Colosseum Combat XVI (16)

Mark Slater’s “Colosseum Combat 16″ Delivers Everything it Promised

The Kokomo Event Center played host to Mark Slater’s Colosseum Combat XVI this past evening (February 19, 2011).  The fight card featured some of the most “hyped” bouts that many could remember ever taking place in Indiana.  Colosseum Combat XVI lived up to every bit of pre-event hype and perhaps set the bar for future Indiana mixed martial arts events.

Amateur Card

Derek Cook vs. Sean Botoms

As round one commenced, Cook charged Botoms.  Botoms retaliated with a flying knee that took the fight to the ground.  The ground war is short-lived as both fighters sprung back to their feet.  Cook is then able to pin, but Botoms gains control via underhooks and takes Cook to the ground.  While on the ground, Botoms moved to mount, but was unable to posture-up.  Cook held on tightly in avoidance of danger, but eventually grew tired and attempted to roll out.  This roll gave Botoms Cook’s back and a fight ending rear-naked choke.  Referee Anthony Copeland called a halt to the bout in 2:03 of round one giving Botoms the submission victory.

Dustin Conley vs. Drew Walters

Conley opened the bout with multiple kicks that forced Walters shoot for a successful double leg takedown.  From the mat, Walters is able to move into side-mount and then into mount relatively quickly.  Once Walters took the mount, Conley gave up his back allowing Walters to rain down punches.  Walters’ barrage of punches forced referee Anthony Copeland to stop the fight just 1:56 into round one.

Jacob Hurlock vs. Jordan Crider

Round one began awkwardly as Hurlock forces Crider to the mat in a north-south (almost sprawled) position.  From there, Hurlock circled around and sunk his hooks into Crider.  From Crider’s back, Hurlock attempted to slide down into an armbar.  The submission attempt then caused Crider to buck Hurlock off.  Hurlock then beautifully transitioned into a triangle choke.  Crider was able to escape the submission and move to a mounted position.  The mount caused Hurlock to turtle and roll back to guard.  From his guard, Hurlock attempts a gogoplata.  The submission proves to be unsuccessful and the two fighters end the round jockeying for position.

Round two began with Crider testing the distance with a kick.  Hurlock matched this kick, but his strike was caught by Crider.  Crider then took Hurlock to the ground.  The two moved for position before Hurlock was able to briefly stand back up.  While Crider was taking Hurlock down for the second time, Hurlock was able to hit a reversal and take Crider’s back.  Hurlock then overcommitted on a rear-naked choke, thus allowing Crider to slide out and into Hurlock’s guard.

The "Controversial" Armbar

Round three began as the second had with each testing the other.  Hurlock then attempted a double leg takedown, but was stuffed by Crider.  The failed attempt caused Hurlock to pull Crider into his guard.  While in working from his guard, Hurlock was able to move into an armbar.  The armbar had Crider in visible trouble.  The visible trouble and anguish of Crider’s face forced him to tap, but unfortunately the out of position referee did not see the submission.  The tap out caused Hurlock to let go of the submission, and Crider to pounce on him.  After a brief period of neither improving position, the referee stood up the two fighters.  Crider then hit a double leg takedown and fell into Hurlock’s guard.  Hurlock attempted one more submission (an omaplata) before the referee yet again stood up the fighters.  While standing, Hurlock attempted an overhand right (due to instruction from his corner), but was met with Crider changing levels and hitting another double leg takedown.

Crider was awarded the controversial victory via unanimous decision.

Rod Cole vs. Mike Walker

Cole’s opening jab led to a brief exchange and a Walker double leg takedown.  Once on the ground Walker is able to take the mount.  While mounted, Cole rolled to give Walker his back.  Walker then sinks in a body triangle and attempted rear-naked choke.  Cole is able to escape and roll back with Walker still in the mount.  As Cole rolled, Walker saw an opening for an arm triangle, and took advantage.  The arm triangle looked as if it was going to finish the fight, but as the ten second mark sounded, Walker relinquished the hold and began to rain down punches.

Round two began with Cole throwing haymakers with reckless abandon.  Cole eventually connects with a right that forced Walker to take the fight to the ground.  While on the ground, Cole is visibly exhausted and verbally submits.  The verbal submission gives Walker the victory in 1:28 of round two.

Devin Miller vs. Markous Smith

Smith was the first to initiate contact with multiple outside leg kicks.  Miller then retaliated by charging Smith.  Smith was able to work the charging Miller into the cage.  Both spent the next minute pummeling before the referee separated the two.  Miller then let his hands go leaving Smith doing the only thing he could, throw kicks.  Miller then stepped back and in an attempt to “pump-up” the crowd motioned Smith to “bring it on!”  Smith followed the notion with a kick only to be caught by Miller.  With Smith’s leg in-hand Miller attempted a takedown, but Smith caught it and both fighters fell to the mat.  Round one came to a close with Smith attempting an armbar and Miller refusing to submit.

Round two began with both throwing kicks simultaneously.  Miller, as he had done in the first, caught Smith’s next kick and took the fight to the ground.  The next few minutes left Miller working from Smith’s butterfly guard.  The ref eventually stood the two back up only to have Miller hit a double leg takedown.  This takedown is perhaps what clinched the round for Miller.

Miller began the third round by being the entertainer that he is and psyching up the crowd.  Smith led with a kick only to be caught by Miller for the third time.  Miller then stuck to his game plan and took Smith right back to the mat.  Miller spent the next few minutes posturing up occasionally to throw huge blows.  After a brief period of inactivity, the referee brought the fighters back to their feet.  While standing, Miller attempted a single leg takedown, but was stuffed by Smith.  The round came to a close with Miller covering up as Smith threw multiple knees.

Miller was awarded the split decision victory (30-27, 27-30, 29-28).

Matthew Perry vs. Nicholas Anderson

The Super "Care Bear" Punch

Round one began with each fighter tempting the other to come to their respective side of the cage.  Perry then initiated contact with a superman punch.  The two fighters then went back to feeling each other out (in what was a sign of mutual respect).  Anderson then made a move and forced Perry to the cage.  While against the cage, Anderson threw multiple knees.  He then picked Perry up and slammed him to the mat.  The slam proved to lack affect as Perry was able to move to gain top control.  Perry then moved into side-mount.  From there, Anderson was able to stand, but was met with a knee as his third point came off of the mat.  Round one came to a close as Perry shot and pinned Anderson against the cage.

Round two began with Perry again initiating contact.  Perry hit a double leg takedown and moved to side-mount immediately.  As he had done from this position in the first round, Anderson got back on his feet.  The triumph, however, was short-lived as Perry took Anderson down yet again.  Perry began to work for a von flue choke, but was stood up by the unknowing referee.  While on their feet, Perry shot once again, but was stuffed by Anderson.  Perry’s persistence paid off as the round came to a close with Perry pinning Anderson against the cage.

Round three commenced as the first had (with a feeling out process).  Perry then threw a beautiful overhand right that led into a double leg takedown.  Perry then moved to a knee-on-belly position and slipped into the mount.  As Perry postured to throw a punch, Anderson was able to slide out the backdoor.  The two then faced one another and Anderson shot in for a single leg takedown.  The round came to a close with Perry quickly recovering from the takedown.

Perry was awarded the unanimous decision victory.

Michael Shields vs. Henry Goonen

Shields initial contact led to a brief exchange followed by a Goonen kick and looping left.  The combo from Goonen forced Shields to charge and pin Goonen against the cage.  From against the cage, Shields picked Goonen up and slammed him to the mat.  For a brief period, neither man can advance their position as the other kept them tight.  Shields was eventually able to separate himself from Goonen’s tight guard and posture up.  From the postured position, Shields rained down punches which forced referee Anthony Copeland to call a halt to the bout in 2:35 of round one.

Professional Card

Mark Neville vs. James Porter

Porter's "Crowd Pleasing" Head Kick

As the bell sounded, Porter’s plan was evident.  Porter led with multiple front kicks and looping kicks that left his opponent puzzled.  To Neville’s credit, he engaged Porter multiple times before Porter was able to land a crowd pleasing spinning back kick that landed flush with Neville’s head.  Porter was then able to secure a takedown and move into side-mount.  Eventually, Porter was able to move to mount forcing Neville to attempt to bridge and buck Porter off.  As Neville attempted to his bridge, Porter rolled to guard and transitioned right to an armbar.  The armbar forced Neville to tap, thus awarding Porter a victory in his professional debut in 2:41 of round one.

Ryan McIntosh vs. Brady Hovermale

Hovermale initiates contact with a front kick follow by a shot.  McIntosh’s quickness forced Hovermale to pull his shot attempt.  McIntosh then leads with some straight combinations that force Hovermale to shoot in for a successful double leg takedown.  While on the ground both fighters attempt to advance their position, but neither prevail.  The round continues with McIntosh attempting multiple submissions, but none successful as Hovermale is able to power out of each.  As round one comes to a close, Hovermale passes to side-mount from a failed McIntosh triangle attempt.  From the side-mount, Brady is able to work his ground-and-pound until the bell sounds.  Between rounds McIntosh tells head referee and doctor that he cannot see out of his right eye.  For safety reasons, the bout is called to a halt giving Hovermale the victory in his professional debut.

Mike Eikenberry vs. Mike Berry

Eikenberry began the fight by landing a looping left followed by a straight.  Both punches landed flush leaving Berry wobbling backwards.  Eikenberry wasted little time charging the fleeting Berry, he pounced on Berry like a lion on its’ prey taking his back (looking for a submission via rear-naked choke).  Despite Eikenberry’s aggression, Berry managed to slip out and perform an about-face.  Both fighters engaged one another with Berry being the successor.  The exchange left Eikenberry fleeting and visibly shaken.  Berry then charged Eikenberry landing a right and head kick.  The head kick was all Berry needed to finish the fight.  Mike Berry was awarded the knockout victory 1:08 into the first round.

William Miller vs. Josh Kinser (Knockout of the night)

Miller led with a jab, but Kinser quickly returned fire forcing Miller to retreat.  Kinser was then able to use his speed to step in the “pocket” and land a beautiful overhand right that landed flush knocking Miller Unconscious.  Kinser was awarded the knockout victory in 0:13 of round one.

David Love vs. Dustin Neace (Submission of the night)

Love opened the bout with a thunderous inside leg kick followed by an outside leg kick.  He then unloaded on Neace and pinned him against the cage.  While pinned against the cage, Neace was able to pummel for an underhook and turn Love.  Love then did the same to Neace.  Love then picked Neace up in the air and slammed him to the mat.  While on the mat, both threw punches and elbows with bad intentions.  Neace was eventually able to roll into an omoplata that stalled Love.  With great instruction from his corner, Love is able to escape the submission attempt.  Love then threw a crowd pleasing overhand right as Neace sat with his back on the mat.  Neace then rolled for an armbar, but was overpowered by Love.  Shortly after, referee Anthony Copeland brought the fighters back to their feet.  Love showed his aggression as he threw multiple combinations.  Neace returned fire, but was caught with a huge body shot.  The round came to a close after an inadvertent groin shot by Love.

Round two began with Love throwing back-to-back leg kicks and a short, staggered uppercut that left Neace buzzed and bloodied.  Despite the adversity, Neace fired straight rights back and pinned Love against the cage (via a double leg attempt).  During the shot, Love was able to cinch-in a guillotine choke.  Neace stood up and slammed Love in an attempt to break the hold.  The slam proved to be successful as Love let go of the choke shortly after.  From his guard, Love was able to get a foot on Neace’s hip and hip to an armbar.  The submission attempt forced Neace to tap, thus giving Love the victory in 3:45 of round two.

Daniel Head vs. Ryan Thomas

Thomas Securing the Triangle Choke

Neither Head nor Thomas wasted time in giving the fans what they came to see.  Both engaged one another simultaneously as Thomas went low with a kick and Head high with a right.  Head then did his best lumberjack impression as he threw a chopping leg kick that dropped Thomas.  Thomas was however able to quickly recover and move into the clinch.  From the clinch Head was able to secure a takedown and bring Thomas over to James Clingerman and company in his corner.  This seemingly had no affect on Thomas as he was able to secure a triangle choke as Head looked to ground-and-pound.  Despite Head’s best efforts he was unable to escape and forced to tap.  The submission gave Thomas the victory in 2:04 of round one.

Quick Results:

Amateur Bouts:

Shawn Botoms defeated Derek Cook via Tapout due to Rear Naked Choke in 2:03 of the 1^st Round

Drew Walters defeated Dustin Conley via Referee Stoppage due to Strikes in 1:56 of the 1^st Round

Jordan Crider defeated Jacob Hurlock via Unanimous Decision

Mike Walker defeated Rod Cole via Verbal Submission at 1:28 of the 2^nd Round

Devin Miller defeated Markous Smith via Split Decision (30-27 S, 30-27 M, 29-28 M)

Matthew Perry defeated Nick Anderson via Unanimous Decision

Mike Shields defeated Henry Goonen via Referee Stoppage due to Strikes in 2:35 of the 1^st Round

Pro Bouts:

James Porter defeated Mark Neville via Tapout due to Armbar in 2:41 of the 1^st Round

Brady Hovermale defeated Ryan McIntosh via Verbal Submission at 0:00 of the 2^nd Round

Michael Berry defeated Mike Eikenberry via KO in 1:08 of the 1^st Round

Joshua Kinser defeats William Miller via KO in 0:13 of the 1st Round

David Love defeated Dustin Neace via Tapout due to Armbar in 3:45 of the 2^nd Round

Ryan Thomas defeated Daniel Head via Tapout due to Triangle Choke in 2:04 of the 1^st Round