Warrior-1 MMA travelled south to the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida tonight for Warrior-1 MMA 7: “Reloaded.” The promotion’s first U.S. card was headlined by a welterweight bout between former UFC contender “The Irish Hand Grenade” Marcus Davis and Chuck “Cold Steel” O’Neil.
In the night’s co-main event, Florida natives Luis “Baboon” Palomino and James Edson “Little Tiger” Berto faced off in lightweight action, while John Manley took on Sabah Homasi. Kim “Sugar Free” Couture squared off with Suzie Montero. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
Chuck “Cold Steel” O’Neil vs “The Irish Hand Grenade” Marcus Davis
Round 1:
The fighters clinched early on and battled for position against the cage. O’Neil landed knees and briefly took Davis down, but Davis quickly got back to his feet. He backed away and both fighters landed punches. Davis clinched briefly and O’Neil landed a kick to the upper body after a break. Davis moved forward with punches and took O’Neil down. He landed on top in side control, but O’Neil swept into Davis’s guard. O’Neil stood up and landed right hands before returning to a bloodied Davis’s half-guard. 10-9 O’Neil.
Round 2:
O’Neil threw more kicks to the upper body in round two and followed with a kick-punch combo. Leg kicks were exchanged and O’Neil closed the distance. Davis scored the takedown, however, and worked from O’Neil’s guard. O’Neil tried for a triangle choke and swept, then attempted a guillotine as Davis stood. Davis tripped O’Neil and landed an elbow from the top, but O’Neil defended well. O’Neil kicked Davis off, then tried for a triangle choke. He kicked from the bottom and Davis closed out the round with an elbow. Very close round. 10-9 O’Neil despite Davis’s takedowns.
Round 3:
Big punches were exchanged in the final round and O’Neil landed a nice knee. Davis clinched and backed O’Neil up to the cage. He took O’Neil down and landed occasional elbow strikes, but O’Neil got back to full guard and nearly swept. Referee Jorge Alonso stood the fighters up and O’Neil took Davis down. O’Neil moved to mount and landed a big elbow that opened a huge gash on Davis’s head. Davis gave up his back and O’Neil tried for a rear-naked choke. Time was called for the doctor to check the nasty gash. Action resumed on the ground and O’Neil tried for chokes until the bell. 10-9 O’Neil.
Winner: Chuck O’Neil by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 9-4-0.
Luis “Baboon” Palomino vs James Edson “Little Tiger” Berto
Round 1:
Palomino opened the fight with a series of leg kicks and just barely ducked under a lightning-fast head kick from Berto. More leg kicks landed for both fighters and Palomino tried to pull guard with an armbar. Berto escaped to a heel hook attempt, but Palomino scrambled to his feet. Palomino scored with leg kicks and a flurry of punches. He clipped Berto with two left hooks while running forward and Berto backed up to the cage. He tried for a takedown, but could not get it. 10-9 Palomino.
Round 2:
Palomino landed a combination of kicks and punches early in round two and Berto lost his balance. He regained his footing and landed a hard leg kick of his own. Berto tried for a takedown, but Palomino escaped the clinch and circled out. Berto landed a head kick and Palomino shook it off. A big one-two scored for Berto and Palomino answered back with leg kicks. Palomino was poked in the eye, but the fight continued and he landed leg kicks. Berto replied with another head kick and Palomino clinched. The fighters traded knees until the bell. Extremely close round. 10-9 Palomino, barely.
Round 3:
Palomino landed a Superman Punch and a left hook in the final round and he followed with a quick one-two to the body. Berto threw a head kick and just missed. Palomino sprawled out of a takedown and wound up on top in side control. Berto regained half-guard, but ate a series of elbows for his troubles. More short elbows scored for Palomino and Berto attempted a heel hook. The fighters stood and Berto landed a leg kick that spun Palomino around. Palomino rocked Berto with a huge flying knee and followed with punches, but Berto recovered. Both landed punches in the final seconds. 10-9 Palomino.
Winner: Luis Palomino by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 17-7-0.
John Manley vs Sabah Homasi
Round 1:
The fighters clinched early on and Manley backed Homasi up against the cage. He took Homasi down and moved to side control. Homasi tried to stand and Manley tried to pull guard with a guillotine choke. Homasi escaped and landed elbows from the top. He postured up and scored with another hard elbow that cut Manley on the forehead. Homasi landed more elbows and hammerfists in the final minute to steal the close round. 10-9 Homasi.
Round 2:
Manley punched his way into a clinch in the second round and took Homasi down. Homasi immediately tried for a Kimura from the bottom, but Manley escaped and landed punches. Manley smothered Homasi and prevented him from moving while scoring with a handful of short right hands. Homasi tried for another Kimura and Manley stood up. He dove into side control, but Homasi scrambled to his feet and countered a takedown with a tight guillotine choke. Manley escaped and landed elbows until the bell. 10-9 Manley.
Round 3:
Homasi landed a nice body kick in the final round, but Manley clinched and pressed him up against the cage. He took Homasi down and easily escaped a Kimura. Manley moved to side control and threw short elbow strikes as Homasi struggled to defend. Manley then moved to mount and scored with punches and elbows. Homasi kicked off of the cage and stood up. Manley tried to get Homasi back down and finally did so after a full minute. He landed elbows before the end of the round. 10-9 Manley.
Winner: John Manley by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 7-1-0.
Alan Arzeno vs Tom “The Bomb” Waters
Round 1:
Arzeno landed counter right hooks and a leg kick early on. Waters clinched and took him down against the cage. The fighters stood and Arzeno landed another right hook. Waters took him back down, but Arzeno stood again. Waters slammed Arzeno to the mat and moved to side control. Arzeno managed to battle back to his feet and countered a takedown with a Kimura. Waters moved to mount and landed punches and elbows, but Arzeno bucked him off and stood up. He was effective with punches late in the round. 10-9 Waters.
Round 2:
Waters immediately tried for a takedown in the second round and Arzeno countered with a Kimura. Waters would not release his grip on Arzeno’s legs and finally got him down to a seated position. Arzeno stood and the fighters were separated. Arzeno rushed in with a flying knee, but poked Waters in the eye in the process. Referee Jorge Ortiz missed the eye poke and Waters fell to the mat. Arzeno landed one punch and the fight was stopped. Waters immediately protested and pointed to his eye.
Winner: Alan Arzeno by TKO (Flying Knee and Punch) at 3:12 of round two. He improves to 5-4-0.
Nathan “Soulforce” Coy vs Patrick Mikesz
Round 1:
Coy took Mikesz down in the opening round, but had to fight out of Kimura and keylock attempts in a scramble on the ground. Mikesz stood and Coy slammed him down. He landed knees to Mikesz’s body, but Mikesz remained active with submission attempts and tried for an armbar and an inverted triangle choke. Coy postured up in Mikesz’s guard and landed some decent punches and elbows. Coy continued to strike from the top and moved to side control. He stood and landed a nice right hand, then returned to Mikesz’s guard. Good round. 10-9 Coy.
Round 2:
Punches were exchanged in round two and Coy took Mikesz back down. He landed elbows from the top and kept Mikesz pressed up against the cage. Mikesz tried for an armbar, but Coy punched his way free and bloodied Mikesz in the process. Coy returned to side control and landed short elbows, then stood over Mikesz and rained down punches. Coy moved back to side control and landed knees to the body. He continued to punch until the bell. 10-9 Coy.
Round 3:
Coy scored with left and right hooks in the final round before taking Mikesz down. He resumed punching from the top and transitioned to a North-South choke. Mikesz was in trouble, but held on and Coy eventually let go. He returned to side control and tried to take Mikesz’s back. Coy landed punches and used a front headlock to keep Mikesz down in a scramble. Mikesz fell to his back and Coy kept him down until the final bell. 10-9 Coy.
Winner: Nathan Coy by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 9-4-0.
Kenny “The Caveman” Moss vs Bruno “Capanema” Reis Da Maria
Round 1:
Da Maria landed two nice right hands early on that bloodied the face of Moss, who pushed forward with a combination. Da Maria caught a kick and clinched. Moss landed a knee, but Da Maria slammed him down to the mat. Da Maria threw punches to the body and stood over Moss, who scrambled to his feet. Da Maria landed two more hard right hands, but Moss fired back with a front kick to the body. Both fighters landed right hands and Da Maria appeared to be staggered. Moss rushed in and took Da Maria down. Close first round. 10-9 Da Maria, barely. Moss’s late rally nearly stole it.
Round 2:
The fighters traded punches in round two and Da Maria took Moss down. He moved to back control, but Moss easily scrambled out and took over top position in half-guard. Moss secured a shoulder choke and Da Maria tapped out.
Winner: Kenny Moss by Submission (Shoulder Choke) at 1:46 of round two. He improves to 4-2-0.
Frank “Buffalo” Carrillo vs Joseph Watson
Round 1:
Watson jabbed early on and Carrillo landed leg kicks. More leg kicks scored for Carrillo and he followed with a right hook. Watson shot in for a takedown just as Carrillo threw a massive uppercut. Watson fell to his back with no idea where he was as Carrillo simply walked away knowing that the fight was over.
Winner: Frank Carrillo by KO (Punch) at 2:37 of round one. He improves to 5-2-0.
Suzie Montero vs Kim “Sugar Free” Couture
Round 1:
Couture missed with a right hook early on and Montero connected with a left. She clinched and reversed a Couture takedown attempt. Montero landed on top in mount, but lost the position and Couture scrambled up. Couture caught a kick, but Montero freed her leg and landed knees to the body. Montero continued to throw knees as Couture maintained a front headlock. The fighters were separated and Montero sent Couture to the mat with a front kick to the body. 10-9 Montero.
Round 2:
Montero took Couture down in the second round, but Couture reversed on the way down and wound up on top. Montero regained full guard and threw hammerfists from the bottom while blocking Couture’s punches. Montero attempted an armbar and a triangle choke as Couture stood over her and did nothing. Couture avoided another armbar and finally threw weak punches to the body. Montero kicked Couture off and stood up. She landed a leg kick and avoided a wild hook from Couture. The round ended in a clinch. 10-9 Montero, as Couture did nothing with top position.
Round 3:
Montero landed leg kicks and a body kick in the final round and stayed out of range of Couture’s right hand. The fighters traded punches and Montero backed Couture up to the cage. She landed knees in the clinch until the fighters were separated. Montero landed a leg kick and both fighters connected with right hands. Montero clinched again and scored with knees. She caught a kick and took Couture’s back while standing. Montero attempted a rear-naked choke and pulled guard with a guillotine at the bell. 10-9 Montero.
Winner: Suzie Montero by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 1-0-0.
Giovanni Brugnoni vs James “Warrior King” Wynn
Round 1:
Wynn caught a kick to open the fight and took Brugnoni down. He fought out of a guillotine choke, but Brugnoni secured another one. Wynn tapped out just before losing consciousness, and initially did not understand that the fight had been stopped.
Winner: Giovanni Brugnoni by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:57 of round one. He improves to 4-0-0.
Michael “Dragonhulk” Trujillo vs Eric Raposo
Round 1:
Trujillo scored with punches and knees right away and Raposo tried to keep his distance with kicks. Trujillo swarmed with a flurry of punches and rocked Raposo with a left hook. A follow-up one-two dropped Raposo to his knees and Trujillo threw punches until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Michael Trujillo by TKO (Punches) at 0:55 of round one. He improves to 1-0-0.
Anthony Garavito vs Davaun McKoy
Round 1:
Knees and uppercuts were exchanged right away and McKoy threw Garavito to the mat. Garavito stood and clinched, then took McKoy down. He attempted a guillotine choke as McKoy stood and switched to a Brabo Choke. McKoy fell to his back and Garavito released the choke in favour of punching from mount. Garavito threw punches and elbows, but McKoy swept and took top position. McKoy stood to avoid an armbar and landed nothing before the bell. 10-9 Garavito.
Round 2:
McKoy slipped in round two and Garavito tried to capitalise with a guillotine choke, but McKoy fought out. The fighters stood and Garavito took McKoy down. Garavito worked from side control against the cage and moved to mount. Garavito was unable to land much of anything and was unsuccessful with an arm-triangle choke attempt. Garavito landed punches and elbows in the final minute. 10-9 Garavito. Borderline 10-8.
Round 3:
McKoy opened the final round with front kicks and followed with a body kick. Garavito landed a hard left hook counter and clinched. He tripped McKoy to the mat and moved to side control. McKoy attempted to set up an armbar from the bottom, but Garavito countered with a keylock. McKoy tapped out, but referee Jorge Alonso did not initially see it. He tapped again and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Anthony Garavito by Submission (Keylock) at 2:57 of round three. He improves to 1-0-0.
Michael Quinones vs Denis Sejdievski
Round 1:
Quinones opened the fight with leg kicks and just missed with a head kick. Sejdievski closed the distance and clinched against the cage. Quinones broke free and attempted another head kick. Sejdievski rushed in with a flurry and Quinones countered with body kicks. Quinones missed with a jumping head kick, but remained active with leg kicks and landed a punch-kick combo. Sejdievski clinched and the fighters traded knees. 10-9 Quinones.
Round 2:
The fighters exchanged big power punches in round two and Quinones jumped in with a flying knee. Sejdievski clinched, but Quinones broke free. The pace slowed as Quinones picked his shots with leg kicks and countered a one-two from Sejdievski. A lunging combination landed for Sejdievski, but Quinones fired back with kicks and a flurry of his own. Quinones landed a right hand and a head kick, but Sejdievski answered with two counter hooks. Close round. 10-9 Quinones.
Round 3:
The final round began slowly until Quinones threw a combination one minute in and Sejdievski answered with a left hook. Quinones began to target the body and just missed with a haymaker right hook. Punches were exchanged and Quinones landed. Sejdievski attempted to connect with running punches, but Quinones circled to the side and evaded. Sejdievski landed a nice left hook and Quinones responded with kicks. Quinones clipped Sejdievski with a right hook and the fighters teed off with punches and body kicks. Quinones got the better of the exchange. 10-9 Quinones.
Winner: Michael Quinones by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 2-0-0.