DaMMAge Fight League held its first event tonight with “The Big Bang” at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The solid debut card was co-headlined by a lightweight bout between Ring of Combat veterans Chris “The Story” Liguori and John “Greco” Salgado.

In the main event, female standouts Tara LaRosa and Takayo Hashi squared off to determine the first DaMMAge Fight League Women’s Super Flyweight Champion in a five-round title fight. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for all of the fights on the inaugural DaMMAge Fight League card.

 

DaMMage Fight League Women’s Super Flyweight Championship

Tara LaRosa vs Takayo Hashi

Round 1:
Hashi landed lead right hooks early in the fight and LaRosa countered with leg kicks. Hashi clinched and the fighters battled against the cage. Hashi landed knees and took LaRosa down, but LaRosa pushed off of the cage and wound up on top in side-control. She took Hashi’s back in a scramble and dragged her back down to the mat. LaRosa tried for a rear-naked choke, but Hashi spun and struck from the top inside LaRosa’s body triangle.

LaRosa released the body triangle and returned to full guard as Hashi threw punches to the body. LaRosa attempted to posture for submissions from her back as Hashi landed the occasional punch. Hashi stood over LaRosa and landed a right hand, but she was unable to pass LaRosa’s guard. LaRosa nearly locked on a triangle choke late in the round. Extremely close round. 10-9 LaRosa for early dominant positions.

Round 2:
LaRosa landed a nice combination in round two, but Hashi responded with quick punches of her own including a right hand that sent LaRosa off-balance. LaRosa landed a leg kick and Hashi clinched. Hashi tried for a takedown, but LaRosa stayed on her feet. A battle for position followed as neither fighter could take the other down.

The fighters separated with an exchange of punches and Hashi landed a one-two. She clinched and LaRosa reversed against the cage. LaRosa landed a knee and missed with a wild left hook. That set off a big exchange with both fighters landing solid shots. Hashi clinched and landed a knee. LaRosa answered with a standing elbow. The razor-thin round ended in a clinch. 10-9 Hashi, barely.

Round 3:
Hashi connected with a big right hand in the early stages of round three and LaRosa clinched. Hashi pressed LaRosa up against the cage and tried for a takedown, but met with no success and LaRosa eventually reversed. The clinch battle from the previous rounds continued as neither fighter could secure an advantage. Hashi attempted a throw and landed a knee, but LaRosa drilled her with a combination and circled away.

Jabs landed for both and Hashi mixed in knees to the body. LaRosa took Hashi down and Hashi tried to counter with a Kimura. Hashi regained full guard, but LaRosa passed to half-guard and then to full mount. Hashi rolled and gave up her back, which allowed LaRosa to sink in both hooks. LaRosa secured the choke, but Hashi managed to survive until the bell. 10-9 LaRosa.

Round 4:
The fourth round began tentatively as both fighters pawed out with jabs. LaRosa landed a right hand and Hashi countered with a knee. LaRosa began to score with lead left hooks and jabs, and put together a combination. Hashi fired back with overhand rights and a glancing left hook. LaRosa jabbed and landed a four punch flurry. Hashi connected with two punches of her own and clinched.

Hashi pressed LaRosa up against the cage and landed a knee. She followed with a right hook over the top and tried for a double-leg takedown. LaRosa took Hashi’s back in a scramble and dragged her to the mat. She tried for another rear-naked choke and Hashi defended. LaRosa was unable to fully lock in the choke before the bell. 10-9 LaRosa.

Round 5:
Hashi opened the final round with a body kick and LaRosa answered with more left hooks. Hashi punched into a clinch and landed two big knees. She added more knees to LaRosa’s thigh, but LaRosa reversed the clinch and nearly took her back while standing. Hashi put LaRosa back against the cage and took her down as LaRosa looked for a shoulder lock.

Hashi took LaRosa’s back and tried for a rear-naked choke of her own, but could not secure it and lost the position. LaRosa wound up on top against the cage as Hashi used a side headlock. LaRosa took Hashi’s back and resumed her pursuit of a rear-naked choke. Hashi spun and landed punches from LaRosa’s guard. LaRosa fought back with punches from her back and an upkick that appeared to be illegal. Hashi landed a right hand before the bell. Very close round again. 10-9 Hashi.

Winner: Tara LaRosa by Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) after five rounds. She improves to 19-2-0 and becomes the first DaMMAge Fight League Women’s Super Flyweight Champion.

 

Branden Lee “The Iron Lion” Hinkle vs Kevin “The Shaman” Jordan

Round 1:
Hinkle rushed right in and clinched, then took Jordan down. He landed in side-control against the cage, but Jordan managed to regain half-guard. Jordan held on and prevented Hinkle from posturing up, but Hinkle managed to pass to mount. Jordan gave up his back and Hinkle flattened him out. Hinkle teed off with punches as Jordan rolled to his sides. Jordan nearly managed to scramble out to his feet, but Hinkle got back to mount and scored with big right hands. Jordan turtled as Hinkle continued to batter him with lefts and rights until the fight was stopped.

Winner: Branden Lee Hinkle by TKO (Punches) at 2:30 of round one. He improves to 15-10-0, 1 NC.

 

Chris “The Story” Liguori vs John “Greco” Salgado

Round 1:
Liguori landed a head kick right away and Salgado smiled. The fighters traded punches and both landec cleanly. Liguori flashed out another head kick and Salgado answered with a pair of lefts. A clinch followed and Salgado secured a standing guillotine choke. He used it to land knees to Liguori’s face, but Liguori worked free and landed knees of his own.

The fighters continued to battle for position against the cage and both landed knees to the body and standing elbows. A big exchange of punches followed and Liguori backed away. Liguori clinched again and dirty boxed in close, then landed a jumping knee. Both landed punches to the head and body with their free hands. Very close first round. 10-9 Liguori, barely.

Round 2:
Both fighters landed kicks that strayed low early in the second round, but the fight continued and Liguori clinched. Salgado countered with looping punches over the top and Liguori tripped him to the mat. Salgado secured a weak guillotine choke from the bottom, but Liguori moved from half-guard right to full mount. Salgado scrambled out and stood, and both fighters landed punches.

Liguori landed a nice punch-kick combo and Salgado countered with a front kick. An overhand right snapped Salgado’s head back, but he replied with a nice right hook of his own. Liguori landed a combination and ate a series of leg kicks. A big flurry scored for Liguori and Salgado smiled again. Liguori landed a short right hook late in the close round. 10-9 Liguori.

Round 3:
Salgado opened the final round with a spinning back kick and flying knee that missed. Liguori scored with body kicks and a right hand, then took Salgado down. Salgado countered with a bulldog choke and Liguori took his back. He landed punches to the side of Salgado’s head and then moved to mount. Salgado attempted an arm-triangle choke from his back, but met with no success. Liguori took Salgado’s back once again and secured a body triangle.

Liguori continued to work for rear-naked chokes for nearly a full minute as Salgado gamely defended and Liguori switched between both hooks in and a body triangle. Liguori landed some hard punches, but Salgado scrambled out and got back to his feet. Liguori landed a leg kick and a glancing left hook. Salgado rocked Liguori with three right hooks late in the round, but Liguori quickly recovered and clinched before the bell. 10-9 Liguori.

Winner: Chris Liguori by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-8-0.

 

Rafaello “Tractor” Oliveira vs Kevin “K-Rod” Roddy

Round 1:
The fighters briefly traded strikes and Oliveira took Roddy down. He landed some hard punches from the top, but Roddy defended and Oliveira postured up. Oliveira landed more punches until Roddy kicked him off. Roddy tried to get to his feet on two occasions, but Oliveira kept him down and continued to stay aggressive with punches.

Oliveira moved to half-guard and threw more punches, then tried for a Kimura. He switched to a keylock, but let it go and resumed his assault with punches. Oliveira tried for another Kimura, then moved to mount. He threw punches until Roddy rolled over. Oliveira landed more punches to set up a rear-naked choke, then locked on the submission late in the round. Roddy tapped out, giving Oliveira an impressive win.

Winner: Rafaello Oliveira by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:46 of round one. He improves to 12-3-0.

 

Tenyeh “Skinnyman” Dixon vs Eric “The Monster” Moon

Round 1:
Dixon pushed forward right away and clinched, then threw Moon to the mat. He quickly took Moon’s back and landed punches, then worked for a rear-naked choke. Moon defended and Dixon secured a body triangle. He continued to try for chokes and eventually got his arm under Moon’s chin. Moon looked to tap, but held on for another few seconds before submitting to the choke.

Winner: Tenyeh Dixon by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:33 of round one. He improves to 4-4-0.

 

Jeremy “The Punisher” Anderson vs Biff Walizer

Round 1:
Punches landed for both fighters early on and Walizer scored with two hard right hands. He shot in for a takedown, but Anderson defended and clipped him with an uppercut. Anderson took Walizer down and punched from the top in half-guard. He moved to side-control and looked for a submission, then punished Walizer with punches as Walizer rolled to his stomach. Walizer briefly tried for a Kimura, but Anderson took his back and secured a rear-naked choke that forced Walizer to submit.

Winner: Jeremy Anderson by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:17 of round one. He improves to 5-0-0.

 

Jonathan Helwig vs Lewis “The South Jersey Devil” Pascavage

Round 1:
The fighters traded big punches right away and Helwig clinched after eating four looping hooks. Pascavage broke free of the clinch and unloaded with wild punches that bloodied Helwig’s face. Helwig managed to take Pascavage down and landed punches, then moved to mount. He locked on an arm-triangle choke and moved to side-control. With nowhere to go, Pascavage tapped out.

Winner: Jonathan Helwig by Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 2:04 of round one. He improves to 3-1-0.

 

Binky “The Baltimore Submission Machine” Jones vs Ran Weathers

Round 1:
Jones caught a kick early on and landed a right hook. He took Weathers down and scrambled out of an armbar attempt. Jones took Weathers’s back as the fighters stood, but Weathers shrugged him off and scored a takedown. Jones tried for a Kimura from his back, but met with no success. He continued to try for submissions and scrambled.

Jones slammed Weathers down and had to immediately fight off an armbar. Jones struck from the top and Weathers answered with a pair of hammerfists from his back. More peppering punches landed for Jones and he tried to stack Weathers against the cage, but Weathers defended. Jones postured up briefly and scored with some decent left hands, then moved to half-guard before the bell. 10-9 Jones.

Round 2:
Both fighters landed right hands to begin round two and Jones scored a takedown right to side-control. He threw hammerfists and moved to mount. Weathers regained half-guard and Jones worked for a Kimura on his left arm. Jones let the hold go and punched from the top.

Jones once again set his sights on Kimura attempts, then switched to a straight armbar, but Weathers defended. Jones continued to try for submissions from the top until Weathers rolled to his side. Jones landed weak punches and kept Weathers down, but Weathers managed to get back to his feet just before the bell. 10-9 Jones.

Round 3:
Jones tried for a takedown early in the final round, but it was Weathers who took Jones down and worked from the top in guard. Jones used a half-butterfly guard to keep Weathers at bay as Weathers threw a handful of punches to the body. Weathers fought off a Kimura attempt and postured up, then landed a pair of solid punches.

Jones secured another Kimura, but was unable to wrench Weathers’s arm behind his back. Weathers punched from the top and Jones regained butterfly guard. Once again, Jones tried for a Kimura and Weathers fought his way out. Weathers landed punches late in the round and Jones fired back with strikes from the bottom. Very competitive fight. 10-9 Weathers.

Winner: Binky Jones by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 9-9-0, 1 NC.

 

Darnell “Double Barrel” Hooker vs Steve McCabe

Round 1:
Hooker opened the fight with a flying knee and a barrage of follow-up knees from a Thai clinch. McCabe weathered the storm and fired back with knees and punches in close, but Hooker punished him with another series of knees and two right hands. Hooker rocked McCabe with a standing elbow that dropped him to one knee. He blasted McCabe with punches, then took his back and secured a fight-ending rear-naked choke. Very impressive win for Hooker.

Winner: Darnell Hooker by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:34 of round one. He improves to 2-1-0.

 

Piotr Andrejko vs Zachary “The Zack Grasshopper” Sanders

Round 1:
Andrejko backed Sanders up to the cage early on and clinched. He landed knees to the body until the fighters separated. They traded punches and Andrejko took Sanders down. He worked for a Kimura, then moved to mount. Sanders gave up his back and escaped out the back as Andrejko looked for a rear-naked choke.

The fight returned to the feet and Sanders scored with kicks and punches from the outside. Andrejko countered with a combination and fought off a takedown with a standing Kimura attempt. Sanders continued to pursue the takedown and got Andrejko down. Andrejko scrambled back to his feet and the round ended with an exchange of knees. Close first round. 10-9 Andrejko.

Round 2:
Punches were exchanged to open round two and both landed to the body. Sanders scored with a pair of leg kicks and Andrejko responded with a kick-punch combination. Sanders landed more leg kicks and a jab, but Andrejko easily shrugged off a takedown attempt. Andrejko landed a nice overhand right and both connected with leg kicks. Andrejko defended another takedown attempt, but Sanders got him down on a second try.

Sanders punched from the top as Andrejko worked back to his feet. Andrejko then scored a takedown of his own and tried for a guillotine choke as Sanders got to his knees. Sanders stood and both fighters landed hard kicks. Andrejko took Sanders down and landed knees to the body before the bell. Another close round. 10-9 Andrejko.

Round 3:
Andrejko landed a series of leg kicks to open the final round and Sanders replied with right hooks. Andrejko scored with a one-two, then dropped Sanders with an overhand right soon after. Andrejko briefly held mount position, but lost it and Sanders recovered. He battled back to his feet and clinched against the cage. Sanders managed to get Andrejko down, but had to fight off a Kimura.

Sanders punched from the top and landed a knee as Andrejko stood. Sanders continued to try for takedowns as Andrejko worked for Kimuras on his left arm. Sanders got Andrejko down again and landed punches from the top. Andrejko spun and gave up his back, which allowed Sanders to secure a body triangle. He flurried with punches until the final bell. Late rally from Sanders steals it. 10-9 Sanders.

Winner: Piotr Andrejko by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 1-0-0.

 

 

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