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EPL Event One is behind us - little review of what we saw from EPL competitors.
Opening bout was Evander Holyshit Vs Jake Ryan - first round was a pretty much what people expected from it - they bang it out, tried their chins and showed some high level striking skills. They started to bleed in first minute. Evander tried to use his muay thai, clinched up and did some damage, as well as Ryan did. Round ended with obvious dominance of Ryan, who was able to stop every single takedown attempt from his opponent. Round two was pretty much same - they came out banging, Evander kicked his opponent few times, and Im sure that Jake felt them, once again Holyshit clinched fight up in last minute, but still couldn't take Jake down.
Fight ended and all judges scored it 20-18 - for the winner by Unanimous Decision - Jake Ryan.
Second bout was a meeting of Tyler Dignman and Duncan McAlister - and according to Vicious Bets, Tyler was a favorite to win this season. Fight started and Duncan quickly turned his opponent into punching bag, mixing up kicks and punches, connecting to EPL Season 2 Winner's body and chin. Dignam tried to save himself by closing the range and clinching up - but that plan went out the window and Duncan ended this round with advantage on scorecards. Second round - Tyler stepped up, he understood he had to do SOMETHING, but Duncan saw that - and quickly pulled guard. Tyler easily avoided Triangle attempt, and stood up, from that point he was much more aggressive, but Duncan focused on countering his attacks, what was perfect strategy for rest of the round.
After two rounds judges had no problem with a decision - all of them scored it 20-18 - for the winner by Unanimous Decision - Duncan McAlister
Fight number 3 - James Bomb Vs Poncho Villa. Lot of people couldn't wait to see that one. Poncho signed for EPL on short notice, but had some time to study last fights of his first opponent, and it gave him an advantage. Quick takedown, and for first two minutes he had James on his back, but couldn't really do much damage. When ref stood them up, Bomb started to fight his fight, looking to threat Poncho's chin - but really, not much of his strikes landed. Villa on the other hand was looking for a takedown, and countered James' strikes with single shots that almost every time found the target. Second round, and we are back to striking range - both used it pretty well, but still Bomb couldn't really hit his opponent, who moved out of the range quickly. Last two minutes, and we have another takedown from Poncho, who passed James' guard and control him from Side Control till fight ended.
Same story as two previous bouts, not a problem to the judges - all scorecards had same points, 20-18 for the winner by Unanimous Decision - Poncho VIlla
In fight number 4 High Voltage fought Charlie McGregor, what was expected to be one of the most interesting fights of this card. And it didn't disappoint. Charlie wasn't really looking forward to exchange blows with Voltage, as he took fight down quickly with nice trip to Side Control, and he did his best to remain in that position. He tried to submit High, with a Kimura and Arm Triangle, but forfeit attempts to remain in control from top. And it was good decision - as two minutes later he showed his ground and pound skills, forcing ref to save Voltage. First stoppage of this season, and it was pretty nasty.
This fight finally ended before judges had anything to say - Charlie McGregor won this fight by TKO (Strikes, 3:29 R1)
In next bout we saw Cookie Monster against Vijo Laine, who was an underdog probably for everybody in that building. Laine came guns blazing, shocking everybody with his aggressive attitude. He was able to expose Cookie's blood early in the round, but after that, Cookie finally woke up, and he used his awesome Muay Thai, destroying Vijo inside the clinch. Laine was gassed out, and when bell saved him - people asked one question: How he managed to survive that round? Round two started and Monster started to act a little bit too cocky, too arrogant - side stepping attacks like in Matrix, slapping his opponent to the face - but he was punished for that. No one saw that one coming, but Vijo actually caught Cookie with overhand right, that rocked him for sure. Laine followed it with a vicious liver shot, and face expression by Cookie said entire story of that shot. Laine smelled blood, and finished Cookie with a text book combination, scoring a victory that may pretend already to be an upset of the season.
Amazing comeback gave him three points, after ref stopped the fight and declared Vijo Laine the winner, by KO (Punches, 1:39 R2)
The Co-Main Event was a battle between Nigel York and Johnny Ives. Johnny started to execute his game plan early, when he got a clinch and started to work on his opponent's head. Nigel used his experienced, and a lot of strenght, to finally break from it - but it wasn't enough. Johny waited for good moment, and he caught Nigel with a powerful combination, that kocked him down. For the rest of the round he was trying to avoid Ives' strikes, but get clinched up again, where AJFC Champion did a little bit more damage. Second round started with a quick and successful clinch attempt from Johnny Ives, but Nigel seemed to be more confident now, he broke free once again and took control of the fight, going in-and-out, tagging Johnny with single shots and moving out of his range. It was really awesome to watch, when he was doing that. In last 30 second he was looking for that Heymaker punch, but bell rang and fight was over.
Both fighters were waiting for the decision, ready to celebrate. Judges scored the fight 19:19 - what gave us first Draw of this season.
And finally, The Main Event of the evening - Colton Trayne Vs Syezd Kepe Eses. What was a little bit shocking, was the fact that Colton wasn't in his best shape, it may be arguable, but I think he started to breath heavily inside the first minute. Syezd used that, when he scored single leg takedown, and manage to stay in Trayne's half guard. It wasn't showcase of Eses' ground skills, he didn't tried to submit Colton - it was just fight for position, Trayne regain full guard, then Eses passed to half once again - and that was a story of the first round, Syezd just keeping top positions, without doing serious damage. Round two was much more exciting, Syezd wasn't looking for a takedown, during this round he decided to bang with Colton. EPL Season 3 Winner moved to clinch for a while, scoring few solid shots, and then he moved out. Next minute or so, was pure war - they threw everything but the kitchen sink on each other, but it was Colton who found a way for his fist to meet Syezd's face, he dropped him and finished him in a brutal fashion. Eses was probably thankful that ref stopped that, because he was unconscious.
Last fight ended by stoppage as well - as we expected, three points went to Colton Trayne for a TKO (Strikes, 2:38 R2)
That was first event of the season, and we sold out Hard Knocks already. It was awesome night of fighting, can not wait for next week
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