Vagner Rocha vs Cody “AK Kid” McKenzie
Round 1:
Rocha pawed out with leg kicks and lead left hooks early on and McKenzie landed a head kick. The fighters clinched and McKenzie looked for a guillotine choke. Rocha broke free and landed a kick that strayed low. McKenzie quickly recovered and landed two stiff jabs after the restart. Rocha took McKenzie down and fought out of a guillotine choke. Rocha punched to the body from McKenzie’s guard.
Rocha tried to set up a guillotine of his own from the top, but McKenzie avoided danger. Rocha switched to a Kimura attempt and an armbar. McKenzie stood, but Rocha maintained his grip on the Kimura, then switched to back control. He tried for a rear-naked choke and nearly got it, but McKenzie escaped to his feet. McKenzie dominated the final 30 seconds with kicks and punches as Rocha backpedalled. Very close round. 10-9 Rocha, barely.
Round 2:
McKenzie pulled guard with a guillotine choke in the second round, but Rocha easily escaped and worked from the top. He tried for a Kimura and McKenzie freed himself. Rocha locked on a Brabo Choke, but McKenzie held on and Rocha switched to back control. McKenzie rolled and Rocha wound up on top in McKenzie’s guard. Rocha countered a guillotine with another Kimura.
Rocha took McKenzie’s back again, then moved to mount and scored with punches. He pinned down McKenzie’s arm and threw more punches, then secured a rear-naked choke when McKenzie rolled. McKenzie was finally forced to submit.
Winner: Vagner Rocha by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:49 of round two. He improves to 7-2-0.
Evan Dunham vs Shamar Bailey
Round 1:
Dunham landed quick punches early in the fight and Bailey answered with a kick to Dunham’s left arm. Both fighters landed punches and Dunham shrugged off a takedown. A big overhand left scored for Bailey, but Dunham regained his composure and jabbed. The fighters continued to trade hard punches, but neither connected until Dunham landed a left cross. Bailey answered with one of his own.
A one-two landed for Dunham and Bailey countered with kicks. Dunham stuffed a takedown and flurried with punches. Dunham threw more one-twos and Bailey landed a left hook to the body. Dunham set up a series of left crosses with right jabs and Bailey tagged him with a counter left. Bailey briefly tripped Dunham to the mat, but Dunham stood and picked him up, then dropped him on the mat a second after the bell. Close round. 10-9 Dunham.
Round 2:
Both fighters landed hard left hands in round two and Dunham followed up a body kick by taking Bailey down. He moved to back control, but Bailey escaped and the fighters stood. Bailey tried for a takedown and Dunham reversed the clinch against the cage. Bailey backed away and Dunham front kicked him in the face. Dunham landed quick punching combinations and avoided Bailey’s counters.
Bailey began to land leg kicks and connected with a lead right hook. Dunham remained the more effective striker, however, and stuffed a takedown. Jabs, one-twos and a head kick all landed for Dunham, but Bailey answered with a body kick. Dunham stuffed a takedown and punished Bailey with punches that cut him near the left eye. Dunham landed a barrage of punches in the final 15 seconds. 10-9 Dunham.
Round 3:
Bailey was aggressive in the final round and the fighters traded power punches and body kicks. Dunham landed one-twos over and over again, but Bailey managed to connect with occasional left and right hooks. Looping hooks scored for both fighters and each one landed a leg kick seconds later. Dunham remained active with punches and threw a head kick that was blocked. Dunham opened up another cut on Bailey’s face with punches and mixed in kicks.
Bailey continued to fire back with punches and kicks of his own. Dunham unloaded with big punches and a head kick that wobbled Bailey, but Bailey recovered and Dunham fell after a front kick. Time was called to replace Bailey’s mouthpiece and the fighters immediately traded punches after the restart. Dunham landed a hard knee to the body and locked on a standing guillotine choke. Bailey made it to the bell. Excellent fight. 10-9 Dunham.
Winner: Evan Dunham by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-2-0.
Lance Benoist vs Matthew “Deep Waters” Riddle
Round 1:
Benoist landed a leg kick and a nice left cross to open the fight. He clinched briefly, but Riddle broke free. Benoist just missed with a hook kick, but landed a knee and a right hand. Time was called after Riddle was kneed in the groin. Action resumed and Riddle landed a head kick. Benoist threw a kick-punch combo, but Riddle took him down. Benoist used rubber guard to keep Riddle in place and threw elbows.
Riddle escaped Benoist’s rubber guard and landed a nice elbow. Benoist used a Kimura to sweep to mount. Riddle regained half-guard, but ate punches and elbows. Benoist kept him down and both fighters landed short strikes on the ground. Three big punches and an elbow scored for Benoist and he landed more strikes just before the bell. Good round. 10-9 Benoist.
Round 2:
Benoist landed a head kick and Riddle answered with a leg kick in round two. The fighters traded punches and Benoist ended a combination with a leg kick. Riddle attempted a knee and Benoist defended with one of his own. Riddle took Benoist down and fought out of a guillotine choke. Benoist quickly stood and Riddle threw knees to the thigh. Benoist took him down and landed punches as he bled all over Riddle from the nose.
Benoist’s nose appeared to be broken or badly cut, as it bled like a faucet. Riddle tied him up from the bottom, but Benoist still managed to land some punches and short elbows. Riddle scored with an upkick as Benoist stood and followed with elbows as Benoist returned to his guard. Riddle attempted an armbar, but Benoist escaped and punched from the top until the bell. 10-9 Benoist.
Round 3:
Riddle landed knees to the body and defended against a takedown attempt. The fighters traded power punches and Riddle took Benoist down. He landed on top in side control and tried to move to mount, but Benoist got back to half-guard and then full guard. Riddle postured up and landed elbows as he pinned Benoist against the cage. Benoist began to bleed badly from the nose again.
Benoist tried to set up an armbar, but Riddle easily avoided it and landed a big elbow that caused Benoist’s nose to bleed even more heavily. Benoist tried to scramble to his feet, but Riddle kept him down and struck from his guard. Benoist used rubber guard to keep Riddle from posturing up. Riddle broke free briefly and landed two good elbows. Riddle punched to the head and body until the bell. 10-9 Riddle.
Winner: Lance Benoist by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 6-0-0.
Ken Stone vs Donny “Eagle Eye” Walker
Round 1:
Stone landed a leg kick to open the fight and Walker answered with a right hook. Stone clinched and backed Walker up to the cage. He took Walker down and transitioned to back control as Walker stood. Stone locked on a tight rear-naked choke and Walker defended. He refused to tap, but Stone rolled him over and Walker was rendered unconscious.
Winner: Ken Stone by Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:40 of round one. He improves to 10-3-0.
Seth “The Polish Pistola” Baczynski vs Clay “Heavy Metal” Harvison
Round 1:
Harvison opened the fight with a leg kick and Baczynski answered with a one-two. Leg kicks and grazing right hands landed for both and Baczynski threw a combination to the head and body. He clinched and backed Harvison up to the cage. Baczynski threw a series of knees, including one of the jumping variety. He followed with a leg kick and a right cross, then clinched and landed an elbow.
Harvison slowed down, but managed to break free of the clinch. Baczynski landed a three-punch flurry and a standing elbow. He added another flying knee and stunned Harvison with a right hook. More left and right hooks landed for Baczynski as Harvison retreated. Baczynski nearly took Harvison down, but Harvison stayed up. He missed with a left hook and ate a one-two for his troubles. The fighters traded strikes at the bell. 10-9 Baczynski.
Round 2:
The second round began with an exchange of leg kicks and Baczynski dropped Harvison with an uppercut. He followed with punches and elbows on the ground and Harvison gave up his back. Baczynski landed another elbow and secured a rear-naked choke. Harvison had nowhere to go and tapped out.
Winner: Seth Baczynski by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:12 of round two. He improves to 14-6-0.
T.J. Waldburger vs Mike Stumpf
Round 1:
Waldburger landed a hard leg kick to open the fight and immediately dragged him to the mat. Almost instantly, Waldburger transitioned to Stumpf’s back and used punches to try to set up a rear-naked choke. Stumpf defended and tried to stand up. Waldburger kept him down and flattened him out. Waldburger spun into an armbar attempted, but wound up on the bottom.
Stumpf took Waldburger’s back briefly, but Waldburger stood and clinched against the cage. He took Stumpf down and nearly moved to mount. Stumpf scrambled to his feet and threw a jumping knee, but Waldburger clinched again. He fought off a guillotine choke and took Stumpf down, then moved to side control. Waldburger secured an armbar, then switched to a triangle choke and Stumpf tapped out.
Winner: T.J. Waldburger by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 3:52 of round one. He improves to 14-6-0.
Robert “Problems” Peralta vs Mike Lullo
Round 1:
The opening round began with an exchange of leg kicks and Peralta followed with more to Lullo’s lead leg. Lullo clinched and tried for a takedown, but Peralta countered with knees. He tripped Lullo, but stood up and allowed Lullo to follow. Lullo looked to establish his jab, but ate another leg kick. A leg kick and a right hook scored for Peralta and Lullo answered with a kick of his own.
Lullo became more active with kicks and jabs, but Peralta drilled him with another hard leg kick. He followed with a combination and Lullo landed a right cross. Leg kicks were exchanged and Lullo began to limp. Peralta scored with a hard punch-kick combo to the face and body. An overhand right and two brutal leg kicks also landed for Peralta and he followed with a side kick. 10-9 Peralta.
Round 2:
Peralta landed two leg kicks in round two and followed with a side kick. He missed with a looping right hook, but landed another leg kick. More kicks to the leg and body scored for Peralta as Lullo struggled to find his range. Peralta stuffed a takedown and Lullo backed him up to the cage. Peralta landed knees and punches to the body and reversed the clinch.
Lullo continued to try to take Peralta down, but could not. The fighters separated and both landed leg kicks. Peralta stuffed another takedown and circled out. Lullo missed with a one-two, but landed a body kick and Peralta threw one of his own. Lullo clinched and the fighters traded knees. Lullo landed a front kick at the bell. 10-9 Peralta.
Round 3:
Peralta landed a leg kick and countered a kick from Lullo with a four-punch combo in the final round. Lullo dropped down for a takedown against the cage, but Peralta stayed on his feet. Lullo landed a knee and nearly got Peralta down, but Peralta defended well in the clinch. Peralta used a knee to the body to break free and rushed in with a punching flurry and a head kick.
Both fighters landed leg kicks and Peralta defended a takedown. Lullo finally got him down and took his back as Peralta stood. Peralta backed up to the cage and spun out. He countered a leg kick from Lullo with a right hook. Lullo scored another takedown and Peralta punched to the body until the final bell. 10-9 Lullo.
Winner: Robert Peralta by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 15-3-0.
Justin “Fast Eddy” Edwards vs Jorge “Lil’ Monster” Lopez
Round 1:
The fighters clinched early on and exchanged knees to the body. Edwards tried to throw Lopez to the mat, but Lopez defended. Edwards dragged him down with a guillotine choke and Lopez worked his way free. Back on the feet, Edwards countered a combination by clinching for another takedown. He threw punches over the top, then dropped down for a double-leg and took Lopez down. Lopez got up and was taken down again. Edwards looked for another guillotine choke as Lopez stood and the fighters traded punches.
Edwards landed a knee to the body and both scored with punches. They separated and Lopez connected with a pair of right hands. He jabbed and landed a left hook. Edwards tried for a takedown and ate a big knee. Both fighters landed knees to the body and Lopez scored with another one to the head. Edwards clinched and backed Lopez up to the cage. He could not take Lopez down, but landed an overhand right before the bell. Close opening round. 10-9 Edwards.
Round 2:
Lopez landed a body kick to open round two and Edwards answered with a spinning back kick. He clinched and took Lopez down against the cage. From side control, Edwards landed short elbows and tried to set up a top-side guillotine choke. Edwards switched to a conventional guillotine and pulled guard, but Lopez escaped and stood up. Edwards slowed way down and Lopez landed a one-two.
Edwards managed to take Lopez down and worked for an arm-triangle choke. He transitioned to back control and looked to set up a rear-naked choke with punches. Edwards threw bigger punches until Lopez quickly spun into guard and took top position. The fighters stood and were separated. Edwards landed a body kick and the fighters exchanged knees. 10-9 Edwards.
Round 3:
Punches and knees to the body were exchanged in round three and Edwards clinched. Lopez took him down, but Edwards tried for a Kimura on his left arm. Lopez escaped and moved to mount. Edwards gave up his back and Lopez flattened him out. Lopez landed some hard punches, but Edwards rolled again and got back to half-guard. Lopez passed to side control and landed elbows.
Edwards managed to scramble back to his feet and Lopez landed a right hook on the way. He pressed Edwards up against the cage and tried to take him back down. Lopez tripped Edwards and struck from the top in his guard. Edwards attempted an armbar and switched to a modified omoplata. He transitioned to an inverted triangle choke before the bell. 10-9 Lopez.
Winner: Justin Edwards by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 7-1-0.