ProElite came to the i wireless Center in Moline, Illinois tonight for ProElite 2: “Big Guns.” The event was headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia and Andreas “Big Daddy” Kraniotakes, and also featured the opening round of the inaugural ProElite heavyweight grand prix.
In the co-feature, Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski looked for his second straight win when he took on 300-fight veteran Travis “The Ironman” Fulton, while Reagan Penn faced Evan Cutts in a clash of unbeaten prospects at 170 pounds. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s ProElite card.
Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia vs Andreas “Big Daddy” Kraniotakes
Round 1:
Sylvia punched his way into a clinch early in the fight and threw short left hands over the top. Both fighters landed knees and Sylvia scored with one to the jaw, but Kraniotakes punched his way out of the clinch. He landed two looping hooks, but Sylvia quickly clinched once more. The fighters were separated and Sylva threw a spinning back elbow.
Kraniotakes landed a combination of punches and Sylvia clinched. He punched over the top and mixed in occasional knee strikes to the body. Sylvia landed short elbows and prevented Kraniotakes from getting off of the cage. Kraniotakes managed to reverse the clinch and tried for a takedown, but could not get it before the bell. 10-9 Sylvia.
Round 2:
An exchange of right hands opened the second round and Sylvia immediately backed Kraniotakes back into a clinch. The referee called for a break and Sylvia wasted no time in clinching again. Kraniotakes escaped the clinch and landed a combination, but Sylvia answered with punches and a knee. The fight returned to a clinch with little action.
Kraniotakes looked to throw Sylvia to the mat with a hip toss, but had no success and the fighters were separated. Both landed punches and Sylvia threw a kick to the body. Kraniotakes attempted a takedown and Sylvia pancaked him on the mat. Sylvia closed out the round on top with short punches and elbows. 10-9 Sylvia.
Round 3:
As in the first two rounds, Sylvia quickly clinched in the final stanza and backed Kraniotakes up to the cage. The crowd booed and Kraniotakes managed to break away. He scored with an uppercut and Sylvia responded with two punches and yet another clinch.
The referee separated the fighters and Sylvia predictably clinched within seconds. Sylvia managed to sneak in a couple of uppercuts before referee Todd Fredrickson again called for a break. Sylvia landed knees and clinched. He landed more knees late in the uneventful round. Not a good fight. 10-9 Sylvia.
Winner: Tim Sylvia by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 30-7-0.
Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski vs Travis “The Ironman” Fulton
Round 1:
The fighters traded punches early on and Fulton mixed in leg and high kicks. Fulton clinched and backed Arlovski up to the cage. A stalemate ensued and the referee separated the fighters. Arlovski landed a one-two and avoided an uppercut. A nice right hand connected for Arlovski and he began to land kicks as well. Arlovski threw a body kick and Fulton just missed with a counter right hand. Two leg kicks and a right cross landed for Arlovski before the end of the uneventful round. 10-9 Arlovski.
Round 2:
Fulton closed the distance and clinched in round two. Arlovski reversed and landed a knee, then tripped Fulton to the mat. Fulton tried for a heel hook and kicked Arlovski off. Arlovski landed a lead left hook and Fulton answered with a leg kick. The crowd booed as the fighters offered little offence aside from occasional leg kicks. Arlovski doubled up on his lead left hook and Fulton landed a right hook late in the lacklustre round. 10-9 Arlovski.
Round 3:
Fulton caught a kick and tried for a takedown in the final round, but wound up on the bottom. Arlovski moved to side control and landed short elbows, then stood up. Fulton ducked under a head kick and tried for a sloppy takedown, but once again wound up on the bottom with Arlovski in side control. Arlovski used short punches to attempt to set up a move to mount, but Fulton defended.
Very little happened on the ground and the crowd justifiably voiced their displeasure. Arlovski finally postured up with a big hammerfist and stood up. Fulton followed and Arlovski landed a right hook. With mere seconds remaining, Arlovski landed a head kick that dropped Fulton in a heap against the cage. Spectacular finish to an otherwise horrendous fight.
Winner: Andrei Arlovski by KO (Head Kick) at 4:59 of round three. He improves to 17-9-0.
Evan “The Butcher” Cutts vs Reagan Penn
Round 1:
Penn scored a takedown to open the fight, but Cutts returned to his feet and the fighters clinched against the cage. Both landed knees and Cutts took Penn down. Penn scrambled to his feet and escaped a guillotine choke, then took Cutts to the mat. Penn nearly made it to mount, but Cutts stood and tripped Penn.
Back on the feet, Cutts landed a nice knee, but Penn stunned him with a trio of left hooks and scored a takedown. Cutts went for a Kimura and used it to sweep. He secured a Brabo Choke in a scramble, but Penn fell to his back to escape. The fighters stood and Cutts scooped Penn to the mat. Penn stood in the final seconds. Close round. 10-9 Cutts.
Round 2:
Cutts landed body kicks in punches in the second round as Penn appeared to slow way down. Cutts took Penn down and tried for an inverted triangle choke. He switched to a Brabo Choke, but Penn defended well. Cutts attempted to pass to mount, but had to settle for half-guard against the fence.
Cutts postured up and landed punches briefly before returning to Penn’s guard. He moved to side control and then to mount. Penn gave up his back and Cutts tried for a rear-naked choke. Cutts punched away to the head and body and flattened Penn out. Cutts scored with more punches and secured a rear-naked choke at the bell. 10-9 Cutts. Close to 10-8.
Round 3:
An exhausted Penn ate a flurry from Cutts in the second round, but managed to land a counter left hook. Cutts dropped him with a hook of his own and dove into Penn’s guard. Cutts moved to half-guard and then to a partial top-side crucifix. He landed punches and took Penn’s back. Penn rolled and Cutts switched to an arm-triangle choke. Cutts punched with his free hand while continuing to try for chokes.
Cutts looked to move to mount, but Penn defended and got back to butterfly guard. Penn stood and Cutts drilled him with knees to the body. The fighters clinched against the cage and Cutts scored with knees to the face. Penn fell and Cutts struck from the top. Penn tried to roll into an armbar, but Cutts evaded and secured a loose Brabo Choke. Penn stood and Cutts landed a knee. 10-9 Cutts.
Winner: Evan Cutts by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 3-0-0.
ProElite Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Ryan Martinez vs Mark Ellis
Round 1:
Ellis landed a leg kick and a right hand early in the fight. He circled around and the fighters traded jabs. Ellis shot in for a takedown, but Martinez stuffed it and punished Ellis with punches. The fight returned to the feet and Martinez landed a counter uppercut. Ellis missed with head kicks and Martinez landed a jab. He stuffed another one of Ellis’s takedowns and tried for a guillotine choke. A big knee and a right hand landed for Martinez and Ellis retreated. 10-9 Martinez.
Round 2:
Ellis circled again in round two and Martinez landed a counter right hook. Ellis dove for a takedown and Martinez landed an illegal knee. Time was called and he was warned. Action resumed and Ellis landed a leg kick. Martinez jabbed and landed a leg kick, then stuffed a takedown. A lead right hook backed Ellis up and he continued to circle while throwing very few strikes. Martinez landed a right hand before the bell as the crowd booed the lacklustre fight. 10-9 Martinez.
Round 3:
Martinez stuffed a takedown in the final round and landed punches, then tried for a guillotine choke. Ellis escaped and stood up. Martinez dropped Ellis to a knee with a counter right hand and Ellis slipped on the canvas a moment later. He tried unsuccessfully for another takedown and Martinez sprawled out. Martinez secured a front headlock and kept Ellis in place.
Martinez switched to a guillotine choke attempt, then returned to the front headlock. Ellis stood briefly, then dropped back down to his knees. Martinez punched to the body until the fighters were stood up. Ellis slipped on the canvas again, but got back to his feet and resumed circling on the outside. He shot in for another takedown and failed. Martinez threw a head kick in the final seconds. 10-9 Martinez.
Winner: Ryan Martinez by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 6-1-0 and advances to the semi-finals of the ProElite heavyweight tournament.
ProElite Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Jake “The Honey Bear” Heun vs Ed Carpenter
Round 1:
Carpenter landed kicks right away and clinched against the cage. Heun landed a nice knee, but Carpenter slammed him to the mat. Heun tried for a Kimura and Carpenter powered out. Both fighters landed strikes on the ground and Carpenter moved to half-guard. Heun scrambled to his feet and floored Carpenter with a head kick and a one-two. Carpenter covered up and Heun swarmed with punches until the fight was stopped.
Winner: Jake Heun by TKO (Head Kick & Punches) at 3:17 of round one. He improves to 2-1-0 and advances to the semi-finals of the ProElite heavyweight tournament.
ProElite Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Cody Griffin vs Justyn “With The Y” Riley
Round 1:
Riley landed two knees early in the fight, but fell while throwing the second one and Griffin dove right into mount. He landed punches, but Riley quickly scrambled and took partial back control. Riley scored with punches to the head and body and added knees to the ribs.
Riley continued to punish Griffin with a variety of strikes as Griffin covered up. Riley kept Griffin pinned down and punched to the body until Griffin finally stood up. Riley unloaded with punches and Griffin fired back with some of his own. Riley landed kicks before the bell. 10-9 Riley.
Round 2:
Riley landed more kicks in the second round, but Griffin took him down and escaped a weak guillotine choke. Griffin briefly struck from the top, but Riley locked up a Kimura from the bottom and used it to sweep before landed knees to the body. Riley once again punched while Griffin turtled up on his knees.
Riley picked his shots with knees and punches as Griffin offered little in return. Riley moved to half-guard and then to mount. Griffin gave up his back and Riley punched away. Riley attempted to secure a rear-naked choke, but could not get it. 10-9 Riley.
Round 3:
Big punches landed for both fighters in the second round and Riley threw knees. The fighters traded haymakers and Griffin rocked Riley, who fell forward. Griffin dropped Riley and followed with more punches on the ground until the fight was stopped. Nice comeback for Griffin.
Winner: Cody Griffin by TKO (Punches) at 0:32 of round three. He improves to 5-2-0 and advances to the semi-finals of the ProElite heavyweight tournament.
ProElite Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Richard “The Black Eagle” Odoms vs Rodney “Excessive Force” Housley
Round 1:
Odoms landed a combination early in the fight and clinched against the cage. He scored with an overhand right and knees to the thigh and body. Housley managed to break free of the clinch briefly, but Odoms closed the distance again and landed short punches. The fighters separated once more and Odoms landed a left hook. Housley backed up and countered with a combination. Odoms scored with kicks to the leg and body. Housley took him down before the bell. 10-9 Odoms.
Round 2:
Odoms dropped Housley with a pair of inside-leg kicks in round two and fell to his back after a pair of right hands from Odoms. More punches and elbows scored for Odoms and Housley tried to get to his feet. Housley reversed and landed left hands as the fighters stood.
The referee called for a break and time was called seconds later after Housley was poked in the right eye. Housley’s eye swelled up badly, but he fought on and Odoms landed leg kicks. Odoms stuffed a takedown and took Housley’s back. He landed hammerfists and knees as Housley turtled. 10-9 Odoms.
Round 3:
Odoms opened the final round with a combination, but Housley clinched and pressed him against the cage. Short strikes were exchanged and Odoms landed a knee. He dragged Housley to the mat with a Kimura, then punched away from partial back control as Housley turtled on his knees. More punches scored for Odoms and he mixed in elbows to the body as well. Odoms stood and Housley slowly followed. Odoms took Housley back down and landed punches before the bell. 10-9 Odoms.
Winner: Richard Odoms by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 6-0-0 and advances to the semi-finals of the ProElite heavyweight tournament.
Undercard Bouts:
Waylon Lowe defeated Floyd Hodges by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 5:00 of round two.
Todd Monaghan defeated Richard McCraw by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 0:29 of round one.