker made the trip as well, supporting their homeys. Ava & Lee, Big John, Andre, and a host of others were also seen. I did manage to say hi to our favorite Western Mass Promoter, Karyn, but I couldn’t tell if she was here to enjoy the show or to steal a few trade secrets…

FIGHT # 1:
170 lb Amateur
Frank Falso 0-0 (Team United)
Elysee Sanon 0-0 (Blue Devil Fight Team)

The fight starts with Sanon kicking his way into a clinch, and the boys engage in a good, two way clinch battle. Sanon gets the takedown and works to top and then rear control. He seems to have ridden the position a bit high, but he sinks in the RNC for the tap, slick as a striper!
Winner by RNC @ 1:40 Rd 1: Elysee “Explosion” Sanon

FIGHT # 2:
150 lb Amateur
Connor Matthews 0-0 (Lakeville MMA)
Derek Shorey 0-0 (Team KAOS)
Derek is a veteran of the war in the Middle East and a former Maine State Wrestling Champ! Welcome to Mass, Bro!

They start the fight by swinging punches into a clinch and it’s Shorey with the takedown to top of half guard. Connor tries a guillotine from the bottom as Shorey punches away from the top. Back on the feet, Connor takes it down and works to mount and he dispenses some Lakeville G&P, forcing Derek to roll. Connor secures rear control and locks in a RNC for the tap, slick as a cup of custard!
Winner by RNC @ 1:57 Rd 1: Connor Matthews

The Cage Titans are running a special on RNChokes, and if it continues, I’m gonna run out of descriptive phrases!

FIGHT # 3:
185 lb Amateur
Keith Schneider 0-2 (Nitsuj)
Anthony White 0-0 (Sport Specific Fitness)

Keith jabs well, then shoots off the jab and nails a takedown into top of guard. White ties up tight from the bottom while Keith continues to work hard from the top. Keith is grinding hard for a looong time, staying busy while Anthony is just as busy on the bottom trying to neutralize. Anthony throws up a triangle attempt that Keith just isn’t having anything to do with as the first round ends.
There is no second round as the blue corner, Anthony White’s corner, throws in the verbal towel!
Winner by TKO @ 3:00 Rd 1: Keith Schneider

FIGHT # 4:
170 lb Amateur
Vlad Suric 0-0 (Tapout Boston)
Elvis Kuljanicic 0-0 (Blue Devil Fight Team)

Vlad punches his way into a clinch, forces his opponent to the cage, introduces him to a couple of knees, and separates. Back striking in the cage center, Vlad misses a high kick and falls down. Elvis jumps and he is on top in guard. Vlad sweeps and Elvis sweeps him back. Elvis stands up in guard and throws strikes, but Vlad is able to stand it up and into a clinch. Elvis gets a takedown, but it’s Vlad on top as Elvis works for a guillotine. Vlad says no, pulls out, and he strikes from top to steal the first round.
There is no second round as the blue corner, Elvis Kuljanicic’s corner, throws in the verbal towel! Is there a pattern forming here?
Winner by TKO @ 3:00 Rd 1: Vlad Suric

It is mentioned by the ring announcer that Elvis suffered a dislocated shoulder.

FIGHT # 5:
140 lb Amateur
Shayne Stephenson 1-2 (Independent)
Brett Morris 2-1 (Rivera MMA)
Shayne enters to the cheering of his own personal fan section, who’ve made the trip up from Fall River.

The First round starts and Shayne misses with a high kick. The fighters clinch and Brett gets a takedown to top of half guard. Shayne locks it up from the bottom and works to full Guard. After a long period of inactivity the ref stands it up. Shayne throws a huge leg kick that drops Brett, and it’s Shayne getting top of guard. Brett tries an arm bar from the bottom, but Shayne says no, and Brett ties him up to end the round.
Shayne opens the second with two right hands that land and he follows with a takedown into top of guard. Brett ties it up from underneath. After a long stall, Brett sweeps to top of mount and works to rear control and begins working RNC. He finally gets the desired result…and the win…and another RNChoke!
Winner by RNC @ 2:17 Rd 2: Brett Morris

Master Polvere is really moving these fights right along and the night is flowing. There is no down time and the crowd is really filling in nicely!

FIGHT # 6:
220 lb Amateur
Xavier Vargas 1-2 (Combat Sports Club)
James Poe 1-1 (Blue Devil Fight Team)

The fighters swing into a clinch where Vargas gets a takedown and it’s right back up and they are still clinching. Vargas tries a standing guillotine (no) and follows it up with knees. They separate and Poe clinches and throws knees. Vargas answers with even more knees in the clinch. Another clinch finds Vargas winning a takedown into mount, adding G&P to steal the first!
Round two sees the big boys swing into a clinch and Vargas tries a standing guillotine (that won’t go), works to a takedown, and goes to top of mount. Poe defends and works it back to the feet. Vargas clinches to the cage and fires off a salvo of knees to the thighs. Poe grabs a takedown to top of side control and Vargas neutralizes with a weak guillotine from bottom. Poe stands and Vargas grabs a sweet ankle pick for a takedown into top to steal another round! Xavier steals another round and another piece of his opponents’ heart!
The big guys are really throwing down and Poe really looks gassed as the third round gets under way! (Poe is thicker and more muscular than Vargas, but looks can be deceiving.) Poe misses a big right to start the third and Vargas clinches, throws some nasty knees, and then tosses Poe aside like a bad habit. Vargas jumps to mount and punches. Poe sweeps and Vargas sweeps with a big slam into top position. Poe turtles up and the X man unloads like a UPS worker at Christmas time until the ref has seen enough!!!
Winner by TKO @ 1:46 Rd 3: Xavier Vargas

Poe was really gassed and it took him a long time to stand and walk out of the cage! This was a really exciting FOTN candidate!

FIGHT # 7:
155 lb Amateur
Jared Rogers 1-0 ((Tapout Boston)
Anthony Zarella 0-0 (MAXX Training)
Jared is the Martial Artist Formerly Known as Guido. He’s all grown up so we now call him Jared. He looks real fit at 155, up from 145. Anthony requested this fight!

Rogers starts with a few kicks and a shot into a takedown, where he passes from guard to side control to mount. Zarella sweeps and punches. Jared tries triangle and sweeps to top and they roll. Rogers still has the weak triangle on enough to control and sweep to top and add G&P at the end of the round. The crowd is calling “Guido, Guido”
Zarella smiles at Rogers to start the second. Rogers nails a takedown into top of guard, passes to side, and then mount, where Zarella sweeps again and punches. Rogers’ corner is calling instructions to their fighter, “Guido” this, “Guido” that. The crowd is wild for “Guido”. (I don’t care if he’s all grown up or not, I’m back to calling him Guido!) Guido tries a triangle and sweeps to top with it still on. But Zarella punches and Guido adds some G&P to end the second frame!
Zarella starts the third with a head kick, but he falls and Guido goes to top of guard and works some G&P. Guido to mount and Zarella sweeps to top and punches. Guido throws up a triangle from bottom but Zarella stands out of it. Standing, Zarella kicks at Guido on the mat. Eventually the ref stands it up and Guido nails a takedown to end the fight!
Winner by Unanimous Decision: Jared “Guido” Rogers

This was a fast exciting fight with a nice helping of BJJ!
The Crowd is really filling in and it’s getting loud in here…

FIGHT # 8:
140 lb Amateur
Connor Dunn 0-0 (Lakeville MMA)
Moises Rodriguez 1-0 (Team United)

Moises starts the first round with a takedown to top of guard and Dunn ties it up in guard. In a tight ground clinch, Moises pushes it to the cage. Moises is trying to posture up and Dunn is keeping him in a tight guard. Moises stands and Dunn lands an up kick to the face (this is a no no in amateur fights) and they are restarted. Moises clinches to the cage and they trade knees before Moises grabs another takedown to end the round!
A big leg kick by Moises starts the second round. Dunn is down but right up. Dunn clinches to the cage and Moises reverses and gets a takedown into top of guard. Moises tries to pass while Dunn ties him up. Moises stands to throw down into guard and Dunn ties him up again. .. Back Standing, Moises clinches and gets another takedown. Dunn pulls guard and sweeps to top and throws in some G&P to end the second!
Connor Dunn found a little chink in the armor at the end of the second round. Moises strikes out of a scramble to start the final frame. Dunn clinches and nails a takedown to top and secures mount. He starts to open up with some G&P against the cage. This is followed up with some more punches and the Freetown beat down is stopped by the ref when Moises can’t defend.
Winner by TKO @ 2:03 Rd 3: Connor Dunn

This adds another item to the short list of Fight of the Night! Mike Polvere is busier than a one armed paper hanger with poison Ivy as he is making sure that the fights are moving right along and things are running smoothly. Shelly the Waitress is keeping us, at the press table, in food and drink…

FIGHT # 9:
155 lb Amateur
Stephen Langlais 1-2 (Team BKJA)
Dan Lopez 2-2 (Sports Specific Fitness)
Stephen vaults into the “Entrance Song of the Night” lead with The Devil Went Down to Georgia

Stephen controls a good two way striking battle, setting the pace and distance with punches and nice kicks. He nails a double leg into top of guard and Dan ties up from the bottom and a looong ground clinch begins. Finally, a brief scramble finds Dan on top and he throws a knee to end the round, too little too late.
Dan comes out with good striking and Stephen has seen enough, so he clinches. Dan lands some body shots and Stephan answers with big knees and they separate. It’s Dan with a nice kick/punch combo and Stephen responds with his own kick/punch flurry. The two trade nicely in a barrage of knees, kicks, and punches to end a real close round. I have Stephen winning both the first two rounds, but the second round was close.
Stephen grabs a takedown after a brief two way striking battle and he is in top of guard. Dan misses and arm bar and Stephen is still on top. Dan is neutralizing from the bottom as Stephen tries to punch, but there’s nothing there. This ground clinch continues with not much happening, but Stephen is holding top position. Dan tries a loose triangle but Stephen lifts and slams out of it and he stays on top and throws a few strikes to win the final round!
Winner by Unanimous Decision: Dan Lopez (WHAAAAAT!!!)

I had Stephen winning all three rounds; the writer next to me had Stephen winning rounds one and three with Dan winning only the close second round. I think the ring announcer may have made a mistake. I can’t imagine that three Mass cage side officials could all see it that way. This was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen. Boooo!
This is one for FOTN.

FIGHT # 10:
140 lb Amateur
Matt Doherty 1-2 (Team Pradal Serey)
Kin “Kong” Moy 4-1 (Redline MMA)

Moy controls the pace with his striking, and then grabs a takedown, but Matt scrambles and stands. Matt clinches, punches, and gets a takedown, but Moy stands up. Moy gets another takedown and goes north/south, but Matt ties up from the bottom well. It’s Moy with a rear mount as the round ends.
Matt comes out for the second aggressively striking into a clinch, but Moy again wins the takedown to top of guard. Matt tries a triangle (no) and Moy responds with G&P from the top. Matt tries a gogo (nono) and Moy keeps striking. Moy works to mount and adds some small G&P to end the round.
A glove tap starts the third and Moy scrambles to top of guard off a takedown. Moy stacks Matt and punches from the top. Moy passes to side and throws knees to the body. Moy stands and strikes back into side control and into mount to end the fight!
Winner by Unanimous Decision: Kin “Kong” Moy

FIGHT # 11:
135 Amateur
Davis Roast 1-0 (Sityodtong)
Josh Flores 1-0 (Blue Devil Fight Team)
Davis is fighting for the Travis Roy foundation. He has Big John, Jason Sarbacker, and Tyson Chartier in his corner.

Davis is giving away size. Josh gets a takedown to side and Davis sweeps to top and works it to mount. Josh rolls and Davis gets two hooks in for solid rear control. Josh defends well, but it’s all Davis as he works small G&P from rear control and stays busy the whole round!
Shelly the Waitress delivers another round of hot dogs as the second round gets under way. (Ooh, mustard too!) Davis circles nicely and he nails a slick single to top of guard. Josh is tight on bottom, but Davis works hard to pass to side for some small G&P. Davis works a crucifix and lands some strikes before Josh is able to pull guard, tie up, and hang on to the stall till the round runs out of time…
Davis catches a kick to start the third and takes Josh down into guard and Josh ties up. Davis works small strikes and pushes it to the cage. This kid has huge cardio and is staying busier that a one legged man at an ass kicking contest. Davis works to rear and then full mount, all the time punching away. For such a small guy he is staying real heavy. Josh spins out and pulls guard and ties up this small Sityodtong beast until the fight is over!
Winner by Unanimous Decision: Davis Roast

Davis gives one of the ring girls a big sweaty hug and lifts her off the floor! Yeah, Baby!

FIGHT # 12:
160 lb Amateurs
Shaun Chadbourne 0-1 (Clinch MMA)
Peter Barrett 0-1 (MAXX)
Peter Barrett enters to a song that is only “F” bombs connected by some swear words. I actually saw some adults blocking their ears.

A good two way battle sees Peter win a takedown and they’re right back up. Shaun clinches to the cage and Peter reverses. Shawn gets a high crotch single leg slam and they’re right back up! Peter nails a bigger slam of his own and they bounce right up to the feet. Shaun clinches and pushes it to the café, but he eats a few knees. They separate and Peter throws a five punch combo that lands and steals the first round!!
They trade kicks into a clinch and it’s Peter with a hip throw and Slamfest 2011 continues! Peter drops elbows from side control and now the blood is flowing. Shaun gets to his feet, but Barrett is unloading big punches. Shaun defends but it’s all Peter Barrett as he throws big hands to the end of the round!
The third round starts with a glove tap and Peter kicks and punches into a clinch. Shaun nails a big slam and goes knee to belly for some Bostonian G&P. Barrett wins a ground scramble into top of guard and adds some strikes. The two tired fighters work it to the feet and the fight ends with a clinch on the cage.
Winner by Unanimous Decision: Peter Barrett

I had Barrett winning all the rounds, but this was a candidate for FOTN!

FIGHT # 13:
170 lb Amateur
Mike Drohan 1-1 (Lakeville MMA)
Adel Lolic 2-2 (Blue Devil Fight Team)

Mike strikes into a clinch and gets a takedown, but Lolic grabs an arm bar; Mike stacks and punches out of it. Mike works to side on the cage and Lolic goes to top and tries another arm bar from top and hangs on to it and ends up on the bottom. Lolic tries a triangle and Mike holds top guard position with some G&P. Mike stands to end the round.
Mike lands with jabs, Adel with leg kicks into a clinch and Lolic gets top of half guard. Lolic grabs a guillotine and pulls guard and Mike pulls out. Lolic tries an arm bar from bottom and Mike punches out of it. Another arm bar attempt that Mike defends finds Mike in top of guard. Lolic tries another arm bar, but Mike is defending well and pounding away and stealing each round!
Mike starts the third with a clinch and a takedown, but Lolic tries for a kimura (no). Mike goes to rear control and he adds some more G&P. Lolic pulls guard and Mike continues to control with good wrestling while Lolic is BJJ squirming from the bottom without results. Mike adds an exclamation point with some more G&P strikes to finish the fight!
Winner by Unanimous Decision: Mike Drohan

FIGHT # 14:
155 lb Amateur Title
Rob Font 4-1 (Sityodtong)
Joe Pingitore 7-2 (Team RockStar)
This fight is for the Cage Titans 155 lb Title. Joe holds the belt, while Rob is the AFO 145 lb Title holder. They made a gentlemen’s agreement to meet at 150 lbs.

Round 1: Rob Font lands a jab and two leg kicks to start the fight. They are circling and moving smoothly, but cautiously. Font is definitely controlling the distance and timing of the round with his jab and kicks. Font lands a nice head kick. Joe Ping scrambles and rushes to a clinch, but Font slams him to end the round.
Old School score: Rob Font 10-9

Round 2: The second round starts with Joe coming out aggressive as they circle and strike. Joe shoots, Rob defends and they clinch and separate. Rob finds the jab and the leg kicks start to follow. Joe misses a shot and Rob makes him pay by landing a 1-2 combo. Joe Charges and again Font gets a takedown to punctuate another fine round!
Old School score: Rob Font 10-9

Round 3: Joe Ping comes out for the third and sticks two inside leg kicks and he seems to be moving well. Font gets a big double leg takedown to rear control. Joe stands and Rob takes him back down into rear control, looking for RNC. Joe defends and they scramble up. Joe misses a kick/punch combo and Font has another takedown to end the round!
Old School score: Rob Font 10-9

Round 4: Rob is still controlling the fight in the fourth, with everything coming off the jab. He lands a leg kick and grabs another takedown into top of guard. A long ground battle sees little action, but it is all Rob Font as they stay in that position throughout the round to the end. Rob is dominating this fight with great stand up and a solid ground game. Rob Font is celebrating his birthday tonight and this is how to do it!
Old School score: Rob Font 10-9

Round 5: Joe starts the final round with leg kicks and Rob answers with an overhand right. Font is keeping the distance with the jab, but Joe shoots and gets the takedown into top of guard. Rob ties up from the bottom. Joe stacks and punches, but he can’t pass guard and the round ends with Joe Ping punching from the top!
Old School score: Joe Pingitore 10-9

Winner by Unanimous Decision (49-46×3): Rob Font
Happy birthday to Rob Font, the AFO 145 lb Champ and now the Cage Titans 155 lb Champ!

FIGHT # 15:
145 lb Pro
Shaun Marmas 2-2 (Integrated Martial Arts)
Antwan Penn 1-3 (Camp Get Right)
Penn looks real big at this new weight of 145!

Round 1: Penn clinches into a big slam. He stands and Shaun trips him and they stand and clinch. Shaun gets a takedown to top of guard and they’re back up again. Penn gets a trip to side control and he lands knees. Penn works to mount, but Shaun works it back to guard and sweeps to half guard. Shaun pulls an arm bar and that won’t go, so he ends the round with a dose of G&P.
Old School score: Shaun Marmas 10-9

Round 2: Penn sticks a leg kick into a clinch and he gets a takedown into half guard. Shaun pulls guard. Penn lands a bit of G&P, but it’s slow going…until Penn unloads like a dump truck on Shaun with elbows and Marmas is cut and bleeding bad! (The Doctor makes a cage call.) Back to it, Penn lands a kick and a takedown and some more elbows. Shaun sweeps to mount and lands some rear mount G&P. He tries a RNC that won’t work, so Shaun goes back to rear mount G&P until the round is over!
Old School score: Antwan Penn 10-9

Round 3: Penn kicks and Marmas clinches. Penn sprawls to top of guard and a scramble ensues that finds Marmas trying a leg lock, but Penn is out and into half guard. A long ground clinch ends with Shaun trying a RNC that isn’t happening, and Penn throws some strikes from the top. Marmas tries an arm bar from a triangle while Penn pounds away from on top as the fight ends!
Old School score: Antwan Penn 10-9

Official score: This Fight is a Draw (29-28/29-29/28-29)
This is yet another candidate for FOTN! I was not aware that a judge can score a round 10-10…

FIGHT # 16:
145 lb Pro
Dominic Warr 0-1 (Wai Kru)
Johnny “Cupcakes” Campbell 2-1 (SSSF)
Johnny has moved up from 135 lbs for this fight, and is giving away a bit of size.
Mike Polvere is pushing the pace, keeping this thing moving, and Shelly the Waitress is taking care of business!

Round 1: Johnny slips and falls off a high kick and Warr gets a takedown. Warr tries rear control and Johnny sweeps to top and Warr stands and slams him…But Johnny’s right back up. (Cupcakes bounce!) Campbell kicks and Warr rushes in, but Johnny steps out. Johnny kicks and knocks Warr down. Back up, Johnny land three kicks and punches into a clinch. Campbell gets a takedown and eventually works to mount, where Warr sweeps and they stand. Johnny punches and slips off a high kick and Warr takes the top as the round ends.
Old School score: Johnny Cupcakes 10-9

Round 2: Warr punches and gets a takedown and Cupcakes scrambles back up. They clinch and it’s Warr winning with knees and punches in the clinch. Johnny finally lands a knee and a takedown to top of guard. Warr ties up off the bottom and they stand it up still clinching, and Warr lands knees and punches in the clinch! Cupcakes grabs one more takedown to end a real close round!
Old School score: Dominic Warr 10-9

Round 3: Off the clinch, Johnny steals a takedown into top of guard. Warr tries to scramble and grab a leg, but Johnny keeps top position and works to mount. Warr works back to full guard from bottom and Johnny is keeping real busy on top… There’s no striking, but it’s all BJJ and wrestling. Warr stands and Cupcakes takes him back down to finish the round and the fight on top!!
Old School score: Johnny Cupcakes 10-9

Winner by Unanimous Decision: Johnny “Cupcakes” Campbell

FIGHT # 17:
195 lb Pro
Josh Mellen 2-2 (Bancroft Boxing)
Jimmy Quinlan 0-0 (Mass BJJ)
Jimmy brings a deep BJJ pedigree and his buddy Chuck O’Neil into the cage with him.

Round 1: Jimmy bulrushes to a clinch, gets a big slam and throws some G&P from side control. He then grabs a guillotine into a back roll to top position and Josh pulls guard. Jimmy goes to side control and keeps up the G&P attack. Jimmy Q goes for an arm lock (no) and then transitions to a crucifix with G&P to a kimura for the tap! Wow, this guy is as good as advertised!
Winner by Tap out (Kimura) @ 2:11 Rd 1: Jimmy “Crash” Quinlan

MAIN EVENT
FIGHT # 18:
155 lb Pro
Notorious Nick Newell 4-0 (Fighting Arts Academy)
Anthony “The Violence” Kaponis 5-3 (Independent)
Nick Newell is pacing in the cage as Kaponis enters the hall. Nick appears pumped and ready, sort of like a combination of Clay Guida and Red Bull. Nick had the ring announcer let the crowd know that Kaponis missed weight by two pounds…Kaponis shakes head in disgust. Nick seems to be living in Anthony’s head …rent free!

Round 1: Newell sprints into the cage center as the fight begins. He throws a high kick and he slips and falls. Kaponis jumps into top control and Newell pulls guard and ties up. A short ground stall ends with Newell pulling an inverted arm bar and Kaponis is not in a very good position to defend. Notorious Nick extends and Kaponis is forced to tap! Now that’s slick as a smelt!! Newell is the Man!! We also have that elusive submission of the night!

Winner by Tap Out (Arm Bar) @ 1:01 Rd 1: Notorious Nick Newell

Most top lightweight fighters don’t want anything to do with Nick Newell, but now they’ll have to deal with him straight on. Awesome Performance!!!
Chuck “Cold Steel” O’Neil is thinking about changing his name to Chuck “Nick Newell” O’Neil…

There are a few things that need to be noted here tonight. First, the local 103 is a really nice venue! Second, Mike and the Cage Titan Carnies are great hosts for fans, fighters, and the press! Third, Matt Bessette was right when he said that Nick Newell is better than you think. Fourth, Shelly the Waitress and Kevin the Ref have the same middle name.
Now, to the important stuff…

THE AWARDS:

FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Shaun Marmas & Antwan Penn
TKO OF THE NIGHT: Connor Dunn
SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT: Notorious Nick Newell
GREATEST SERVICE AWARD: Shelly the Waitress
SNAFU OF THE NIGHT: Mass Judges on the Langlais/Lopez fight

Award winners may pick up your bonus checks from Michael Polvere at the next show! (All except the Mass Judges)

Thanks for watching.. Keep it between the lines.. and clean up when your done.

Old School