On Saturday October 9, 2010, Reality Fighting held their mma show titled,"Eruption", at Plymouth Memorial Hall, in Plymouth Mass. Fellow WMMMA writer Joe Leonard and I made the almost 3 hour trek out east to catch the event. Reality fighting owner/promoter Kipp Kollar, and match maker Joe Cuff, were kind enough to set us aside a couple free tickets to cover the event.
I personally was very excited, as I hadn't caught a Reality Fighting show in some time, and had never watched a show from the famed Memorial hall. I was told by several people, (including Team Ravenous's own, SELVA) that this was one of the best places to watch a local mma event. They were not lying!!! To start, we were able to park very close to the venue...for free!! When we got inside, I was amazed at the set-up. Every single seat in the building gave a perfectly clear view of the cage. The cage was set in the middle of the floor, with cage side seating, but the best seats were up top, on the second tier balcony seats!! Joe and I set up shop up top for a clear angle at all the action.
Reality Fighting was one of the first mma shows in the state, and they do a great job. They don't do a ton on the production side, and their marketing could use a better push, but they always have well matched fights, from great fighters and teams. This night was no different as we witnessed some great tko stops, submissions, hard fought battles, and some controversy to end the night!!!
The first fight was an amateur match pitting Eric "Bruce" Lee vs. Kevin Barrett. Lee controlled the fight from the opening bell with good grappling control. He would start with a take down, pass the guard, and end up taking Barrett's back. From here Lee worked for the rear naked choke. This scenario would continue each round, into the third, until finally Lee found his way under Barrett's chin, and proceeded to choke him unconscious. winner Erik "Bruce" Lee, 3rd rd. submission rear naked choke.
Paul Dumont vs. Ryan Maynard - Both fighters are tall and lanky and come out to loud cheers from the crowd. Each guy looks fired-up to bang, and they come out swinging wildly from the bell!! A few good scrambles take place but no clear shots really land flush for either guy. Dumont settles in and starts to score with some good leg kicks, and a couple good ones to the body to take rd 1. Round 2 more of the same, as the kicks from Dumont seem to be too much for Maynard to handle. winner Dumont by TKO stoppage in the 2nd rd.
Josh "The Arian Barbarian" Kaplan vs Dray Owens - Dray comes in fired-up, and shows some quick hands to start the fight. Kaplan looks out matched on the feet, and eats some decent punches. He then resorts to his wrestling back ground, and forces a take down to put the fight where he needs it. He almost takes Owens' neck in a scramble, but ends up finishing the round with back control fighting for the rear naked choke. In round 2 Kaplan wastes no time taking the fight to the ground. He then takes the back, this time finishing the fight with a rear naked choke. winner Josh Kaplan.
Brennan Monaghan vs Micheal Berby - Berby looks much bigger and stronger than Brennan, and at the bell he shows just that, as he starts the fight with a big crowd pleasing slam!! Monaghan tries for a guillotine, but Berby quickly pops out. From here he unloads some heavy ground and pound for the 1st round TKO stoppage. winner Berby rd1 TKO.
Sam Elliott vs Damon Owens - Elliott wastes no time in this one. He quickly gets the take down, instantly passes guard, Owens gives the back, and Elliott finishes with a nice rear naked choke. winner 1st rd. Sam Elliott rear naked choke submission.
Shaun Marmas vs Mark Giove (1st pro fight of the night) Marmas comes out to New Kids On The block "step by step"!!! The Giove comes out to something even more silly ( not sure what it was???) This was a great fight!! Both guys showed amazing grappling skill and position throughout the whole fight. Marmas controled the 1st round taking Giove's back and working for the choke.Giove took the second with great top control, and some minimal ground and pound. He had the crucifix position at one point, then almost locked an inverted triangle as well!! It was 1 to 1 heading into the 3rd, and it was any one's fight. Giove def turned it up, scoring the take down, and controlling from the top, for the entire 3rd. winner Mark Giove unanimous decision. After the fight Giove took the mic, and said it might be his last fight being the "old man" at 34. (I just had my fist fight at 34??) He also thanked his team, family , Friends, and fans, then gave a special shout out to his wife. As a married fighter, I thought it was a special moment...
Billy Garrett vs John Campbell - Garrett comes out with Marc Stevens form the Ultimate Fighter fame, in his corner. Campbell looks poised as the fight starts, and lands a couple huge inside leg kicks that almost spin Garrett right around. Garrett rushes in and scores the take down. As they are going down, a scramble ensues, and Garrett takes Campbell's back, and quickly and slickly(?) gets the rear naked choke finish!! winner Garrett 1st rd rear naked choke.
Intermission Grappling Match - Jeff haddad vs Eric Bartholomew. Haddad was supposed to fight in an mma fight, but his opponent pulled out the night before.This was on of the best grappling matches i have ever seen! Both guys were using technical take downs and the scrambles were awesome. Haddad wins 14-8. Great stuff from both guys!!!!
135lb title fight John "The Convict" McLaughlin vs Tom "Short Dog" Giove. As the bell rings, the convict rushes in swinging for the fences!! Nothing connects, but he goes in for the double leg take down. As he does though, Giove slaps on his patented deadly giullotine choke!! The convict fights well, and pops out. He then picks up Giove and slams in his guard, drops an elbow, then unloads with some heavy handed ground and pound for the 1st rd stop. winner, and new Reality Fighting bantamweight champ, John "the Convict" McLaughlin!!!
155lb title fight Matt "The Mangler" Bessette vs Anthony " Violence" Kaponis. As the fight starts, both look to keep it standing. Kaponis seems tentative, while Bessette is letting his hands and kicks go. Bessette wins rd 1 by connecting more and being more busy. Rd 2 Kaponis is starting to let his hands go more, and is connecting much more than Bessette. It seems Kaponis is using good counter punching and uppercuts to slow Bessette down, and bloody his nose and face. Kaponis wins rd 2. Rd 3 both exchange on the feet, but Bessette starts to find a home for his leg kicks. Kaponis starts to resort to his wrestling more, and scores with a take down. as they stand again, Besstte lands a couple devastating leg kicks to Kaponis's knee, and Kaponis is hurt and limping. Instead of quiting though, he scores another big take down, and ends the round on top. Very close round, Bessete hurt Kaponis with great kicks, but Kaponis scores 3 take downs and ends with control...Round 4 Kaponis gets a good take down into guard. He's staying busy with intermitent ground and pound as he keeps top control. Bessette is busy from the bottom, and tries for an armbar. Kaponis has none of it, and pulls out, and continues his ground and pound from the top. Kaponis wins round 4. Round 5 Kaponis shoots for the take down, as he does, Bessette jumps gaurd for a guillotine try. Kaponis pops out, drops to the ground and trys for more GNP and control. Bessette stays busy with his slick BJJ,and at one point has a nice Kimura try. Kaponis defends well, but Bessette straightens the arm out, and attempts a straight arm bar. It looks close, but Kaponis muscles through, to keep top control. Bessette attempts a few more subs, with little effect, as Kaponis keeps trying to posture up to GNP. After a scramble they stand, but Kaponis shoots in for another sucssesful take down to seal the round. winner Matt Bessette split decision.
This was a very controversial decision, as the pro Bessette crowd could barly believe it!! I personally saw teammates of his covering thier mouths in disbelief, and I overheard the head ref delivering the decision to the announcer, both of wich couldn't believe...Take nothing away from Matt, as he fought his heart out the whole fight with a probable broken nose. But I belive that Anthony won the fight, and was robbed by the judges. Can't wait to see both guys fight again, and maybe we can get a rematch somewhere down the road??
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