Local Fighters With Some National Aspirations
Most of you may know George Mason University from their Cinderella-like basketball run a few years ago in the college circuit. From the halls of their athletic system came the Ultimate Warrior Challenge’s own fight card consisting of a variety of local fighters, and a few from as far away as New Mexico and Colorado. Although not the sold out venue that graces the likes of UFC or WEC events, the spectators were enthusiastic (as my eardrums can attest to) as some were, well…just drunk. Many of the fights were quick wins, ending in the first round. This shouldn’t surprise people, seeing as how for some this was their first professional debut into MMA, and I can only imagine how overwhelming it may be to fight outside of a small studio, and into a crowded arena. Enough about the not-fighting, let’s get to the is-fighting overview of the night.
The first fight on the card was between Joey Kirwan and Kris McCray, two fairly large 185 lbs fighters. As soon as the horn sounded (for one reason or another the bell next to the judges wasn’t being used) they came out swinging, both looking to create the pace for the fight and turn it into their own. During a clench McCray picks up the tangled Kirwan and slams him into the mat. From here it was a scrambled mess, McCray looking to fire off elbows and fists and Kirwan trying to find the best way to defend himself. After one minute exactly McCray was able to secure the rear naked choke and submit the exhausted Kirwan. Winner by submission, Kris McCray.
Fight number two was between Reston, Virginia native Wade Drake, and Colorado visitor Cody Donovan. Wade was definitely a local favorite, the drunks behind me killed more of the cells in my ears than the loudspeakers or that Clapton concert I went to a couple years back. Cody wasn’t without his fans either though; a concentrated section of younger guys chanting his name as he stood in his corner waiting for the match to begin. After the ready checks the two fighters moved into the center of the ring, Wade firing off a strong right and Cody taking the low road (not as far as conduct, just direction) and fired off a strong shin kick to the outer leg of Wade. They both scramble to get back into a strong standing position, and a failed shoot attempt enabled Cody to knock Wade onto his back. It was all downhill from here, as Donovan pummeled Drake on the mat causing the official to call the match. After Cody was pulled off, Wade still wasn’t getting up, moving, but not getting up. When they finally placed him in a chair to sit there was blood moving around his ear, and the winner by KO was Cody Donovan.
For the 170 lbs match of the night there was a very familiar face in the ring. Not a fighter, but Mario Yamasaki, known for officiating many of the UFC fights. Tonight he would be calling the match between Levon Maynard and Toby Johnson. As the match began Toby was in a very traditional Muay Thai stance, hands up and open, leaning back a bit on the right leg with the left slightly elevated for effective knee strikes. At first they just moved around each other, gauging the others stance and fighting style. As the two clashed into each other they moved into a clench against the fence with a failed throw attempt from Levon. One thing I noticed was the amount of space Levon left between himself and Toby, even while clenching up. Basic rules of Muay Thai and clench work emphasis keeping your head pressed against your opponents, a great way to keep any stray elbows or first from sneaking up you. Luckily for Levon, Toby wasn’t taking advantage of this, and after a take down from Levon the fight was pretty much over. Levon did a great job of firing shots from the top, and Mario Yamazaki was forced to call the fight 3 minutes and 40 seconds into the first round. Winner by TKO, Levon Maynard.
Another 185 lbs match was between Tony Sousa and Ron Stallings. Stallings received the loudest reaction from the crowd so far that night, even so much as to drown out the know-it-alls sitting behind the press box. Sousa was a very stocky 185 lbs, at least a head shorter than Stallings, which would work against him later in the match. Stallings came out firing, using two knees to immediately take control of the fight. In the clench, Tony was too short to get his knees up to Stallings’ chest. The clench work definitely went to Stallings, and after making Sousa eat two huge fists Ron tries to end the fight by raining down upon his opponent. Tony had a couple opportunities in between to stand up, but either from exhaustion or trying to bring the fight to a jiu-jitsu level, decided to remain on his back. To Sousa’s credit, he is a very tough individual. He was taking a lot of strikes that would have knocked out any normal person, and when the first round ended he had a little trouble getting up. The second round Sousa was looking for the knockout hit, swinging huge hay makers, but after he ends up on his back again the official called the match from Stallings onslaught, one minute and two seconds into round two. Winner by TKO, Ron Stallings.
Fight number five was between local fight instructor Johnny Curtis and another Colorado fighter named Brendan Schaub at the 205 lbs weight class. This fight was fast, a quick clench that resulted in Schaub flinging Curtis to the cage-side like a rag doll where he jumped on top of him. Curtis did a good job of maneuvering to the top position, but Brendan used his amazing strength to just fling him off and roll back to the top position. They scramble to their feet, and after a quick combo from Schaub, Curtis was on the ground, fast. From where I was sitting I thought he got caught by a fist, and the way he was lying on his back seemed to support this conclusion. It wasn’t until the replay when I saw that for a split second Curtis reached for his knee, buckling under the pain from some sort of sustained injury. As the ring doctors came over he was pointing to his left leg, from what one would thing was a very serious injury to have the fight called in Schaub’s favor. However, Curtis was able to stand up and walk out of the ring under his own weight, after a one minute and seven second round.
The last 185 lbs fight for the evening was between Chris Reedy and Marcus Foran. These two guys seemed to be buddies, kind of shrugging at each other and smiling from across the ring as their names were announced to the crowd. In the fight, however, they were anything but. Right out of the gate Marcus went for a shoot, getting stuffed by Reedy. Marcus used his position on the bottom to pick Reedy up and slam him into the canvas, where Reedy looked to be struggling from the sheer strength of Foran. Chris arches his back up and picks Foran up into the air, but with a poor position that enabled Foran to slide his right forearm under Reedy’s neck, in a rarely seen suspended guillotine choke. Unable to put Foran down from his legs locked around Reedy’s waist, Reedy was forced to tap out 38 seconds into round one. Winner by submission, Marcus Foran.
Fight number seven was the fight of the night by far. The 155 lbs weight class was between Kyle Baker and crowd favorite James “Binky” Jones. At the beginning of the match Binky was the dominator, doing well in clench control and keeping Kyle from getting a headlock and a rear naked choke. After a mad scramble on the ground the two looked more tangled up from Kyle’s arm bar attempt than my computer chords. Kyle then used the cage to stand back up to his feet where he managed to completely take control of the fight. In the clench Kyle landed huge body shots and quick elbows to Binky’s face, causing Binky to bleed from the left side of his face. This was, in my opinion, enough to give the round to Kyle. At the start of round two neither fighter looks tired, their conditioning must be incredible after all the exertion in round one. Binky gets a good technical Muay Thai throw, but Kyle managed to swing his way to top position. Even into round three Kyle did a fantastic job of striking and using the clench, even to the point of letting his hands drop to his sides and taunting Binky into a stand up match. What made my eyes pop open was when Kyle knocked Binky to the ground, then instead of jumping on top of him (which would have probably ended the fight) he backed away and let Binky stand back up. Four seconds left into the final round Kyle lets a huge overhand right fly that knocks Binky back to the ground, clearly giving him the round, and the fight. Winner by unanimous decision, Kyle Baker.
The co-main event of the evening was between two very quick 132 lbs fighters, Jon Dodson and Mike Easton. Before the fights even started I watched as Dodson would throw himself into the cage walls, bouncing off of them over and over. I thought he was just testing them for stability, or working out the jitters. This was actually a part of his strategy, using his speed and agility to use the cage to bounce off of and either avoid or counter Easton’s attacks. Both of the fighters were incredibly fast, but Dodson’s speed was faster just to the point that Easton seemed almost wary of the counters. After a couple of times that Dodson used the cage to avoid attacks, the crowd began to get PISSED. And after three rounds of avoiding, countering, Dodson’s two take downs, and Dodson’s ability to catch just about every kick thrown at him, the judges gave the round to…Easton. I was surprised, but I think the crowd was thrilled. Regardless, an impressive display of speed and agility from both parties.
And finally, the main event, Terry Cohens vs. Antwain Britt. Another very quick one-sided fight, where after catching a fist from Britt, Cohens went to the ground. Hammer fist after hammer fist caused Mario Yamazaki to call the fight 31 seconds into the first round in Britt’s favor. Antwain has got some very heavy hands, and although Cohens looked a little surprised by the call, it was probably appropriate for the time being.
At the sidelines of these events was WEC Champion Urijah Faber and WEC Champion Carlos Condit, two very nice guys I had the pleasure of meeting, and who really seemed to support the local MMA events. The intermission where they were being interviewed on stage was a little campy, and both seemed to realize it, but were good sports about everything. I don’t think many guys could complain when surrounded by at least six ring girls wearing what seemed to be painted on tops and bottoms. Either way, a great production all in all, although the sound could have used a little work with clarity. I highly suggest that if you get the chance to see an amateur or local MMA event in your area, you purchase a ticket and enjoy some of the best entertainment a live sport can offer.
- Eric 
Wondering what is up with your prediction data? Read this!
