MONROE, La. (May 13, 2010) – World Champion wrestler Joe Warren and undefeated jiu-jitsu black belt Patricio Pitbull punched their tickets to the Bellator Featherweight Tournament Finals on Thursday while reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard made yet another statement that he is one of the world’s top 185-pounders during a thrilling night of fights at Bellator 18.

Lombard used a vicious right-left combo to the chin to KO former UFC fighter Jay Silva just 6.1 seconds into their fight, bringing the capacity crowd at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, La. – and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney – to their feet.

“That’s the Hector Lombard I expected to see tonight,” Rebney said afterward. “He is a tremendously talented middleweight who I believe is one of the best in the world and now American MMA fans are getting to see what some of us already know.”

Lombard, who improved his stellar pro record to 25-2-1 with the win, summed up his performance in three words: “That was beautiful,” he said.

But while Lombard’s knockout will undoubtedly be the most-talked-about moment from Bellator 18, the victories by Warren and Pitbull had more immediate implications, setting up an intriguing final-round fight between one of America’s top wrestlers and an incredibly well-rounded and pedigreed jiu-jitsu and muay thai specialist.

In his fight, Warren used sheer strength and determination to slip out of no less than five submission attempts – two armbars, a heel hook and two guillotines – to win a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over up-and-comer and former pro soccer player Georgi Karakhanyan (13-2).

Warren (4-1), the 2006 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Champion and a former NCAA all-American at the University of Michigan, used a series of powerful wrestling takedowns to control the cage for all three rounds, wearing Karakhanyan down with a relentless ground-and-pound.

“I knew that he was good with the knees, so I thought I’d take him down,” an amped-up Warren told Bellator color commentator Jimmy Smith after the fight. “I’m one step closer to that belt now and that’s what I’m here for.”

Later, in a battle of two Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts, Pitbull used his superior standup game to score points with leg kicks, jabs and knees to the head to withstand a strong challenge from Bellator Season 1 runner up Wilson Reis (10-2).

With the win, Pitbull improved his overall pro record to a perfect 14-0 and booked passage into the Season 2 finals along with Warren, who said of Pitbull afterward: “He’s a great fighter … he’s going to be a great win on my record.”

Pitbull, wearing the Brazilian flag as a cape, disagreed.

“Everyone wants to talk, talk, talk,” he said through his translator. “I want to see what happens in the cage. I’m looking forward to the next round.”

Rebney, for his part, sang Pitbull’s praises, calling him “a true phenom.”

“He’s done some amazing things in Brazil that nobody’s gotten to see, and now we’re all getting a chance to see it,” Rebney said. “And Joe Warren proved yet again what a great, determined fighter he is with another gutsy performance. It’s gonna be a great final round.”

In the final televised fight of the night – a match-up between two former all-state wrestlers from Louisiana – New Orleans-area native Charlie Rader (11-4) scored the sixth KO of his career with a first round knockout (3:20) of former TUF competitor Christian Fulgium.

“From beginning to end, it was a spectacular night of fights,” Rebney said. “It was great being back in the city of Monroe and putting on a great show. We’ll be back again soon.”

Fans who missed Thursday night’s action can watch all the best moments this weekend during special highlight shows on NBC, Telemundo and the cable network mun2. Check your local listings for exact dates and times.

Bellator returns to action next week from the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas, with two semifinal fights in the Season 2 Welterweight Tournament: former two-time NCAA wrestling champion and U.S. Olympian Ben Askren vs. UFC veteran Ryan Thomas and fast-rising MMA star Dan Hornbuckle vs. Iraq war veteran Steve Carl. The evening also features another Bellator “Super Fight,” with reigning Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Soto taking on UFC veteran Diego Saraiva..

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

CageCraze.com Profile: “The Franchise” Kyle Gibbons

“The world isn’t all sun shines and rainbows.  It is a very mean and nasty place.  I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.  You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life, but it isn’t about how hard you can hit.  It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward.”-Sylvester Stallone as “Rocky” in Rocky Balboa

"The Franchise" Kyle Gibbons

Though a typical motivational movie quote, this statement illustrates a true definition of life.  Hardships are a primary part of life and our responses to them shape us as individuals.  Kyle Gibbons, not only as a fighter, but as a person, exemplifies this philosophy.  He is a person who has stared life in the face and decided to fight back.  Kyle’s hardships gave him the needed motivation to commence a career in mixed martial arts, but his background as a martial artist and athlete were prior commitments.

Kyle Gibbons has always been a competitor.  He was a Michigan high school three sport athlete and started at wide-receiver for a Minnesota college.  During his stint in college, Gibbons became aware of mixed martial arts, and the likes of Royce Gracie, through a fellow teammate.  After persistent talk of mixed martial arts from his teammate, Gibbons let his curiosity get the best of him and looked into the sport, thus beginning the romance.  It was love at first sight for Gibbons and mixed martial arts.  His infatuation eventually led him to enroll in Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes.

While training under Kevin Shoults in Traverse City, Michigan, Gibbons found himself in a different competitive atmosphere than that in which he had been accustomed.  In the past he had been perplexed with how he could benefit his team, but now he had only himself in which to regard.  Even with this dilemma Gibbons excelled.  He entered a North American Grappling Association (N.A.G.A.) tournament just three months into his training where he defeated four men in a combined one minute and seventeen seconds.  This successful outing led a training partner (whom had competed for King of the Cage) to explain to Kyle that he thought Kyle possessed the talent to prosper in mixed martial arts.  Despite being introduced to Mike Camp (a matchmaker for the Legends of Fighting) and manager Scott McCorkle, Kyle wrote off the prospect of fighting.  However, a series of unfortunate events including the death of his mother, best friend, and grandfather led Kyle back to the idea of fighting.

Kyle with his LFC belts

After a phone call to Mike Camp, Kyle was set for his mixed martial arts debut.  After all that he had endured, Gibbons’ emotions came to a head while his opponent entered the cage.  “I was still so angry over the death of my mother that when I saw my opponent begin to make his way to the cage I began crying.  I knew I was going to win.  I felt it.” proclaimed Gibbons.  Gibbons pre-fight thoughts became a reality in less than ten seconds.  Perhaps Gibbons’ most emotional ten seconds of his life gave him a 1-0 mixed martial arts record via knockout.  Kyle went on to fight four more times gaining four more impressive victories in the amateur ranks.  Unfortunately, life decided to throw turmoil into Gibbon’s life one more time.

After a fire consumed Gibbon’s home and months of propositioning, Kyle decided to sign with manager Scott McCorkle.  With this decision Kyle moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to focus on his fighting career.  Since these series of life altering events, Gibbons has added multiple accolades to his resume.  He has obtained a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, possessed the LFC Amateur, as well as professional Middleweight title, and held the LFC professional light heavyweight title.  Currently, Kyle resides in Greencastle, Indiana, training at AAKA under the tutelage of Steve St. Pierre.

Kyle with his loving & supporting wife Erin

Besides his commitment to expanding his mixed martial arts repertoire, Kyle Gibbons is a very dedicated law enforcement officer.  He has accredited his study of the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (and his body’s muscle memory) to help him subdue assailants while on duty.  With such a busy lifestyle, one has to have support in every aspect.  Kyle’s wife Erin has provided such.  She has acquired knowledge of the sport just to support Kyle.  According to Kyle, she has kept him grounded and helps him maintain his priorities.  “She didn’t marry me because I was a fighter. She could care less; she supports me fighting because she supports me in everything else in life.” stated Gibbons. This simple fact can be of the utmost importance to a fighter.  With this Kyle can enter the cage subconsciously knowing that no matter the outcome his wife will be there for him.

The future for Kyle “the Franchise” Gibbons seems to be bright.  He possesses a work ethic that cannot be taught and an innate ability for overcoming life’s obstacles.  Kyle is the epitome of quote “…it isn’t about how hard you can hit.  It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward…” (Sylvester Stallone in Rocky Balboa).

You can watch Kyle Gibbons compete May 28^th, 2010, at the Eight Seconds Saloon for the Legends of Fighting Championship.

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EliteFts and MuscleTech sponsored powerlifter Matt Kroczaleski, who holds the all-time multi ply total at 220 with 2,551 pounds, tried his hand at bodybuilding this weekend at the NPC Michigan State Championships.

Dawn Maroscher and William Salas, both of the Monster Garage Gym in Waukegan, Illinois, won best lifter honors at the AAPF Raw Nationals held in Romulus, Michigan on April 16, 17, 18. The meet was directed by Detroit Barbell's JJ Thomas.

DARNELL FENDERSON
Message Me breaking the AAPF American Record at the AAPF "Raw" Nationals in Michigan with a 529lbs deadlift(old record 475) in MYHOUSE deadlift socks

Thanks for the Video D-Train