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Kick Down 98: Conquer Written by J.R. Gordon @ www.MMABuzz.com
Saturday night December 03, 2011 at the Red Lion hotel in Denver, Colorado the Kick Down fight promotion held their last fight of the year, marking the end of their tenth year promoting fights. The nine bout show was highlighted by five title fights Main event: Larry Williams vs. Nick Laney for the Kick Down lightweight professional MMA title. The fighters entered the clinch almost immediately and traded strikes against the cage until the referee stopped the action to warn Williams for grabbing the cage. On the restart they traded briefly from the outside before again clinching and working strikes against the cage. Laney got a double leg takedown but Williams popped right back to his feet. Laney again clinched, got a takedown and this time he settled into side control to keep the fight on the ground. Laney transitioned to full mount, set in a topside triangle choke and worked GNP until Williams tried to buck for a backdoor escape. Laney transitioned to an armbar and got the title winning tapout at 4:06 of round one. Co-Main event: Vellore Caballero vs. Andrew Hoogeboom for the Kick Down featherweight MMA title. Round one was an all standing round with Caballero landing solid leg kicks and punches with Hoogeboom working counter punches. Round two began with Caballero getting a takedown and working on the ground between North/South and side control all the while striking. Hoogeboom tried to escape but finally Caballero secured position to get the title winning head and arm triangle choke victory at 2:46 of round two. Josh Cole vs. Joe Miles for the Kick Down amateur welterweight MMA title. Early the fight went to the ground and all round Cole controlled position and worked submission attempts until the bell ended the round. Round two had the fighters trading stiff strikes to open the round then Cole got a spinning takedown off of the cage. On the ground Cole was able to control position and work striking then go to standing just as the round ended. Round three had Cole scoring a big takedown to open the round, then as in previous rounds Cole was able to control position all round and work GNP until the bell ended the fight. The scorecards were read winning the title by unanimous decision was Josh Cole. Patrick Walsh vs. Steven Powell for the Kick Down amateur heavyweight MMA title. Twice early in the round Walsh picked up Powell and scored with huge slams. On the ground Walsh was able to control position and work GNP while looking to set up RNC attempts. Round two saw Powell getting solid punches to open the round but off of the cage Walsh was able score a takedown and control position and work GNP until the bell ended the round. Round three again saw Powell flurrying with strong shots to open the round but Walsh closed the distance and got a takedown to again score with strong GNP. When the action slowed the referee stood the fighters and Powell flurried with strikes until Walsh clinched and the bell ended the fight. The scorecards were read and winning the title by unanimous decision was Patrick Walsh. Nick Clem vs. Isaac Johnson for the Kick Down amateur flyweight MMA title. Round one saw Clem get an early takedown and work between solid GNP and submission attempts. Johnson escaped to improve his position several times but always Clem was able to regain a dominant position and he ended the round with back control working strikes. Round two had Clem looking for a takedown but Johnson defended well and the fighters traded strikes and positions against the cage. After an accidental illegal strike to the back of the head by Clem the fighters were separated and immediately Clem shot for and got a takedown. On the mat Peterson tried to scramble to standing but Clem got head control and fell back to get the title winning guillotine choke at 2:40 of round two. Taj Ashaheed vs. Mitch Peterson. Peterson immediately closed the distance and got a takedown but Ashaheed threatened several times with armbars. For defense Peterson picked up Ashaheed and slammed him several times to escape. After an illegal elbow from Peterson the fighters were stood and Ashaheed got a takedown into side control to end the round. Round two saw the fight again hit the mat early and Ashaheed set in a guillotine choke. Peterson picked him up and slammed him once to try unsuccessfully to escape and the rest of the round was Ashaheed looking to close off the choke and Peterson having success with his defense. Round three saw the fighters content to stand and trade strikes with Peterson landing solid leg kicks then knees when clinched. Off of the clinch Peterson scored a leg sweep takedown and the follow-up GNP made his opponent tap out giving Peterson the win at 1:50 of round three. Garth Heth vs. Matt Sena. Sena got an early bodylock slam takedown and on the ground their wrestling was on display as the fighters traded dominant position several times. The action was stopped and Heth was warned for back of the head strikes. When the action restarted standing Heth landed solid kicks and Sena answered with punches before ending the round with a takedown. Round two had Heth scoring a takedown into side control. On the ground Heth worked strikes while Sena got his back against the cage to try to work to standing. Heth used the position to set in a guillotine choke. Sena defended by way of getting to standing but Heth held the choke and got it closed off for the win at 1:48 of round two. Brad Newhof vs. Scott Crane. Round one had the fighters going from standing to the mat and back several times until they settled on the ground with Crane looking for GNP from inside the guard of Newhof and Newhof defending strikes and looking for submissions. Just before the ten second clacker sounded Newhof set in a triangle choke and he got it closed off for the submission victory at 2:55 of round one. Allen Washington vs. Jeff Nemeth. In round one Nemeth got an early takedown and looked to score with an RNC but Washington avoided the choke then escaped from back control. The fighters stood and traded before it hit the mat again and Nemeth set in a tight armbar that Washington was able to escape. The fighters again went briefly to standing before Nemeth got it to the mat again. Washington had side control for a bit then Nemeth regained guard and ended the round with a tight triangle choke set in. Round two started with good striking, then transitioned to dirty boxing in the clinch and finally ended on the ground where the fighters traded positions and submissions until Nemeth got full mount and set in a Americana for the win at 2:50 of round two. “Of The Night” moments: Submission of the night goes to Nick Laney for his transition from a topside triangle to a title winning armbar. Fight of the night goes to Steven Powell and Patrick Walsh for their explosive heavyweight "war" where Walsh lofted Powell full body raised over his head and dropped him to the floor-made the trip from Boston, Mass. on his own only to capture the heavyweight title.Garth Heth and Matt Sena for their back and forth action packed fight that saw each looking dominant at times. Thanks to all of the sponsors for making the event possible. Be sure to check the site calendar for upcoming events. Best in Health and Training, J.R. Gordon |
