Ed “Short Fuse” Herman vs Rafael “Sapo” Natal
Round 1:
Natal landed hard leg kicks right away that caused Herman to wince in pain and he took Herman down soon after. Natal struck from the top, but Herman battled back to his feet and he scored a takedown of his own. Herman cut Natal with elbows and he continued to strike until Natal stood with ten seconds remaining. 10-9 Natal, barely.
Round 2:
Herman flurried with punches in round two and he forced Natal to backpedal. Herman remained the aggressor with punches and leg kicks. Natal took him down and struck from the top in Herman’s guard. The fighters were stood up and Herman stuffed a takedown. Natal ducked right into a knee, but he appeared to be unfazed and tried again to take the fight to the ground. Herman stayed on his feet and the round ended in a clinch. 10-9 Herman.
Round 3:
Herman cut Natal on the forehead with counterpunches in the final round, but Natal managed to land two looping hooks. Herman connected with a left hand and he followed with a right. Time was called after Herman was kneed in the groin. Action resumed and Herman backed Natal up with punches. Natal landed a front kick to the face and ate a right hand. Both men landed knees in a clinch and Natal grazed Herman’s chin with a spinning backfist. Herman landed a final flurry of punches before the end of the fight. 10-9 Herman.
Winner: Ed Herman by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 22-10-0, 1 NC.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs Darrell “The Mongoose” Montague
Round 1:
The fighters circled in the opening 90 seconds until Horiguchi lunged in with a left hand. Montague took him down, but Horiguchi scrambled up to his feet and landed a quick combination. Both fighters landed hooks and Horiguchi countered a leg kick with a right cross. He stayed on the outside and picked his shots with single kicks and punches. Montague took him down as the bell sounded. Close round. 10-9 Horiguchi.
Round 2:
Montague locked on a standing arm-triangle choke early in round one and he jumped into a guillotine choke soon after. Horiguchi escaped and he rushed forward with punches. Montague answered with kicks and he landed a stiff right jab. Horiguchi threw a one-two and a head kick. He hurt Montague with a body kick and more punches. Montague fell forward to the ground and Horiguchi landed a series of right hands. He picked Montague up and slammed him back down. Montague stood and landed a right hook and a body kick. Horiguchi hurt him again with another kick to the midsection and a big flurry. 10-9 Horiguchi.
Round 3:
Power punches were exchanged in the final round and Montague began to establish his jab. He missed with a flying knee attempt and Horiguchi took him down. Horiguchi postured up with punches, but Montague snuck in an upkick. Horiguchi continued to punish him with ground and pound until the fight returned to the feet. Montague scored with a left cross and Horiguchi answered with body kicks. Montague landed a hard body kick and a left hand and the fighters exchanged big punches in the final 15 seconds. 10-9 Horiguchi.
Winner: Kyoji Horiguchi by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 13-1-0.
Zak Cummings vs Yan Cabral
Round 1:
Cummings hurt Cabral with a counter hook very early in the fight and he took Cabral down, but Cabral recovered and framed up a triangle choke from his back. Cummings escaped and the fighters returned to their feet. Cabral dumped Cummings to the mat and moved to half-guard. He landed short strikes from the top and tried to mount Cummings just before the bell. 10-9 Cabral.
Round 2:
Cummings caught a kick and threw Cabral to the canvas in round two. Cabral stood and Cummings landed a hard left hook. He followed with a combination and a leg kick. Cabral attempted a spinning backfist and he dropped levels for a takedown. He wound up on the bottom and looked to set up a triangle choke. Cummings landed ground and pound and he followed with a powerful body kick after the fight returned to the feet. Cummings stuffed two takedowns and Cabral began to slow down. Cummings scored with a nice one-two and he took Cabral down just as time expired. 10-9 Cummings.
Round 3:
Cummings shrugged off a takedown attempt in round three and he flurried with punches against the cage. He followed with knees to Cabral’s thighs, but Cabral broke free with a spinning back elbow. Cummings took him down and Cabral worked for a triangle choke. Cummings escaped into mount and he took Cabral’s back. He tried for a rear-naked choke and landed some solid ground and pound, but Cabral escaped out the back and locked on a kimura. Cummings escaped on two occasions and he closed out the fight with punches from the top. 10-9 Cummings.
Winner: Zak Cummings by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 17-3-0.
Johnny Eduardo vs Eddie Wineland
Round 1:
Eduardo opened the action with leg kicks in the early goings and he avoided most of Wineland’s counterpunches. The fighters traded lead left hooks and Wineland landed a chopping kick to the thigh. Eduardo backed him up with a right hand and he resumed kicking at Wineland’s left leg. Wineland landed a nice right hand, but Eduardo badly rocked him with a counter right hook. A massive right hand sent Wineland crashing to the canvas and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Johnny Eduardo by KO (Punch) at 4:37 of round one. He improves to 27-9-0.
Undercard Fights:
– Nik “The Carny” Lentz defeated Manny “The Anvil” Gamburyan by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 27-6-2, 1 NC with the win.
– Justin “J-Bomb” Salas defeated Ben “Manimal” Wall by KO (Punches) at 2:21 of round one. He improves to 12-5-0 with the win.
– Albert “Einstein” Tumenov defeated Anthony “The Recipe” Lapsley by KO (Punch) at 3:56 of round one. He improves to 13-2-0 with the win.