Results from Epic Fighting 11 at 4th and B
After receiving the trophy for "Fight of the Night", Jordan Salvador (center) is joined by the show's lovely hostesses and Sean Najjar (fighter to his immediate left) who received the trophy for "Submission of the Night." Photo: Jim Wyatt
Friday evening, March 23, 2012, the Epic Fighting people put on another classy show; this one was at the 4th and B Concert Theatre in Downtown. Surprisingly, the promoter added even more hostesses. The eye candy count has now reached 24. Wearing the skimpiest of attire, these gals must buy their work clothes at Victoria’s Secret.
The opening bout of the evening featured Justin Jones in the red CAMO shirt facing Andrew Khodabaksh in the blue CAMO shirt. Photo: Jim Wyatt
At the close of the show, Justin Jones (Center) who ended up defeating Andrew Khodabaksh in Bout #1, was awarded the "TKO/KO of the Night" award. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #1 featured fighters in the 190 pound light heavyweight division, 38 year-old Andrew “The Bull” Khodabaksh (0-1) of Gladiator MMA in Glendale, CA going up against 24 year-old Justin Jones (1-0) of Victory MMA.
Jones, the taller of the two, took charge from immediately and delivered two takedowns and landed two big punches that would normally KO anyone. Jones continued his dominance until he finally got on top of Khodabaksh’s back to deliver even more punishment until eventually the referee stopped the carnage at 1:30 of Round #1. With the victory Jones goes to 2-0 while Khodabaksh drops to 0-2.
Kevin Tacata sits bewildered on his stool after his lightning fast loss by ArmBar to the up and comer Jordan Salvador. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After his victory over Kevin Tacata in Bout #2, Jordan Salvador (R) poses for a photo with his coach. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #2 featured fighters in the lightweight division, 23 year-old Kevin Tacata of the So-Cal Martial Arts Center in Bonita, CA going up against Jordan Salvador of Victory MMA in Point Loma, CA. Both fighters were making their debut. If you thought the first fight was exciting, this one went over the top.
In Round one alone, the taller and thinner Salvador managed three electrifying takedowns. The balance and technique he displayed had everyone’s attention.
Round two was just as entertaining with Tacata landing some nice strikes to Salvador’s chin but even with Tacata’s firepower, Salvador continued to press the action and managed to throw his opponent around the octagon as if he were a rag doll. Once the fighters got down on the mat, Salvador ended this spectacular match with an ArmBar to get the submission victory at 1:48 of the third round.
After defeating Kristopher Gonzalez in Bout #3, Victor Wray (C) is joined by his support group which includes Pat Speight (R) his MMA coach. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After doing battle with Victor Wray in Bout #3, Kristopher Gonzalez (C) poses for a photo with his support staff. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After defeating Kristopher Gonzalez (R), Victor Wray (L) has his arm raised in victory by referee Jason Herzog. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #3 featured fighters in the 170 pound weight division, with 32 year-old Kristopher Gonzalez of Kings MMA Huntington Beach going up against 25 year-old Victor Wray Jr., of The Arena MMA Gym in San Diego.
Even though both fighters were making their amateur debut, they handled themselves well and looked more like a seasoned pros. The match went the distance with Ray getting the split decision victory.
After doing battle with Jaime Reyes, David Lee (C) poses for a photo with his support staff. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After doing battle with David Lee, Jaime Reyes (C) of Lakeside, Ca poses for a photo with his support staff. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #4 featured fighters in the 145 pound weight division, southpaw David Lee of Undisputed Fitness and Training Center El Cajon going up against Jaime Reyes (2-2) of Lakeside, CA who is now Unaffiliated.
In this one there was a lot more give and take with the southpaw, Lee, seemingly more effective. He looked stronger and noticeably quicker, especially on a takedown in Round #3. With the bout going the distance, it went to the judges’ scorecards where Lee came out on top winning an unanimous decision.
After getting the TKO victory over David Judd (R), Suren Agadzhanyan (L) has his arm raised in victory by the referee. Photo: Jim Wyatt ov David Judd
Bout #5 featured two more first timers, this time in the 155 pound weight division. Twenty-four year-old Suren Agadzhanyan of the Black House Team Nogueira on Miramar Road, San Diego faced David Judd a six footer from Team Right Cross.
This one didn’t last long. After controlling the action in Round #1, Agadzhanyan came out even stronger in Round two. After only nine seconds into the second frame, the referee stepped in to stop the bout when Agadzhanyan began to deliver repeated blows to Judd’s head.
After his victory over Don Murphin (R) in Bout #6, Andrew Lagdaan (L) has his arm raised in victory by referee Jason Herzog. Photo: Jim Wyatt
At the end of the show, Andrew Lagdaan (C), the winner of Bout #6, was given the trophy for "Submission of the Night." Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #6 featured fighters in the 155 pound weight division. In this one, the veteran Andrew Lagdaan (2-2) of So Cal Martial Arts Center dominated the action and made quick work of Don Murphin (Unaffiliated) who was making his MMA debut. At the 37 second mark of round one, Lagdaan got his submission victory after Murphin began to tap out.
After battling it out with Douglas Foster in Bout #7, Sean Najjar (C) poses for a photo with his support group. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After battling it out with Sean Najjar in Bout #7, Douglas Foster (R) sits on his stool in recovery mode. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After receiving the trophy for "Submission of the Night" more than a few ladies gather around Sean Najjar (C), the El Cajon Casanova, to have their photo taken. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #7 featured fighters in the 135 pound weight division, Sean Najjar (1-2) of Undisputed Fitness and Training Center, El Cajon going up against Douglas Foster of IWV Combat Club. Even though this was Foster’s first MMA show, he’s competed in many mixed martial arts contests and had a ton of in-house experience.
Najjar, the quicker of the two, got his game going early and after getting Foster on the ground, the tap out came early at the 1:47 mark of round #1, after applying a rear naked choke.
Najjar was making a comeback after two straight losses to Keith Carson, the runner-up in last year’s CAMO State finals.
Without a doubt, Najjar was a different man on Friday night and at the end of the show received the Submission of the Night award. He also had the largest group of supporters in house and most likely this added pressure pushed him to greater heights.
After the awkward fall and beating taken from Lena Hellgvist in Bout #8, Debbie Micev (C) needed a helping hand to leave the octagon. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Lena Hellgvist (R) and her coach Tony Palafox pose for a photo after Hellgvist got the TKO victory over Debbie Micev. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #8 featured one of the most anticipated matches of the night. In the 115 pound Flyweight division, Deborah “Debbie” Micev of Undisputed Fitness and Training Center in El Cajon was going up against Lena Hellgvist, the Swedish import who trains at Victory MMA in Point Loma.
Like Najjar, Micev, who’s from the same El Cajon gym, had a large number of supporters. She of course was their champion, a gal who had competed in local Muay Thai shows, local smokers and grappling contests.
From the moment the gals touched gloves, this “Battle Royale” went nonstop. After Micev landed a combination, back came Hellgvist to even things out. Their quickness and fight savvy featuring the power kicks was beautiful to watch. Then in the closing seconds of Round one, Hellgvist got in position for a thunderous takedown, a takedown that gave her top position. From that top position she went all out to deliver a dozen unanswered blows.
As the horn sounded and Hellgvist ended her onslaught, her victim remained on her back unable to get up. After the referee summoned the physician, it became clear Micev was through for the evening.
With the takedown and consequential pounding by Hellgvist, Micev was clearly in anguish and suffering from a wrenching leg injury. Though still conscious, she had to be helped to her feet and leaned on her support staff as she left the octagon.
With the victory, Hellgvist now goes to 1-1, while Micev, in her MMA debut, left the cage 0-1.
Andrew Jackson and Dr. Ryan Desmarais await the announcers call that Jackson has won Friday's Bout #9 by Technical Knockout. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Andrew Jackson (C) is joined by his two coaches from The Arena MMA gym, MMA coach Pat Speight (R) and Boxing coach Rich Power (L). Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #9 featured fighters in the 145 pound weight division, Andrew Jackson of The Arena, the MMA Gym in Point Loma, San Diego going up against Dr. Ryan Desmarais of Victory MMA who was making his debut.
After a spirited tit for tat, this one ended early after the good doctor hurt his wrist while throwing a punch that missed Jackson and hit the hard canvas. After the bell sounded to end Round #1, Desmarais talked it over with his trainer and in the end was forced to throw in the towel.
With the win Jackson improves to 2-2 while Desmarais goes to 0-1.
Will Weed (R), the eventual winner, and Ty Holder (L) await the judges' decision regarding Bout #10 at Friday's Epic Fighting 11 MMA Show, March 23, 2012 at the 4th and B Concert Theatre in San Diego's Downtown. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After getting the victory over Ty Holder, Will Weed (C) is joined by fellow members of the Miramar Fight Club, Ryan Reed (L) and Jesse Cruz (R). Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #10 featured fighters in the 185 pound weight division, Will Weed, a Marine from the MCAS Miramar Fight Team going up against the veteran 29 year-old Tsuyoshi “Ty” Holder (4-2) of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. Holder’s only losses were to Delvon Garrett of the California Fight Syndicate.
Strategy played heavily into this one as the men turned the close match into a grappling contest. Overall, Weed, a lefty, most likely impressed the judges by landing the majority of blows and controlling the infighting.
The referee raises the arm of Gibran Alvarez (R) after it was announced he had defeated Odon Alvarez in Bout #11. Photo: Jim Wyatt
After his victory over Odon Alvarez in Bout #11, Gibran Alvarez (R) was interviewed. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #11 On the fight card, the next two competitors had the promoter post their names as Douglas Foster and Arch Angel. Recalling my early religious training, I thought to myself, how odd. There were only two Arch Angels, Michael and Gabriel. Could there be a third and how could any mere mortal compete against an angel?
All that conjecture was set aside when seeing the two well known cage veterans, Odon Alvarez (3-4) of Team Quest in Temecula and southpaw Gibran Alvarez (4-1) of Victory MMA enter the cage.
Both fighters appeared to be in excellent shape and proceeded to put on a great show. After one punch in the face, the other retaliated. After a kick or high knee, the other responded. Both men are known for leaving it all in the ring. On this night, Gibran was masterful and improved his record to 5-1 while Odon Alvarez drops to 3-5.
Kaiyana Rain Tan (R), the eventual winner of Bout #12, and Tamara Iglesias (L) await the judges' decision for the final bout of the evening. Photo: Jim Wyatt
In the final bout of the evening, Bout #12, it was a return to the ladies. In the Flyweight division, Kaiyana Rain Tan of Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, CA went up against Tamara Iglesias of Victory MMA, both of whom are 38 years old.
From the outset, Rain used her quickness and two inch height advantage to leverage her punches as she maintained this downward angle to hit Iglesias in the face. If she had any trouble, she’d immediately tie Iglesias up in a clinch. Even though Iglesias got in some awesome counters, on this night Rain Tan ruled.
Until the next time, the combatants who lost on Friday night will likely be right back in their gyms fine-tuning their skills. It’s like Michael Jordon once said, “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over, and over, and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
