Bleed Blue Brawl 2 Play-by-Play and Results

Thanksgiving night, I attended the second show of one of Kentucky's newest MMA promotions, Bleed Blue Brawl, in Lexington, Ky.

I kept up with action throughout the night, and have a full play-by-play and results from the event.

To check it out, head over to my post on ProMMA.info.

Enjoy.

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Bleed Blue Brawl 1 Post-Event Interview with Promoter Tommy Cornett (9/9/09)

The other interview I was able to conduct after the recent Bleed Blue Brawl was with promoter Tommy Cornett. Cornett put together an impressive show for his first attempt. With the exciting fights and guests like Junie Browning, and plans to start hosting professional fights as well, Cornett looks to make Bleed Blue Brawl into a serious contender in the growing regional MMA market.

Here is what Cornett had to say after the show:

Brian Furby: Tommy Cornett, Bleed Blue Brawl promoter – you had a great first show tonight – what did you think about the show?

Tommy Cornett: I think it went really well, we didn’t have all the fights we wanted to have, but I think the guys that did fight went out and performed well and put on a good show and the crowd really got into it. I think it was a success.

Brian Furby: I know you’ve been involved in MMA for a while, you’re a wrestling coach, but what made you want to start a promotion?

Tommy Cornett: Well, I got involved with 4 Seasons back in 2004 and was there for 3 or 4 years as a coach and cornerman, and I just wasn’t really happy with the production value of a lot of amateur shows that I got to witness, but then I met Nick Champa and saw the venue (Champ’s Skate Center) and then the idea just popped right in my head. It’s a great venue, good lights and effects, good production for these amateur fighters to get the experience they need to go on with a professional career. I just feel like they didn’t have that here in Kentucky.

Brian Furby: So what are you plans for show number two?

Tommy Cornett: We’re talking about dates, shooting for November. We have plenty of time to prepare for it and we’re looking to have ten amateur fights and a couple pro fights and it’s plenty of time to produce and promote it because we only had four weeks to promote this show. We’ll definitely have it squared away even better next time.

Brian Furby: What was your favorite fight tonight?

Tommy Cornett: I was really happy with David Suter’s performance, and Adam Disney’s knockout win just put that guy to sleep, it was pretty impressive.



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Bleed Blue Brawl 1 Post-Event Interview with Junie Browning (9/9/09)

Not too long ago, I had the chance to attend the inaugural Bleed Blue Brawl where Kentucky native and UFC fighter Junie Browning served as special guest referee for the event. I caught up with Junie for a few minutes after the show to get his thoughts on taking a different role in the cage and what he's up to with the UFC.

Here is what Junie had to say:

Brian Furby: Junie Browning, special guest referee tonight, what did you think of the show?

Junie Browning: It was pretty awesome, pretty cool to see it from a different aspect. It was the first time I’ve really gotten to see what the refs see.

Brian Furby: Haven’t heard too much out of you since the Cole Miller fight – what do you have in the works now?

Junie Browning: I don’t have a fight scheduled right now, but I’ll be doing one pretty soon. They just told me to be ready and wait for the call, but the time off is good. I’ve been working on the technical aspects and cardio, I’ll be ready.

Brian Furby: Anyone in particular you’re looking to fight?

Junie Browning: Anybody, it doesn’t matter. I just want to show people that I’m better than what I showed in my last fight. I just messed up.

Brian Furby: Back in Kentucky tonight, checking out guys that started out like you did – you think we’re going to see some more guys in the UFC come out of this area?

Junie Browning: Yeah, a lot of the smaller shows I go to are guys still learning so it’s kind of hard to gauge their talent, but everyone from Kentucky is f**king tough and you can tell people are trying to learn because you see the technical aspects. Give anybody from this area two years of training hard and they’ve got a shot.



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Bleed Blue Brawl 1 Night Honors (August 31, 2009)

Last weekend, I got to attend Bleed Blue Brawl's inaugural show Bleed Blue Brawl 1 in Lexington, KY. Although two fights were cut from the card at the last minute due to a couple fighters not showing up, the event was still a great event, and a lot of fun to watch, with a crowd that really got into the action.

Here are my picks for the Night Honors:

KO of the Night: Adam Disney over Brian Tipton
After being down 2 rounds on the scorecard (by my own assessment), it was apparent Disney needed a finish to win the fight and he got it in the form of an impressive KO from a straight right that laid Tipton out a couple minutes into the third round.

Submission of the Night: Grady Self over Carl Thornsberry
After surviving a guillotine attempt and being mounted by Thornsberry, Self took advantage of an opening to secure his own guillotine, ending the fight about halfway through round one.

Fight of the Night: Bobby Cummins vs. Joe Kidd
A tough effort by both competitors. Although it went to the scorecards early due to an unintentional eye poke that caused the doctor to call off the fight, both guys showed some solid skills and had the crowd really into the fight thanks to some exciting exchanges. Cummins won via split decision.

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After the event, I was able to catch up with Junie Browning who was there serving as a special guest referee, and promoter Tommy Cornett. My interviews with both of them will be posted soon.




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Bleed Blue Brawl 1 Live Blog (August 23, 2009)

I'm here at Champs Skate Center in Lexington, KY, getting ready for Bleed Blue Brawl 1 to start. The newest MMA promotion to enter the Kentucky market, Bleed Blue is drawing on some great local fighters for tonight's show. Although two fights were cancelled at the last minute when two fighters failed to show, there are still six fights on tonight's card and one under-18 grappling match.

UFC fighter and Kentucky native Junie Browning is the special guest referee.

I'll be back when the action starts.

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Robert Traylor vs. Matt Franklin

Traylor fights out of Team Unleashed. Franklin fights out of Reaction MMA.

Round 1
Traylor opens the action with a two punch combo. Franklin answers with a head shots and they clinch up. Traylor scores a takedown and tries to take Franklin's back but Franklin rolls and Traylor pulls guard. Traylor briefly throws his legs up for a triangle, but Franklin stands and lands two hard shots from the top. Traylor moves for an ankle lock but Franklin grabs the cage for leverage. Franklin gets out and they stand. Traylor lands a body kick and they clinch up. Franklin throws a knee to the body and then hip tosses Traylor for the takedown, landing in top position. Traylor scrambles, trying to take Franklin's back from the bottom and Franklin looks for a modified arm triangle choke but can't finish. Traylor manages to land a few shots from the bottom as the round ends.

A tough round to score. I think Traylor's initial flurry was good, but Franklin seemed to control the majority of the round and was more aggressive.

Furby sees it 10-9 Franklin.

Round 2
Traylor opens with a right hook and Franklin misses with one of his own. Traylor attempts to take Franklin's back standing, looking for a suplex. Traylor manages to pull Franklin down but Franklin transitions to top position and Traylor pulls guard after an initial attempt at an armlock fails. Franklin steps over one of Traylor's legs and Traylor throws a knee to the body from the bottom. Franklin briefly looks for an armlock of his own, but then the two are stood up as the action slows. Franklin misses with a big right hook and Traylor clinches up but Franklin lands a knee to the body. Franklin pulls Traylor back to the ground, but Franklin lands in the top position again and lands some hard shots from the top. Franklin lands some more hard shots and Traylor taps to the strikes.

Matt Franklin wins via submission (strikes) in Round 2.

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Bobby Cummins vs. Joe Kidd

Cummins fights out of Reaction MMA. Kidd fights out of Team Unleashed.

Round 1
Kidd fakes a leg kick and then comes in with a right hook but misses. He clinches up and Cummins tries to sweep but is unable and Kidd lands some knees to teh body and head. They separate and Cummins misses with a body kick. Cummins lands a Superman punch and Kidd takes him down. Cummins moves for a triangle and Kidd tries to land shots from the top. Cummins continues to work for the triangle, pulling Kidd's head down, but Kidd keeps landing shots from the top. Kidd gets free of the submission attempt and Cummins pulls guard. Kidd is warned for throwing an elbow (which aren't allowed in KY amateur MMA). Cummins briefly tries for another triangle and Kidd tries to land more shots from the top. Cummins reverses the position and stands with Kidd following and Cummins manages to score a suplex as the round expires.

A good effort by Cummins at the close of the round, but I don't think it would be enough to win the round due to Kidd's control for the majority of the round and the hard shots landed.

Furby sees it 10-9 Kidd.

Round 2
Cummins lands a lazy jab to start and Kidd answers with a leg kick. Cummins tries a superman punch but it falls short and the two trade jabs. They exchange two punch combos and jabs by both fall short but Kidd lands a right hook then a leg kick. Kidd slips and Cummins pounces landing a couple punches but then Kidd regains his balance and lands a leg kick. Cummins steps in with a left hook but then backs off and a right by Kidd falls short. Cummins misses with a big overhand right and Kidd lands a right hook. They clinch up and Kidd lands a knee to the body and a right hook as they searate, followed by a left hook. Cummins sneaks in a couple short body shots and Kidd lands an accidental groin kick but Cummins waves it off and they both miss with head shots as the round expires.

A better round Cummins this time - he was the aggressor more and landed more quality shots.

Furby sees it 10-9 Cummins.

Round 3
Kidd opens with a leg kick, then another. Cummins steps in and pushes Kidd against the cage and both guys miss with haymakers as they separate. A left hook by Cummins falls short, as does a second and Kidd lands a leg kick followed by a short right hook, then another leg kick. Cummins steps in with a body kick and right, and then Kidd swings and Cummins falls, but it appears that there was an unintentional poke to the eye, and Cummins's eyelid is bleeding, and the doctor comes in to stop the fight.

Because it was an unintentional injury in the third round, they will go to the Judges' scorecards. I would've scored that round 10-9 Kidd at the time it ended.

Bobby Cummins wins via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, and one judge scored it 30-27 for Kidd).

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David Suter vs. Nolan Bailey

Suter fights out of 4 Seasons MMA. Bailey fights on Bushido Fight Team.

Round 1
Bailey opens with a jab and Suter answers with a three punch combo. Bailey clinches up and Suter scores a takedown, landing in the top position. Suter works in some body and head shots and transitions to side control and then takes Bailey's back as Bailey rolls. Suter gets one of his legs between Bailey's, who is crouching, and then Suter transitions to side control, but then stands and lets Bailey up. Bailey comes in and Suter goes down for a double leg takedown, but Bailey locks him up in a guillotine and Suter doesn't finish the takedown. Suter gets his head out and they go down with Suter in side control. He lands a knee to the body and a head shot and then stands and waits for Bailey to get up but Bailey stays down and the fight is stopped.

David Suter wins via TKO (strikes) in Round 1.

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Walker Keaton vs. Josh Collins - Under-18 Grappling

Walker Keaton scores first submission with an armbar. (They decided to continue grappling for the rest of the five minutes, but there are no more submissions.)
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Grady Self vs. Carl Thornsberry

Self fights out of Team Blackout. Thornsberry fights out of 4 Seasons MMA.

Round 1
Thornsberry opens with a left hook and they trade punches in the center of the mat. Thornsberry works for a takedown but Self defends. They separate and Self sneaks in two punches to the head. They trade head shots at the edge of the cage and then clinch up. Self scores a takedown but Thornsberry looks for a guillotine. Self gets his head out and postures up and lands some shots from the top. Thornsberry kicks him off and the two roll and Thornsberry takes the mount position but Self kicks him off and then pushes forward, grabbing Thornsberry's head for a guillotine and rolls and cranks, forcing the tap.

Grady Self wins via submission (guillotine) in Round 1.

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Adam Disney vs. Brian Tipton

Disney fights out of Reaction MMA. No team affiliation is announced for Tipton.

Round 1
Tipton opens with an initial flurry and then quickly pulls Disney down, landing some shots from the mount position. Disney lands a hard shot from the bottom, but Tipton controls one of Disney's wrists and lands more head shots from the mount. Disney lands a hammer fist from the bottom and then is able to roll Tipton back and take the top position. Tipton is preventing Disney from posturing up, but Disney is still sneaking in some head shots. Disney transitions to full mount and lands some hard body shots but then Tipton sweeps him to take top position. Disney manages to land a head shot from the bottom, but Tip is controlling one of his wrists and uses that to get full mount and work in some ground and pound. Disney tries to shake Tipton off but is unable to before the round ends.

Furby sees it 10-9 Tipton.

Round 2
Tipton opens with a right hook but Disney scoops him up and pushes him into the cage. Tipton gets an underhook and uses it to land a knee to the head and right hook. Disney swings and missess but Tipton lands a combo. Disney lands multiple leg kicks but Tipton scores another takedown and Disney pulls guard. The ref stands them up as the action slows. Tipton lands two more head shots and Disney answers with a leg kick and two body kicks, and two more leg kicks. Disney shoots in and Tipton grazes him with a knee to the head and both swing for the fences as the round ends, neither hitting their marks.

Furby sees it 10-9 Tipton.

Round 3
Both guys are clearly tired starting this final round. Tipton makes first contact with a right hook but Disney scores with an uppercut followed by a straight right that lays Tipton out, immediately KO'ing him..

Adam Disney wins via KO in Round 3.

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Matt Green vs. Christopher Johnson

Green fights out of Reaction MMA. Johnson fights out of Team Unleashed.

Round 1
Green steps in with an overhand right that misses, but he scoops Johnson up for a slam and immediately starts raining down shots to the head from side control. Green then transitions to full mount and starts landing more shots until ref Junie Brown steps in to stop them.

Matt Green wins via TKO (strikes) in Round 1.

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All in all, a good first show for Bleed Blue. It's not hard to see the crowd wanted more. Plans for their second show are for a pro/am event, and with the success of this first one, I'm interested to see what they can do in their sophomore show.


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Bleed Blue Brawl 1 Coverage

A couple weekends ago, I also attended the inaugural Bleed Blue Brawl in Lexington, KY. Kentucky's newest MMA promotion, Bleed Blue brought the crowd some great fights and even a celebrity appearance in the form of UFC fighter Junie Browning who served as a special guest referee for the event.

You can find my live blog of the event and my choices for the Night Honors on FightTicker.com here and here, respectively.

Enjoy.

-Brian


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