On a Saturday evening in Casper, Wyoming where many might have predicted the severe weather would cause havoc for the promotion, it's fans, and fighters, the 75th edition of the Kick Down MMA promotion rolled in Casper, Wyoming Saturday February 20, 2010 for their 75th event titled "Bad Intentions" and the show did not disappoint. In any other state the weather may have played a major role in preventing fans from attending-not on this night and not for the die hard Kick Down fans of Casper. A capacity crowd saw Michael Riggs victorious in the main event and Chad Barker win the "Battle of Casper" as it had been dubbed in the pre-fight hype and the fans witnessed a different addition on this Kick Down fight card-2 titles in it's sister promotion the Universal Fight Alliance.

Bout 1

UNIVERSAL FIGHT ALLIANCE FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE

Cameron Thurgood vs Anthony Werner

Both fighters came into the bout with over 45 amatuer fights cobined between them. Thurgood the reighning UFA champion had defeated Werner on two prior occasions. Werner took the fight on short notice after Thurgood had lost his initial opponent which was a scheduled undercard Kick Down bout. Thurgood had made it clear previously that he would not make another title defense in the UFA so the title was put on the line when Werner accepted the fight on short notice. The bell sounded and from the start it appeared that Thurgood was not in any danger but shortly after the first minute of action it was Werner who would work Thurgood over toward the front of the cage and work on the ground and posted up positioned himself after striking and worked Cameron Thurgood into a fight ending guillotine choke at 1:41 of round 1. Anthony Werner is the new Universal Fight Alliance Featherweight champion. In his post fight interview he pointed out that he should fight in the Kick Down promotion in Casper always due to the fact he is now 6-0 there.

Bout 2

Nick Roberts vs Chris Aparicio

Two new comers to the promotion had fought once before and were both 1-0 going into the evening. When the bell sounded to start the action both fight were agressive with their stike attempts but it was Roberts that worked Aparicio to the ground and sunk in the fight ending rear naked choke at 1:29 or round 1.

Bout 3

Mark Emanuelson vs Jared Olguin

Two Casper fighters would face off in this Jr Lightweight contest. Emanuelson making his debut and Olguin had fought several times in the promotion previously and had fallen on a few consecutive losses and he was hungry. The bout opened and both fighters stood and traded standing and then the fight went to the ground and Jared Olguin was clearly getting the better of Emanuelson who was bleeding profusely from the nose. From the rear side of the cage several officials and fans were pointing to the nose of Emanuelson. The promoter stood and signaled to referee Allen Sosa and the bout was stopped and the fans were in an uproar as they thought the fight had been stopped. There had been a timeout to check on the nose and to identify the severity of the possible cut or broken nose which was all initiated by the promoter. During the timeout there were questions about how or where the fighters should be positioned and after the referees conferred they were re-started where they were when the timeout occurred. The fans of Jared Olguin were upset and the fans were given an explanation of why the fight had been paused due to fighter safety. The bout was then re-started and it was Emanualson who worked and set in the triangle choke for the victory at 1:57 of round 1. It should be noted that after complete review of replay that the fighters were positioned exactly where they were when the timeout was taken. Steve Alley apologized to the crowd publicly and took all blame himself as the fans were upset about the initial stoppage and the final result. It should be noted that as a result of this occurrence there will be a review of infractions by the cage side officials only and replay of live video and decisions will be made by them at the event in Wyoming. Mark Emanuelson fought for the victory and it should also be noted that he was in a position where Olguin was dominant and fought out of that and won. Both fighters had the equal chance to win respectively and although the stoppage was not what is considered to be normal there are several sanctioned stoppages where fighters were checked for cuts, eye socket injuries, strikes to the back of the head, and re-started or the fight was stopped after inspection which could have happened in this case but did not.(louise Johnson vs Leslie Smith, Craven vs Heinz, Craven vs Herron, and many others)

Bout 4

Aaron Hartmann vs David O'Campo

These two fighter were from Doulas, Wyoming and would compete in the lightweight division. The bout opened and it was O'Campo who showed good wrestling skills and went back and forth with Hartmann who was game but could not defend the rear naked choke which provided the victory for David O'Campo at 1:55 of round 1.

Bout 5

Mike Kelly vs Anthony Sandoval

Mike Kelly would make his debut against Sandoval who had fought twice previously in the Kick Down. The bout opened and both fight took big swings at one another and both landed. The fight went to the ground and Kelly showed good control and strength. Mike Kelly trains with Chris Srigley at USA MMA in Cody, Wyoming who has been part of the Kick Down promotion from it's first year bringing fighters since that time and this night was no exception. The Chris Srigley trained debut fighter was looking good in a very closely contested bout of back and forth action. Kelly had done a fine job on the ground and Sandoval did everything necessary to defend as the bell sounded to end round one. Round two began and it was Anthony Sandoval that provided some good front kicks to open the 2nd round and keep Kelly away from him. Kelly would try to move in and it was Sanvoal that would clinch up and in the clinch work some good standing control but putting Kelly against the fence. Kelly tried to sweep Sandoval and the fight did end up on the ground but it was Sandoval that positioned for the back of Kelly and secured the rear naked choke victory at 2:24 of round 2. Look for these two fighters to be a force in the bantomweight division.

Bout 6

Mike Johnson vs Chase Bott

Middleweight division. Both fighters came into the event undefeated. Both from solid training camps. Johnson from Pangsuko in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Bott from Dynamic Martial Arts in Rapid City, South Dakota. The bout started and the fight went to the ground and immediately the 18 year old Bott looked for and secured the winning rear naked choke at 1:12 of round 1. It should be noted that Chase Bott is now 3-0 and just 18 years of age.

Bout 7

Andrew Kauppila vs Rusty Turley

Universal Fight Alliance Lightweight MMA title

This bout would contest the first ever lightweight title in the sister promotion of the Kick Down which is the Universal Fight Alliance. Andrew Kauppila came into the fight with the identical record of his oppoent at 2-1 having come off of a hard fought victory at Kick Down 73 both fighters were ready to do battle. Andrew Kauppila a chemical engineer and former hockey player did his utmost to subdue the 17 year old future phenom in Rusty Turley by keeping him off his MMA best by good work on the ground from guard with sweeps and submission attempts when the bell would ring to end round one it appeared that Kauppila had the advantage with his ground control. The second round began with much of the same and there were a few submission attempts by Kauppila and defended nicely by Turley when toward the end of the round it appeared that Turley was getting a bit tired and Kauppila then put together a flurry on the ground Turley when the referee stepped in to stop the bout. At 2:47 of round 2 Andrew Kauppila wins by referee stoppage due to strikes and becomes the first ever Universal Fight Alliance lightweight MMA champion. Both fighters are worthy of being crowned champions but on this night it was Andrew Kauppila that won and showed determination and class in capturing the title. On a side note Andrew Kauppila will face Jake Valdez on March 13, 2010 in Denver, Colorado for the vacated Kicki Down Lightweight title.

Bout 8

Ryan Twogood vs Randy Speiser

These two lightheavyweight warriors would clash in what was considered to be a #1 contender bout. Twogood undefeated and out of the Pagsuko camp would face Speiser representing the Raw Tow Fight Team. Just as quickly as the two engaged and the fight would move to the ground it was over. The result Randy Speiser secures the "Von Flue" tap out submission at just :35 seconds of round one. Speiser is now 3-1.

Bout 9

Allen Haney vs Kody Hess

Two debut fighters in what would be classified in the welterweight class. The bout opens and the size of Hess is something being murmered throughout the arean as he looks quite larger than his opponent. Hess opens with strikes the fight goes to the ground and both fighters are looking for position and surprisingly to some Haney hangs in there and continues to work favorably on the ground and standing in a back and forth battle. Round one comes to an end and Allen Haney has momentum going into the second round. From the start of the second round it looks as if Kody Hess has found his range and is working on some ground and pound from the guard of Allen Haney. Landing shots to the body and then what looked to be an elbow the fight was stopped and referee Jimmy Knight informed the officials to take a point deduction from the score cards of Kody Hess. When asked if he could continue it was Haney who could not and at 1:17 of round 2 the bout was called a "NO CONTEST". It should be noted that there were some that said the elbow was legal. Others thought replay should have been used and reviewed (agreed) and others thought that the bout should have gone to the judges score cards and tallied up. In the latter case however it is possible two outcomes would have occurred. 1. Allen Haney would have won by decision or 2. The fight would have been called a draw. We will not know as it was officially ruled a "NO CONTEST".

Bout 10

Ed Sensenich vs T.J. Nunnaley

This bout was a # 1 contender bout in the lightheavyweight division. Sensenich came in 1-1 and Nunnaley 4-5. The winner would get ChrisDollbaum at Kick Down 76 in Denver on March 13, 2010. The bout opens and from the start Nunnaley does a fine job of throwing front kicks and side kicks to keep the powerful Sensenich at bay and it works. Each time they would come close to engaging it would be Nunnaley that would use his Tae Kwon Do skills and circle out to avoid any damage. Round one in the books and you could hear spectators in Casper in disbelief witnessing a traditional martial arts fighter subdueing a very strong and agressive such as Ed Sensenich.

Second round in full gear now and much of the same. Sensenich gets in some solid striking but it is still Nunnaley doing a marvelous job of listening to his corner people and now working in front kicks, Side kicks, spinning side kickks and the difference is the follow up. In round two Nunnaley follows them up with a few flurries and then cirlces out again to avoid any damages. Round two now complete. Round three gets started and it appears that T.J. Nunnaley is ahead on the score cards with a great game plan execution by himself, his trainers, and corner people.

 Much the same thing in round three except Ed Sensenich gets a bit more agressive and actually lands some punches and then the fight goes to the ground and it is there once again that Nunnaley does great work by rolling into Sensenich and avoids any damage. The fight goes back and forth between the two and it is then that Nunnaley takes mount and lands strikes to the body of Sensenich and with 4 seconds left in the fight the referee steps in and stops the action thereby giving T.J. Nunnaley the victory by referee stoppage due to strikes at 2:56 or round 3. T.J. Nunnaley will face Chris Dollbaum Saturday March 13, 2010 at the Red Lion Hotel for the Lightheavyweight title.

Bout 11

Josh Kissel vs Damien Baker

Kick Down Flyweight MMA Title

From the opening bell this fight had all the makings of Fight of the Night honors with both particiapnts going back and forth and throwing straight punches right down the center at one another in a back and forth battle of a first round. Kissell the reigning champion came into the bout 8-5 and the challenger Damien Baker had strung together previous victories to earn his title try. The bell sound to end round one. As disapponting as it was the bout could not continue due to a fracture of Damien Bakers hand thus giving Josh Kissell the victory by TKO. Josh Kissell reamins the Kick Down Flyweight amatuer MMA champion running his record to 9-5 with the victory. Hats off to Baker as we will never know how this great little war might have played out. Props to Kissell for maintaining his integrity and continuance of a true champion.

Bout 12

Zeke Van Orden vs Chad Barker

This bout had been labeled the "Battle of Casper" as these two combatants resdie in Casper and train in separate gyms and the pre-fight hype brought in spectators from both camps cheering their favorite fighters on. This was also a number one contender spot and showcased fighters that were both undefeated at 2-0 prior to the start of their bout. The bell sounded to begin the fight and it was on. Both fighters exchanged in the center of the cage before the fight went to the ground and it was there that Zeke Van Orden tried for an arm bar and was stacked by Barker. Again Van orden tries for the arm bar and it is defended well by Barker who stacks him again. On the third attempt at submission it is Barker with a massive slam that literally ends the fight at 1:57 of the first round by KO. The crowd and the Barker followers were in a frenzy because the fight hype actually lived up to all expectations and set the table for either a title shot for Barker or a 4 man "Last Man Standing" event later this year. Either way we must commend both fighters for putting everything they had into just shy of 2 minutes.

Bout 13

MAIN EVENT

Ken Scott vs Michael Riggs

Both fighters would look to bring their professional marks to 500 by the end of the evening. This bout was contested in the middleweight division. The bell sounded to start the bout and from the start it appeared that the muscled up Riggs would work to control Scott on the ground and that is what he did. After some back and forth movement Michael Riggs worked from the guard of Ken Scott and then got to mount where he put Ken Scott against the fence of the cage and he had no place to go. At 3:50 of round 1 the fight was stopped by referee Tim Ouimette by strikes. Michael Riggs is now 3-3 and has won two consecutive bouts in the Kick Down promotion.

Fights of the Night.......................a 3 way tie

Andrew Kauppila vs Rusty Turley for a battle between two up and comers and the 1st UFA LW Title.

T.J. Nunnaley vs Ed Sensenich-For Nunnaley and the fact that traditional martial arts still plays a role in MMA.

Chad Barker vs Zeke Van Orden-For simply giving the fans what they paid to see. An action packed electric bout that lived up to the hype.

Submission of the Night-Randy Speiser and his victory by "Von Flue Submission"

Heart of the Night-Allen Haney for being out sized and and still hung in there to fight the fight.

To Anthony Werner: Persistence does payoff. His defeat of Cameron Thurgood in his third attempt shows that you should never give up in your efforts to become a champion.

KO of the Night goes to Chad Barker by way of body slam to victory.

Future looks bright; To Chase Bott, Anthony Sandoval, Rusty Turley,Mike Kelly, Nick Roberts. Young fighters with a future. Keep up the good work.