After a few traffic jams Warchild and I arrived at the beautiful Mohegan Sun. We quickly meandered our way around to the Arena and down the stairs to the media section. This is going to be an action packed night with super grappling fights to kick it off and then the mma portion. For the grappling, Ryan Parker is the ref. Alex Flanagan has sung the national anthem and the grappling is about to start. The mma refs will be Kevin MacDonald, John English, Brian Minor and Dan Miragliotta. Please follow along as I try my best to recap the action.
GRAPPLING SUPERFIGHTS
JAMES GILLETTE (VALENTE BROTHERS) VS. AARON TEVAY (GRACIE SEYMOUR)
This match resulted in a draw.
JAMES COOK (CROSSROADS BJJ) VS. JEFF ROBERTS (SOULCRAFT BJJ)
Cook wins heel hook.
KIRIK JENNESS (NESF) VS. JOHN BEECHER (SOCA BJJ)
Beecher wins by technical submission.
AJ ABATE (CALANDRELLI MMA) VS. MICHAEL MACGREGOR (GRACIE SEYMOUR)
Draw
PETE JEFFREY (TRI-FORCE) VS. CHRIS PALMQUIST (LAUZON MMA)
Draw
MIKE MONTGOMERY (SOUL FIGHTERS) VS. JEREMY WOOLFOLK(STRIKE ZONE)
Draw
DAVID CABRERA (SONECA BJJ) VS. BRANDON POLCARE (EDIE FYVIE BJJ)
Cabrera wins kneebar.
VINNIE BRIGHTMAN (CARLSON GRACIE) VS. FRANK LATINA (JITSU ACADEMY)
Draw
LUIS DIAZ (CASA DE JIU-JITSU) VS. DAMIAN RUFFY (TEAM LINK)
This match was done in the gi. Diaz wins by points.
ERIN LAMONTE (JUNIKO) V.S. NICOLE SHATTUCK (ABUSADO)
Draw
KEITH FLORIAN (FLORIAN MARTIAL ARTS) V.S. MARK GIOVE (SSSF)
Draw
CESAR ALVAN (TEAM LINK) VS. SPENCER SMALLEY (CALANDRELLI MMA)
Draw
JEREMY REIPOLD (RAVENOUS MMA) VS. JOHN NAPLES (STRIKEZONE MMA)
Naples wins by heel hook.
CHRIS SIMMONS (CARLSON GRACIE) VS. ISAIAH VICENS (SOUL FIGHTERS)
This match is in the gi. Isaiah wins by points.
KIRKOR PAPASIAN (STRIKEZONE MMA) V.S. TIAGO ALVES (SONECO BJJ)
Draw
OZ PARISER (SOUL FIGHTERS) VS. JON MANLEY (JON MANLEY MMA)
Draw
DIOGO ARAUJO (SOUL FIGHTERS) VS. ANDREW TEVAY (GRACIE SEYMOUR)
Draw
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS PORTION
225 AM Robbie Thomson (0-0 Whaling City MMA) vs. Yuri Panferov (1-0 Ultimate MMA)
They both come out swinging for the fences. They fall to the mat and Yuri takes the back in the scramble. He works the rear naked choke for the tap.
Yuri Panferov defeats Robbie Thomson via tapout to rear naked choke at 1:25 in Rd 1.
170 AM Elias Morales (2-2 Plus One ) vs. Billy Goff (2-1 Dexter MMA)
They clinch and Billy is trying for the double leg. He switches to the single leg and gets Elias down briefly. They break and Elias gets in an inside leg kick. Elias connects with a right and Billy fires back with a good punch of his own. Elias gets in a knee before the round ends.
Real close round.
Rd 2: They start out working their standup. Elias seems to be getting the better of it. Billy ties him up against the cage and gets the takedown. Elias works his way up and they are back swinging in the center. Elias connects with a right and Billy ties him up. They break and Billy gets in a punch as the round ends.
Morales 10-9
Rd 3: Elias gets in a right and Billy fires back with a combo. Billy is pressing Elias up against the cage looking to scoop him to the mat. He gets the double leg takedown. Billy is getting in some punches before he takes him back down. He is in full mount briefly dropping hammerfists until he gets pushed back to guard.
Goff 10-9
Billy Goff defeats Elias Morales via unanimous decision.
145 MMA Jordan Riley (2-2 Nitsuj) vs. Kenneth Rayside (2-10 Kai's)
Kenneth gets the takedown and tries for an armbar but can't get it. Jordan is on top making him pay with some ground and pound. Jordan has his back and works the bulldog choke for the tap.
Jordan Riley defeats Kenneth Rayside via tapout to rear naked choke at 1:44 in Rd 1.
125 AM Justin Valentin (4-1 Underdog) vs. Harris Bonfiglio (2-3 Ultimate MMA)
Justin drops Harris quick and finishes him off with some hammerfists.
Justin Valentin defeats Harris Bonfiglio via ko strikes at 25 seconds in Rd 1.
205 PRO Tom Velasquez (1-4 Team Endgame) vs. William Knight (0-0 Thornton)
Will starts the round off with an outside leg kick. They clinch and Will shoulder tosses him to the mat. Tom bounces back up and they go the mat again. Tom grabs the leg but Will pulls his leg free. He climbs into the guard. Will postures up and is dropping bombs. He flattens him out and gets in some more punches. The ref has seen enough.
William Knight defeats Tom Velasquez via tko stoppage to strikes at 2:08 in Rd 1.
Both ladies are swinging. Marisa is getting the better of them so far. Towards the end of the round Grace ducks under and takes Marisa down. Marisa turns and is now in the guard as the round ends.
Marisa 10-9
Rd 2: Same as the first round they are both working their striking game. Great precision from Marisa as she is getting the better of the striking. Marisa pulls guard with a guillotine but can't get it. Marisa gets her leg free and gets pushed off. They are back to their feet. Grace connects with a combo and Marisa gets another takedown as the round ends.
Marisa 10-9
Rd 3: Marisa keeps pushing forward and connects with a right. Marisa gets the takedown and is in full mount. She is trying for an arm triangle but Grace defends. Marisa has the side and is getting in some punches as the round ends.
Marisa 10-9
Marisa Messer-Belenchia defeats Grace Nowak via unanimous decision for the strap!!
185 PRO Armus Guytin (1-0 Bombsquad) vs. Sean Evans (1-2 Independent)
Armus connects with a leg kick that stumbles Sean. Armus slams Sean to the mat and after he gets pushed off he lets him back up. Armus connects with another leg kick. Armus body slams Sean to the mat and he is out.
Armus Guytin defeats Sean Evans via tko to strikes at 1:06 in Rd 1.
145 PRO Andre Belcarris (0-2 Independent) vs. Chris Disonell (0-0 Renzo Gracie Latham)
Chris has Andre up against the cage. He gets in two knees to the body and the crowd roars. Chris connects with a kick to the cup at drops Andre. He goes right into rear naked choke and gets the finish.
Chris Disonell defeats Andre Belcarris via tapout to rear naked choke at 1:34 in Rd 1.
170 PRO Daniel Konrad (Serra/Longo 1-0) vs. Jesse Kosakowski (1-0 PSDTC)
Jesse gets in a kick to the body. Jesse gets in 3 leg kicks then ties him up against the cage. Jesse gets a takedown and pulls his head out of the guillotine. He moves to the side and gets in some hammerfists. Jesse grabs the arm and he cranks on it. Daniel jumps over and gets free. He takes Jesse's back and is looking for the rear naked choke. He has the body lock and is softening him up with some punches. Jesse turns into Daniel and Jesse tries for a kimura. Dan gets out and has Jesse tangled up as the round ends.
Kosakowski 10-9
Rd 2: Daniel pulls guard and is trying for the guillotine. Jesse has the top and is dropping elbows. I see some blood from someone. They stand up and Jesse grabs the neck and pulls guard. Daniel is sitting on the head of Jesse and is looking for the kimura. Jesse gets free and is now trying for a kimura as the round ends.
Kosakowski 10-9
Rd 3: Jesse ducks under and gets the takedown. Jesse moves to full mount and gets pushed back to half guard. He moves back to full mount. Daniel gives up his back and Jesse works the rear naked choke for the tap.
Jesse Kosakowski defeats Daniel Konrad via tapout to rear naked choke at 2:20 in Round 3.
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Kosakowski and Konrad, great back and forth battle.
KO/TKO OF THE NIGHT: Valentin KO
SUB OF THE NIGHT: Yuri rnc win