Mixed martial arts fans from across the county gathered at Earl Warren Showgrounds on Saturday night for “Throwdown at the Showgrounds” – cage fighting action put on by the California Fight Syndicate.
A capacity crowd took in nine professional and amateur bouts where anything goes and fighters look to knock-out their opponent or put them into a submission hold causing a tap-out.
“It’s better than boxing – everything is fair game,” said fight fan Jeff Felix.
In the professional level main event, Brandon Bender claimed the light weight championship, defeating Jesse Newell in the first round.
Lompoc’s Joe Person is attended to after the first round of his fight with Shawn Fry, a few minutes before Fry was knocked out by Person in the night’s second-to-last fight.
Bender floored Newell with a hard right-handed punch and then applied a tight choke hold causing Newell to tap out just 1:16 into the fight.
“He came too close to me and I hit him with the hook. He almost got out a couple times. I got the choke in and held on and worked hard,” said an elated Bender after the match.
Also in the Pro division, Joe Person of Lompoc worked his way out of a hold against the cage by Shawn Fry, before delivering a knock-out a minute and a half into the second round.
Person had quite a legion of fans that rose to their feet as he sent Fry spinning to the mat with a series of punches.
“I knew I wanted to break the space and when I knocked his mouthpiece out I really wanted the knock-out and knew the ref was about to stop it,” said Person.
The referee did not step in and Person got what he wanted.
“I came with another right and dropped him with a left hook,” he said.
Another local did not fair so well in the first professional bout on the fight card. Jon Glavin of Santa Barbara came out swinging, but it only took one punch from Todd Willingham of Riverside to end his night.
“He was throwing wide hooks,” said Willingham. “I got on my toes and threw it right down the middle like a baseball and smashed it.”
Glavin took the punch square on the chin and immediately fell to the mat. He was down for several minutes before being able to stand.
Willingham said the knock-out, which came just 12 seconds into the fight, was the quickest of his career.
On the amateur fight card, super heavyweight Makani Sarellano of Santa Maria received the biggest ovation of the evening as he entered the ring to take on 270 pound Delridge “E Smasher” Jones.
Both fighters grappled on the ground before returning to their feet and when Jones let down his guard, Sarellano capitalized with a huge right hook.
“The opportunity presented itself when he put his hand down and I just caught him over the shoulder,” said Sarellano.
The blow lifted Jones off his feet, sending him crashing to the floor. Sarellano was awarded the knock-out at 1:17 of the first round.
Sarellano was quick to credit the fans for their vocal support.
“It [the fan support] makes me fight better,” he said. “I want to put on a show. That’s what this sport is all about.”
RESULTS
Fight 1: Shannon Good vs Robert Rud
Winner Robert Rud – Unanimous DecisionFight 2: Juan Ferrer vs Joseph Fernandez
Winner Juan Ferrer – Round 2, TKOFight 3: Brandon Drucker vs Daniel Garcia
Winner Brandon Drucker – Round 2, Submission (Rear Naked Choke)Fight 4: Michael Gahan vs Anthony Dakuras
Winner Michael Gahan – Round 2, TKOFight 5: John Hackleman Jr. vs Sam Vargas
Winner John Hackleman Jr. Round 1, KOFight 6: Makani Sarellano vs Deldridge Jones
Winner Makani Sarellano – Round 1, KOFight 7: Jon Glavin vs Todd Willingham
Winner Todd Willingham – Round 1, KOFight 8: Joe Person vs Shawn Frye
Winner Joe Person – Round 2, KOFight 9: 145 Championship Belt
Jesse Newell vs Brandon Bender
Winner Brandon Bender – Round 1, Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
