Hardrock MMA 15 Results

Needless to say, I'm a little behind in the blogging as of late. Due to that, I'm posting a few articles tonight to get caught up on things. All of them have been posted at ProMMA.info for a while now, but I'm just now getting the chance to get links up here.

On 10/17/09, I attended the Hardrock MMA 15 show in Campbellsville, Ky. I did not do a live blog of the show, but did keep up with the results. You can find the full results for the event posted on ProMMA.info.

Enjoy.


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Hardrock MMA 14 Play-by-Play

Saturday night, I attended the Hardrock MMA 14 show in Danville, Ky., to cover the event for PROMMA.INFO. It was definitely an exciting show with a lot of quick finishes.

For my play-by-play on the event, head over to PROMMA.INFO.

Enjoy.

-PreView



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Hardrock MMA 13: The Girls Are Back Live Blog (9/12/09)

I'm here at the Elizabethtown National Guard Armory, waiting for Hardrock MMA 13: The Girls Are Back to get started. Featuring the first professional women's MMA fight in Kentucky, the card also features fourteen other fights.

The action is set to get started at 8:00 PM, I'll be back with the first fight.


Disclosure: All spellings of names come from the fight card I am given, and any times announced come from the official announcements, if any. Additionally, I view the fights from a stationary position, so I report on things as I see them from one angle.

As always, the crowd at the show is has some area pro fighters scattered throughout including Nate Jolly fresh off a win over Frank Santore at last weekend's XFC 9 event. Jolly is serving as tonight's referee. Pro fighters Chad Corvin and Scott Porter are also in the crowd tonight.

Tonight's vendors include Fight Ribbon and Submit MMA.

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Ricky Rye vs. David Ward (135)

Rye fights out of Team Middlesboro. Ward fights out of Team Superior.

Round 1
Ward shoots in and takes Rye down. Rye pulls guard, but Ward is able to pass into half-guard and land shots from the top. Ward works on more body and head shots and transitions to full mount. From mount, Ward catches Rye's right arm in an americana to secure the tap.

David Ward wins via submission (americana) in Round 1.

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Scott Roberts vs. Jason Clack (135)

Roberts fights out of Team Nemesis. Clack fights out of Team No Mercy.

Round 1
Clack immediately goes after Roberts swinging and the two clinch up. Roberts pulls Clack down and pulls guard and Clack works to land shots from the top. Roberts throws his legs up for a triangle, but can't get his foot locked behind his knee and lets it go and Clack lands another hard shot from the top as he stands and Roberts connects with an upkick. Clack briefly stalls and the ref allows Roberts to stand. Clack lands three more hard shots and Roberts answers with one but then Clack connects with a left that takes him down. Clack moves in to land more shots from the top and Roberts taps to the strikes.

Jason Clack wins via submission (strikes) in Round 1.
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Carl Sandlin vs. Wesley Stanley (145)

Sandlin fights out of Team Sandman. Stanton, making his debut, fights out of Team Wreckoning.

Round 1
Stanton connects with a left then rushes Sandlin to land more punches before scoring a big hip toss. Sandlin gets up but Stanton takes him down again and Sandlin almost takes his back but Stanton scrambles to remain in the dominant position. Sandlin lands shots as the two work their way up but Stanton has Sandlin's head tied up in a guillotine. Sandlin moves for the takedown but Stanton sprawls, still controlling Sandlin's head. Sandlin works in some body shots and is able to pulls his head free briefly before Stanton locks it up again. Stanton is really working for the standing guillotine but is pressed against the cage and can't get the leverage. Sandlin lands two foot stomps, then two more and works his head free. Sandlin tries to spin and take Stanton down but Sandlin reverses for another hip toss as the round ends.

The action kind of stalled there for a minute as Stanton was going for the guillotine, but Stanton should have won that round without a problem.

Furby sees it 10-9 Stanton.

Round 2
The two circle briefly then clinch up and Stanton scores another takedown, then works knees to the body from side control, then lands some body shots. Stanton sneaks in some head shots from the top position and then pins one of Sandlin's arms down, looking to land more head shots, but Sandlin taps.

Wesley Stanton wins via submission (strikes) in Round 2.

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James Douglas vs. Steven Jenkins (135)

Douglas fights out of 4 Seasons. No team affiliation is noted for Jenkins.

Round 1
Some range testing with jabs early on. Jenkins comes in with a superman punch but doesn't connect and apparently hurt his ankle when he landed and waves the fight off himself, quitting due to the injury.

James Douglas wins via TKO (injury) in Round 1.

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Jeremy Philpot vs. Doug Ballinger (145)

Philpot fights out of Team MIddlesboro. Ballinger fights out of Team Wreckoning.

Round 1
Philpot goes for a body kick and Ballinger a left hook and shoots in on Philpot but Philpot locks his head up and defends the takedown. Philpot tries to take Ballinger down and the two roll, Philpot landing in side control. Ballinger manages to pull guard and Philpot lands shots from the top, then picks Ballinger up to slam him. Ballinger scrambles but Philpot takes his back and locks in a rear naked choke, securing the tap.

Jeremy Philpot wins via submission (RNC) in Round 1.

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James Benton vs. Josh Smith (145)

Benton represents Hayes Team Extreme. Smith represents Team Middlesboro.

Round 1
Benton misses with an overhand right and Smith moves to take him down but Benton sprawls and starts throwing body shots. Benton stands and Smith tries to pick him up for a takedown but can't and Benton pulls Smith down going for a guillotine. Smith gets his head out and works in a couple head shots. Benton throws his legs up and secures a triangle, ending the fight.

James Benton wins via triangle at :57 of Round 1.

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Michael Smith vs. Jason Langley (170)

Smith fights out of US Ju Jitsu. No Team Affiliation is given for Langley.

Round 1
Smith lands a big leg kick to start and immediately ties up Langley's neck in a guillotine, standing, then lands a knee. Langley tries to get out but Smith sprawls, then stands back up to land two more knees to the body, then a knee to Langley's leg. Langley lands a couple body shots but Smith answers with more knees. Langley lands more body shots and tries to get a leg behind one of Smith's to sweep him but Smith press Langley against the cage, still working for the guillotine, and the ref steps in to stop it even though Langley didn't tap, as it appeared Langley was going to pass out.

Michael Smith wins via submission (guillotine) in Round 1.

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William Sandlin vs. Andrew Terry(155)

Sandlin fights out of Team Sandman. Terry fights out of Team Superior.

Round 1
Terry opens with a leg kick. They separate and Terry shoots in and takes Sandlin down, but Sandlin has one of Terry's arms and his head tied up. Terry transitions to mount and works in some body shots but Sandlin still has his head tied up in a guillotine. Terry works his head free and starts landing head shots from the top. He gets control of one of Sandlin's arms, going fo ra kimura, then an armbar when Sandlin rolls but Sandlin gets free. Terry then works for a triangle from the bottom and Sandlin defends, still getting in some shots from the top. Terry keeps pulling down on Sandlin's head, though, and is able to secure the tap.

Andrew Terry wins via submission (triangle) in Round 1.

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Brian Smith vs. Ben Smith(Hvy)

Brian Smith fights out of US Ju Jitsu. No team affiliation is announced for Ben. Both are making their amateur MMA debuts.

Round 1
Ben opens with a leg kick, then four more, which Ben seems to shrug off. Ben presses Brian up against the cage trying to get in shots. They separate and Ben misses with a head kick but then lands two leg kicks. Ben goes for another leg kick and Brian catches it, landing a right. Brian presses Ben against the cage and starts landing body shots. Brian lands a two punch combo and Ben tries to answer but Brian lands another two punch combo, then another. They exchange more head shots and Ben connects with a right that seems to briefly stun Brian but Brian rushes in and presses Ben against the cage. They separate and Brian lands a big right. Another multiple punch exchange and they clinch up, Brian working in body shots. They separate and circle and Ben lands a right that drops Brian. Ben moves in to land more shots and Brian, having come to, attempts to grab one of Ben's legs but the referee has already moved in to stop it.

Ben Smith wins via KO at 2:08 of Round 1.

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Tyler Davis vs. James Brasfield(205)

Davis fights out of Hayes Team Extreme. No team affiliation is given for Brasfield.

Round 1
Brasfield opens with a short left hook then presses Davis against the cage. Davis gets in a couple shots then takes Brasfield down but Brasfield quickly transitions to full mount, working in head shots from the top. Davis rolls and Brasfield takes his back and sinks in the rear naked choke, letting one arm go briefly to land a couple head shots, then fully lets go and postures up, landing more shots to the side of Davis's head before once against trying for the rear naked choke. Davis rolls and Brasfield pulls guard. Davis lands multiple body shots from the top position and Brasfield tries to work in some head shots from the bottom. Brasfield rolls and Davis now tries for a rear naked choke but the round expires.

A nice rally by Davis but I think it came too late, and Brasfield likely won the round.

Furby sees it 10-9 Brasfield.

Round 2
Davis lands a right to start but Brasfield quickly ties him up against the cage. Brasfield gets his knee up to hit Davis in the head and still has Davis pressed against the cage. Brasfield works for a takedown but Davis defends. They reverse each other against the cage and as Brasfield goes for another sweep, it appears his foot got caught between the fence and his opponent and his ankle was badly twisted. Brasfield goes down and the ref calls off the fight.

Tyler Davis wins via TKO (injury) at 1:23 in Round 2.
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Josh Franklin vs. Andrew Becker(Super Hvy)

Franklin fights out of Team 360. Becker fights out of Team Warhammer.

Round 1
Becker opens with a leg kick and Franklin answers. Franklin sneaks in a two punch combo then a pair of leg kicks. Becker misses with a right hook but then lands one and lands a knee to the body when the two clinch up. After separating, Becker goes for a leg kick but accidentally kicks Franklin in the groin and the action is stopped. After it's restarted, they trade hard right hooks and Franklin lands a pair of leg kicks then misses with a third. Franklin is going back and forth between traditional and southpaw stances, and lands another leg kick, then another. Becker lands a right hook and presses Franklin against the cage. They separate and Becker lands a leg kick but Franklin answers with a right hook. Franklin catches another leg kick from Becker but Becker moves in and presses Franklin against the cage going for a takedown. Franklin defends and they separate and Becker goes for a two punch combo that misses but connects with a right hook that KOs Franklin. Becker moves in for more shots but the ref moves in to stop it.

Andrew Becker wins via KO at 2:08 in Round 1.

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Justin Collett vs. Rob Thompson(185)

Collett fights out of Team Middlesboro. Thompson fights out of Etown Beatdown.

Round 1
Collett goes for a leg kick but Thompson catches it and takes him down, working in body shots from inside Thompson's guard. Thompson moves to side control, then gets control of Collett's wrist, moving it across his face before letting it go to land some hard head shots. Collett rolls and Thompson takes his back, sinking int he rear naked choke for the win.

Rob Thompson wins via submission (RNC) in Round 1.

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Brandon Howard vs. Donny Wallace (PRO)(155)

Howard is making his pro MMA debut. Wallace fights out of BG Beatdown.

Round 1
Wallace connects with a left hook to start then a knee to the face. Howard clinches up and Wallace takes him down, then quickly moves to full mount. He gets control of one of Howard's wrists then lets go to land a shot from the top, followed by two more. He works in an elbow to the head and Howard tries to buck him off but can't. Wallace lands a big forearm to Howard's face, then more shots to the head. Wallce pauses briefly and then postures up to land multiple unanswered shots to Howard's head. After a brief pause, more of the same as he works Howard up against the cage. Wallace lands some body shots and Howard is trying to pull his head down to prevent him from posturing up but Wallace gets free and works in more shots from the top until the ref steps in to stop it.

Donny Wallace wins via TKO (strikes) at 3:19 of Round 1.

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MAIN EVENT

Heather Corder vs. Vanessa Bohleber (PRO)(145)

Corder fights out of Sons of Thunder. Bohleber fights out of Etown Beatdown.

Round 1
Bohleber opens witha body kick followed by a hard right as Corder misses with a right. Corder wraps up Bohleber and lands a knee to the leg while Bohleber looks for body shots, then lands two foot stomps. They struggles against the cage and Corder lands a knee to the body. Bohleber reverses Corder against the cage and lands more foot stomps and a knee to Corder's leg. Corder reverses and works in two foot stomps of her own, then lands a knee to the body. Another reversal from Bohleber is followed by another foot stomp, then a reversal and stomp from Corder and more reversals against the cage. Bohleber sneaks in two head shots and Corder misses with some foot stomps. Bohleber gets in more stomps and the two are separated. Bohleber grazes her with a head kick then a right and Corder takes Bohleber down and Bohleber pulls guard. Corder gets in a shot from the top and Bohleber goes for an arm triangle from the bottom. Croder gets her head out and lands a short forearm. Corder postures up and lands a right, then a left followed by another left. Corder gets in an elbow to the head and Bohleber briefly pushes her off but Corder transitions to side guard before the round ends.

A tough round to score. Bohleber was clearly on the offensive for the first part of the round but Corder seemed to control the latter half. I think Bohleber will likely narrowly edge out that round because she defended well from the bottom and Corder didn't truly capitalize on the position until the very end of the round. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see that round scored either way.

Furby sees it 10-9 Bohleber.

Round 2
Corder mises with a body kick and Bohleber lands a leg kick then three punches before Corder takes her down. Bohleber pulls guard and Corder tries to pin down one of Bohleber's arms. Corder misses with a right from the top position, but then lands a punch to the body. Corder sneaks in a right to the head but is almost swept in the process. Bohleber gets in two shots from the bottom and Corder lands a right. It appears that Corder has a small cut under her left eye. Corder lands two good rights and Bohleber twists her hips but Corder stays on top, now in half-guard. Corder lands a couple shots from the top and transitions to mount to land more shots. Bohleber tries to buck her off but can't, but wraps her arms around Corder's torso trying to stop her from posturing up. Corder lands two more shots and Bohleber rolls her to end up in the top position, landing a couple body shots. Bohleber postures up and starts landing shots from the top but Corder pulls her head back down. Bohleber works in three more punches to the body and head but Corder pulls Bohleber's head down as the round expires.

A much better round for Corder. Although she wasn't constantly working from the top and Bohleber defended very well from the bottom, Corder should see the win in that round.

Furby sees it 10-9 Corder.

Round 3
Bohleber lands two punches to start the round and Corder tries to wrap her up but Bohleber sweeps her, but is reversed on the ground and Corder takes the top position. Corder tries to work her forearm across Bohleber's face and lands a short shot. Corder lands a couple more short shots and the two are stood up as the action slows. Bohleber connects with a body kick but Corder catches it and takes her down. Bohleber pulls guard and Corder works in a couple body shots. Corder lands two head shots from the top, then barely misses with two more and the pair are once again stood up as the action slows. Bohleber connects with two punches before Corder tries to tie her up and Bohleber scores a knee to the body which Corder answers with one of her own. Bohleber has Corder's head tied up and lands a solid knee to the head. Corder lands a foot stomp and spins, taking Bohleber down. Corder lands some body shots followed by a head shot, then another. Bohleber tries to roll Corder but can't and Corder sneaks in another short head shot. Bohleber almost rolls Corder as the round ends but Corder stays dominant.

I think Corder managed to pull out that round. Bohleber clearly had the edge in striking but Corder scored more takedowns and remained int he dominant position on the ground more.

Furby sees it 10-9 Corder.

Heather Corder wins via Split Decision, notching the first professional MMA win for a woman in Kentucky.



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Hardrock MMA to Host First Women's Professional MMA Fight in Kentucky at Hardrock MMA 13: The Girls Are Back (9/8/09)

From a Press Release:

(Elizabethtown, KY) – After putting on an exciting night of fights in front of the largest crowd in Hardrock MMA history at Hardrock MMA 12: Night of Champions, Hardrock MMA will make history again as it hosts the first women’s professional MMA fight in Kentucky at Hardrock MMA 13: The Girls Are Back.

The main event will feature a rematch between Hardrock MMA promoter and professional fighter Vanessa Bohleber-Higdon vs. Heather Corder. The pair’s first match, as amateurs, ended with Vanessa scoring a win via referee stoppage due to ground and pound just 32 seconds into the first round.

Featured on the women’s MMA reality series Fight Life, and training under Josh Johnson out of Etown BJJ and Judo, Bohleber-Higdon pulls double duty as both a promoter and professional fighter. “It’s nice to be in the first women’s professional fight in Kentucky,” said Bohleber-Higdon. “I think it’s great we’re hosting the first women’s professional fight. We’ve had a lot of pro fights on our cards lately and it puts us above the average promotion that puts on amateur fights here and there. I’m not taking Heather lightly. I’m prepared for anything, and even though I won the first one early, I’m not taking her lightly because it could go any way.”

Sponsored by Heart Fight Gear, Heather Corder is looking forward to the rematch. “I think it’s great being part of the first women’s pro fight in Kentucky,” said Corder. “I think if you have the chance, everybody should do it [fight MMA]. Women are just as tough as men. I like Vanessa, but once we get in the cage it’s a different story. I have been hitting the gym everyday, twice a day, and my game has tightened up a lot.”

In addition to the main event, the card will feature two other professional fights and fifteen amateur fights showcasing some of the best talent the area has to offer with fighters from Etown Beatdown, 4 Seasons, Team Warhammer, Team Animal, Team No Mercy, Hayse Team Extreme and several others.

Hardrock MMA 13: The Girls Are Back will happen Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Elizabethtown National Guard Armory. Discounted advanced tickets are on sale through www.HardRockFight.com and Hero’s Sports Cards. VIP tickets are also still available. Doors open at 6:30 PM and the bouts start at 8:00 PM.

Sponsorships are still available for some of the professional fighters competing that night, as well as for the Hardrock MMA promotion. For sponsorship inquiries, questions, or to order VIP tickets, contact Brandon Higdon at 270-307-7312 or visit www.HardRockFight.com.

The Fight Card

Steven Drake vs Ricky Rye
Jason Clack vs Scott Roberts
Nathan Boatman or Wesley Stanley vs Carl Sandlin
James Douglass vs Steven Jenkins
Jeremy Philpot vs Doug Ballinger
Justin Collett vs Brian Tipton or David Willoughby
David Ward vs Jeff Brewster
James Benton vs Josh Smith
Michael Smith vs Jason Langley
Tyler Davis vs Keith Goggins
William Sandlin vs Andrew Terry
Brian Smith vs Ben Smith or Todd Stricklin
Joshua Franklin vs Andrew Becker
Justin Higdon vs "Razor" Rob Thompson
Cody Bruce vs Brandon DeWitt
Donnie Wallace vs Brandon Howard (PRO)
Jerry Burns vs Bo Huitt (PRO)

MAIN EVENT
Heather Corder vs Vanessa Bohleber (PRO)

About Hardrock MMA

Hardrock Promotions LLC puts on shows as one of Kentucky's fasting growing MMA promotions - Hardrock MMA. Showcasing professional and amateurs fighters from around the country, Hardrock MMA works hard to provide MMA fans with the best regional fights available. Run by Promoter and Women's MMA fighter Vanessa Bohleber-Higdon, and Fight Matchmaker Brandon "Hardrock" Higdon, Hardrock MMA has close ties with some of the best fighters and fight teams around the state.




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Hardrock MMA 12 Night Honors (August 25, 2009)

On August 15th, I attended Hardrock MMA 12: Night of Champions. It was an excellent show overall and had some great fights on the card.

Here are my picks for the Night Honors:

Fight of the Night: Erik Funkhauser vs. David Gray
This match-up between two tough guys was an impressive display of skills over three rounds. Although I felt Gray won all three rounds (Gray was ultimately awarded a Split Decision win after a scorecard counting error had it as a draw), Funkhauser was clearly a tough opponent. A great effort by both guys.

Knockout of the Night: A.J. Jenkins over Steve Osmun
Jenkins became the Hardrock MMA Amateur Welterweight Champ with his second round KO of Osmun. The shot that put Osmun out was reminiscent of Anthony Johnson's KO win over Tommy Speers as Osmun was unconscious crouched against the cage. A strong finish by Jenkins.

Submission of the Night: Robert Mooney over J. R. Hines
Mooney's kimura win over J. R. Hines was both an exercise in skill and adaptation as Mooney has to modify his position to get the tap after the ever-feisty Hines scrambled to get out of the initial hold. An impressive showing by Mooney against a tough journeyman in Hines.

Honorable Mention: Isaiah Ferguson over Corey Clemons
In the night's lone Under-18 grappling match, Isaiah Ferguson notched an impressive submission victory over Corey Clemons with a gogoplata. As I said in my live blog, had that fight been an MMA match, it would've been my submission of the night. Regardless, Ferguson deserves a nod due to the obvious skill he showed.

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Hardrock MMA will be back in action September 12th in Elizabethtown, KY where promoter and women's pro fighter Vanessa Bohleber-Higdon will take on Heather Corder in the first pro women's MMA fight to happen in Kentucky. After the great turnout and night of fights for Hardrock 12, I'm confident the next show is one to look forward to.


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Hardrock MMA 12: Night of Champions Live Blog (August 15, 2009)

I'm here in Shepherdsville KY waiting for Hardrock MMA 12: Night of Champions to get underway. Hosting yet another massive fight card, fans will get a chance to see pros, ams, and underage grappling matches.

I'll be back with the start of the action, set to get started at 8 PM.

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Brent Boone vs. Bryant Barnhill

Boone fights out of Team Josh Ball. I missed Barnill's affiliation Both men are making their amateur debut.

Round 1
Barnhill shoots in but Boone stuffs it. Barnill lands a leg kick and misses with an overhand right. He shoots, but isn't able to get Boone all the way down and Boone transitions to briefly take his back before Barnill shakes him off, but Boone gets in a guillotine when the two hit the ground. Barnhill stays busy landing body shots. The ref stands them, but I think it's premature. Boone was still working for the guillotine and Barnhill was still landing body shots. The two stand, and Barnhill lands a hard right, and takes advantage of the opening by jumping guard on Boone and sinking in a guillotine for the win.

Bryant Barnhill wins via submission (guillotine) at 2:18 of Round 1.

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Jon "Special Ed" Heiser vs. Rob Smith

Heiser fights out of Bushido Fight Team. Smith represents Team Iron Man fighting out of Core Combat.

Round 1
After a touch of the gloves, Smith immediately throws a right hook that finds it's mark. They clinch up and Smith gets Heiser against the cage. Heiser reverses and Smith reverses again to take the dominant position standing. After much struggling, Smith finally gets an advantage and hip tosses Heiser, landing in side control. Smith works Heiser's arm behind his back and quickly cranks it for the kimura for the win.

Robert Smith wins via submission (kimura) at 1:30 of Round 1.

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Jason Clack vs. Jeremy Philpot

Clack represents Team No Mercy. Philpot represents Team Middlesboro.

Round 1

Philpot opens with a leg kick and Clack tries to move in but Philpot picks him up and slams him. Clack has Philpot's neck tied up in a guillotine but Philpot still manages to mount Clack and pull his head out. Clack rolls but Philpot takes his back and sinks in the rear naked choke for the quick tap.

Jeremy Philpot wins via submission (RNC) at 1:15 of Round 1.

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Chris Walker vs. Justin O'Neal (HMMA 135 Title)

Walker fights out of Xtreme Me Gyms. O'Neal fights out of Louisville MMA. This fights is for the vacant HMMA 135 Ammy title.

Round 1
Both guys fire off quick lefts that miss. O'Neal shoots in but backs off. Walker misses with a leg kick and both fighters miss with head shots. O'Neal lands a hard left that briefly stuns Walker, but O'Neal is unable to capitalize. Walker shotos in but O'Neal stuffs it and lands two knees to the body before they separate. Walker misses with a high kick and O'Neal rushes in with a hard right hook that lands. O'Neal misses with a big left hook and tries to jump on Walker but Walker takes him dowwn. O'Neal initially pulls guard then transitions to a triangle, then armbar, then back to a triangle attempt that he sinks in for the win.

Justin O'Neal wins via submission (triangle) at 2:15 of Round 1 ,to become the HMMA Bantamweight (AM) Champion.

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Brandon DeWitt vs. Chris Minks

DeWitt fights out of Team No Mercy. Minks represents Spencer County Martial Arts.

Round 1
Minks opens with a leg kick, but DeWitt answers with a hard right that floors Minks. DeWitt rushes in to lands a few more shots before the ref gets in to stop him.

Brandon DeWitt wins via KO at :07 of Round 1.

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Michael Gay vs. Mike "the Crazy Cajun" Fleineken

Gay fights out of Slaughterhouse MMA. Fleineken fights out of Louisville MMA.

Round 1
Fleineken looks for the one-two combo to open but Gay shoots in and works him across the ring. Fleineken defends the takedown and Gay tries to jump guard but misses and Fleineken starts landing multiple unanswered shots to the head and body before scoring a rear naked choke standing, while Gay was stuck in a crouched position.

Mike Fleineken wins via submission (RNC) at :48 of Round 1.

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Erik Funkhauser vs. "Dirty" David Gray

Funkhauser fights out of Bushido Fight Team. Gray fights out of Etown Beatdown.

Round 1
Gray lands a light jab to start and left hook. Funkhouser rocks him with a hard right hook and then lands multiple more shots as the two fall. Gray tries to pull an armbar from the bottom but Funkhausser steps out of it. Gray manages to take the top position on the ground landing shots to the side of Funkhauser's head as he has one of Funkhauser's arms trapped between his legs. Gray lands a few more shots from the top, but Funkhauser eventually gets his arm free and takse top position inside Gray's guard. Gray throws his legs up for a triangle but can't sink it in before the round expires.

Funkhauser landed some good shots in the beginning but Gray controlled most of the rest of the round, so I think he'll pull it out on the scorecards.

Furby sees it 10-9 Gray.

Round 2
Gray lands a couple light hooks to start and Funkhauser misses with a huge overhand right. Gray lands a hard leg kick and then misses with a high kick. Gray lands another leg kick, then another, then another which Funkhauser answers with an overhand right. They clinch up and Gray lands a knee to the body. They separate and Gray shoots in but Funkhauser gets the better of the takedown. Gray is going for some submissions from the bottom, trying to lock in the triangle. Funkhauser manages to get out of it and stand and then the ref pauses him to let Gray stand as well. Gray lands another leg kick, then shoots again and takes Funkhauser down, working for submissions from the bottom as the round expires.

Again, Funkhauser landed a couple good shots, but Gray should've managed enough control overall to win the round.

Furby sees it 10-9 Gray.

Round 3
Gray opens with another leg kick, then scores a head kick. Funkhauser still has some fight left in him, landing an overhand right, then multiple right hooks and hard body shots. Gray manages to sneak in a knee to the head, and then shoots in but Funkhauser manages to reverse and then basically powerbombs Gray, bringing the crowd to their feet. Funkhauswer has the top position on the ground, and they stay there until the ref stands them up when it slows. Funkhauswer works a couple more hard rights in once the two stand and Gray lands another leg kick, then another head kick, followed by another high kick. Funkhauser keeps going forward though and lands some more hard rights to the head and body as the round expires.

A tougher round to score that time, but I still think Gray won it based on overall shots landed and control.

Furby sees it 10-9 Gray.

In perhaps the most ridiculous decision I've seen in a long time, the fight is scored a draw (no scores announced). The crowd seems to feel the way I do, expressing it with lots of "boo"s. (Furby's NOTE: After the Parker/Spaulding fight, it was announced that the scorecards were re-examined and Gray in fact won the fight via split decision.)

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Michael "PK" Parker vs. Deon Spaulding (HMMA Heavyweight Title)

Parker represents Team Campbellsville. Spaulding represents Team Animal.

Round 1
Spaulding tests the range with jabs, but none connect. He shoots in but Parker stuffs it, and they're broken up as the action stops. Spaulding misses with a right and then Parker misses with a left. Spaulding shoots but Parker stuffs it again and the ref breaks them up as the action stalls. Both miss with body shots and Parker misses with a left. Spaulding fakes a jab and shoots in again but Parker stuffs it again forcing Spaulding to the ground. Parker spins around and takes Spaulding's back and Spualding rolls and takes the top position in side control as the round ends.

Really a hard one to call, neither fighter landed too many shots. I think Parker likely won that one due to his solid defense and landing a few more shots than Spaudling.

Furby sees it 10-9 Parker.

Round 2
Spaulding lands an overhand right to start but Parker steps in and lands some head and body shots before Spaulding shoots in and Parker stuffs it. They're separated as the action stalls. Parker scores with a jab and misses with an uppercut, but then lands a short left. Parker lands a jab and two short uppercuts and Spaulding misses with a kick. Spaudling shoots in and Parker stuffs it and lands a few short head shots as Spaulding has him pressed against the cage. Both men score short head shots as they separate and then Parker lands a series of lefts and short rights before Spaulding shoots in and finally scores a takedown. Spaulding lands some short body shots from side control as the round ends.

A more competitive round that time, but ultimately I think Parker will come out ahead on the scorecards thanks to his more precise striking and overall defense.

Furby sees it 10-9 Parker.

Round 3
Spaulding connects on an overhand right and then misses with a second. The action is stopped briefly as Parker loses his mouthpiece. Spaulding lands another hard overhand right as Parker tries to close the distance. Parker scores a takedown but Spaulding looks for the guillotine. Parker gets his head out and starts to land body shots and short head shots, but then is able to posture up and land more head shots before the action slows and the ref stands them up. Spaulding briefly taunts Parker by wagging his head and the two trade more hard shots as the round expires.

Again, not a round that saw a lot of shots landed but it should've been a good enough performance by Parker for him to come out on top.

Furby sees it 10-9 Parker.

Round 4
Spaudling lands a hard overhand right to start, then another and Parker rushes in to clinch up but Spaulding manages to toss Parker and lands some shots from the top before the ref suddenly rushes in to stop the action. It appears that Parker verbally submitted.

Deon Spaulding wins via submission (verbal) at :41 of Round 4, to become the HMMA Heavyweight (AM) champ.

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Corey Clemons vs. Isaiah Ferguson (Under 18 Grappling)

Clemons trains with Team No Mercy. Ferguson trains with Team Cruz.

There were no submissions in the first round, so it went to a "sudden death" round where first submission won. Ferguson won with a gogoplata - had this been an MMA fight, that would've been my Submission of the Night, no question.

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Mike Thomas vs. Brandon Howard

Thomas, making his debut, trains out of Louisville MMA. I didn't hear an affiliation for Howard.

Round 1

(Furby's Note: Sorry there isn't as much detail on this fight - I had to stand to watch the fight due to the crowd being on its feet.)

I believeThomas won round one. After surviving some initial submission scares, Thomas took control with a big slam and some great ground and pound for the last couple minutes of the round, where it appeared the ref was ready to step in to stop the fight but ultimately didn't.

Furby sees it 10-9 Thomas.

Round 2
Howard again initially took control of the round, stifling attempts by Thomas to take control or gain an edge. Howard effectively controlled Thomas both standing and on the ground, holding onto a guillotine attempt for a while. Thomas eventually got out of the guillotine and got control of Howard with a crucifix which he then transitioned to full mount as the round expired. It was a nice late rally by Thomas but I think Howard still won the round as a whole.

Furby sees it 10-9 Howard.

Round 3
Thomas immediately shot in but Howard defended well as was able to defend well with a standing guillotine attempt. Thomas scored a takedown after escaping and was able to quickly transition to the full mount to land some more ground and pound that ultimately caused the ref to step in and stop the fight.

Mike Thomas wins via TKO (strikes) at 1:44 of Round 3.

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RJ Miller vs. Matt "Floppy" Haltheus

Miller fights out of Highlander MMA. Haltheus fights out of Derby City MMA.

Round 1
Haltheus lands a short jab to start and moves in to take Miller down, but Miller quickly takes top position and starts landing shots from the top. Miller works from side control and then the north-south position, then a guillotine. Haltheus gets his head out and then moves to side control, but Miller holds him down preventing him from posturing up. When Miller briefly lets go, Haltheus takes advantage and lands shots from the top. Miller looks for a heel hook but Haltheus is able to get out of it and take side control again, then pushing Miller's legs out of the way to take his back. Miller rolls and Haltheus takes full mount, landing some head and body shots to end the round.

Although Miller had a couple good submission attempts, I think Haltheus's overall control of the round and more strikes landed should have easily won him the round.

Furby sees it 10-9 Haltheus.

Round 2
Haltheus comes out swinging again and moves to take Miller down but Miller locks him up in a guillotine, but Haltheus manages to get his head out and starts more ground and pound while Miller tries to better his position. Haltheus takes Miller's back, but Miller rolls and Halteus lands some shots from inside Miller's guard before transitioning to side control, but then Miller is able to briefly get back to guard, but Haltheus passes and lands more shots from the top. Haltheus works for a keylock and Miller ultimately submits.

Matt Haltheus wins via submission (keylock) at 2:39 of Round 2.
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Tony Thomas vs. Chad Sermon

Thomas, making his debut, fights out of Louisville MMA. Sermon, also making his debut, fights out of Team No Mercy.

Round 1
Thomas immediately shoots in and scores a big slam, landing in side control, but Sermon is holding him down preventing him from posturing up. Thomas lands some head shots as the two stand and Sermon answers with a couple of his own before Thomas spins and sweeps him, taking him down again. Thomas works more ground and pound until Sermon rolls and Thomas takes his back to sink in the rear naked choke and get the quick tap.

Tony Thomas wins via submission (RNC) at 1:24 of Round 1

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Jeff King vs. TJ Barber

King fights out of Team Animal. Barber fights out of Etown Beatdown. Two tough featherweights here - this one should be a banger.

Round 1
Barber misses with a front kick to start. King lands a head shot and Barber looks for a hip toss but can't complete it. Barber gets King down, but Barber's head is tied up. Barber gets his head out, takes full mount and King rolls and Barber quickly takes his back working for the rear naked choke. King gets out and Barber goes for a triangle but King muscles his way out and both briefly go for simultaneous heel hooks. Both let go and Barber takes the top position, aldning some body shots. It appears that one of King's initial shots cut Barber on his face. Barber takes King's back again and rolls him over, going for the rear naked, getting the quick tap and winning the fight.

TJ Barber wins via submission (RNC) at 2:12 of Round 1.
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Justin Gamble vs. Chris Biddle (HMMA 185 Title)

Gamble, the challenger, fights out of Team Animal. Biddle, the Champ, fights out of Etown Beatdown.

Round 1
Biddle throws a jab and a right that fall short, but finds the mark with a leg kick. Biddle misses with a big left hook but lands another leg kick. Gamble lands a body kick but Biddle shrugs his off and lands some head shots before taking the action to the ground. Biddle works from half-guard, trying to land some shots but Gamble is defending well from the bottom. Biddle takes full mount and quickly sinks in an arm triangle choke, moving to the side to cinch it tighter. Biddle squeezes very hard very quick and Gamble passes out before the ref can even move in to stop it. (Biddle immediately let go, though and the doctor quickly came in the cage to check on Gamble. Gamble quickly comes to and is able to stand and easily move around on his own power.)

Chris Biddle wins via submission (arm triangle choke) at 1:52 of Round 1.

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Marcus Mayes vs. Chad Deener (HMMA 205 Title)

Mayes, the challenger, fights out of Derby City MMA. Deener, the champ, wearing custom Fight Ribbon gear, fights out of Etown Beatdown.

Round 1
Deener quickly looks for an overhand right that misses, and moves in for a takedown but Mayes defends and reverses, putting Deener against the cage. Deener lands a solid knee to the body, followed by another and Mayes lands a short left uppercut. Still locked against the cage, Deener tries to get mayes down but Mayes continues to defends. Deener lands a good body shot and Mayes lands a couple knees tot eh body. Deener lands a short right hook and misses with an uppercut as the two split and Mayes works knees to Deener's legs while trying to control one of Deener's wrists. Teh two trade more knees to the body and then short head shots. It's a struggle to see who is going to get the takedown first and Mayes gets Deener down and Deener tries for a guillotine from the bottom as the round ends.

A tough round to call. Mayes defended the takedown well, and it will be a toss-up whether the takedown at the end won Mayes the round or the submission attempt won Deener the round. I give a slight edge to Deener.

Furby sees it 10-9 Deener.

Round 2
Mayes lands a leg kick followed by a short right hook as Deener tries to close the distance. Deener lands a short right hook to Mayes's head and Mayes works in some short body shots as Deener has him pressed against the cage. It's already another battle to see who is going to score the takedown and the ref separates them as the action slows. Deener rushes in with a three punch combo but Mayes quickly clinches up and lands two knees to Deener's legs. It's a struggle for position again and the ref separates them. Deener lands a hard head shot followed by another and Mayes lands a solid knee to the body. Mayes gets Deener down and quickly gets full mount, raining down shots from the top as the round ends.

That last rally by Mayes as well as his better striking this round should see him win that one on the scorecards.

Furby sees it 10-9 Mayes.

Round 3
Mayes opens with some better shots this round and gets Deener down but Deener back to his feet looking to score a takedown of his own. Mayes lands some short shots to Deener's head as Deener is working for the takedown and sneaks a knee to Deener's head in as well. The two trade knees to the body and lock up again, with Mayes landing more knees to the body. Mayes gets Deener in a classic muay thai clinch and lands a perfectly timed knee to the head taking Deener down hard, and the ref doesn't hesitate stepping in stop the action.

Marcus Mayes wins via TKO (knee) in Round 3 (no time announced) to become the new HMMA 205 Champ.

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AJ Jenkins vs. Steve Osmun (HMMA 170 Title)

Jenkins, the challenger, trains out of Louisville MMA. Osmun, the Champ, trains out of Etown Beatdown.

Round 1
Both fighters testing the distance early. There's a lot of out of distance shots thrown and the two finally have an exchange, both landing a couple shots before Jenkins pushes Osmun against the fence. Osmun reverses and Jenkins reverses Osmun as the two trade knees to the body. Jenkins drops lower for a single-leg takedown but Osmun defends. Jenkins lands some body shots and the two continue to struggle for position as the round ends.

Not many shots landed in that round, but Jenkins's aggression should win him the round.

Furby sees it 10-9 Jenkins.

Round 2
Jenkins lands a couple head shots to start and the two trade, with Jenkins getting the better of the exchange. Osmun sneaks in a good leg kick and the two continue to exchange. Jenkins lands a hard left hook that takes Osmun out and Jenkins moves in to land a couple more head shots to seal the deal, but Osmun is already unconscious. (The doctors quickly move in to check on Osmun and he is able to rise under his own power.)

AJ Jenkins wins via KO in Round 1 (no time announced) to become the new HMMA 170 champ.

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JR "The Dragon" Hines vs. Robert Mooney (PRO)

Hines, wearing custom Fight Ribbon gear, trains out of Extreme Force Martial Arts. Mooney trains out of Etown Beatdown.

Round 1
Hines opens with a leg kick followed by a superman punch. Hines moves in for the takedown but Mooney defends and the two trade shots, pressed against the cage. Mooney scores with a body shot and Hines misses with a right hook. Mooney goes for the single leg takedown, which Hines initially defends but Mooney is able to complete it and lands in side control, working shots to the body before going for a kimura. Mooney continues to crank the kimura and Hines rolls over the top of Mooney but Mooney is able to keep cranking to score the tap.

Robert Mooney wins via submission (kimura) at 1:47 of Round 1.

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Jason Carrier vs. Adam "The Igg" Schroer (PRO)

Carrier represents Slaughterhouse MMA. Schroer, making his pro debut, trains out of Etown Beatdown.

Round 1
Carrier misses with a left hook and Schroer rushes in and scores with a right but eats a kick to the body in the process. Schroer moves for a head kick but doesn't finish, then barely misses with a superman punch. Carrier lands a leg kick and Schroer answers with a hard left and Carrier lands a right hook. Carrier lands another leg kick and Schroer misses with a body kick and then another superman punch, but he locks up with Carrier against the cage. Carrier spins off the cage and lands a knee to the body. Schroer lands a short body kick and a right to the body. Schroer lands a hard right hook that floors Carrier. Schroer pauses for a minute because he thinks Carrier is out, but then quickly jumps on him when he realizes he's not, working some hard ground and pound that bloodies Carrier's nose, before Carrier rolls and Schroer takes his back and sinks in a rear naked choke.

Adam Schroer wins via submission (RNC) in Round 1 (no time announced).

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Overall, a great event. What looked to be a 1000+ crowd really got into the fights and a number of local pro fighters could be seen checking out the fights including Chad Corvin and Ron Sparks. The show even saw some improvements in production with the addition of some pre-fight hype videos with some of the pro fighters.

Check back in the coming days for my Night Awards and post-show commentary and some pics from the event.


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HardRock MMA 7: Jealousy is Earned Post-Event Commentary (June 2, 2009)

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the HardRock MMA 7: Jealousy is Earned show in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. It was the first HardRock show I attended, but I’ll definitely be going back. In addition to the fact that the audience got to see a massive fight card – eighteen MMA fights and two grappling matches – I was pleased with how the promotion was run and also the audience reaction to everything. Sometimes today, MMA fans get caught up in the glam and glitz of the high level productions the UFC puts on and in doing that, forget about these regional promotions that are not only more affordable to go to but put on often equally exciting fights are in fact the breeding ground for fighters that end up in promotions like the UFC.

The show went pretty quickly despite the large number of fights. Including two intermissions, the show lasted 2 hours and 48 minutes. Out of the eighteen MMA fights, only three went past the first round, but those three were equally as exciting as the ones that ended quickly.

On the most recent episode of my new radio show, Cageside Seats , brought to you by the Fight Ticker Radio Network, co-host Mike Menninger and I discussed the quick endings of a number of these amateur fights that we’ve attended around the tri-state area and the possible explanations for that. There are a number of reasons that these fights could end so quickly, but the reason that Mike and I both think is most plausible is the “unknown” factor of amateur fighters. At a number of the regional shows I’ve attended, a lot of fighters made their amateur MMA debuts. Given that, it can be hard to matchmake for these fights because promoters and matchmakers just don’t know what a fighter is truly capable of until he steps in the cage. Blame shouldn’t be placed on a promoter or matchmaker – in fact, I think they should be applauded for their efforts because without them, who would give these fighters a chance? Fighters have to start somewhere, and regional promotions like HardRock are just the place because the fighters get a chance to get in front of a decent-sized crowd (there were somewhere between 400-500 people at the HardRock show), they can start developing a local fanbase and relationships with various people in the industry.

Additionally, fighters who fight for promotions like HardRock can get the chance at some opportunities that might not have had otherwise. Take, for example, Phil White and TJ Barber – my choice for the FightTicker.com Fight of the Night . Due to their impressive performance in the cage, both White and Barber were given the opportunity to attend, for free, a seminar that former UFC fighter Dan Christison put on the day after the show. As Mike and I discussed on our radio show, amateur fighters generally don’t get paid. Sometimes the promoters help cover their travel expenses, but the fighters don’t get paid to fight – however, when they put on an impressive performance, they can get other rewards, like the chance to attend the Christison seminar, and to talk to guys like Christison and pro fighter Chad Corvin, both of whom were there as referees. I spent some time talking with Christison before the show and I briefly caught up with Corvin afterwards and as always, both guys were fun to talk to. A number of other pros were there as well including Ron Sparx, Casey Oxendine, Donny Wallace, Scott Porter and Erick Jordan, to name a few. And in addition to getting to fight in front of guys like this, the fighters got the chance to fight in front of a truly appreciative crowd.

Not once during the eighteen MMA fights and two grappling matches did I hear a single “boo” from the audience, or a call to “stand them up”. Sure, sometimes there should be “boos” and sometimes the ref should stand the fighters up, but I think crowds today often want quick action and are willing to sacrifice the chance to see good fights for it, and that’s unfortunate. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of quick KOs and submissions, and the crowd at HardRock didn’t have to wait long for most of the finishes. However, during the fights that went the distance, nobody boo’d when it went past the first or second round – instead, I saw a crowd really get into the show, yelling for knees whenever the fighters would clinch up and screaming their approval when someone landed a big slam or landed a big leg kick that brought a loud “smack” and giving all the fighters a lot of applause after the fights were over.

Something else I saw a lot of at HardRock was a solid team dynamic and support. Take the ETown Beatdown and BG Beatdown fight teams (both run under the tutelage of Josh Johnson, one of Kentucky’s few BJJ blackbelts). By my count, the Beatdown teams went 9-1 on the night, and the lone loss by TJ Barber was, as I’ve said, an impressive performance that earned him my Fight of the Night honors. At each fight, other fighters from the team were there cheering their teammates on and quick to congratulate them after the wins. However, even the teams who didn’t fare so well still showed a lot of support with some fighters not even going back to the locker room after a loss because one of their teammates was fighting next and they wanted to stay to help corner.

Regional promotions like HardRock not only put on great shows but they do so at a cost to the fans that is much less than that of its larger counterparts like the UFC. For prices like $25, the fans can get a great seat to be close to the action. Additionally, at shows like this, the fans get a chance to see some strong up and coming fighters like White and Barber, and even Etown Beatdown’s Chad Deener, who will be challenging Team Animal’s Bobby Carter for the HardRock MMA 205 Championship this weekend at the HardRock show in King’s Mountain, Kentucky. If you happen to be in the area, I strongly recommend you check it out – there are another 18 MMA matches and 2 grappling matches scheduled for the event and there are bound to be some more great fights.

I also liked the fact that they allowed grappling matches. Although HardRock MMA is not the only promotion in Kentucky to do this, they are only one of two that I am aware of. I think this is great for the people under the age of 18 because it also gives them a chance to see what it is like to step into a cage and compete in front of a crowd.

While the HardRock show did not have the same production value as a UFC show (and their normal announcer was unavailable due to a previous commitment) don’t let the label of “regional promotion” fool you – there was some good media coverage at the event. Besides myself handling the live blog, purefight.org was there videotaping the fights as well as watchtammytv.com, another source for good MMA videos from this region. Besides, when you go to an MMA event, what are you really there to watch – some flashy videos or some exciting fights? While I do enjoy all the pre-fight videos and hype of the larger promotions, I go to shows for the fights – and HardRock delivered.

For more information on upcoming shows, including this weekend’s event in Kings Mountain, Kentucky, check out HardRock's website.

-PreView


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Hardrock MMA 7: Jealousy is Earned Night Honors (May 24, 2009)

Last night, I attended my first show put on by the HardRock MMA promotion, HardRock MMA 7: Jealousy is Earned. It was a huge fight card, 18 MMA fights and two grappling matches. Only a few fights went past the first round, and all of the fights had a pretty intense pace, so it was definitely an entertaining show. I'll be posting some event pics and post-event commentary in the coming days, but I wanted to go ahead and highlight a few of the fighters who I decided walked away with the FightTicker.com "Of the Night" Honors.

Fight of the Night: Phil White over T.J. Barber

Although this fight for the vacant HardRock MMA Featherweight Title only made through one and a half of the five scheduled rounds, both fighters were extremely impressive in that time. Barber pushed the pace for most of the fight, and both guys showed major intensity, good striking and good submission attempts and defense. The armbar that saw White ultimately win the fight was impressive as White was able to capitalize on the submission from his side, an odd position for the armbar. I think the excitement these two guys gave the crowd easily set the stage for a rematch.

There were no true KO's on the night, so I've decided to name two Submission of the Night winners as both were impressive.

Submission of the Night 1 Matthew Carbaugh

Carbaugh's armbar win over Drew Weaver just 30 seconds into the first round was an excellent showing of position control and technique. In what initially started as a traditional armbar from the side, Carbaugh was able to roll Weaver over to end up with a belly-down armbar. It was a quick and efficient move by Carbaugh and although the initial armbar was a dominant effort, Carbaugh was able to better secure his position for the win.

Submission of the Night 2: Jon Rigdon

Rigdon's submission impressed me both because of the speed with which he applied it and due to the fact that he had just escaped a pair of submissions himself - first a guillotine, then an inverted triangle. Rigdon locked the triangle in and it briefly looked like Ballinger might be okay because he was still trying to land body shots, but Rigdon quickly secured his position and nailed the triangle, forcing the tap.

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This was the first HardRock MMA show I attended, and I had a great time. It was one of the smaller shows that I've been to, but there were a lot of entertaining fights and the crowd really got into the show - I'll be addressing this more in my post-fight commentary, but at no point did I hear the crowd "boo". Too many times at events these days as soon as the fighters go the ground or get locked up against the cage, people are booing or yelling for the referee to stand it up. Not here - I definitely appreciated the fact that the crowd wanted to give things a chance to play out, and they were rewarded for it with some great finishes and solid match-ups.

-PreView


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Hardrock MMA 7: Jealousy is Earned Live Blog (May 23, 2009)

I'm here at the National Guard Armory in Elizabethtown, KY waiting for HardRock MMA 7: Jealousy is Earned to start. One of the largest fight cards that the tri-state area has ever seen, the card is set to feature eighteen fights and two grappling matches. I already spent some time chatting with former UFC fighter Dan Christison, a special guest referee tonight, and the seats are filling up as the countdown to fight time continues.

More when the action starts. I won't be live blogging the grappling matches, but I will be posting the names of the winners. The grappling matches are one three-minute round.

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Dakota Vincent vs. Bobby Campbell (Grappling)

Bobby Campbell wins on points.

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Steven Jenkins vs. Brodie Hayer (135)

Jenkins is making his amateur MMA debut. Hayer, training out of E-Town BJJ & Judo is also making his debut.

Round 1

Jenkins opens up with a left while hayer tries to get in a leg kick. Jenkins get Hayer down but can't capitalize and Hayer gets up. Hayer lands a couple knees and Jenkins ducks in with a punch but hayer has him locked in a standing guillotine. Hayer gets Jenkins to the ground but Jenkins gets his head out and stands. Heayer misses with a big right hook and they both fire off simultaneous rights, both landing. Jenkins ties up Hayer in a guillotine and takes him down, flattens Jenkins out in the north-south position, quickly forcing the tap.

Steven Jenkins wins via tapout (choke) at 1:33 in Round 1

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Jacob Ballinger vs. Corey Clemons (Grappling)

Corey Clemmons wins via tapout (rear naked choke)

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Justin Collett vs. Matt Hutcherson (Hvy)

Collett (7-17) fights out of Team Middlesboro. Hutcherson (1-0) fights out of E-Town Beatdown.

Round 1
Collett misses with a body kick and Hutcherson takes him down. Hutcherson quickly transitions to side control, Collett spins and Hutcherseon works for a guillotine from the top. Collett struggles to get a double-leg takedown and Hutcherson is warned for grabbing the cage. They go to the ground and Hutcherson takes Collett's back, flattens him out and starts landing shots to the side of Collett's head, then sinks in a rear naked choke, quickly forcing the tap.

Matt Hutcherson wins via tapout (RNC) in Round 1

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Coty Barron vs. Ashcon Karbosi (185)

Barron (0-1) fights out of Huitt Fighting Systems. Karbosi (1-0) fights out of BG Beatdown.

Round 1
Karbosi fires off a sshort left and Barron shoots in and they clinch up and trade knees to the body. Karbosi gets Barron down with a hard right and immediately moves to the mount position. Barron spins out of it but Karbosi reestablishes the top position and starts landing shots to Barron's head. Karbosi gets to the mount and starts to ground and pound, holding Barron down with one hand and pounding him with the other until ref Dan Christison comes in to stop the action.

Ashcon Karbosi wins via TKO (strikes) at 1:14 in Round 1.

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Josh Smith vs. Nathan Roach (155)

Smith (1-1) fights out of Team Middlesboro. Roach, making his MMA debut, fights out of Death is Certain.

Round 1
Smith fakes witha leg kick and tries to shoot in but Roach picks him up and slams him hard. Smith has Roach's head tied up and Roach pushes Smith up against the cage, landing body shots. Roach gets his head out and then immediately pulls guard and sinks in a guillotine, quickly ending the fight.

Nathan Roach wins via tapout (guillotine) in Round 1 (Right around one minute)

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Justin Hunt vs. Scott Fremming (170)

Hunt (2-5) fights out of Team Nemesis. Fremming, making his debut, fights out of ETown Beatdown.

Round 1
Fremming shoots in, missing a right hook from Hunt, and gets Hunt to the ground. He quickly works his way to the north-south position, then Hunt's back, landing head shots and working for the rear naked choke, sinking it in quickly to win his debut.

Scott Fremming wins via tapout (RNC) at :41 in Round 1.

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Jeremy Philpot vs. Paul Tipton (145)

Philpot (7-7) fights out of Team Middlesboro. Tipton (5-2) fights out of ETown Beatdown.

Round 1
Tipton misses with a big right hook but gets Philpot's head briefly caught in a guillotine. The two struggle against the cage and finally hit the ground. Tipton is in side control and transitions to full mount, landing some head shots. Philpot spins and Tipton takes his back, landing some head shots, trying to get in a rear naked choke. Philpot defends and rolls but Tipton maintains position and rolls Philpot over, sinking in the rear naked choke. Philpot won't tap and he loses consciousness before ref Chad Corvin can get in to stop the fight. However, Philpot quickly regains consciousness and is able to exit the ring on his own power.

Tipton wins via submission (RNC) in at 1:33 in Round 1

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David Young vs. Thomas Brownfield (170)

Young is 0-1 as an amateur. Brownfield (0-2) fights out of Death is Certain.

Round 1
Young fires off an overhand right, but misses. They clinch up and Brownfield lands a knee to the body, then another and Yougn answes with one. Brownfield lands a takedown and transitions to the mount position, landing some head shots. He gets one of Young's arms behind his head and lands more head shots until ref Chad Corvin steps in to stop the fight.

Thomas Brownfield wins via TKO (strikes) at :56 of Round 1.

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James Brasfield vs. Frank Mulder (205)

Both fighters come into this fight with 0-1 amateur records.

Round 1
Mulder opesn with a body kick. Brasfield tries to clinch up but Mulder shakes him off then sweeps him, landing in half-guard. Brasfield is keeping Mulder from posturing up, but Mulder gets free and stands, then lets Brasfield stand. Mulder lands a right hook and Brasfield lands a short hook of his own. They go back down and Mulder has top position but again, Brasfield is preventing him from fully posturing up. Mulder lands a couple short head shots and short slams and works his way to full mount. Mulder lands more short head shots and breaks free to land more. He stands and Brasfield rolls, then allowed to stand as Mulder backs off. Mulder lands another body kick and Brasfield gets Mulder's head locked up and Mulder scores a double-leg takedown. Mulder gets his head free and lands head shots from the top as the round expires.

PreView sees it 10-9 Mulder.

Brasfield is unable to continue after the first round.

Frank Mulder wins via TKO (opponent unable to continue) at 3:00 of Round 1.

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T.J. Stone vs. Kyle Griffith (155)

Stone (0-1) fights out of Huitt Fighting Systems. Griffith (1-1) fights out of Death is Certain.

Round 1
Stone misses with a right hook and Griffith takes him down but Stone ties his head up in the process. Griffith spins around, working body shots while he tries to pulls his head out. Griffith lands a couple head shots and more body shots, but his head is still stuck. Griffith finally manages to get his head free, gets full mount and starts landing multiple head shots until the ref pulls him off.

Kyle Griffith wins via TKO (strikes) at 1:19 of Round 1.

Kudos to Griffith for his second win in as many weeks - Griffith also fought at last week's ICF: Sacrifice event.

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Jason Newland vs. Danny Kelly (205)

Newland, fighting out of Huitt Fighting Systems is making his amateur MMA debut. Danny Kelly (1-0) fights out of BG Beatdown.

Round 1
Kelly opens with a hard leg kick. Newland misses with a leg kick and then Kelly misses with a high head kick. Kelly lands a short left and gest Newland against the cage but Newland ties up Kelly's head and attempts to pull guard with Kelly still standing. The two are stuck in this position, with Kelly still trying to pull his head free. As Newland tries to pull guard again, Kelly gets his head out and starts landing shots from the top and knees to the body. They stand and Newland is warned for grabbing the cage. Kelly scores a takedown and lands in side control, then transitions to full mount and starts landing multiple shots from the top until ref Chad Corvin steps in to stop the fight.

Danny Kelly wins via TKO (strikes) at 2:23 of Round 1.

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Drew Weaver vs. Matthew Carbaugh (145)

Weaver (1-0) fights out of Team Nemesis. Carbaugh (1-2) fights out of Darkside MMA.

Round 1
Weaver throws a body kick but Carbaugh catches it and takes him down. Carbaugh lands a couple shots from the top position but Weaver reverses and ends up in Carbaugh's guard. Weaver tries to land more shots but Carbaugh quickly transitions into an armbar, rolling Weaver over to the belly-down armbar position, quickly forcing the tap.

Matthew Carbaugh wins via tapout (armbar) at :30 of Round 1

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Doug Ballinger vs. Jon Rigdon (145)

Ballinger (6-5) fights out of Team Nemesis. Rigdon (4-0) fights out of BG Beatdown.

Round 1
Rigdon misses with a low leg kick. Ballinger lands a short right but Rigdon shoots in. Ballinger defends and gets Rigdon's neck locked up. Ballinger lets Rigdon's head go and tries to transition to an inverted triangle from the bottom but Ridgdon signals he's okay and lands some body shots. Rigdon tries to reverse but Ballinger takes the top position and Ridgon pulls guard. Rigdon locks in the triangle from the bottom but Ballinger is still working to land shots, briefly, before he taps.

Jon Rigdon wins via tapout (triangle) at 1:51 in Round 1.

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Chris Minks vs. Chad Denner (205)

Minks is 3-1. Deener (3-0) fights out of ETown Beatdown.

Round 1
Both fighters miss with their initial shots and clinch up - Deener takes it down. Deener quickly gets full mount but Minks lands some body shots. Deener works head shots from the top, keeping Minks against the cage. The two stand and Deener sweeps Minks, taking him down to a crouched position where he lands head shots. Minks goes for a standing guillotine but Deener is still working, landing body shots. Minks lands some body shots from the top and Deener scores a single-leg takedown. Deener lands head and body shots from teh top position and Minks tires to pull him down to keep him from posturing up. Deener lands more short head shots before briefly standing and going back down in the North-South position. The two stand and Deener lands two solid knees to head Minks's head before the round ends.

PreView sees it 10-9 Deener.

Round 2
Deener opesn with a right hook followed by a two-punch combo. He shoots in, going for the double-leg but Minks is able to briefly defend. They stand, Deener still pushing Minks against the cage, and Minks lands a couple of head shots. Deener answres with a short right hook and Minks works to throw some knees to the outside of Deener's body. Minks lands a knee to the head before Deener breaks free and lands three punches before getting Minks's head in the guillotine position and landing four knees to Minks's head. Deener continues to land knees to the head and body and Minks pushes him against the cage and lands a knee to Deener's leg. Deener reverses position and lands another knee to Minks's head. The two are trading short shots and Deener hits Minks with a hard foot stomp. Minks is staying busy though and landing body shots and Deener lands a hard straight right when the two separate. Minks has Deener's neck tied up and lands a couple body shots as the round ends.

Minks held strong in that round, but Deener should easily have come out ahead on the scorecars.

PreView sees it 10-9 Deener.

Round 3
Minks comes in with a left hook and the two trade multiple head shots before Deener gets Minks against the cage. They break and trade more head shots, Minks landing a few more than Deener. Minks lands a knee to the body and some body shots but Deener still has him locked up against the cage. Minks throws some more short body shots and the ref breaks them up as the action slows. Minks lands a hard right hook and Deener answers with a hard right of his own and clinches up, pushing Minks against the cage. Deener works for a double-leg takedown but Minks defends and fires off some short head shots. Minks lands a knee to Deener's head and the two are separate again when the action slows. Minks misses with big left and right hooks and Deener pushes him against the cage again, going for the double-leg taekdown. Minks is landing body shots and short head shots, and a final knee to Deener's head as the round expires.

A much closer final round - I think Minks will get the edge in this round, but I think Deener has the victory locked up.

PreView sees it 10-9 Minks.

Chad Deener wins via Unanimous Decision (29-28 from all three judges)

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David Ward vs. Jesse Grindstaff (135)

Ward (4-4) fights out of Team Superior. Grindstaff (4-3) fights out of Team Oxendine. This fights is for the vacant Hardrock MMA Bantamweight Title.

Round 1
Touch of the gloves and we're off. Both are testing the range. Grindstaff grazes Ward with a head kick and Ward shoots in and takes Grindstaff down but Grindstaff has full guard and a guillotine. Ward gets his head out but Grindstaff quickly transitions to a triangle and forces the tap early in the first.

Jesse Grindstaff wins via tapout (triangle) at :38 in Round 1 to become the Hardrock MMA Bantamweight Champ.
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Bo Huitt vs. Roger Minton (Hvy)

The night's lone pro fight features a match-up between Bo Huitt (0-2) out of Huitt Fighting Systems and Roger Minton (1-3) fighting out of Extreme Martial Arts and Fitness.

FightTicker's Note: My computer just locked up and I lost the description. Huitt was the initial aggressor but Minton was able to transition to full mount. Minton won via TKO at 1:29 of Round 1. My apologies to the fighters.

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Phil White vs. T.J. Barber (145)

White (5-0) fights out of Louisville MMA. Barber (8-5) fights out of ETown Beatdown. This fight is for the vacant Hardrock MMA Featherweight Title.

Round 1
Barber opens witha body kick, then a leg kick. White shoots in but Barber stuffs it. The two stand and Barber lands a hard body kick. Barber misess with a big overhand right and White pushes him against the cage. Barber lands a knee to White's head and reverses position. Barber lands a knee to the body and scores a double-leg takedown ending up on top in half-guard. Barber lands multiple head shots from the top position as he transitions to side control. Barber stands and motions for White to stand. Barber misses with a leg kick and White shoots in but Barber stuffs it and lands multple head shots followed by a knee to the body. Teh two change positions against the cage and White hip tosses Barber and manages to lock one of Barber's arms between his legs and landing short shots to Barber's head. White gets an inverted triangle from the top but Barber manages to pull his head out as the round ends.

An extremely close round, but I give a slight edge to Barber due to his control and pushing the fight.

PreView sees it 10-9 Barber.

Round 2
White comes in with a punch but Barber answers with a knee to the face. White gets Barber agsint the cage but Barber reverses, lands a knee followed by a punch and a head kick, then punch, then another head kick. White takes Barber down and Barber pulls guard, trying to tie up White's arms. White lands some shots from the top and Barber throws his legs up for a triangle but White gets out. Barber scrambles and manages to take top position in side control, landing shots from the top. White manages to pull guard but Barber lands more shots from the top. Barber alternates between body and head shots and White tries to land some shots from the bottom. As Barber tries to change position, White manages to grab his arm and as Barber scrambles, White hangs on enough to force the tap in an armbar from his side.

Phil White wins via tapout (armbar) at 2:29 of Round 2 to become the new Hardrock MMA Featherweight Champ.

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Steve Osmun vs. Brandon Howard (170)

Osmun (4-0) fights out of ETown Beatdown. Howard (9-7), fighting out of Huitt Fighting Systems, is the defending champ.

Round 1
Howard comes in with a hard right hook and clinches up, taking Osmun down. Osmun ends up in top position and lands a couple body shots when they hit the ground. Howard is preventing Osmun from posturing up. Osmun transitions to side control and lans a couple body shots. Osmun works for a keylock and starts to crank Howard's arm, forcing the tap.

Steve Osmun wins via tapout (keylock) at 1:34 in Round 1 to become the new Hardrock MMA Welterweight Champ.

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Lorenz Larkin vs. Derek Grace (Hvy)

Larkin (9-0) fights out of Louisville MMA. Grace (12-2), the defending Heavyweight Champ fights out of Scientific Street Fighting.

Round 1
Grace grazes Larkin with a leg kick to open the round. Grace misses with another leg kick and Larkin lands one of his own followed by another. Grace lands a hard leg kick and misses with a head kick but then lands another leg kick, then another. Both fighters are still testing their ranges, looking for an opening. Larkin lands a hard right hook followed by a straight left followed up with a body kick. Grace misses with another leg kick and then a left hook. Larkin lands a leg kick, then a hard left hook that stuns Grace and takes him down. Larkin rushes in and lands multiple shots to the head and body as the round expires.

PreView sees it 10-9 Larkin.

Round 2

Grace lands a stright left and tries to tie Larkin up but Larkin answers with a short right hook and two quick punches and the two separate. Grace tries to push Larkin against the cage again but Larkin spins and shakes him off. Grace lands a leg kick, then another and another as the two work their way around the cage. Larkin lands a hard left and then a leg kick. Grace answers with a leg kick and then a body kick followed by two more leg kicks. Larkin lands a hard outside leg kick and then comes in with a superman two-punch combo that pushes Grace back. Larkin comes lunging in with a two-punch combo but then backs off and Grace lands another leg kick. Grace lands another leg kick and Larkin pushes Grace against the cage as the round ends.

This was a pretty close round. Grace landed a number of leg kicks, but I think Larkin's aggression and more precise striking won him the round.

PreView sees it 10-9 Larkin.

Round 3
Grace lands a leg kick to open the round. He grazes Larkin with a head kick and follows it up with another leg kick. Larkin lands a light leg kick of his own and the two circle, Grace landing another leg kick. Larkin scores with an inside leg kick but Grace answers with a leg kick of his own. Larkin lunges in with a three punch combo that pushes Grace back but Grace comes in with leg kick then another head kick and he pushes Larkin against the cage. Grace lands a knee to the body and Larkin answes with a knee to Grace's leg. Grace lands another knee to the body, followed by another, and Larkin is still ocked up against the cage. larkin manages to sweep Grace and lands some leg kicks from the standing position. Larkin leans in to land three head shots and Grace tries to kick him off. Larkin lands more head shots as the round ends.

A tough round to call. Initially, I thought Grace would take it because of his persistent leg kicks but I think the late rally by Larkin put him ahead on the scorecards that round.

PreView sees it 10-9 Larkin.

Round 4
Grace opens with a leg kick but almost eats a big right hook from Larkin in the process. Larkin lands a two punch combo followed by a straight left but Grace ties him up to stop the shots. Larkin is warned for grabbing the cage and steps back slightly to land a knee to the body followed by a hard right hook left hook combo. Grace comes in with a kick but LOrakin shakes it off and lands more hooks that take Grace down. Larkin dives in and starts ground and pound and eventually moves to full mount, stopping landing shots. Larkin is again warned about grabbing the cage for position. larkins lands more head shots from full mount as the round expires.

Another solid round for Larkin.

PreView sees it 10-9 Larkin

Round 5
Grace opens with a leg kick, then another, then lands a high kick on Larkin's body. Grace pushes Larkin up against the cage and lands a knee to the body, followed by another and then another. Grace lands a couple short head shots, keeping Larkin against the cage. Larkin lands more short head and body shots and knees to the body. Larkin reverses position and lands a knee to Grace's body then scores a double leg taekdown. larkin has a dominant top position and he lands some head shots, trying to transition from half-guard to side control. Larkin drops a number of short head shots and body shots from the top position but Grace hangs on. Larkin continues to land head shots as the round expires.

Both fighters were clearly tired in this last round but both hung on. I think Larkin's control will ensure that he won this fifth and final round.

Lorenz Larkin wins via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to become the new Hardrock MMA Heavyweight Champ.

----------

A good show - lot of exciting fights with good finishes and the fights that went the distance were solid match-ups. The next HardRock MMA event will be June 6th in Kings Mountain, KY. HardRock MMA will return to E-Town on September 12th.

Check back in the coming days for the post-event commentary.


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