Global Fighting Alliance (GFA) put on a very exciting evening of fistic action at the Blackham Coliseum. The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promoters did a great job producing a quality show with high production value. The night was highlighted by matchups of local fighters taking on members of the highly acclaimed American Top Team (ATT), and our boys showed their mettle, displayed their techniques, and matched the heralded fight camp.
Taylor Hilger (Global Fitness) vs Logan Justin (ATT)
Both fighters came out swinging to start off the night. Hilger briefly got the fight to the ground with a trip, but Justin got back to his feet, cliched up Hilger against the cage, and performed his own takedown. Hilger got back to his feet but was takendown once again. This time Justin moved to half guard and reigned down punches until the referee stopped the fight.
Cody Warren (Global Fitness) vs Chase Bonaventure (Sweat Shop)
Bonaventure won a unanimous decision in a fight that was more competitive than the score cards may have indicated. Both men performed nice striking combinations as this fight stayed on the feet most of the time.
Brice Navarre (Get Off Me) vs Dat Tran (Gladiators Laf.)
The fight started off with both men giving and taking punches in the beginning of the first round. Somewhere in the exchange, Tran had one of his contacts pop out of his eye and the action had to be stopped for a moment. When the action resumed, Tran secured a takedown to end the round. In the second round, both fighters came out swinging and they clinched up. Navarre saw an opportunity to take the fight to the ground, but Tran grabbed an arm and secured a fight ending armbar.
Caleb Henderson (Global Fitness) vs Allen Myers (Gladiators Laf.)
This fight only took 8 seconds. Myers came out and hit Henderson with a headkick that toppled Henderson. Myers followed up with several punches to finish off the fight as the referee pulled him off.
David Abel (Global Fitness) vs Shawn Paternostro (Sweat Shop)
Abel displayed his striking ability in this fight to get the TKO in the first round. Abel came out firing punches and knees that Paternostro couldn't handle. Paternostro went to the ground to avoid further punches but Abel followed him down and continued to fire off punches that made the referee call a stop to the fight.
Corey Johnson vs Chris Friddle (Sweat Shop)
The match starts with a striking exchange from both men. Friddle closed the distance, tripped Johnson, and advanced to mount. Johnson did a great job getting back to his feet without taking too much damage. It didn't last as Friddle rattled Johnson with a headkick and then dropped him with a solid punch. Friddle followed him to the mat, maintained top control, and pounded on his opponent to get the TKO.
Laramy Martin (Global Fitness) vs Bob Fails
Fails began the match by dropping Martin with a hard punch and advanced to the north/south position. Martin regained guard but Fails passed to side control and began punching while maintaining his dominant position to end the first round. The second round began with both combatants throwing punches. Fails was getting the better of the exchange and Martin lunged in for a takedown but left his neck exposed. Fails cinched in a fight ending guillotine choke.
Micheal Johnson (ATT) vs JD Domengeaux (Gladiators Laf.)
In the first ATT vs Louisiana matchup of the night, both fighters came out with kicks. JD took the fight to the mat, but Johnson quickly made his way back to his feet and dropped JD with a punch. Johnson began punching his foe from top position. JD performed a reversal to get on top and dropped back for a leg lock attempt. JD then proceeded to move to back mount and feverishly punching his Johnson as the round came to an end. JD began the second round fast dropping Johnson with a punching combination. JD again advanced to back mount as Johnson turtled up. The fight was halted as JD reigned down punches from back mount.
Alex Charrier (Global Fitness) vs Fransisco "Paco" Ortiz (Gladiators Laf.)
This fight hit the mat quickly when Charrier secured a takedown and moved to side control. Then Charrier trapped an arm, advanced to the dreaded crucifix position, and began to pound on Ortiz to end round one. Ortiz connected with a headkick that prompted Charrier to take the fight down once more. Charrier again passed guard to side control and was punching Ortiz as the bell rang to end the second round. The final stanza played out like the first two rounds with Charrier getting another takedown. This time he slid to the mount position and ended the fight with punches as the referee stepped in to stop the action.
Joe Watson (ATT) vs Justin Friddle (Sweat Shop)
The first round was fought on the feet with both men exchanging punches and kicks. In the second round, Watson got a takedown and moved to half guard before Friddle was able to get a sweep and get back to his feet. The round ended with a striking exchange. The final round began with a striking exchange from both men before they clinched up. Friddle got in a powerful knee to the body that Watson caught and elevated Friddle for a big slam. Watson followed up with some ground and pound to end the round. The judges felt that Friddle had done enough to earn the unanimous decision.
Rodrigo "Baga" Ramos (ATT) vs Chris Champagne (Zero Mercy)
Baga put on a grappling dispay to get the win in the first round. He quickly took the fight to the mat, advanced position to side control and began striking his opponent. After softening up Champagne, Baga moved to mount. Champagne tried to roll out but Baga secured back control and sunk in a fight ending rear naked choke.
David Bagget (Jungle MMA) vs Eric Scallan (Gladiators Laf.)
In an exciting grappling display, Scallan was able to best his foe. Scallan was the first to take the fight to the mat and moved to half guard. Baggett cleverly got a reversal and ended up in side control, but Scallan performed his own reversal ending up back on top in half guard. Scallan then isolated an arm and got a beautiful kimura submission to end the night with a tap out.
