Dongi "The Ox" Yang

CageCraze.com caught up with Dongi “The Ox” Yang of Korean Top Team as he trained at Derby City MMA in Louisville, Kentucky, in preparation for his middleweight bout against Rob Kimmons on the preliminary card of “UFC on Versus 3.” “The Ox” rattled off nine straight stoppage victories before entering the UFC. Yang’s first venture in the UFC ended with a split-decision loss to “The Ultimate Fighter Season 11″ cast member, Chris Camozzi. Most people had Yang winning the first two rounds of that fight but the judges at UFC 121 did not see it the same way. Yang won over many UFC fans with his performance against Camozzi and he brings his exciting style to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville on March 3.

The man standing across the octagon from Yang this Thursday night will be UFC veteran Rob Kimmons. Kimmons holds a 3-3 record in the UFC, and his overall record is 23-6. Rob Kimmons has been stopped by Kyle Noke, Jorge Rivera, and Dan Miller during his tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Kimmons will undoubtedly be hungry coming into the match-up with Yang as he has a chance to improve his UFC record to 4-3. We had a chance to ask Dongi “The Ox” Yang about the matchup with Kimmons, and how his training has gone thus far in Louisville.

"The Korean Zombie" and "The Ox"

We first met up with Yang and his Korean Top Team teammates last Wednesday when he arrived in Louisville at Derby City MMA. He was admittedly tired from the long journey to Kentucky but we still got to hang around and watch him train with his teammate, Chan Sung “The Korean Zombie” Jung, and coach, Dongjin Ha. CageCraze.com caught up with Yang once again over the weekend, and asked how he felt after a few days in country:

“I’m feeling good. Now we’re just down to cutting the excess weight. Right now I’m a little over 20lbs over (207lbs on Sunday, the fight’s on Thursday). I prepped really hard for this fight and I [am] ready to go.”

A little over two weeks ago, Dongi Yang’s camp was looking for a gym in Louisville that had a cage so that he could properly train for his fight. We suggested that Korean Top Team look into training at Derby City MMA because they have a full cage, which is exactly what they wanted to find. We were curious to see how the local gym was working out, and how it compared to other gyms that Yang had trained in over the course of his career:

“Derby City is a really nice gym. Lots of really friendly people there, too. Derek [Cissell, owner] was super friendly and it’s been a huge help to be able to work out there. One big benefit is the cage. Unfortunately, we don’t have a cage at Korean Top Team, so being able to work out in one is helpful.”

Chan Sung Jung and Dongi Yang

One thing on our minds was the effect that the split-decision loss to Chris Camozzi had on Yang’s mentality and his training regimen. Even though many people believe Yang was robbed in that fight, Yang was very humble and made no excuses for the loss:

“I think I could have been a little better prepared as far my stamina. So, that’s probably one thing I concentrated on a little more on this time around, but other than that, I haven’t really changed anything with my training.”

Rob Kimmons is much more experienced than Dongi Yang, but has had trouble when moving up to face tougher competition. We asked Yang how he felt he matched up with Rob Kimmons, and whether or not he sees any weaknesses in Kimmons’ fighting that he can exploit on Thursday night:

“He definitely has a lot of experience and no glaring weaknesses in his game. I’d like to keep the fight standing, which is where I feel most comfortable, but even if it goes to the ground, I’m confident that I can control the pace.”

Dongi would like to thank his sponsors and teammates for helping him prepare for “UFC on Versus 3″ in Louisville:

“Yeah, I [would] like to thank my sponsors Sseda, Mutnam.com, Plus, Dr. Ihm of SL Ophthamology, Dr. Hwang and my coaches at Korean Top Team, Coach Ha and Coach Jeon.”

CageCraze.com would like to thank Jeffrey Madden and Brian Rhee for helping with the logistics and translation for this interview. We would also like to thank Derek Cissell of Derby City MMA for giving us access to the gym for photos of Dongi Yang’s training sessions.

“UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs Kampmann” takes place on Thursday, March 3, in Louisville, Kentucky. The UFC announced that this event will be the first UFC event to be broadcast in 3D. The event will air live on Versus at 9:00PM ET. Visit UFC.com for more information on this event.  CageCraze.com is your MMA Social Network dedicated to connecting, promoting, covering and improving local MMA everywhere. Create your free profile today, and stay connected with local MMA Everywhere!

Dongi "The Ox" Yang

CageCraze.com caught up with Dongi “The Ox” Yang of Korean Top Team as he trained at Derby City MMA in Louisville, Kentucky, in preparation for his middleweight bout against Rob Kimmons on the preliminary card of “UFC on Versus 3.” “The Ox” rattled off nine straight stoppage victories before entering the UFC. Yang’s first venture in the UFC ended with a split-decision loss to “The Ultimate Fighter Season 11″ cast member, Chris Camozzi. Most people had Yang winning the first two rounds of that fight but the judges at UFC 121 did not see it the same way. Yang won over many UFC fans with his performance against Camozzi and he brings his exciting style to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville on March 3.

The man standing across the octagon from Yang this Thursday night will be UFC veteran Rob Kimmons. Kimmons holds a 3-3 record in the UFC, and his overall record is 23-6. Rob Kimmons has been stopped by Kyle Noke, Jorge Rivera, and Dan Miller during his tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Kimmons will undoubtedly be hungry coming into the match-up with Yang as he has a chance to improve his UFC record to 4-3. We had a chance to ask Dongi “The Ox” Yang about the matchup with Kimmons, and how his training has gone thus far in Louisville.

"The Korean Zombie" and "The Ox"

We first met up with Yang and his Korean Top Team teammates last Wednesday when he arrived in Louisville at Derby City MMA. He was admittedly tired from the long journey to Kentucky but we still got to hang around and watch him train with his teammate, Chan Sung “The Korean Zombie” Jung, and coach, Dongjin Ha. CageCraze.com caught up with Yang once again over the weekend, and asked how he felt after a few days in country:

“I’m feeling good. Now we’re just down to cutting the excess weight. Right now I’m a little over 20lbs over (207lbs on Sunday, the fight’s on Thursday). I prepped really hard for this fight and I [am] ready to go.”

A little over two weeks ago, Dongi Yang’s camp was looking for a gym in Louisville that had a cage so that he could properly train for his fight. We suggested that Korean Top Team look into training at Derby City MMA because they have a full cage, which is exactly what they wanted to find. We were curious to see how the local gym was working out, and how it compared to other gyms that Yang had trained in over the course of his career:

“Derby City is a really nice gym. Lots of really friendly people there, too. Derek [Cissell, owner] was super friendly and it’s been a huge help to be able to work out there. One big benefit is the cage. Unfortunately, we don’t have a cage at Korean Top Team, so being able to work out in one is helpful.”

Chan Sung Jung and Dongi Yang

One thing on our minds was the effect that the split-decision loss to Chris Camozzi had on Yang’s mentality and his training regimen. Even though many people believe Yang was robbed in that fight, Yang was very humble and made no excuses for the loss:

“I think I could have been a little better prepared as far my stamina. So, that’s probably one thing I concentrated on a little more on this time around, but other than that, I haven’t really changed anything with my training.”

Rob Kimmons is much more experienced than Dongi Yang, but has had trouble when moving up to face tougher competition. We asked Yang how he felt he matched up with Rob Kimmons, and whether or not he sees any weaknesses in Kimmons’ fighting that he can exploit on Thursday night:

“He definitely has a lot of experience and no glaring weaknesses in his game. I’d like to keep the fight standing, which is where I feel most comfortable, but even if it goes to the ground, I’m confident that I can control the pace.”

Dongi would like to thank his sponsors and teammates for helping him prepare for “UFC on Versus 3″ in Louisville:

“Yeah, I [would] like to thank my sponsors Sseda, Mutnam.com, Plus, Dr. Ihm of SL Ophthamology, Dr. Hwang and my coaches at Korean Top Team, Coach Ha and Coach Jeon.”

CageCraze.com would like to thank Jeffrey Madden and Brian Rhee for helping with the logistics and translation for this interview. We would also like to thank Derek Cissell of Derby City MMA for giving us access to the gym for photos of Dongi Yang’s training sessions.

“UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs Kampmann” takes place on Thursday, March 3, in Louisville, Kentucky. The UFC announced that this event will be the first UFC event to be broadcast in 3D. The event will air live on Versus at 9:00PM ET. Visit UFC.com for more information on this event.  CageCraze.com is your MMA Social Network dedicated to connecting, promoting, covering and improving local MMA everywhere. Create your free profile today, and stay connected with local MMA Everywhere!

Dongi "The Ox" Yang

CageCraze.com caught up with Dongi “The Ox” Yang of Korean Top Team as he trained at Derby City MMA in Louisville, Kentucky, in preparation for his middleweight bout against Rob Kimmons on the preliminary card of “UFC on Versus 3.” “The Ox” rattled off nine straight stoppage victories before entering the UFC. Yang’s first venture in the UFC ended with a split-decision loss to “The Ultimate Fighter Season 11″ cast member, Chris Camozzi. Most people had Yang winning the first two rounds of that fight but the judges at UFC 121 did not see it the same way. Yang won over many UFC fans with his performance against Camozzi and he brings his exciting style to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville on March 3.

The man standing across the octagon from Yang this Thursday night will be UFC veteran Rob Kimmons. Kimmons holds a 3-3 record in the UFC, and his overall record is 23-6. Rob Kimmons has been stopped by Kyle Noke, Jorge Rivera, and Dan Miller during his tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Kimmons will undoubtedly be hungry coming into the match-up with Yang as he has a chance to improve his UFC record to 4-3. We had a chance to ask Dongi “The Ox” Yang about the matchup with Kimmons, and how his training has gone thus far in Louisville.

"The Korean Zombie" and "The Ox"

We first met up with Yang and his Korean Top Team teammates last Wednesday when he arrived in Louisville at Derby City MMA. He was admittedly tired from the long journey to Kentucky but we still got to hang around and watch him train with his teammate, Chan Sung “The Korean Zombie” Jung, and coach, Dongjin Ha. CageCraze.com caught up with Yang once again over the weekend, and asked how he felt after a few days in country:

“I’m feeling good. Now we’re just down to cutting the excess weight. Right now I’m a little over 20lbs over (207lbs on Sunday, the fight’s on Thursday). I prepped really hard for this fight and I [am] ready to go.”

A little over two weeks ago, Dongi Yang’s camp was looking for a gym in Louisville that had a cage so that he could properly train for his fight. We suggested that Korean Top Team look into training at Derby City MMA because they have a full cage, which is exactly what they wanted to find. We were curious to see how the local gym was working out, and how it compared to other gyms that Yang had trained in over the course of his career:

“Derby City is a really nice gym. Lots of really friendly people there, too. Derek [Cissell, owner] was super friendly and it’s been a huge help to be able to work out there. One big benefit is the cage. Unfortunately, we don’t have a cage at Korean Top Team, so being able to work out in one is helpful.”

Chan Sung Jung and Dongi Yang

One thing on our minds was the effect that the split-decision loss to Chris Camozzi had on Yang’s mentality and his training regimen. Even though many people believe Yang was robbed in that fight, Yang was very humble and made no excuses for the loss:

“I think I could have been a little better prepared as far my stamina. So, that’s probably one thing I concentrated on a little more on this time around, but other than that, I haven’t really changed anything with my training.”

Rob Kimmons is much more experienced than Dongi Yang, but has had trouble when moving up to face tougher competition. We asked Yang how he felt he matched up with Rob Kimmons, and whether or not he sees any weaknesses in Kimmons’ fighting that he can exploit on Thursday night:

“He definitely has a lot of experience and no glaring weaknesses in his game. I’d like to keep the fight standing, which is where I feel most comfortable, but even if it goes to the ground, I’m confident that I can control the pace.”

Dongi would like to thank his sponsors and teammates for helping him prepare for “UFC on Versus 3″ in Louisville:

“Yeah, I [would] like to thank my sponsors Sseda, Mutnam.com, Plus, Dr. Ihm of SL Ophthamology, Dr. Hwang and my coaches at Korean Top Team, Coach Ha and Coach Jeon.”

CageCraze.com would like to thank Jeffrey Madden and Brian Rhee for helping with the logistics and translation for this interview. We would also like to thank Derek Cissell of Derby City MMA for giving us access to the gym for photos of Dongi Yang’s training sessions.

“UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs Kampmann” takes place on Thursday, March 3, in Louisville, Kentucky. The UFC announced that this event will be the first UFC event to be broadcast in 3D. The event will air live on Versus at 9:00PM ET. Visit UFC.com for more information on this event.  CageCraze.com is your MMA Social Network dedicated to connecting, promoting, covering and improving local MMA everywhere. Create your free profile today, and stay connected with local MMA Everywhere!

Hardrock MMA 31: Private Event

Hardrock MMA held a private show in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday night. The show was closed to the public but the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority was there to oversee all of the action inside of the cage. There were six professional fights and three amateur fights, including a bout to decide the Hardrock MMA Heavyweight Title between Andrew Fogg and Josh Walker. CageCraze.com was the only media allowed inside for the event so please check out our results below and come back later for the exclusive recap of all of the fights. Due to this event being private, we were unable to take any photos or video.

Quick Results

Amateur Fights

Daniel Ware def Caleb Miller via Unanimous Decision at 3:00 in Rd. 3

Andrew Fogg def Josh Walker via Submission (strikes) at 1:10 in Rd. 3 – HW Title Fight

Matt Metts def Alvin Miller via Submission (armbar) at 2:44 in Rd. 1

Professional Fights

Derek Sawyer def Sha-la Edwards via Submission (rear naked choke) at 1:40 in Rd. 1

Rick Borders def Chancellor Edmonson via Submission (armbar) at 1:33 in Rd. 1

Brandon Howard def Jason Jones via TKO at 0:38 in Rd. 1

Justin Pennington def Jesse Grindstaff via TKO at 1:44 in Rd. 1

Jeremy Myers def Steven Durr via Unanimous Decision at 3:00 in Rd. 3

Zach Sanders def TJ Barber via TKO at 4:58 in Rd. 2

CageCraze.com is your MMA Social Network dedicated to connecting, promoting, covering and improving local MMA everywhere. Create your free profile today, and stay connected with local MMA Everywhere!

Renato Tavares BJJ

Derby City MMA in Louisville, Kentucky, will host a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) seminar featuring Renato Tavares of American Top Team. The seminar at Derby City MMA will be held on February 12, 2011, from 12:00PM – 3:00PM. Renato Tavares is a 4th-degree black belt in BJJ and he has trained in the art for over 36 years, 10 of which were spent training under Carlson Gracie, Sr.

Tavares has competed in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 30 years, logging over 500 competition matches in his career. Renato Tavares currently has over twelve schools across the country and hopes to expand even further to help spread the popularity of BJJ in the United States. The seminar is open to anyone, regardless of experience level or affiliation. The fee for the seminar is $65.00 and can be paid on the day of the event. Do not miss your opportunity to train with a master in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

About Derby City MMA

Derby City MMA is one of the top combat sports gyms in Louisville, Kentucky. Derby City MMA offers a full lineup of classes, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, and Mixed Martial Arts. The gym is open to people of all skill and fitness levels, and offers classes seven days a week. Derby City MMA also has a successful MMA competition team. Membership at Derby City MMA includes unlimited training, and they offer several different pricing plans. Please contact Derby City MMA for information on a free trial and a tour of their facilities.

Event Information

What: American Top Team Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Seminar featuring Renato Tavares

Where: Derby City MMA | 8021 Dixie Hwy Suite 102 | Louisville, Kentucky 40258

When:  Saturday, February 12, 2011 | 12:00PM – 3:00PM

Cost: $65.00

Contact: (502) 937-8797 | DerbyCityMMA@gmail.com | Derby City MMA Website

CageCraze.com is your MMA Social Network dedicated to connecting, promoting, covering and improving local MMA everywhere. Create your free profile today, and stay connected with local MMA Everywhere!

UFC comes to Kentucky

The UFC announced today that the organization will be bringing its third “UFC on Versus” event to Louisville, Kentucky, on March 3, 2011. The event will be held in the brand new KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville. This also marks the first time that the promotion has ever held an event in the “Bluegrass State.” This is by far the biggest event in Kentucky MMA history and it should do wonders for the local community in terms of bringing publicity to the state’s burgeoning local MMA scene. CageCraze.com has been in talks with Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling (KBWA) representatives about the early rumors surrounding this event but it brings us great joy to see that the event is now official.

The main event for “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann” is a very intriguing matchup between Ultimate Fighter Season One winner, Diego Sanchez, and the “Hitman,” Martin Kampmann. Kampmann is coming off of a decision loss to Jake Shields at UFC 121 and Diego Sanchez comes into the fight after beating Paulo Thiago on the same card. Jake Shields stymied Kampmann by controlling him on the ground but Sanchez will be more willing to stand and trade with the Danish fighter.

Also announced today were five additional bouts for the event in Louisville. Mark Munoz was rumored to be fighting on this card and today we learned that his opponent will be C.B. Dolloway. Dolloway has been on a tear in the UFC lately, winning five of his last six fights. Mark Munoz has won four of his last five fights since losing to Matt Hamill at UFC 96. Dolloway and Munoz both love to push the pace and the winner will advance further up the ladder in the UFC’s middleweight division. The full (confirmed) card can be found below. Stay tuned to CageCraze.com for more information regarding “UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann”

UFC on Versus 3: Sanchez vs. Kampmann – Visit UFC.com for ticket information

March 3, 2011

KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, Kentucky

9:00PM Eastern on Versus

Fight Card

Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann

C.B. Dollaway vs. Mark Munoz

Alessio Sakara vs. Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves

Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page

Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera

Shane Roller vs. Thiago Tavares

CageCraze.com is your MMA Social Network dedicated to connecting, promoting, covering and improving local MMA everywhere. Create your free profile today, and stay connected with local MMA Everywhere!

CageCraze.com was in attendance Saturday night at the Derby Park Expo Five in Louisville, Ky., as Second2None Cage Fights put on another event full of local MMA action. There was no access to internet at the venue so we could not bring you live results this time, however, the full results can be found below and we will have great action shots shared with us by our friends at Grand Slam Photography. This event had the usual blood, sweat, and tears but it also had something we have never seen before: a marriage proposal in the center of the cage!

Amateur Card:

Patrick Barnes vs. Chad Hardy (Derby City MMA) – Grappling Match

Chad Hardy, just 15 years old, won this grappling match by securing two submissions before the end of the five minute round. Hardy scored an armbar at the 1:59 mark and a triangle choke at 4:22.

Chris Boyd (Bad Dog MMA) vs. Jeremiah Hill (SSF)

Boyd made quick work of Jeremiah Hill in this battle of Super Heavyweights. Boyd rushed across the cage and bullied Hill into the fence. Hill spun Boyd around but was not strong enough as Boyd forced Hill into a neutral corner on the opposite side of the cage. Boyd landed a few knees then threw Hill to the mat where he finished the fight with a series of big left hands at 1:06 in Round One.

John Lohden vs. Chris Turner

Turner secures the choke

Chris Turner opened the fight with a flying knee that knocked Lohden off balance and into the wall of the cage. It was apparent that Lohden was not hurt because he quickly took the center of the cage and managed to get Turner to the ground. In the ensuing scramble, Lohden managed to briefly mount Turner and landed a few punches before Turner rolled him and stood up. Turner would never be in danger for the rest of the fight as he was able to control Lohden on the ground and eventually worked in a rear naked choke that forced Lohden to tap at the 1:50 mark in Round One.

Zack Craig vs. Chase Wathen

Wathen catches Craig in a triangle

This fight was all Zack Craig from the opening bell…until the 1:20 mark. Craig rushed Wathen as soon as they touched gloves and landed a quick flurry of punches before taking Wathen down. Craig managed to land solid punches from Wathen’s guard and was also able to pick Wathen up off of the canvas and slam him several times. The aggressive attack seemed to drain Craig significantly, and Wathen was able to slide his hips up and catch Craig in a triangle. Wathen tried to switch to an armbar and then rolled so that his entire body was pressing down on Craig, still in the triangle. Wathen then landed three quick punches to the unprotected face of Craig, prompting referee Dennis Swift to step in and stop the fight at 2:24 in Round One. From our vantage point at the cage we did not see Craig tap but this one goes into the books officially as a submission per the officials.

Kevin Snyder (MCA-MMA) vs. John Sheets (Derby City MMA)

Sheets shot in for the takedown as soon as the fight started and found himself in the very active guard of Kevin Snyder. Snyder immediately worked the rubber guard but Sheets was able to avoid any submission attempt and passed to half guard. Snyder executed a beautiful sweep into Sheets’ guard and unleashed several big shots. Sheets attempted a triangle which prompted Snyder to scramble and stand, the skirmish allowed Sheets to escape and gain top position in Snyder’s guard. Sheets landed one heavy right hand but Snyder was still more aggressive with his active guard and landing punches from the bottom. The round ended in the same position and the doctor was called in to examine the left shoulder of Sheets. The fight is stopped due to a dislocated shoulder that Sheets suffered during the latter part of the round and Snyder is declared the winner.

Justin Tucker vs. Rob Gividen (Bad Dog MMA)

Gividen throws Tucker

Justin Tucker was a last second replacement in this fight but started off on a good note by taking Gividen down to start the round. However, Gividen proved to be too much for Tucker to handle on the ground as he immediately rolled Tucker and moved into his guard. On the advice of his corner, Gividen stacked Tucker against the cage in a sitting position and then Gividen stood and dropped back into a guillotine choke. The momentum of the move rolled both fighters end over end with the result being Gividen on top with Tucker fully mounted. Gividen had a very high mount and it appeared that Tucker might slip out the back so Gividen let go of the choke and stood up. Gividen then threw Tucker back to the mat and navigated his way to a tight rear naked choke that forced Tucker to tap at 1:40 in the round.

Ralph Basemore vs. Jeff Swoyer (Derby City MMA)

Swoyer submits Basemore

Jeff Swoyer delivered a dominant performance in dispatching Ralph Basemore in this fight. Swoyer landed a nice single-leg takedown in the early moments of the round that put him in the half guard of Basemore. Swoyer moved Basemore closer to the cage and landed three hard right hands to Basemore’s ribs. The strikes forced Basemore to look for a way out and he tried to shrimp away from Swoyer to no avail. The small distance that Basemore got during his retreat allowed Swoyer to move to the mount. Swoyer punished Basemore from the top with punches and hammerfists that forced Basemore to roll over and give up his back. Swoyer wasted no time in cinching up a rear naked choke, bringing on the tapout at 2:20 in the first round.

Jacob Johnson vs. Montez Jordan (Nations of Violence)

Jordan landed a takedown at 0:30 into the round and never looked back, controlling his downed opponent from the full guard with solid wrestling and strikes. Jordan moved to mount Johnson at 1:43 and pestered him with strikes until referee Chris Biddle stepped in to stop the abuse at the 2:20 point in Round One.

Elliott Blair vs. Jeff Young (Derby City MMA)

Jeff Young forces Blair to tap

Jeff Young caught an Elliot Blair kick to start the fight and brought Blair to the canvas with a straight left hand. From there Young would walk Blair over into the blue corner where he could get clear instruction from his coaches, Nick “Chewy” Albin, and Colin Cannon. Young soon passed to full mount and followed up with strikes that forced Blair to give up his back. Jeff Young then latched on a rear naked choke that was soon followed by Blair tapping out at 1:20 in the round.

Chris Bryant vs. Toeupu Liu (Bad Dog MMA)

Toeupu Liu wanted to bring his Bad Dog MMA fight team to 3-0 on the night and he wasted very little time in achieving his goal. Liu scored two takedowns in the fight, and that was all he needed to get into a position to finish Bryant. Liu took Bryant’s back and then flattened him out and followed up with punches. Liu paused, then postured up and connected with three right hands that caused the referee to swoop in and save Bryant from further harm at just 1:02 into the round.

Andrew Ward vs. Ray Korb (Nations of Violence)

Andrew Ward treated us to another quick finish by dropping Ray Korb with a right hand and then following up with a guillotine choke. Korb’s cornerman, Cody Kessinger, could be heard telling Korb to push his hand across the face of Ward but it was too late as Korb tapped at the 0:41 mark in Round One.

Rob Smith (Eclectics Martial Arts) vs. Brandon Sandefur (Derby City MMA) – Grappling Match

Smith and Sandefur battle to a draw

Brandon Sandefur was supposed to be fighting on this card but his opponent dropped out of the fight. Future professional fighter, Rob Smith, just happened to be in the audience. They could not fight each other but we got the next best thing: a five minute grappling battle between the two wrestlers. What happens when an unstoppable force collides with an immovable object? In this case, a draw. Neither fighter managed to score a submission but it was definitely entertaining. We applaud both guys for stepping up and putting on a great show for the fans.

Justin Cox vs. Jason Pardieu

Jason Pardieu rushed across the cage to meet Justin Cox and pushed Cox against the cage but could not secure the position which allowed Cox to take his back. With his arms wrapped around the midsection of Pardieu, Cox was able to land a perfect suplex and move to full mount. Pardieu is able to stand, a move that sends Cox to his back on the ground. Pardieu allowed Cox to get to his feet only to shove Cox back to the ground. Pardieu then backed off and let Cox stand once more. Pardieu moved in closer and threw a lazy right hand that Cox was able to duck. Cox then unloaded with a right hand that sent Pardieu crashing to the mat. Cox followed up with two more shots before the referee could stop the fight at 1:05.

Pete Prather vs. A.J. Sherrard (Bad Dog MMA)

AJ Sherrard proposes after his win

The perfect record for Bad Dog MMA looked to be in jeopardy early in the fight when Prather dropped Sherrard with a right hand. Sherrard recovered quickly though and turned the fight around by scooping Prather and slamming him to the mat. Prather went for an armbar but lost it and gave up his back to Sherrard who capitalized on the miscue and smothered Prather with strikes. The referee had seen enough and pulled Sherrard off of Prather just 0:40 into the fight. With the win, Bad Dog MMA went 4-0 for the night and Sherrard must have felt lucky because he asked for the microphone from the announcer. Sherrard then called his girlfriend, Kacey, into the cage and proposed in front of the crowd at Expo Five. Kacey accepted his proposal and then the Bad Dog MMA fans erupted in cheers and applause.

John Fuqua vs. Nathen Myers (Battlegrounds Combat Club)

Both fighters showed their willingness to stand and trade in this fight, with Fuqua landing the heavier shots in the first round. Myers seemed to be the more technical of the two strikers but Fuqua was able to connect on several looping power shots throughout the round. Myers seemed to be hurt a couple of times but Fuqua could not put him away. Both fighters came into the second round content to carry on with the striking battle from the first round. The end came quickly though as Nathen Myers connected with a combination at 0:25 in the round to drop Fuqua to the floor. Myers followed with strikes and all Fuqua could do is cover up until the referee stopped the fight at 0:46 in Round Two.

Cody Bruce vs. Matt Holthaus (Derby City MMA) – Second2None Middleweight Championship

Bruce takes Holthaus' back

Bruce and Holthaus are both strong Middleweights with good wrestling skills and both have reputations for punishing their opponents on the ground. I expected to see the fighters stand and not test the ground game of their opponent. Holthaus proved me wrong immediately by trying to take Cody Bruce down early in the fight. Bruce was able to stop the takedown attempt and gain top control in the North-South position. From that point Bruce slid around and took the back of Holthaus and soon got both hooks in and secured a rear naked choke. Holthaus fought the choke as long as he could but was forced to tap at 2:02 in Round One. Cody Bruce is the Second2None Middleweight Champion, once again.

Pro Card:

Nathan Dailey vs. Bart Page (Eclectics Martial Arts)

Page pushes Dailey against the cage

Nathan Dailey proudly wears a tattoo across his chest that says “Bad Intentions,” and his performance made everyone believe that he puts nothing but bad intentions in every punch he throws. Bart Page did not seem to care because he had some bad intentions of his own to share with Mr. Dailey. Dailey had the reach and height advantage in this fight so Page was constantly moving forward, trying to duck under Dailey’s punches and connect with his own. Page ate several big shots trying to close the distance but eventually managed to get his timing down and caught Dailey about 3:00 into the round. Dailey looked hurt, momentarily, but managed to recover and opened up a nasty cut on Page’s face. Page still pressed forward though and was dropped by a left hook with about 0:41 left in the round. Dailey chose to let Page stand in lieu of following the him to the ground, and they finished out the round with a few more exchanges on the feet. In the second round, Dailey seemed to be tired and held his hands down near his waist. Page increased his pressure and seemed to be the better-conditioned fighter but Dailey still showed his counter punching skills and dropped Page with a straight right hand as Page rushed in with a left hand. Even though Dailey was stepping backwards when he threw the punch, it landed squarely behind Page’s left ear and put him down at the 1:28 mark in Round Two.

Event Notes:

• Second2None Cage Fights will hold their next event on January 22, 2011 at Derby Park Expo Five in Louisville, Ky.
• Todd Neal from the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority (KBWA) announced new rule changes that will take effect in Kentucky in 2011, most notable:
  • The KBWA is taking a stronger stance against unprofessional fighters/teams that no-show events. As of right now, it is at the discretion of the promoter as to whether the fighter will be suspended. The proposed change will put the power to suspend the individuals solely in the hands of the KBWA so that a more consistent system of punishing no-shows can be established
  • In 2011, fighters that call themselves “Independents” will no longer be allowed to fight in Kentucky. All fighters must be affiliated with a licensed trainer, in good standing with the KBWA, in order to compete. This change is being brought forward because of a recent trend in some MMA shows that turn into “Toughman” competitions instead of Mixed Martial Arts bouts.
  • The KBWA will mandate that all Mixed Martial Arts bouts be contested inside a cage beginning in 2011.
• A new force in Kentucky MMA has made its presence known as of last night. Bad Dog MMA brought four fighters into the Second2None cage and left with four victories. The upstart fight team out of Fairdale, Kentucky, also brought a sea of supporters with them to the fights. At least half of the crowd sported black Bad Dog MMA shirts at the event. The coming months will let us know whether this is another flash-in-the-pan team, or if they are here to stay.

Bellator 30

CageCraze.com was live at Bellator 30 at the “4th Street Live!” Entertainment District in Louisville, Kentucky on Thursday night. The event was headlined by a middleweight clash between Bryan Baker and Jeremy Horn. The card also featured the semi-final bouts in Bellator’s Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament, as well as a qualifier for Bellator’s Season 4 Welterweight Tournament between Jacob McClintock and local favorite, Brent Weedman. It certainly was a night to remember for Kentucky MMA fans as the local fighters from the “Bluegrass State” stole the show.

Jeremiah Riggs (186 lbs.) vs. Mike Fleniken (185 lbs.) @ 185 lbs.

Louisville MMA’s Mike Fleniken lost a hard-fought war to Jeremiah Riggs via Unanimous Decision. Both fighters sustained a ton of punishment through three rounds but Riggs managed to outwork Fleniken to earn the decision. The loss brings Fleniken back to .500 (3-3) in his professional MMA career. Fleniken thought that he had the opportunity to finish the fight at several points but lamented the fact that he could not close out Riggs. There is no such thing as a “moral victory” in Mixed Martial Arts but the crowd in Louisville made it clear that both fighters should be proud of their efforts in the opening bout of Bellator 30.

Submission of the Night

Stoney Hale (170 lbs.) vs. Mike O’Donnell (170 lbs.) @ 170 lbs.

Mike O'Donnell post-fight

The second fight of the evening matched up Team Oxendine fighter, Stoney Hale, against Four Seasons Martial Arts’ Mike O’Donnell out of Lexington, Ky. O’Donnell came into the fight holding a win over War Machine in 2006, but had not fought since his 2007 loss to Jason Ireland in King of the Cage. Hale’s last fight ended with a submission win over Mike Fleniken at Bellator 23 in Louisville. The lingering question about this fight was whether or not O’Donnell could come back from a three year hiatus and defeat a very dangerous fighter like Stoney Hale. The answer to that question came swiftly at the 0:50 mark in the second round. O’Donnell hurt Hale with a right hand and followed up with a barrage of knees. With Hale against the cage, O’Donnell leaped to his back and brought the fight to the ground. The Carlson Gracie Jr. black belt used a Kimura and then transitioned to a straight armbar, forcing Hale to tap just fifty seconds into the round. CageCraze.com caught up with Mike O’Donnell after the fight and this is what he had to say about his game plan:

“I was just going to let him conduct the symphony. I felt like my takedown would be better off of his shot. I figured that after we connected a few times, that instinctively, he would go for the clinch because of his history in Toughman competitions…after a few rights he would clinch and then I would try for a Kimura or look for a high hip throw. “ O’Donnell’s game plan definitely worked.

T.J. Barber (142 lbs.) vs. B.J. Ferguson (144 lbs.) @ 145 lbs.

All American Martial Arts’ BJ Ferguson was able to pull out a slick armbar submission in a fight that many thought Barber was winning. After an exciting first round, which saw TJ Barber and BJ Ferguson trade punches, kicks, and takedown attempts, Ferguson found himself in a dangerous situation on his back. Barber was landing solid punches when Ferguson grabbed an arm and locked on the decisive armbar.

Jacob McClintock (171 lbs.) vs. Brent Weedman (170 lbs.) @170 lbs.

Brent Weedman following his victory

The Weedman/McClintock fight was pushed off of the live broadcast due to time constraints. If only Bellator would have known what Louisville’s Brent Weedman had in store for Jacob McClintock, they definitely would have shown the fight live. McClintock looked for a standing guillotine early in the fight, but Weedman maintained his composure and slipped out of the choke. With McClintock on the ground, Weedman was able to land several shots, but decided to back off and let McClintock up to his feet. Weedman catches McClintock with a hard body shot that crumples him to the mat. Weedman pounces on the fallen fighter , alternating strikes to the head and ribs of McClintock. The referee gives McClintock ample time to defend himself but he is unable to do so; the referee steps in to save him from further damage. Brent Weedman turns to the cameras and shouts, “What’s my name?” The local hero earned a spot in Bellator’s Season 4 Welterweight Tournament with his win. The sea of fans wearing “Weedman Nation” shirts went nuts with excitement. Weedman is a very passionate, intelligent, and unique person; CageCraze.com met up with the local fighter moments after his win:

“I don’t know if you saw it out there tonight, but there are about 150 t-shirts that say “Weedman Nation” on them…I don’t have any fans out there tonight, those are all my friends. That’s how we do in Louisville.”

When asked if he could describe the way he felt, Weedman admitted he could not adequately explain the emotions that he was experiencing:

“No, I can’t, man. This is why I fight. This is why I wake up at six in the morning and run. This is why I do pushups, this is why I throw up in the gym. This is why I don’t hang out with people, this is why I don’t drink, and this is why I don’t party…I feel like this is what I have been put on Earth to do.”

Knockout of the Night

Greg Maynard (263 lbs.) vs. Ron Sparks (258 lbs.) @ 265 lbs.

Ron "The Monster" Sparks

Ron Sparks has been a 5-0 fighter for what seems like an eternity. For months it looked like the MMA gods were toying with “The Monster” from Louisville, Ky. A fight with Bobby Lashley fell through. Sparks saw two fights with Ray Mercer disappear. Betwixt the two cancelled fights with Mercer, Ron also saw a proposed fight on Bellator 23 vanish due to contractual obligations with King of the Cage. All of that changed Thursday night when Sparks and Maynard entered the Bellator cage. The cage door shut this time. It was really happening. Ron Sparks’ sixth professional win only took fifty seconds. Sparks dropped Maynard with a left and grazed him with a right hand as he fell to the canvas. The fight was immediately stopped. When CageCraze.com spoke to Ron after the fight, he mentioned that he had “found a home” at Bellator. This was a prime opportunity to confirm the rumor that Ron’s win over Maynard was the first fight on his newly inked three-fight contract with Bellator:

“Yeah, it’s true.” Ron then confirmed that he was released from his contract with King of the Cage and is free to pursue his goals within Bellator’s Heavyweight Division:

“I want the Heavyweight belt from Bellator. I want that and I want to fight in that tournament. I want in that tournament bad.”

Fight of the Night

Josh Clark (185 lbs.) vs. John Troyer (186 lbs.) @185 lbs.

Battle-tested John Troyer

This fight was a tale of two streaks. Clark, out of Four Seasons in Lexington, came into the fight after winning his first three fights as a professional. Troyer stepped into the cage Thursday night having dropped three straight fights. It was widely thought that this was Josh Clark’s coming-out party, but Louisville MMA’s John Troyer had something else planned. Both fighters seemed to have “Louisville Sluggers” for arms because these Middleweights came out swinging for the fences. Troyer opens up a huge cut over the right eye of Josh Clark in the first round of a fight that left both fighters battered, bruised, and bloodied. The first two rounds went back and forth with both Troyer and Clark landing punches, knees, and kicks that would leave lesser men crumpled on the floor. After the second round both fighters seemed gassed but Troyer looked to be fresher heading into the final round. Clark put everything he had into trying to end the fight in the third round but just could not stop Troyer. John fired back and closed out the round punishing Clark with elbows and hammerfists from the full mount, securing the decision. Troyer admitted that he “needed” the win, but went on to explain that it was no fluke that he was able to beat Clark:

“I think my record is deceiving, I think I am one of the best fighters out there in Middleweight, and especially at Welterweight…if I can get the sponsors and get to training full time I think I can beat anyone out there…I’m just taking it one day at a time. If could get it to where the only thing I was doing was fighting full time, you could give me two months and I will beat anyone out there.”

Televised Bouts

All three televised bouts went to the scorecards. Ed West and Zach Makovsky won their respective fights and will meet each other in the finals of Bellator’s Season 3 Bantamweight tournament. In the headliner match, Bryan Baker was able to outpoint MMA pioneer, Jeremy Horn, to earn a Unanimous Decision.

Event Notes

Brent Weedman is not your typical tattooed MMA fighter. He has no barbwire or tribal bands around his arms. Weedman sports tattoos of the Solar System on his left leg. Weedman requested that CageCraze.com mention his third passion outside of his wife and MMA:

Helio Soneca, Brent Weedman, and Eric Haycraft

“Astronomy is my other passion. I’d like to say…tonight is Neptune’s Birthday. It was over 160 years ago today that Neptune was in the sky, right where it is right now, when it was discovered. I told my corner that I was going to say that in the ring and they made fun of me. I said that if one kid, somewhere in America, Googles that…that’s all I’m here to do, man.”

Brent is a character and a great ambassador for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts in Kentucky. CageCraze.com would like to congratulate him and his team (Team Haycraft/Real Fighters Gym/Helio Soneca BJJ of Louisville) on the victory. We wish them the best of luck in the Bellator Welterweight Tournament in 2011.

All of the Kentucky fighters rose to the challenge of competing at an event on the level of Bellator Fighting Championships. Their performances served as a great testament to the potential of Mixed Martial Arts across the state. CageCraze.com is proud to be able to bring their stories to you and keep connecting, promoting, and improving local Mixed Martial Arts, everywhere!

Quick Results

Jeremiah Riggs def. Mike Fleniken via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds

Mike O’Donnell def. Stoney Hale via Tapout due to an armbar at 0:50 in Rd. 2

Ed West def. Jose Vega via Split Decision – Advances to Bellator Bantamweight Tournament Final

Zack Makovsky def. Bryan Goldsby via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 twice) – Advances to BW Final

Bryan Baker def. Jeremy Horn via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 twice)

BJ Ferguson def. TJ Barber via Tapout due to armbar at 2:50 in Rd. 2

Brent Weedman def. Jacob McClintock via TKO at 3:05 in Rd. 1

Ron Sparks def. Greg Maynard via KO at 0:50 in Rd. 1

John Troyer def. Josh Clark via Unanimous Decision (30-27 three times)

Official Fight Card

Jeremiah Riggs (186 lbs.) vs. Mike Fleniken (185 lbs.) @ 185 lbs.

Stoney Hale (170 lbs.) vs. Mike O’ Donnell (170 lbs.) @ 170 lbs.

Jose Vega (135 lbs.) vs. Ed West (136 lbs.) @ 135 lbs.

Bryan Goldsby (135 lbs.) vs. Zack Makovsky (135 lbs.) @135 lbs.

Jeremy Horn (186 lbs.) vs. Bryan Baker (184 lbs.) @ 185 lbs.

T.J. Barber (142 lbs.) vs. B.J. Ferguson (144 lbs.) @ 145 lbs.

Jacob McClintock (171 lbs.) vs. Brent Weedman (170 lbs.) @170 lbs.

Greg Maynard (263 lbs.) vs. Ron Sparks (258 Ibs.) @ 265 lbs.

Josh Clark (185 lbs.) vs. John Troyer (186 Ibs.) @185 lbs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 24, 2010) – Bellator Fighting Championships concluded its hugely successful second season with two more thrilling upsets on Thursday as middleweight Alexander Shlemenko scored a stunning TKO and featherweight Joe Warren won a hard-fought split decision to emerge as the Season 2 Tournament Champions in their respective divisions.

The sold-out event at Louisville’s Fourth Street Live downtown entertainment district tied a ribbon on Bellator Season 2 in fitting fashion as fans were once again treated to a full card of electrifying fights that also included shocking upsets at bantamweight and in a Women’s Feature Fight.

But the night undoubtedly belonged to Warren and Shlemenko, whose victories earned them $100,000 in prize money and the chance to fight reigning Bellator World Champions Joe Soto and Hector Lombard, respectively, in world title fights this fall.

Shlemenko, a 26-year-old army combat fighter known for his reliance on spinning back-fists and leg kicks, came out swinging in his typical style from the opening bell. But it was a far-more-conventional right hook to the jaw that eventually finished the heavily favored Bryan “The Beast” Baker roughly mid-way through Round 1.

The devastating punch left Baker (13-2) dazed and slowly crumpled him to the canvas before Shlemenko moved in for the finish with a flurry of punches. Referee Jason Herzog stopped the fight due to unanswered blows at 2:45 into Round 1.

It was just the second time that Baker had suffered a loss as a pro with the other coming at the hands of UFC star Chael Sonnen more than two years ago.

“We had heard that Alexander Shlemenko was one of the best middleweights in Europe and he definitely proved that here tonight,” Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said afterward. “He beat a very, very talented fighter in Bryan Baker and he’s more than earned the right to face our champion Hector Lombard later this year.”

Shlemenko, for his part, said the win was also a statement on behalf of all pure strikers in MMA today.

“This victory means that strikers soon will be all over MMA and that Bellator Fighting Championships will be owned by the strikers,” he said through his translator.

Warren, meanwhile, took a far-more-circuitous route to his title. The 33-year-old former NCAA all-American and Greco-Roman wrestling world champion, appeared to be all but finished near the end of Round 1 when his opponent, the previously undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Patricio Pitbull, dropped him to the canvas with a right cross and then began a vicious ground-and-pound before Warren was saved by the bell.

But Warren rebounded in remarkable fashion during Rounds 2 and 3, digging deep and using his world-class wrestling skills to score points with a series of takedowns that were each followed by relentless ground-and-pound attacks punctuated with sharp elbows and stiff forearms to Pitbull’s head.

The split decision victory was even more impressive given that Warren spent much of the day battling a stomach virus that left him unable to keep food down or maintain his balance.

“I feel tired but I’m very happy now,” he said after the fight. “I fought a great fighter in Pitbull and now I’m the champion. I’m the baddest man on the planet!”

Rebney agreed, saluting Warren’s resilience and his will to win even in spite of his illness.

“He showed up tonight with a sickness that would have put a lot of people in the hospital and beat a world-class fighter and put on the kind of performance that you just can’t script,” he said. “What he did tonight was just epic and very, very impressive.”

Earlier, in the first televised fight of the night, Fresno, Calif.-based striker Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto scored a huge upset with a first round knockout of the world’s top-ranked 125-pound female fighter, England’s Rosi Sexton.

At just two minutes into Round 1, Frausto (7-1) landed a left knee to Sexton’s chin, knocking her unconscious and dropping her to the canvas before finishing her with three straight right hands to the jaw. It was just the second career loss for Sexton in 12 pro MMA fights.

“I saw the opening and I just threw the knee up,” Frausto said afterward, adding that she thinks she now deserves to be ranked No. 1 in the world at 125. “I’ve been shooting for No. 1 since I got into the sport. This is exactly why I got into MMA.”

Also Thursday, in what was billed as an “Eliminator Bout” to determine the latest entrant into Bellator’s forthcoming Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament, two-time Wyoming state high school wrestling champion Nik “Garfield” Mamalis scored his second consecutive Bellator victory to improve his pro MMA record to 10-4 and punch his ticket into the tournament’s eight-man field. The soft-spoken Mamalis used an aggressive attack to neutralize L.A.-based rising star Albert Rios (12-5) via TKO at 4:40 into Round 1.

Afterward, Rebney said that Mamalis had more than earned his place in the Bantamweight Tournament draw.

“That’s what Bellator’s all about,” Rebney said. “it’s about giving a guy like Nik who hasn’t had a chance on the big stage the opportunity to that and then he takes that opportunity by the throat.”

The evening also played host to four non-televised “Local Feature Fights” showcasing top rising stars from Louisville, Cincinnati and Southern Indiana. The results of those fights are as follows:

- Brent Weedman def. John Troyer via armbar submission – Round 1, 4:55
- Daniel Straus def. Chad Hinton via unanimous decision
- Stoney Hale def. Mike Fleniken via rear-naked choke – Round 2, 4:20
- Kurt Kinser def. David Overfield via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:30

Bellator returns to TV in August for its much-anticipated third season, which will feature eight-man tournaments at bantamweight and heavyweight as well as a first-of-its-kind Women’s Tournament showcasing eight female fighters ranked among the top 10 in their respective weight classes.

Each fight will once again be broadcast LIVE in primetime on Fox Sports Net and during special taped highlight shows every Saturday night on NBC, Telemundo and the cable network mun2.

For more information, visit www.Bellator.com follow us on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Bellator.