LFC 26 -- "Proving Grounds"

Story and video by Fightjunky and Navitas

Following in the footsteps of LFC 25 and its now infamous double knockout, Legends of Fighting returned to a sold-out 8 Seconds Saloon in Indianapolis for LFC 26 -- "Proving Grounds". While there would be no repeat of that one-in-a-million moment, some of the best local talent was on display in a card loaded with great fighters showcasing their skills.

Also, co-reporting for Pro Elite for the first time (and shooting some of the video) is Navitas, who is very familiar with the LFC and many of the fighters. In the past few LFC events 8 Seconds Saloon has had more cameras put in, more security, and even a few more police officers on duty. Because of these measures, despite a few close calls, thankfully there were no fights started in the crowd.

Fighter records are listed as they were available in online databases or elsewhere. Video links are provided for most of the fights below the summaries.

Fight 1 -- Zach Huggins vs. Cody Abercrombie (1-1)

This fight was a good preview of what was to come for the rest of the amateur bouts. Both Zach and Cody seemed in the beginning to be pretty evenly matched, with a good trade of both strikes and kicks. Cody shot into Zach with a nice takedown, but failed to keep his head on the inside. Zach was able to catch Cody's head and sink in a guillotine to end the match. Zach Huggins wins by submission (guillotine) 1:26 into the first round.

Video: Entire fight

Fight 2 -- Darren Smith (4-1) vs. Dwayne Detty (1-1)

This was a superheavyweight rematch. Darren blitzed through Dwayne in just 25 seconds in their first meeting, and did the same in only slightly longer time in the rematch. After a clinch against the cage, Darren pinned Dwayne against the cage and worked him to the ground. From there Darren gained mount and rained down strikes. Dwayne could not take it and was forced to tap. Darren Smith wins by submission (strikes) 0:56 into the first round.

Video: Entire fight

Fight 3 -- Dwayne "The Sadistic Spider" Davis (0-1) vs. Brett Stott

The fight started out with Dwayne throwing a barrage of haymakers but failing to do any damage to Brett. Brett who kept his cool pulled guard on Dwayne and tried to control Dwayne from there, but as soon as both fighters got up, Dwayne slammed Brett hard onto the mat, got back mount and started to work on the rear naked choke. Brett did a great job trying to defend the choke but in the long run was not able to break free and had to tap. For the match being only 1:10 the pace never slowed and both fighters put on a good show. Dwayne Davis wins by submission (rear naked choke) 1:10 into the first round.

Video: Entire fight

Fight 4 -- Richie Ortega (3-1) vs. Justin Overby

Justin controlled this fight from start to finish. After taking down Richie, Justin worked out of Richie's half-guard into full mount and started raining down punishment. When Richie rolled to avoid it, Justin sunk his leg hooks and patiently worked strikes to Richie's head to finish him. Justin Overby wins by submission (strikes) 1:45 into the first round.

Video: Entire fight

Fight 5 -- Kevin "Renegade" Cousins (0-0) vs. Josh Flowers (1-1)

From the beginning of the first round Josh established dominance, by not only landing a good kick but also taking down Kevin and working a guillotine attempt on him. Once Kevin got out, he got some good punches on Josh before he was able to not only get out and stand up, but to also throw Kevin into the ground. The round finished with both fighters working their BJJ skills. Unfortunately Josh Flowers was unable to respond to the bell for the second round. He had injured his knee and ended up being assisted out of the ring. Kevin Cousins wins due to injury to the knee.

Video: Entire fight

There was a brief intermission for the pillow fights to take place, which produced a divergence of opinion between Navitas, a skilled female grappler, and Fightjunky, a slack-jawed male spectator. Navitas critiqued the lack of grappling skills the girls had, and was trying to figure out what the big deal was. Fightjunky, on the other hand, had absolutely no problem with the action.

Fight 6 -- Pete Dominguez (4-1) vs. Chris Franks (1-0)

The fighters circled to start the fight, with Chris landing a couple good counterpunches and eventually a solid knee. From there Chris gained a takedown and looked for a guillotine unsuccessfully. After the fight returned to standup, Chris teed off, and followed Pete to the mat in dominant north-south position. Chris let him up and landed another big shot before going back to the ground. Chris deftly reversed his full guard into full mount on Pete. When Pete rolled, Chris took back control and sunk a rear naked choke. Chris Franks wins by submission (rear naked choke) 3:27 into the first round.

Video: Entire fight

Fight 7 -- James "Haystack" Simon (2-0) vs. Doug Sparks (9-1)

This was probably our favorite fight of the night. At first we were a little wary when Doug entered the ring wearing a pair of boxers to fight in, and we were honestly afraid that we were going to get more of a show than we had bargained for. James started out the fight with a great punch that caught Doug off guard. But as Doug move away he sat purposely on the mat and started trying to pull James to the ground. James let Doug stand up and then they both started again. These fighters were polar opposites which made the fight well worth watching. James would focus on the striking and trying to dominate standing whereas every chance Doug got, he brought the fight to the ground and not only took showed some impressive ground and pound, but also his varying knowledge of Brazilian jiu jitsu. This match went into the final round, and it seemed to take a lot of energy out of both fighters. Doug had the stamina and was able to put James in a kimura and finish it off. Doug Sparks wins by kimura 0:55 into the third round.

Video: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3

Fight 8 -- Jimmy Jenkins vs. Chris Hanny

This fight was a little hard to figure. After the first half of the first round was spent in a clinch against the cage, Chris eventually gained a takedown to rear side control, but seemed to have no idea how to finish from there. Jimmy rode out the first round in inferior position but unthreatened. The second round began much like the first. After a clinch against the cage, the fight went to the ground with Chris briefly attempting a keylock. Jimmy avoided the hold and eventually reversed nicely out of Chris's side control. From there Jimmy finished Chris off brutally with strikes. Jimmy Jenkins wins by TKO 2:12 into the second round.

Fight 9 -- Darnell Davis vs. Jim Ramsey

Jim attempted to strike first with an impressive kick, but Darnell was able to catch the leg and he nearly took Jim down with it. After the trip up Jim never really seemed to regain much of any dominance. Darnell controlled the match with a great show of ground and pound. After the end of the first round Jim threw in the towel and refused to fight. Darnell Davis wins by submission (throws in towel) after the first round.

Fight 10 -- Scott "Ghetto Blaster" Tuggle (5-3) vs. Tom Osborne (16-3)

A good, technical ground fight from start to finish. In the first, Tom shot into Scott's guard. For the remainder of the round Scott worked to set up a variety of armlocks, all of which Tom defended excellently. In the second, Tom landed a glancing spinning backfist, and the fight went to the ground, this time with Scott in Tom's guard. Unlike his opponent, Scott ultimately was unable to fend off the submission, as Tom forced him to tap out to a guillotine choke. Tom Osborne wins by submission (guillotine choke) 1:35 into the second round.

Video: Round 1 Round 2

Fight 11 -- Jeremy Ashley (6-4) vs. Matt Page (7-14)

This was one of those very one-sided fights. The bell rang, Jeremy and Matt touched gloves, and then Jeremy made it a quick match. Jeremy struck first and never let up, landing multiple punches, and a few good knees before knocking his opponent out. Jeremy Ashley wins by KO 0:18 seconds into the first round.

Video: Entire fight

Fight 12 -- Orville Smith (10-0) vs. Ryan McIntosh (3-3)

Orville Smith continued his undefeated career by plowing through a hyped-up but overmatched Ryan McIntosh. The fight opened with Ryan missing a spinning back fist and high kick. After a clinch against the cage, Orville gained a takedown into Ryan's guard and stacked him up against the cage, pinning Ryan's head down under Orville's leg. In a helpless position, Ryan had no defense for Orville's strikes and desperately tapped out. Orville Smith wins by submission (strikes) 1:23 into the first round.

Video: Entire fight

Fight 13 -- Kyle Gibbons (14-2) vs. Tyler Bryan (1-0-1)

Although Tyler Bryan has had his 15 minutes of Internet glory, as one-half of the infamous double knockout from the last card, he was completely overmatched by Kyle Gibbons in this fight. Kyle landed a harsh leg kick, then worked Tyler to the ground with a bulldog headlock. From there Kyle obliterated Tyler mercilessly. Much like Johnny Rees and Jake O'Brien, two local fighters who are now in the UFC (and will be fighting on the UFC Fight Night card this Saturday), Kyle Gibbons seems destined to move to the next level very soon. Kyle Gibbons wins by first round submission (strikes).

Video: Entire fight

Fight 14 -- Dustin Rees (7-1) vs. Shaun Parker (3-6-1)

As the other half of the double knockout fight, Shaun Parker represented somewhat better in his co-headline fight, but still came out on the losing end. Dustin and Shaun fought a very close first round, with Shaun getting the better takedowns but Dustin coming the closest to gaining a submission. In the second round, Dustin missed with a punch and Shaun took back control while still in the standing position. Dustin kept hold of one of Shaun's arms though, and was able to reverse for a takedown. From there Dustin took rear side control and Shaun offered no intelligent defense for the punishing strikes Dustin was unloading on him, forcing the ref to show mercy. Dustin Rees wins by TKO 1:45 into the second round.

Video: Round 1(first part) Round 1 (second part) Round 2