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LFC 25 -- "Breaking Point" (viewed 1,373 times)
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Soon after the thunder of practice laps for the Indy 500 subsided Friday night at the nearby Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the thunder of LFC 25 "Breaking Point" arose at 8 Seconds Saloon on Indianapolis's westside. This is the first LFC event following a full-scale crowd riot that broke out at the last event in March. Extra security was on hand tonight and, although the fights once again brought down the house, this time it was for all the right reasons. There were several outstanding fights including what was, quite simply, the most showstopping finish I have ever personally witnessed and easily a lead candidate for fight of the year in central Indiana. (And yes, there is video).
Fight 1 – Pete Dominguez (3-1) vs. Casey Large (1-0)
Dominguez opened the action with a big takedown to side control and started to soften up his opponent with body punches. From there Dominguez transitioned to full mount and started to rain bombs on Large, who tried to bridge out of the inferior position but could not. From there Dominguez maintained the punishment from full mount until the ref showed mercy. Dominguez wins by TKO 2:05 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 2 – Zach Konkle (1-3) vs. Josh Brannom (1-0)
Konkle landed a shot to open, but Brannom regrouped. As they grappled near the cage, Brannom secured an arm drag takedown that dislocated Konkle's shoulder. The fight was over and Konkle was in severe pain. Brannom wins by submission (shoulder dislocation) :24 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 3 – Richie Ortega (2-1) vs. Spencer Johnson (1-0)
This fight saw a lot of back-and-forth action that ended up in a close unanimous decision. In the first round, Johnson ultimately got the better of several takedowns and reversals, looking for but unable to sink a rear naked choke toward the end of the round, which ended in an odd exchange after the ref didn't hear the bell for some reason. The second round was fought very closely, with several more sequences of takedown and reversal. The fighters looked a little gassed in the third round, with Ortega generally getting the better of things until the last 10 seconds of the fight, which ended in a flurry for Johnson that proved, ever so slightly, too little too late. Ortega wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Fight 4 – Justin Allen (8-1) vs. Brandon Norris (1-0)
Hard to know what to make of this fight. The first and only minute of the fight saw almost no action until Allen caught Norris with a body shot that dropped him for good. The shot didn't seem particularly damaging, and after the fight, Allen said that he thought Norris was just scared. Allen wins by KO :58 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 5 – James Lowery (0-1) vs. Josh Flowers (0-1)
Lowery missed with a big roundhouse kick to open the fight, and Flowers shot for the takedown. After Lowery reversed and stood up, Flowers got another takedown into Lowery's half guard. The ref restarted after there was no advancement of position. Lowery stuffed a takedown attempt and landed a shot that momentarily stunned Flowers. Flowers briefly reversed the clinch against the cage, but Lowery got a takedown to side control as Flowers turtled up. Flowers eventually managed to get to his feet at the end of the round. In the second, Flowers set up a beautiful standing arm triangle against the cage and pulled back for the takedown. Lowery broke the hold and worked out to half guard, landing a few shots in the process. Flowers worked to side control and landed some knees, then eventually sunk in a fight finishing guillotine choke. Flowers wins by submission (guillotine choke) 2:48 into the second round.
Video: Round 1 Round 2
During the first intermission, UFC standout Shonie Carter, the night's special guest referee, announced and commentated some exhibition female grappling and pillowfighting. Meanwhile, I spent some time with longtime underground fighter Bruce Pettis and his wife. Bruce told stories of fights in abandoned warehouses and seedy bars organized by wealthy businessmen and gamblers. His wife talked about the primal rush she got from watching Bruce fight, explaining how she could never be attracted to a guy who couldn't fight. If you want to know why I love this sport, all you need to do is re-read this last paragraph.
Fight 6 – John McDonough (0-0) vs. Patrick Aeyella (3-0)
After an exchange on their feet, Aeyella landed a huge shot that dropped McDonough. Aeyella paused momentarily before pouncing on his fallen opponent and finishing him off for good. Aeyella wins by KO :23 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 7 – Jeremy "Tiny" Norton (11-7) vs. Brian Veach (1-1)
There was obviously some bad blood between these superheavyweight fighters. Norton opened by bullrushing Veach into the cage. Veach countered with a series of shots that evidently did not phase Norton one bit. Norton landed an uppercut that dropped Veach and then unloaded on his downed opponent until the ref showed mercy. Norton wins by TKO 1:00 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 8 – Sean Sallee (7-17) vs. Tim Walls (8-2?)
The abuse dished out in this fight makes me a little skeptical of Walls' announced record of 8-2, especially when I can't find a listing for him in the Full Contact Fighter database. Veteran cage fighter Sallee dropped Walls with a punch but, instead of pouncing, motioned Walls back to his feet. From there Sallee dropped him again with ease, this time going in for the decisive finish on his thoroughly overwhelmed opponent. Sallee wins by TKO :33 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 9 – Gabe Holmes (7-8) vs. Steve Fritz (1-1)
In a night full of entertaining fights, this one was a snoozer. Rather than recount the entire fight in a manner that would set a record for most uses of the phrase "ref restarts due to inactivity", let me just say that the highlight of the fight came when Shonie Carter almost accidentally locked the ring card girl in the cage wth the fighters to start the third round. I almost wish he had done it… whatever would have resulted from that would have been far more interesting than what actually transpired. Fight ends with majority draw.
Fight 10 – Danile Nuttrall (4-1) vs. Babby Chadwell (0-0)
After a clinch against the cage, Nuttrall got a takedown to side control, worked to full mount, then absolutely obliterated Chadwell with strikes. Nuttrall wins by submission (strikes) 1:03 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Another intermission ensues with Shonie commentating some exhibition female grappling action. Aside from a diamond encrusted crown belt buckle, Shonie's not quite as blinged out as usual. Still, I seize the opportunity to take a picture with him setting up to hit me with his famous spinning back fist. Life is good sometimes.
Fight 11 – Matt Roland (16-5) vs. Josh Rines (4-4)
Another quick, decisive fight. Roland achieved a full mount with relative ease, then was able to work separation and land shot after shot until Rines could take no more. Roland wins by submission (strikes) 1:07 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 12 – Scott Blevins (0-9) vs. Kris Boyden (3-0)
While I noted earlier I had reason to doubt a fighter's announced 8-2 record, this fight gave me no reason to doubt Blevins' 0-9 mark. Boyden caught Blevins with a big shot right from the outset and immediately went to work finishing him off. Boyden wins by submission (strikes) :20 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 13 – Shaun Parker (3-6) vs. Tyler Bryan (1-0)
Easily the most showstopping fight of the year in central Indiana, and the best finish I have ever personally witnessed. I never even got an official time on this one because of how quickly and startlingly it ended, and the pandemonium that ensued afterwards. Shonie Carter picked the right night to be guest referee. Within the opening seconds of the fight, both fighters landed simultaneous devastating shots that immediately laid them both out unconscious and producing this exceptionally rare fight result: Draw due to double KO. Trust me, you will want to see this video.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 14 – Chris Canale (4-3) vs. Jason Hayes (1-5)
Canale, a highly skilled fighter out of Ohio, thoroughly controlled this fight with confident patience and ease. Canale shot in and scored a big takedown into Hayes's half guard. From there Canale effortlessly transitioned first to side control, then to full mount. Canale briefly looked for a keylock before settling for separation and punches from the mount. As Hayes struggled in vain to get out, Canale moved into a sadistically high mount and continued to rain down punches, before electing to finish his weaker opponent off with an extremely painful kimura. Hayes screamed in verbal submission and very obvious pain. Afterwards, a visibly frustrated Hayes slammed the mat and stormed out of the cage as his opponent's hand was held up. Canale wins by submission (kimura) 2:22 into the first round.
Fight 15 – Blake Bowman (4-3) vs. Kevin Walker (0-0)
Walker made his MMA debut on the wrong end of a huge kick that knocked him out cold, and a flurry of punches afterwards simply for good, decisive measure before the ref could save him. Bowman stood confidently and bowed in mock respect over his decimated opponent. Bowman wins by KO just :08 into the first round.
Fight 16 – Jeremy Ashley (5-4) vs. Jacob Cory (0-1)
Ashley caught Cory and shot into the cage, but Cory countered with a single leg takedown. On the ground, Ashley immediately worked to a position of back control, secured full back mount, then landed a crushing illegal downward elbow to the back of Cory's head that severely rocked Cory. In addition, somehow Cory got poked pretty badly in the eye in the process. In the end, Cory was unable to continue. Ashley wins by submission (corner throws in the towel).
Fight 1 – Pete Dominguez (3-1) vs. Casey Large (1-0)
Dominguez opened the action with a big takedown to side control and started to soften up his opponent with body punches. From there Dominguez transitioned to full mount and started to rain bombs on Large, who tried to bridge out of the inferior position but could not. From there Dominguez maintained the punishment from full mount until the ref showed mercy. Dominguez wins by TKO 2:05 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 2 – Zach Konkle (1-3) vs. Josh Brannom (1-0)
Konkle landed a shot to open, but Brannom regrouped. As they grappled near the cage, Brannom secured an arm drag takedown that dislocated Konkle's shoulder. The fight was over and Konkle was in severe pain. Brannom wins by submission (shoulder dislocation) :24 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 3 – Richie Ortega (2-1) vs. Spencer Johnson (1-0)
This fight saw a lot of back-and-forth action that ended up in a close unanimous decision. In the first round, Johnson ultimately got the better of several takedowns and reversals, looking for but unable to sink a rear naked choke toward the end of the round, which ended in an odd exchange after the ref didn't hear the bell for some reason. The second round was fought very closely, with several more sequences of takedown and reversal. The fighters looked a little gassed in the third round, with Ortega generally getting the better of things until the last 10 seconds of the fight, which ended in a flurry for Johnson that proved, ever so slightly, too little too late. Ortega wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Fight 4 – Justin Allen (8-1) vs. Brandon Norris (1-0)
Hard to know what to make of this fight. The first and only minute of the fight saw almost no action until Allen caught Norris with a body shot that dropped him for good. The shot didn't seem particularly damaging, and after the fight, Allen said that he thought Norris was just scared. Allen wins by KO :58 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 5 – James Lowery (0-1) vs. Josh Flowers (0-1)
Lowery missed with a big roundhouse kick to open the fight, and Flowers shot for the takedown. After Lowery reversed and stood up, Flowers got another takedown into Lowery's half guard. The ref restarted after there was no advancement of position. Lowery stuffed a takedown attempt and landed a shot that momentarily stunned Flowers. Flowers briefly reversed the clinch against the cage, but Lowery got a takedown to side control as Flowers turtled up. Flowers eventually managed to get to his feet at the end of the round. In the second, Flowers set up a beautiful standing arm triangle against the cage and pulled back for the takedown. Lowery broke the hold and worked out to half guard, landing a few shots in the process. Flowers worked to side control and landed some knees, then eventually sunk in a fight finishing guillotine choke. Flowers wins by submission (guillotine choke) 2:48 into the second round.
Video: Round 1 Round 2
During the first intermission, UFC standout Shonie Carter, the night's special guest referee, announced and commentated some exhibition female grappling and pillowfighting. Meanwhile, I spent some time with longtime underground fighter Bruce Pettis and his wife. Bruce told stories of fights in abandoned warehouses and seedy bars organized by wealthy businessmen and gamblers. His wife talked about the primal rush she got from watching Bruce fight, explaining how she could never be attracted to a guy who couldn't fight. If you want to know why I love this sport, all you need to do is re-read this last paragraph.
Fight 6 – John McDonough (0-0) vs. Patrick Aeyella (3-0)
After an exchange on their feet, Aeyella landed a huge shot that dropped McDonough. Aeyella paused momentarily before pouncing on his fallen opponent and finishing him off for good. Aeyella wins by KO :23 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 7 – Jeremy "Tiny" Norton (11-7) vs. Brian Veach (1-1)
There was obviously some bad blood between these superheavyweight fighters. Norton opened by bullrushing Veach into the cage. Veach countered with a series of shots that evidently did not phase Norton one bit. Norton landed an uppercut that dropped Veach and then unloaded on his downed opponent until the ref showed mercy. Norton wins by TKO 1:00 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 8 – Sean Sallee (7-17) vs. Tim Walls (8-2?)
The abuse dished out in this fight makes me a little skeptical of Walls' announced record of 8-2, especially when I can't find a listing for him in the Full Contact Fighter database. Veteran cage fighter Sallee dropped Walls with a punch but, instead of pouncing, motioned Walls back to his feet. From there Sallee dropped him again with ease, this time going in for the decisive finish on his thoroughly overwhelmed opponent. Sallee wins by TKO :33 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 9 – Gabe Holmes (7-8) vs. Steve Fritz (1-1)
In a night full of entertaining fights, this one was a snoozer. Rather than recount the entire fight in a manner that would set a record for most uses of the phrase "ref restarts due to inactivity", let me just say that the highlight of the fight came when Shonie Carter almost accidentally locked the ring card girl in the cage wth the fighters to start the third round. I almost wish he had done it… whatever would have resulted from that would have been far more interesting than what actually transpired. Fight ends with majority draw.
Fight 10 – Danile Nuttrall (4-1) vs. Babby Chadwell (0-0)
After a clinch against the cage, Nuttrall got a takedown to side control, worked to full mount, then absolutely obliterated Chadwell with strikes. Nuttrall wins by submission (strikes) 1:03 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Another intermission ensues with Shonie commentating some exhibition female grappling action. Aside from a diamond encrusted crown belt buckle, Shonie's not quite as blinged out as usual. Still, I seize the opportunity to take a picture with him setting up to hit me with his famous spinning back fist. Life is good sometimes.
Fight 11 – Matt Roland (16-5) vs. Josh Rines (4-4)
Another quick, decisive fight. Roland achieved a full mount with relative ease, then was able to work separation and land shot after shot until Rines could take no more. Roland wins by submission (strikes) 1:07 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 12 – Scott Blevins (0-9) vs. Kris Boyden (3-0)
While I noted earlier I had reason to doubt a fighter's announced 8-2 record, this fight gave me no reason to doubt Blevins' 0-9 mark. Boyden caught Blevins with a big shot right from the outset and immediately went to work finishing him off. Boyden wins by submission (strikes) :20 into the first round.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 13 – Shaun Parker (3-6) vs. Tyler Bryan (1-0)
Easily the most showstopping fight of the year in central Indiana, and the best finish I have ever personally witnessed. I never even got an official time on this one because of how quickly and startlingly it ended, and the pandemonium that ensued afterwards. Shonie Carter picked the right night to be guest referee. Within the opening seconds of the fight, both fighters landed simultaneous devastating shots that immediately laid them both out unconscious and producing this exceptionally rare fight result: Draw due to double KO. Trust me, you will want to see this video.
Video: Entire fight
Fight 14 – Chris Canale (4-3) vs. Jason Hayes (1-5)
Canale, a highly skilled fighter out of Ohio, thoroughly controlled this fight with confident patience and ease. Canale shot in and scored a big takedown into Hayes's half guard. From there Canale effortlessly transitioned first to side control, then to full mount. Canale briefly looked for a keylock before settling for separation and punches from the mount. As Hayes struggled in vain to get out, Canale moved into a sadistically high mount and continued to rain down punches, before electing to finish his weaker opponent off with an extremely painful kimura. Hayes screamed in verbal submission and very obvious pain. Afterwards, a visibly frustrated Hayes slammed the mat and stormed out of the cage as his opponent's hand was held up. Canale wins by submission (kimura) 2:22 into the first round.
Fight 15 – Blake Bowman (4-3) vs. Kevin Walker (0-0)
Walker made his MMA debut on the wrong end of a huge kick that knocked him out cold, and a flurry of punches afterwards simply for good, decisive measure before the ref could save him. Bowman stood confidently and bowed in mock respect over his decimated opponent. Bowman wins by KO just :08 into the first round.
Fight 16 – Jeremy Ashley (5-4) vs. Jacob Cory (0-1)
Ashley caught Cory and shot into the cage, but Cory countered with a single leg takedown. On the ground, Ashley immediately worked to a position of back control, secured full back mount, then landed a crushing illegal downward elbow to the back of Cory's head that severely rocked Cory. In addition, somehow Cory got poked pretty badly in the eye in the process. In the end, Cory was unable to continue. Ashley wins by submission (corner throws in the towel).