Intensity MMA hosts IKF Muay Thai marathon
Before you know it, the Canelito Kristian fan club is going to have to look into chartering a bus just so everyone can travel along with the youngster.
On Saturday the Intensity MMA & Fitness Center hosted the latest (IKF) International Kickboxing Federation show at their South San Diego Gym. This was a first for Intensity to host such a large event with so many participants (52) coming from all over, from as far north as Los Angeles and as far south as Ensenada, B. C., Mexico to represent 13 separate gyms.
In Bout #1, it was David Papa of the Valor Fight Club, Logan Heights, SD, CA earning the victory over Odvan Vargas of the Mojac Gym, Tijuana, B. C., Mexico.
There are always going to be the first timers like (top, left) Gael Rodriguez with his coach Miguel Reyes, (bottom, l to r) Christopher Rivera with his coaches Juan Luis Miranda and Tachi Keoki, and Odvan Vargas from the Mojac Team in Tijuana.
In Bout #2, it was Joey Splock of Team Rolando training at Team Quest, Encinitas, CA getting the win over Gael Rodriguez of the Reyes Gym in Tijuana, B. C., Mexico.
In Bout #3, Adrian Lopez of Intensity MMA, South San Diego got the best of Gomy Regalado of the Mojac Gym.
In Bout #4, it was Kevin Meza of the Mojac Gym securing the win over Christopher Rivera of the Alliance Training Center, Chula Vista, who was making his Muay Thai debut.
In Bout #5, it was Gustavo Regalado of the Mojac Gym gaining the walkover victory over Stephen Hill of the Alliance Training Center.
In Bout #6, it was Ian Reyes of the Reyes Gym getting the victory over Roberto Diaz of the Valor Fight Club.
In Bout #7, it was Ricky Hernandez of the Mojac Gym defeating Osmar Ignacio of the host gym, Intensity MMA.
In Bout #8, it was Gabriel Hernandez of Alliance Training Center defeating Victor Aguilar of Intensity MMA.
After his big win over Victor Aguilar, Gabriel Hernandez is joined by his two biggest and proudest fans, Mom and Pop. All photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #9, it was Hachem Nessea of the Alliance Training Center getting the win over Randall Cattson of the King Tiger Gym, San Diego.
Bout #10 featured the invincible Said Sanchez of the Valor Fight Club getting the best of Ruben Guzman of Intensity MMA.
Front and center is the ever popular Said Sanchez of the Valor Fight Group from the neighborhood of Logan Heights in San Diego.
In Bout #11, it was Ernesto Galan Monreal of the Mojac Gym, Tijuana earning an unanimous decision victory over Christopher Moret of Intensity MMA. Plain and simple, Moret couldn’t keep up with Galan’s offensive output which at times was two kicks to one kick or three punches to one punch.
(photo, left) Mojac Fight Team with their coach, Master Ernesto Galan Tachiquin at the Mojac Gym, Tijuana. (right) Saturday, Ernesto Galan Monrreal came away with the victory over Christopher Moret of Intensity MMA.
In Bout #12, it was Juan Quintana of the Durepss Fight Team, Tijuana, B. C., Mexico, the slicker striker and slashing kicker getting the best of Alejandro Hernandez of the Valor Fight Club to earn the win.
From his demeanor while awaiting the judges’ decision, you would think Juan Quintana (blue trunks) had lost the match to Alejandro Hernandez. The way he dominated on offense that was never going to happen. Photo: J. Wyatt
At the conclusion of Bout #13 the applause needle hit at an all-time high. Tiffany Ignacio of Intensity MMA and Azul Medina of the Valor Fight Club went nonstop and as a consequence the judges deemed it necessary to declare the bout a draw.
At the conclusion of their nonstop battle, referee Robert Aldama raises both Tiffany Ignacio’s arm (l) and Azul Medina’s arm (r) to signify the bout was declared a draw. Photos: Jim Wyatt
After the bout, Tiffany Ignacio (top) and Azul Medina (bottom) rejoined their family and of course everyone wanted a photo with their star athletes.
In Bout #14, Canelito Kristian of the Tostado Gym, Tecate, B. C., Mexico got the victory over Mike Casillas of Intensity MMA. It’s far too early to predict Mr. Kristian’s future, but he did show a lot of chutzbah on Saturday. The energizer bunny appears to be well schooled and he’s certainly exciting to watch.
In Bout #14 it was Canelito Kristian (l) with the quicker hands and quicker feet to secure the victory from the game Mike Casillas (r). Photos: Jim Wyatt
Canelito Kristian poses for a photo with his family after the victory.
After his grueling battle with Canelito Kristian, Mike Casillas (r) poses for a photo with his oh so proud father. Photos: Jim Wyatt
Bout #15 featured an inter-gym match between Armando Arranaga (l) and Zaid Aldama (r) of Intensity MMA. From the photo below, it’s clear who came out victorious. Arranaga dominated from start to finish.
Who won? Who lost? I think we all know. (l to r) Armando Arranaga, Zaid Aldama.
In Bout #16, it was Andrew Ramos of the Valor Fight Club getting the win over Evan Dlon of Team Rolando. Ramos took full advantage of his height and reach advantage to set up his attack and keep the shorter fireplug off balance and at a distance where he was then less affective.
(top, left) His match with Andrew Ramos (l) of the Valor Fight Club was close but not as close as Evan Dlon foretold. (bottom photo) Members of the Valor Fight Club whoop it up after gaining their fourth victory of the day. Photos: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #17, it was the big guy Richard Hernandez of Intensity MMA battling Eduardo Hernandez of the Entram Gym in Tijuana. Despite their size, both fighters showed great dexterity and went nonstop as they kept pounding each other. More than likely, Rich Hernandez won over the judges by landing the cleaner shots early, and then he hung on as Eduardo showed he was too legit to quit. With his staying power, Eduardo Hernandez made the judges’ decision a tough one.
All eyes were glued on Bout #17 and most were thinking, “I’m glad I’m not in there taking those big punches.” (photo, right) Richard Hernandez (r), joined by his coach Joshua Rittenbury, holds up the winning trophy.
Bout #18, another inter-gym contest, saw Aaron Cisneros and Adrian Muron, both from Intensity MMA, battle to a draw. Even though Cisneros looked to be the sharper puncher, the fact that Muron was a fill-in, last minute replacement, gave credence to the judges ruling the bout a draw.
Bout #18 between Aaron Cineros (l) and Adrian Muron (r) was ruled a draw.
Bout #19 featured Hermes Pinu of the Pacific Training Center, La Jolla taking on Javier Rios of Intensity MMA. Since Rios was a last minute replacement and deemed under sized, the match was declared a draw even though it was clear Pinu dominated with the more powerful and accurate kicks and punches.
The match between Hermes Pinuo (l) and Javier Rios (r) was declared a draw.
The best defense is a good offense. In round one of Bout #20, it was Sebastian Hernandez of the Pacific Training Center dominating Miguel Hernandez of the Valor Fight Club with powerful punches to the head and kicks to the thighs that had Miguel Hernandez almost always backing up. With such a potent offense, the need to concern himself about his defense, hardly ever presented itself.
In Bout #20, Sebastian Hernandez ruled the roost versus Miguel Hernandez.
In Bout #21, it was Terry Broker of the House of Discipline, Spring Valley, CA getting the nod over Joseph Hernandez of Intensity MMA. The reason was clear enough, or should we say painful enough, Hernandez kept getting clobbered by Broker’s right hands to the face. Despite the urging of his grandfather who is a well respected boxing trainer, Hernandez concerned himself with the kicks and hardly ever had his guard up.
“Look out for that right hand!” screamed his grandfather. Terry Broker (top, left) had his way with Joseph Hernandez. All Broker had to do was keep unloading the big overhand rights to the head of his opponent. The unguarded path was a four lane highway to success. After the bout, they laughed about his lack of defense.
In Bout #22 Aristeo Arranaga of Intensity MMA and Sergio Porras of the Alliance Training Center went nonstop. In the end, the judges ruled it was a draw.
Despite his superior punching and kicking, the bout between Aristeo Arranaga (r) and his opponent Sergio Porras (l) was declared a draw. The reason noted, Porras, a late replacement was facing an opponent above his level.
In Bout #23 it was Matt Rascon of American Boxing, Pacific Beach earning an unanimous decision over Emmanuel Raines of the Alliance Training Center. Even though it was Rascon dominating in the first two rounds, Raines never gave up and came on in the third and final round of this heated battle royale.
(top, right) Matt Rascon (r) has his arm raised in victory by referee Karlos Aldama after he defeated the very tough Emmanuel Raines (l).
In Bout #24, it was Roy Vazquez of Alliance Training Center in his debut proving unstoppable in his beat down of Hector Bracamonte of the Durepss Fight Team. The 16 year-old’s accurate kicks and punches were scary good in the lead up to the knock out win (a body shot) in the third round.
(top) In Bout #24, Roy Vazquez (l) of the Alliance Training Center, Chula Vista, a 16 year-old Muay Thai phenom, in his amateur debut, pummeled Hector Bracamonte from pillar to post to earn the third round KO victory.
At the conclusion of Bout #24, the victorious Roy Vazquez is joined by his coaches Juan Luis Miranda (l) and Tachi Keoki (r).
Bout #25 saw Ivy Chu of the Pacific Training Center run roughshod over Jen Lane of Intensity MMA. Her combinations of slashing kick, hard kick, then roundhouse rights and lefts overwhelmed her opponent leading to the early second round stoppage.
In Bout #25, it was Ivy Chu (r) of Pacific Training Center, La Jolla advancing nonstop to overwhelm her opponent Jen Lane of Intensity MMA. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In Bout #26, the final contest of the night, Nahdia Barrientos from Alliance Training Center, an outstanding USA Amateur boxer, got her first taste of IKF Muay Thai. Her opponent was Raily Allen of Team Rolando, Encinitas. After trading punches and kicks early on, Barrientos started landing this attention getting kicks – one to the face, followed by the harder kicks to the thighs and midsection. One combination of a kick, plus overhand right led to the first stoppage. Refusing to quit, Allen decided to give it another try. Seconds later, Barrientos landed this kick near the liver. With the excruciating pain on her right side, Allen intelligently took a knee. With the pain persisting, the blue corner decided it was best to call it a night.
(top) Nahdia Barrientos (r) of the Alliance Training Center keeps pounding Raily Allen of Team Rolando with these thunderous side kicks, first to the thighs and then to the midsection. (below) Allen takes a knee in round two after getting whacked on the right side, near the liver. Photos: Jim Wyatt
(bottom) After the second and final stoppage and receiving her trophy, Nahdia is joined by her support group of coaches Juan Luis Miranda (l) and Tachi Keoki (r).
