Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino in Opelousas hosted a night of fistic action as USA-MMA hosted USA-MMA 16. The amateur fight card included 7 bouts with local members of Gladiators of Lafayette, Cajun Karate, Progressive MMA of New Iberia, and Doghouse of Rayne taking on visiting fighters from Guy Mezger's Combat Sports, Arlington MMA, and B3 of Houston.
Derick Perkins (Arlington MMA) vs Scott Prejean (Doghouse) 185 lbs.
Perkins began very aggressively hurling punches and kicks at Prejean. Prejean did his best to defend, but was ultimately overwhelmed and the ref stopped the fight midway through the 1st round.
*Sorry no photos*
Trent Meaux (Progressive MMA) vs Bruce Moore (Gladiators Lafayette) 135 lbs.
Both fighters began cautiously. The action soon picked up pace with Meaux chopping some leg kicks. Moore retaliated with a punching combo and a flying knee. They clinched up against the cage and Moore executed a nice judo throw to get the fight to the mat. The fighters exchanged positions on the ground as the round ended.
The fighters exchange punches to begin the second stanza. They clinched up and Moore gets another judo throw. Meaux got back to his feet and they exchange punches to end the round.
Moore lands a few good punches to begin the last round. Meaux answers with punches and slips. The action is stopped for a few minutes because of an unintentional groin shot. Once the action resumes, Meaux lands some good leg kicks to Moore. Both fighters exchange punches to end the closely contested matchup. Moore wins by unanimous decision.
Stephen McLaughlin (Mezger MMA) vs Raul Rodriguez (B3) 155 lbs.
In an early contender of fight of the night, McLaughlin and Rodriguez went to war. The 1st round was a back and forth battle as both men launched kicks and punches at each other. Each man had the other hurt momentarily but both showed their toughness and weathered the storm.
The second round begins as the first ended. McLaughlin attacked with kicks and Rodriguez countered with punches. McLaughlin lands a high kick and followed up with a spinning side kick. Rodriguez closed the distance, clinched up, and used his dirty boxing and knees until the bell.
To begin the last round, McLaughlin attacked with a variety of kicks and Rodriguez countered with more heavy punches. McLaughlin misses with a spinning backfist, and Rodriguez clinched up again and used inside knees and punches to end the round. McLaughlin wins by unanimous decision
Donnie Bell (Arlington MMA) vs Allen Myers (Gladiators Lafayette) 155 lbs.
Myers comes out very aggresively and lands a solid right hand that rocks Bell, but Bell recovers and gets a big slam. Myers attempts a triangle and Bell picks him up for another slam, but Myers releases the hold to get back to his feet. He begins to utilize his kicks, but Bell shoots for a takedown. He gets mount and lands a few punches to close out the round.
Bell begins the second round by getting another big slam. He maintains top control and lands a couple of hammerfist. As the round draws to a close, Myers attempts an armbar.
After a brief punching exchange on the feet, Bell continued to use his wrestling in the last round controlling the action from Myers guard to get the unanimous decision.
Anthony Williams (B3) vs Todd Simar (Cajun Karate) 170 lbs.
Williams starts by pushing Simar to the cage. They exchange inside punches and knees. Williams drags the fight to the canvas. Simar reverses the position and takes Willams' back. Simar attempts a rear naked choke, but Willams fends off the choke to end the round.
Round two was mostly a striking duel. Both men showed some versitility unleashing a variety of kicks and punches. In the last minute of the round, the fight hits the floor with Simar on top. Williams executes a sweep and Simar answers with a triangle attempt to end the round.
Williams starts the round with some kicks, and Simar replies with some punching combos. Midway through the round, Williams decides to take the fight to ground, and maintains the half guard position to land a couple of elbows to end the round. Williams wins by unanimous decision.
Brent Brasure (Mezger MMA) vs Randy Landry (Cajun Karate) 185 lbs.
Both gentlemen start the fight fast. Both used kicks to set the distance, and then began mixing in punching combos. Landry landed a solid punch and Brasure closed the distance clinching up as the bell sounded.
The second round was very similar to the first. Both men launched an array of kicks and punches throughout the duration of the round. Both men had their moments but neither was able to fully take control of the fight in the second round.
For the majority of the last round both men continued to wage a striking battle, but in the last minute of the round, Brasure decided to try a different tactic by taking the fight to the ground. He passed guard and was in side control as the round ended in an attempt to sway the judges. Landry wins via split decision.
Colin Wright (B3) vs Abrum Williams (Gladiators Lafayette) 135 lbs USA-MMA Amateur Title
This fight lived up to its headliner status as the USA-MMA Amateur Bantamweight was on the line. The fight had one side of the room on their feet cheering one minute, and the other side on their feet cheering the next. Both guys began aggresively with some striking exchanges. In the middle of one of the fierce exchanges Williams lands a punch that floors Wright. To Wright's credit he quickly recovered, but Williams was on top in guard. Wright attempted an armbar which resulted in a scramble, and Wright ended up on top. Williams spun giving his back in an attempt to escape, but Wright flattened him out and began raining down punches until the referee halted the action 3:15 into the first round. Wright victorious by TKO.
*My apologies-My battery ran out of juice and I wasn't able to capture the end of the bout*
