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March 6, 2015

WARRIOR NATION XFA X 3/6/2015 EVENT REVIEW



Arrived at the Hu Ke Lau with plenty of time to mingle with out mma friends.  Zack Lynch and Derek made the trip from New York to capture the action behind their lens.  The beautiful DJ Arianna warmed up the crowd while the fighters are in the back getting ready.  The gorgeous ring girls were in attendance and strutting their stuff selling 50/50 raffle tickets.  Warrior Nation had 9 fights total for the night including their first ever amateur title fight.  John Vena was the host for the evening.  Lindsey Labelle sang the national anthem and did a fantastic job.  The refs are Gary Ebelin and Paul Asimar.  Follow along as I keep you all up to date.  


135 AM George Lischke (1-0 CT United) vs. Justin Kristie (1-1 Ultimate MMA)

They clinch for a bit against the cage.  Justin breaks with a knee to the body and gets hit with a counter jab.  George gets in a high kick that connects.  They clinch up against the cage and exchange knees to the body.  George gets the takedown and is now in the guard.  Justin threatens with an armbar as the round ends.

George 10-9

Rd 2:  Kristie starts us off with a leg kick and looks for the takedown.  He can't get it and they break and are back to the center.  George dives for a takedown but can't finish.  Justin gets in a high kick that connects.  Justin gets hit with a straight right and then ties up George at the cage.  These guys are punching hard.  George gets the takedown right as the round ends.

Real close round and could go either way, George 10-9 cause of the takedown at the end

Rd 3:  Justin starts us off with an outside leg kick and George counters nicely.  Justin has the underhooks and gets the takedown.  He is now working the guard.  Justin is looking for the kneebar but can't get the finish.  They roll and George ends up on top.  Kristie is looking for a straight armbar from the bottom which would be impressive if he can get the finish but runs out of time.

Kristie 10-9

George Lischke defeats Justin Kristie via split decision.






170 AM Tom Rossi (0-1 Thunder MMA) vs. Shane Joubert (0-0 Team FSU)

Shane gets in a body kick.  Shane comes in hands down looking for the counter.  They clinch up against the cage.  Shane gets in a couple of uppercuts to the body before they head back to the center.  Tom lands a right that drops Shane and goes for the finish with the guillotine.  Shane hangs on and makes it to round 2.

Rossi 10-9

Rd 2:  Shane connects and has Tom back pedalling.  Shane is connecting with some heavy shots.  Both fighters are exhausted.  Shane is on top in guard and the ref stands them up after no action.  Tom gets the takedown and is on top in guard.

Joubert 10-9

Rd 3:  Shane connects with a combo.  They are both exhausted and throwing sloppy punches but the crowd is loving it!!  Shane falls to the mat and Tom takes the side.  After the 6th time the ref notices knees to the spine.  Tom takes full mount as the round ends.

Rossi 10-9

Tom Rossi defeats Shane Joubert via split decision.





125 AM Justin Valentin (1-0 Underdog BJJ) vs. Richard Santiago (1-3 Rivera Athletic Center)

Both fighters are swinging hard.  Justin rushes in and is looking for the takedown.  Rich gets the takedown but catches Richard in a guillotine.  He gets the roll and it sinks in deeper and Richard is forced to tap.

Justin Valentin defeats Richard Santiago via tapout to guillotine at 1:56 in Rd 1.





170 AM Steve Rodriguez (0-0 Thunder MMA) vs. Chris Paulauskas (0-0 DCNU)

Steve is looking for the takedown and gets it.  Chris works his way up quick and they are back standing.  Chris aims for the purple hair and connects with some big punches.  Steve gets the takedown.  Chris looks for a submission kneebar and ends up taking the mount and getting the stoppage to strikes.

Chris Paulauskas defeats Steve Rodriguez via ref stoppage to strikes at 2:31 in Rd 1.






145 AM Curtis Watkins (2-1 CT United BJJ) vs. Jose Rivera (1-3 Thornton Martial Arts)

Curtis gets the takedown and is in guard.  Jose is trying to get to his feet but Curtis yanks him back down.  He takes the back and is looking for the finish on rear naked choke.  Jose somehow gets free and they are back to their feet.  Jose gets the takedown and is on top as the round ends.

Watkins 10-9

Rd 2:  Jose sinks a guillotine as Curtis leans down and gets the finish.

Jose Rivera defeats Curtis Watkins via tapout to guillotine at 21 seconds in Rd 2.





170 AM Ray Johns (0-7 Thunder MMA) vs. Pat Casey (0-0 J. Ross BJJ)

Pat gets the takedown and is unleashing a fury of punches and gets the stoppage.

Pat Casey defeats Ray Johns via tko stoppage to strikes at 37 seconds in Rd 1.






135 AM Rob Rios (1-3 Underdog BJJ) vs. Steve Karr (0-3 Gracie Farmington Valley)

Karr rushes in and gets the takedown.  Rob is trying to get up and Steve is trying to take his back.  He gets the hooks in but can't flatten him out.  Karr rolls him as the round ends.

Karr 10-9

Rd 2:  Rios starts us off with some leg kicks.  They are standing and exchanging now.  Steve is looking for the takedown and Rob stuffs it briefly but then Steve gets it with the sweep.  Steve is looking to take the back but Rob recognizes it and they are back to their feet.  Rob gets in two huge body shots.  Rob gets in an outside leg kick as Steve dives for the takedown.  He is looking to take the back as the round ends.

Rios 10-9

Rd 3:  Rios connects with a right hand.  Karr dives for a takedown and Rob pushes him down and takes full mount.  Rios is trying to finish him off with hammerfists and he gets the stoppage.

Rob Rios defeats Steve Karr via ref stoppage to strikes at 1:10 in Rd 3.







HVY AM Dan Randall (2-0 Fighting Arts Academy) vs. David Nieves (1-0 American Top Team)

Both fighters are swinging hard.  Dan picks up David and body slams him.  Dan moves to full mount and is trying to get the finish.  David bucks him off and they are to their feet!  Dan connects with a right that drops David.  He moves to full mount and is trying to get the finish.  David survives and they are back to their feet.  Dan gets the takedown as the round ends.

Randall 10-9

Rd 2:  Dan connects with a combo that has David back pedalling.  David recovers and they are back to the center.  Dan connects with another combo that knocks David out cold.  Wow!!

Dan Randall defeats David Nieves via ko at 1:16 in Rd 2.  What an awesome fight!!  Fun fact the cage moved about an inch with these two behemoths colliding up against the cage.






135 AM TITLE Ali Zebian (Fighting Arts Academy 3-1) vs. Will Smith (DCNU 3-0)

Ali starts us off with an outside leg kick.  Will goes for the double leg takedown and gets it but Ali bounces right back up.  Ali is pushing Will up against the cage and working the knees to the body.  Will reverses and Ali reverses it right back.  Rest of the round in Ali working the clinch game.

Zebian 10-9

Rd 2:  Good kick to the body from Ali.  Will gets in a body punch.  Ali gets in a jab and is pressing Will up against the cage.  Ali breaks with a combo.  Will gets the takedown and is trying to scoop him back down.

Zebian 10-9

Rd 3:  Ali starts us off with a body kick.  Will gets in a solid right hand.  Ali gets the takedown and is in half guard.  Ali gets in some hammerfists.  Will tries to take Ali down as they are standing up but can't get it.  Ali is working some foot stomps and Will is pressing him up against the cage.

Zebian 10-9

Rd 4:  Ali connects with a combo.  Will gets the takedown and is trying to scoop Ali back to the mat.  Ali does a nice balancing act and they are back to their feet.  Will gets in a few jabs.  Ali fakes a takedown and Will reverses.  Will gets in some knees to the body before Ali reverses.

Smith 10-9

Rd 5: Will connects with a right.  Will takes the back and is looking for the rear naked choke.  He sinks it in deep and gets the tap.

Will Smith defeats Ali Zebian via tapout to rear naked choke at 1:14 in Round 5.  Huge come from behind win for Smith.






FIGHT OF THE NIGHT:  Dan Randall against David Nieves..awesome battle!
KO/TKO OF THE NIGHT:  Dan Randall with the nasty knockout!
SUB OF THE NIGHT:  Will Smith rear naked choke in the 5th around against Zebian

Another Warrior Nation is in the books and that one was their 10th show.  I liked how one side of the room was the blue corner's tickets and the other side was the red corners.  It made it very clear who sold the tickets and who each side wanted to win in unison.  I would also like to note that even though this one amateur fight was not the most technical it was fantastic to watch and runner up for fight of the night and that fight is ...Rossi/Joubert.  Special thanks to Jesse Camp for allowing us to cover the event for you all and for continuing to put on awesome shows right here in Western Mass.