It’s 6:25 and I just finished setting up ringside. They have a sweet press section with wireless internet access and power strips for the laptops. I want to start by thanking the guys from USFL. Not only did they put me up at a casino hotel for 2 nights, they also provided meal passes for the cafeteria, and had even more passes for free fountain drinks when I picked up my press pass. They went well above and beyond what they had to do for the press guys and they were a pleasure to deal with.

It looks like the place is starting to fill up, and it looks like the first bout will start at 7:00pm, and they are looking to run right through the card, so it looks like we’ll be heading to the after party REALLY early. I’ll be posting the results as they happen. First up is the grappling.Grappling matches are all five minutes each.

Alexandre Moreno vs. Josh Hesser

Moreno gets a quick takedown and passes to half guard. He’s taking his time but looks to be sneaking his other leg out. He mounts and Josh scrambles and Moreno has the back, now back to mount, back again and quickly sinks the RNC for the win.

Winner: Alexander Moreno-RNC 1:42

Gabriel Santos vs. Julio Feleciano

Julio pulls guard, Gabriel works hard and passes. He mounts and is being very methodical. Julio tries to escape but gives up the back, now back to mount. Gabriel locks up a slick head and arm choke and cranks it for the win.

Winner: Gabriel Santos-Head and arm choke 3:27

Ricardo Funch vs. Will Kerr

Will gets a takedown, but they get back up. Will gets another takedown and gets the back momentarily, but Funch gets guard. Will again pulls out and lets him up. Funch is working hard for takedowns and finally gets one into guard. He passes to half and is working hard for the pass. Will starts working an arm triangle, but Funch passes to mount and Will loses the choke. The match ends with Funch in mount. They are now adding up the points and there looks to be some type of controversy. I’m not sure what the issue was, but Funch’s team isn’t happy with the scoring. I’ll try to get mor einformation from referee John Clarke as the night progresses.

Winner: Will Kerr wins on points, 5-4.

Amateur MMA is next, and all amateur fights are 3 rounds each, 3 minutes per round.

Mike Bryant vs. Nick Sergicomi

The crowd is going CRAZY for Nick. They are trading jabs and low kicks and Mike is dropping his hands when he throws a low kick. Joe clinches and gets a takedown and has the back. Nick rolls into guard and passes. Nick is working a key lock and kneeing the body. He eventually gets the win by key lock.

Winner: Nick Sergicomi-Key Lock Submission 2:47

Joe West vs. T.J. Hepburn

Joe came out to Shawn Michaels’ entrance music and the crowd loves him. The crowd is also going CRAZY for TJ. TJ picks him WAY up and slams him to start the fight. This kid looks incredibly athletic. TJ passes to half and lands a big body punch. TJ is also landing big knees to the body. They scramble and Joe is now on top in guard. Joe lands some light body shots and TJ locks up a slick arm bar for the win.

Winner: TJ Hepburn-Arm Bar Submission 2:48

Dan Conway vs. Zach Mayo

Dan seems to have a ton of fans in the audience and his tattoos are scary. Zach seems to have even more fans in the audience but his ink isn’t quite as scary as Dan’s. They trade and Dan drops him with a big combination. In amateur MMA in CT, you aren’t allowed to follow a guy to the mat after you drop him, so the referee breaks the action and allows Zach to get up. Dan rushes him again and after a quick exchange, he locks in a standing guillotine choke and is literally picking him up with it. Zach has no choice but to tap.

Winner: Dan Conway-Guillotine Choke Submission :31

James Malvesti vs. Sean Cahill

There is a standing ovation for Cahill in the crowd and they cheer the whole way to the ring and even during the glove tap. Cahill looks to have very technical hands. James gets a clinch but the referee separates them. James eats a good punch but manages to clinch again. Sean picks him up and slams him. He’s working from side control but decides to stand up. Sean gets another takedown at the bell.

Round 2- They clinch and Sean is landing some good body shots. James locks a standing guillotine and pulls guard, and they roll and James lands in mount. They scramble up, and Sean lands a huge right, but James was still on his knees so they stop the action briefly to make sure James is ok. Sean is landing punches on the feet but James keeps coming.

Round 3-

James wants a takedown but Sean is having none of it. James again looks for a standing guillotine but ends up on his back with Sean in side control. He lets James up again and James rushes in with punches and again tries for the guillotine but ends up on his back. The round ends with Sean in side control.

Winner: Sean Cahill-Unanimous Decision

Pro fights are up next. All pro fights are 3 rounds, 5 minutes per round, except for the title fight, which is 5 rounds, 5 minutes per round.

Pat McGreal vs. Barrington Douse

Douse is grunting up a storm and looks to be able to match Pat’s strength and athleticism. Both throw and miss a couple haymakers. Douse lands a few big knees to the body and Pat lands a HUGE right and Douse just eats it like it was nothing. He then takes Pat down. He’s landing big shots in but Pat is staying calm. They scramble and Pat takes the back and is landing some light shots. He looks to be trying to transition to arm bar. He’s out and after a big scramble, Douse mounts McGreal! Pat rolls and is on top in guard. Douse is still grunting and Pat lands a big shot at the bell.

Round 2-Pat slips after missing a kick and Douse clinches him up. Douse is still grunting and just about yelling. Douse has a tight standing crucifix but Pat slams his way out of it. Pat scrambles and they are in a weird position I can’t even really describe. Pat has the back with an arm locked with his legs but doesn’t have really any openings to punch. They scramble again and Pat has the back and is working the arm again. Another scramble and Pat has a triangle and it looks deep. He’s out! He’s landing BIG shots on Pat. Pat again gets him down but Douse is working an arm bar. The arm bar is as deep as it can be but Pat toughs is out and makes it through the round.

Round 3-Big shoots from both guys to open the round. Big hook to the body from Douse as Pat tries for a flying knee to the body. Pat lands a HUGE right that doesn’t even seem to daze Douse, but they continue to trade and McGreal lands a BIG spinning back fist that drops him…yes, I said spinning back fist. He follows him to the mat and closes the show.

GREAT FIGHT from both guys. They both won a ton of fans tonight…and Douse has one of the best chins I’ve ever seen at 145. I liked this fight even better than last months FOTM, which is a favorite for fight of the year. This is also an early favorite for KO of the year.

Winner: Pat McGreal-TKO :42 of round 3

Chris Simmons vs. Matt Smith

Like every other Strikezone guy tonight, the crowd is going crazy for Simmons. Smith also has a big following and the crowd goes crazy for him too. Simmons looks calm and relaxed and Smith looks like someone just stole something from him. Matt lands a big punch to open things up and Chris responds with a leg kick that nearly drops Matt. Martt shoots in and gets him down. Simmons lands some good elbows from the bottom and he’s working an omo plata. It’s tight but Matt gets out. Chris is striking a ton from the bottom and has a very active guard. Chris locks a triangle and cracks Matt with a big elbow that cuts him pretty badly. Matt is forced to tap from the triangle, but it looked to be the elbow that hurt him.

Winner: Chris Simmons-Triangle Choke Submission 2:20

Reggie Higgins vs. Kym Sturdivant

Reggie gets by far the biggest ovation of any fighter so far. People are screaming, barking and chanting “Reggie! Reggie! Reggie!” Kym gets a takedown and the athletic commission guy stands right in front of me. I can’t see a thing. Somehow Reggie is on top and working a key lock. Kym taps right as I’m able to see again.

Winner:Reggie Higgins-Key Lock Submission 1:21

Jon Jones (Jon Bon Jonesy) vs. Ryan Verrett

They have agreed to “no knees and no elbows what-so-ever” for this bout. Jon lands a big body kick and they clinch and Jon hits a salto toss and is in side mount. They scramble and they are back up. Jon takes him down again and mounts him. Ryan gets half guard but Jon still lands a few hard shots. Jon then lets him up. Ryan then lands a monster knee to the groin. They give Jon time to recover. Jon lands one of the biggest rights I’ve seen locally and Ryan is immediately limp but he falls right into Jon so the referee thought he was clinching, but he was limp. Jon then pushed him off and let him fall and stood over him with his arms raised ala Muhammed Ali, but by this time Ryan starts moving again and the referee never stepped in. Jon then hit him a couple more times and the referee realizes he’s done. Jon is now 4-0 with 3 KO and one sub in a pro career that started literally a month ago.

Winner: Jon Jones-KO 2:58

Brian Olsen vs. Fernando Rivera

Brian gets a quick takedown into side control and he lands a big knee to the body. Brian unloads with punches and it nearly gets stopped but Rivera gets back to his feet and Brian tags him again and takes him right back down. Olsen lands more shots and it looked like it could have been stopped and they Rivera says something to the referee and they stop it.

Winner: Brian Olsen-Verbal Submission from strikes 1:41