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Cagecraze.com also made the trip to Decatur, Illinois to cover the always entertaining amateurs of central Illinois in what is one of the most prestigious amateur events central Illinois have to offer. With 16 fights and 5 titles on the line we knew this was going to be a good night cage side. The main event included Colton Creason (9-4) taking on “ The Hooligan” Buddy McGinnis (18-2-2).

Under Card:

 

Ryan Owens (0-0) vs. Zac Tennison (0-2) 145# MMA

Gloves touch. Owens shoots Tennison sprawls and rolls him over and gets him into seat guard. Both fighters up. Great kick by Tennison. Tennison gets him in a crucifix position and locks in the rear naked and choke out at 59 seconds of the first round. Tennison is your winner.

 

Wole Abitogun (0-0) vs. James Bullock (1-0) 170# MMA

Gloves touched. Huge knee from bullock. Bullock tries for guillotine. Abitogun defends. Goes to the ground bullock still has head control. Goes for the choke again and locks it in deep bullock gets the tap at 26 seconds of the first round

 

Colby Heathcock (0-0) vs. Will Forkel (0-0)  155# MMA

After a very back and forth first round with forkel with good submission attempts. The fight makes it to the second round in which Forkel gets him down and gets the stoppage from ground and pound at 2:33 in the second round.

 

Knock Out of the Night:

 

Jared Davis (1-0) vs. Tom Jones (0-0) 160# MTR

This is a adult muay Thai rules match which always make for a entertaining fight and this one was far from a disappointment. Jones refuses to touch gloves. Kicks fly early. Davis lands a head kick early. This one turns into a brawl and Davis puts him up against the cage and unloads with countless huge knees and knocks Jones down. Jones answers the 8 count and gets back up. Davis unloading huge head kicks then a right hand from nowhere hits Jones right on the button and Jones goes down. Jones is out cold. Davis wins by knockout at 1:03 in the first round and gets knockout of the night honors.

 

Dusty Smith (0-1) vs. Zac Vincent (1-1) 185# MMA

Vincent gets control early with a huge takedown and his wrestling and ground game proved to be the difference in this bout. Smith was able to fight off all the sub attempts from Davis from every angle but in the end it was Vincent who got the Unanimous decision.

 

Michael Spencer (0-2) vs. Jarrod Graham (0-0) 185# MMA

In a great back and forth battle, It was Spencer’s ability to control Graham in every shape and form that got him the win. Graham showed great heart and ability to withstand the war that Spencer brought to him. Spencer get the decision win at the end of round 3.

 

Josh Eveland (4-3) vs. Efrain Vazquez (5-3) 145# MMA

After a good exchange in the first Vazquez gets him down and locks in the in the RNC and gets the tap at :58 seconds of the first round.

 

Fight of the Night:

 

Nick Gayner (3-2) vs. Chris Griffieth (0-0) 135# MMA

Griffieth shows suburb wrestling skills in the first with the powerful take downs and great control. Even on the receiving end of this Gayner was always looking to sweep or the submission from guard. The second round comes out and Gayner lets his hands go and realizes he has the superb advantage on the feet and works to stop the takedowns of Griffieth. The third round comes out and Gayner comes out like Griffeth just said something about his momma! Gayner with straights and hooks from every where and stuffing every takedown Griffeth threw at him. Gayner stalked him down landing tremendous leg kicks and showing his great stand up skills. It was Gayners cardio and heart that got him the decision in this fight which by far is my pick for fight of the night.

 

Larie Bonds (2-2) vs. Cory Hall (4-2)

This fight was our last under card fight of the night at the catch weight of 167 pounds. Bonds comes out with the huge takedown and gets him against the cage. Both fighters come out with tons of energy and are ready to go to war. It was a grappling war in the first with both fighters exchanging positions early. Hall with a beautiful sweep puts bonds on his back and is looks for openings to rain down some fists. Hall grabs a arm bar and gets it deep! 30 seconds left in the round and Hall has it fully extended and its getting ready to snap and the bell rings and the round ends. In the second round hall comes out looking to go to war in the stand up and bonds takes him down off the cage. Bonds get rear control looking for the choke and bonds is landing heavy body shots from all angles. Hall works his way to a sweep and takes mount which bonds defends and gets guard back. Hall gets back to mount and unloads on Bonds. The second round comes to close and I would not want to be a judge in this one as that round was really close. Third round comes around and hall lands a huge shot and puts bonds down against the cage and hall doesn’t let up and rains down some huge shots and the ref steps in and calls it off. Cory Hall is your winner at 23 seconds in the 3rd round.

 

Main Card:

 

Shelby Graham (17-3) vs. Jimmy Fritz (7-3) 155# Contender mma

This the fight for the number one contender spot for the 155# belt that is also on the line tonight. This one turns into a great grappling match early and both fighters looking for submissions and showing great defense and heart. But it was Jimmy Fritz that got the decision win and will get his title shot for the winner of the main event. This was a really exciting fight with both fighters showing great guards and ability to withstand submissions.

 

Louis DeWerdt (15-4) vs. Antonio Atkins (10-3) 185# Title

Atkins took this fight on just a few hours notice and looked in tremendous shape. In the first Atkins hit DeWerdt with some great shots but Dewerdt Clinches and pulls guard. Atkins throws some hard shots at Dewedt and throws up a triangle but Atkins fights it off. Louis holds him and throws the legs up for another triangle and gets it. He clasp the leg and squeezes to get the tap. Atkins has come huge power and aggressiveness but DeWerdt defends his belt with superb ground skills and gets the tap at 1:35 of the 1rst round.

 

Logan “Jellybean” Kearney (3-0) vs. Alex Colver (0-0) 125# MTR Title.

Another Muay Thai match in the 125lbs division and as always was a great battle. Both fighters landed heavy shots but Kearney and his aggressive style was able to control him all 3 rounds and wear corver out. Kearney wins by decision and takes home the 125 title.

 

Rick McGraw (13-3) vs. Charles Rodgers (13-5) SHW MMA Title

This is the battle of the big boys. McGraw comes in at 265 pounds and is 6”9. His opponent weighs in at a huge 385 pounds. McGraw is out weighed by over 100lbs in this fight. The weight difference didn’t seem to bother McGraw as both fighters went to war. McGraw landed some heavy kicks and punches that put a end to the 385lb  Rodgers by tko. Rodgers looked hesitant to pull the trigger on McGraw and he took advantage of it.

 

Andrew Childs (10-1) vs. Justin Gary (8-2) 145# MMA Title

This was the co-main event of the night and was a great bout between 2 of the best 145 pound fighters in the state. After the reigning champ in Jake “The Great” Constent gave up his 145 pound belt to take on the pro circuit in St. Louis, these 2 up and comers were ready to fill that void that left Illinois without the exciting champion. Both fighters came out hard but it was Childs that caught the kick and got a huge trip takedown and rained down the heavy hands to get the stoppage. Your winner and new 145# Title holder is Andrew Childs and he looks to fill the void where Illinois needs it.

 

Main Event:

 

Colton Creason (9-4) vs. Buddy McGinnis (18-2-2) 155# MMA Title

This is the fight the whole crowd was waiting for. The reigning champ Colton Creason was up against his biggest challenge yet in “The Hooligan” Buddy McGinnis. Hooligan makes his way to cage holding at least 7 different title belts from all over the state of Illinois and other states and shows he’s not scared of the champ. Creason makes his way to the ring and looks focused and ready to put the hurt on the very verbal and energetic McGinnis. The first round comes and like expected Creason gets the takedown and shows off his amazing wrestling and looks to reign down punches on McGinnis. McGinnis does a great job from guard and holds his forearms to his chest to avoid the strikes. Creason breaks free and throws a huge left hand and McGinnis throws the legs up and locks in the armbar and Creason stand up to shake it off but cant. Creason taps from the standing armbar and the fight is over at 1:15 of the first round. Your winner and 155# champion is Buddy “The Hooligan” McGinnis.