RT 84 Cage Fights
_EKIM’S/Quad Cities Fighting Championships – November 23rd, 2011
_BY Alaynna Roby
_
EKIM’S/Quad Cities Fighting Championships – November 23rd, 2011 Mike Smith put on the RT 84 Cage Fights III at Hawg Dawg’s Bar and Grill in Savanna, IL. There were 11 fights, 2 of which were girl fights, and 2 were for Hawg Dawg championship belts. The location was perfect and it was cool to see one of the original cages the area first had. Also, the fans that had shown up really got their money’s worth of excitement. Kudos, Mike! Fight number one was a girl fight between Terry Brinson (126 lbs.) and Rose Williams (130 lbs.) In the first round, Williams started off the aggressor with hard body shots to Brinson. Brinson looked as if she was hesitant about getting hit, which Williams took advantage of. For a while, there was a lot of stalling on the cage. Williams finished the round strong. The second round began, and there were tons of kicks being exchanged from both fighters. Williams and Brinson threw a lot of punches that round, wearing themselves out. Williams eventually took Brinson to the ground and dominated for the remaining time. On the third round, both fighters looked gassed, but that didn’t stop Williams from attacking when Brinson falls to the canvas. Williams won the fight via tap out. The second fight was Jeremy Schultz (194 lbs.) vs. Alex Vega (192 lbs.) The fight only went one round, which was dominated by Vega. Vega’s lead began when he had a big kick to Schultz’s body, then picked him up and slammed him. Schultz was able to reverse the control by picking Vega up and slamming him. Once Vega found a way, he took control of the fight and put Schultz into a submission, making Schultz’s arm snap. Vega won via tap out, and was awarded submission of the night. Fight three was as well a one-round brawl between Jake Lefrance (158 lbs.) and Jason Kennedy (159 lbs.) As the first round began, Kennedy started out the aggressor, throwing hard hits to Lefrance. When the fight was taken to the ground, Kennedy cut Lefrance’s left eye, then put him into submission. Kennedy won via tap out. The fourth fight was Eric Sally’s (256 lbs.) debut vs. Cody Hartman (235 lbs.) Apparently Sally had only been training one week before this fight. Starting the first round, Sally came out aggressive with his ground game and hard punches. Hartman was able to regain control every time Sally was the dominant. Round two, Sally threw hard body shots to Hartman, but Hartman took the fight to the canvas and started pounding away. Sally fought back, but both fighters began stalling, causing the ref to stand it up. Hartman was bleeding from the mouth and was taken down by Sally. Sally got in full mount, and showed good GNP. The third round started, and both fighters seemed tired. Hartman punched the cage trying to amp himself up. The round was mostly on the ground, with some toe to toe stand up. Sally was hitting much harder than Hartman, and took him to the ground. Hartman took advantage of the situation and got into position for a full mount. However, he couldn’t seem to keep Sally down for very long. The fight ended, and both fighters were extremely respectful before and after the decision with Sally being the victor. Fight number five was between Darnell Meekins (160 lbs.) and Jason Whitlowe (155 lbs.) As soon as the first round started, Meekins came out aggressive with excellent boxing skill, hard hits, knees, and kicks. Whitlowe was cut, and it wasn’t long until the fight was stopped and declared a no contest after Meekins kneed Whitlowe to the head. Clearly, it was unintentional, and Meekins was apologetic and was respectful about the whole situation. The sixth fight was Kevin Smith (165 lbs.) vs. Carlos Eggers (170 lbs.) This was Eggers’ debut fight. Round one began and Smith came out the aggressor, making it an all-out slugfest. Eggers took control when he knocked Smith to the ground twice. After the second time, the fight was stopped via knock out at 37 seconds, making Eggers the winner. Eggers was also awarded KO of the night. Fight seven was between Steve Wonderland (253 lbs.) and Ashton Litman (250 lbs.) The first round began, and Litman started the striking. Wonderland countered his stand up by taking him down. Wonderland showed good wrestling skill, but Litman became dominant every time he got the chance for a reversal. At one point, Wonderland got cut. Towards the end of the round, both fighters had each other in ankle locks, but were unsuccessful in finishing the other. Round two, Wonderland was more aggressive, as if he relaxed a little after round one was out of the way. His strikes were connecting and he fought like a wrestler. He hip tossed Litman and got in full mount, trying to finish him off. Wonderland found the opportunity, and stuck Litman in an arm bar, forcing Litman to tap. Fight number eight was Larry Eggers (185 lbs.) vs. Kelly Skeffington (180 lbs.) This fight also lasted one round, where Skeffington had a good takedown right away. Eggers was able to take the control away from Skeffington when he clocked him straight in the face and knocked him down. The fight was stopped via KO, with Eggers getting that W. The ninth fight of the night was another girl fight between Anna Bratcher (145 lbs.) and Kim Woods (138 lbs.) The first round began and it was a scrap. It became clear though that Bratcher didn’t know anything except to throw a punch. Woods had hard kicks to Bratcher’s left leg, and she took the fight to the canvas and showed some good GNP skill. Woods was able to catch Bratcher’s nose before she attempted to submit her. Round two, Bratcher was gassed and kept throwing wild and sloppy punches that didn’t do any damage. Her seemed like all her game plan was, was swing her arms, connecting or not, and wear herself out. Woods was more conditioned and continued her kicks that seemed to start doing some damage. The third round was basically a bunch of dancing around, and hardly any action. Woods was able to throw a spinning back fist though, and Bratcher never saw it coming. Nor did she have her hands up to protect. Both girls were worn out. Woods won the fight unanimous decision. The co-main event was Mike Duckett (160 lbs.) vs. Anthony Nache (158 lbs.) for the 155 Hawg Dawgs Championship belt. There was some shit-talking leading up to the fight, so people were stoked for it, and the crowd got rowdy fast. Round one began, and Nache came out aggressive trying to prove a point. Duckett was able to have cage control for a while until Nache broke free. Duckett kicked Nache to the groin shortly after, but Nache shook it off and continued to dominate. He threw hard body shots, vicious knees, and solid kicks doing damage to Duckett’s ribs and legs. The second round began, and both fighters exchanged extremely hard kicks. Nache struck Duckett in the face and took him down, hurting him with some nasty body shots to the ribcage while gaining arm control. Duckett ended up tapping, and Nache received his third title belt along with the fighter of the night award. The main event of the evening was between Zack Davis (270 lbs.) and Rashad South (241 lbs.) for the HWT Hawg Dawgs Championship belt. Round one started, and South attacked early and took Davis down with ease. A lot of GNP from South once he positioned himself in full mount. Davis ended up having a bloody nose. The fight was stopped, and South was the winner. Davis was respectful about everything and accepted that he lost fair and square. He commented that he didn’t care about the result, at least he had fun.
EKIM’S/Quad Cities Fighting Championships – November 23rd, 2011 Mike Smith put on the RT 84 Cage Fights III at Hawg Dawg’s Bar and Grill in Savanna, IL. There were 11 fights, 2 of which were girl fights, and 2 were for Hawg Dawg championship belts. The location was perfect and it was cool to see one of the original cages the area first had. Also, the fans that had shown up really got their money’s worth of excitement. Kudos, Mike! Fight number one was a girl fight between Terry Brinson (126 lbs.) and Rose Williams (130 lbs.) In the first round, Williams started off the aggressor with hard body shots to Brinson. Brinson looked as if she was hesitant about getting hit, which Williams took advantage of. For a while, there was a lot of stalling on the cage. Williams finished the round strong. The second round began, and there were tons of kicks being exchanged from both fighters. Williams and Brinson threw a lot of punches that round, wearing themselves out. Williams eventually took Brinson to the ground and dominated for the remaining time. On the third round, both fighters looked gassed, but that didn’t stop Williams from attacking when Brinson falls to the canvas. Williams won the fight via tap out. The second fight was Jeremy Schultz (194 lbs.) vs. Alex Vega (192 lbs.) The fight only went one round, which was dominated by Vega. Vega’s lead began when he had a big kick to Schultz’s body, then picked him up and slammed him. Schultz was able to reverse the control by picking Vega up and slamming him. Once Vega found a way, he took control of the fight and put Schultz into a submission, making Schultz’s arm snap. Vega won via tap out, and was awarded submission of the night. Fight three was as well a one-round brawl between Jake Lefrance (158 lbs.) and Jason Kennedy (159 lbs.) As the first round began, Kennedy started out the aggressor, throwing hard hits to Lefrance. When the fight was taken to the ground, Kennedy cut Lefrance’s left eye, then put him into submission. Kennedy won via tap out. The fourth fight was Eric Sally’s (256 lbs.) debut vs. Cody Hartman (235 lbs.) Apparently Sally had only been training one week before this fight. Starting the first round, Sally came out aggressive with his ground game and hard punches. Hartman was able to regain control every time Sally was the dominant. Round two, Sally threw hard body shots to Hartman, but Hartman took the fight to the canvas and started pounding away. Sally fought back, but both fighters began stalling, causing the ref to stand it up. Hartman was bleeding from the mouth and was taken down by Sally. Sally got in full mount, and showed good GNP. The third round started, and both fighters seemed tired. Hartman punched the cage trying to amp himself up. The round was mostly on the ground, with some toe to toe stand up. Sally was hitting much harder than Hartman, and took him to the ground. Hartman took advantage of the situation and got into position for a full mount. However, he couldn’t seem to keep Sally down for very long. The fight ended, and both fighters were extremely respectful before and after the decision with Sally being the victor. Fight number five was between Darnell Meekins (160 lbs.) and Jason Whitlowe (155 lbs.) As soon as the first round started, Meekins came out aggressive with excellent boxing skill, hard hits, knees, and kicks. Whitlowe was cut, and it wasn’t long until the fight was stopped and declared a no contest after Meekins kneed Whitlowe to the head. Clearly, it was unintentional, and Meekins was apologetic and was respectful about the whole situation. The sixth fight was Kevin Smith (165 lbs.) vs. Carlos Eggers (170 lbs.) This was Eggers’ debut fight. Round one began and Smith came out the aggressor, making it an all-out slugfest. Eggers took control when he knocked Smith to the ground twice. After the second time, the fight was stopped via knock out at 37 seconds, making Eggers the winner. Eggers was also awarded KO of the night. Fight seven was between Steve Wonderland (253 lbs.) and Ashton Litman (250 lbs.) The first round began, and Litman started the striking. Wonderland countered his stand up by taking him down. Wonderland showed good wrestling skill, but Litman became dominant every time he got the chance for a reversal. At one point, Wonderland got cut. Towards the end of the round, both fighters had each other in ankle locks, but were unsuccessful in finishing the other. Round two, Wonderland was more aggressive, as if he relaxed a little after round one was out of the way. His strikes were connecting and he fought like a wrestler. He hip tossed Litman and got in full mount, trying to finish him off. Wonderland found the opportunity, and stuck Litman in an arm bar, forcing Litman to tap. Fight number eight was Larry Eggers (185 lbs.) vs. Kelly Skeffington (180 lbs.) This fight also lasted one round, where Skeffington had a good takedown right away. Eggers was able to take the control away from Skeffington when he clocked him straight in the face and knocked him down. The fight was stopped via KO, with Eggers getting that W. The ninth fight of the night was another girl fight between Anna Bratcher (145 lbs.) and Kim Woods (138 lbs.) The first round began and it was a scrap. It became clear though that Bratcher didn’t know anything except to throw a punch. Woods had hard kicks to Bratcher’s left leg, and she took the fight to the canvas and showed some good GNP skill. Woods was able to catch Bratcher’s nose before she attempted to submit her. Round two, Bratcher was gassed and kept throwing wild and sloppy punches that didn’t do any damage. Her seemed like all her game plan was, was swing her arms, connecting or not, and wear herself out. Woods was more conditioned and continued her kicks that seemed to start doing some damage. The third round was basically a bunch of dancing around, and hardly any action. Woods was able to throw a spinning back fist though, and Bratcher never saw it coming. Nor did she have her hands up to protect. Both girls were worn out. Woods won the fight unanimous decision. The co-main event was Mike Duckett (160 lbs.) vs. Anthony Nache (158 lbs.) for the 155 Hawg Dawgs Championship belt. There was some shit-talking leading up to the fight, so people were stoked for it, and the crowd got rowdy fast. Round one began, and Nache came out aggressive trying to prove a point. Duckett was able to have cage control for a while until Nache broke free. Duckett kicked Nache to the groin shortly after, but Nache shook it off and continued to dominate. He threw hard body shots, vicious knees, and solid kicks doing damage to Duckett’s ribs and legs. The second round began, and both fighters exchanged extremely hard kicks. Nache struck Duckett in the face and took him down, hurting him with some nasty body shots to the ribcage while gaining arm control. Duckett ended up tapping, and Nache received his third title belt along with the fighter of the night award. The main event of the evening was between Zack Davis (270 lbs.) and Rashad South (241 lbs.) for the HWT Hawg Dawgs Championship belt. Round one started, and South attacked early and took Davis down with ease. A lot of GNP from South once he positioned himself in full mount. Davis ended up having a bloody nose. The fight was stopped, and South was the winner. Davis was respectful about everything and accepted that he lost fair and square. He commented that he didn’t care about the result, at least he had fun.