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 Gladiator Fighting Championship returned to The Palmtree on Saturday night and followed up last week's inaugural fight card with another fantastic night of fights. The arena was filled to capacity with raving Vegas MMA fans and the fighters of GFC did not disappoint. Only three of the ten fights on the card went the distance and fans were treated to some fantastic finishes. Here's a quick review of the card:
A pair of light heavyweights started off the action when Nicolas Karkmananis (2-1) squared off with Jay Dog (3-2). Karkmananis came out like a house of fire in round one, throwing everything he had at Dog. He dominated Dog with a flurry dizzying array of offense. Karkmananis scored standing, in the clinch, and on the ground, having his way with Dog throughout round one. Karkmananis continued the domination in the second round, doing most of his damage from the clinch. He knocked Dog to the ground three times in the round. To his credit, Dog showed incredibly toughness by weathering the storm and surviving the round. A blood soaked Dog came out in round three hoping to turn things around, but Karkmananis simply continued his assault. The third round saw Karkmananis continue to use a varied attack, punishing Dog on his feet and on the ground. As the four minute mark approached in the final round, Karkmananis unloaded with a vicious counter punch that once again sent Dog tumbling to the canvas. Just as Karkmananis was preparing to pound Dog and look for the finish, the referee paused the fight to allow the doctor to look at Dog's cut that was absolutely gushing blood and covering both fighters in crimson, making the cage look like the scene from a homicide. The doctor took one look at Dog's cut and called off the fight, deeming Dog unable to continue. Karkmananis reveled in the cheers of the fans as his arm was raised and he was awarded the victory by TKO.
The second fight on the card featured young up and coming fighter Shaun Bapp (1-1) taking on Anthony Villa (8-7). The first round was a close one with Villa coming away with a 10-9 advantage. Villa tried multiple takedown attempts throughout the round with little success, but accurate striking and very solid striking defense proved to make the difference in the round. Bapp managed to score a couple of takedowns in round two and stifle Villa's offensive, earning the favor of the judges and evening the fight at one round a piece. Villa was the aggressor in round three, landing some significant strikes both from a distance and the clinch. Bapp scored a powerful takedown into mount at roughly the 1:30 mark but made the questionable decision to stand up from the mount and allow Villa back to his feet. Villa took advantage and finished the fight strong, helping him come away with a 29:28 unanimous decision win.
Nikira Stag (2-1) and Koby Stott (6-9) went head to head in the third fight in a welterweight battle. Stag got the better of stop in round one with some deft standup work and put Stott on his back and punished him with some ground and pound early in the round. Stag dominated the second round wit more outstanding wrestling, scoring four takedowns in the round and not allowing Stott mount an offense with any substance. Stag went back to the well in round three, putting Stott on his back again and unleashing an all out assault. Stag rocked Stott with a huge punch just before the two minute mark and continued the beating for the remainder of the round while Stott valiantly tried to survive. Stagg looked extremely impressive and came away with the unanimous 30:27 decision win.
In another lightweight battle, Air Canada (11-5) battled Shane MacLain (8-10-1) in the fourth fight on the card. MacLain was unable to get going offensively early and fell victim to some heavy counter shots from Canada that left him somewhat stunned. As the two minute mark approached, MacLain took the fight to the ground with a nice takedown. Much to his chagrin, Canada was prepared and looked perfectly at home grappling with MacLain. MacLain managed to get back to his feet and even scored another takedown, but his failure on the ground did not set well with the judges and he lost the round. Canada peppered MacLain with some additional counter shots to start round two and then unloaded with a nasty uppercut, followed by a huge overhand right that put MacLain on queer street. A dazed MacLain tried to get back to his feet but Canada poured on the punishment, forcing the referee to dive in for the save.
The fifth fight was a matchup between Cris Dorh (14-9) and Harrison Hansen (6-3) in the middleweight division. Both fighters fought on last week's GFC I card and graciously accepted the fight on late notice to fill a hole in the GFC II card. Hansen came out and immediately managed to secure the clinch. He tried desperately to get Dorh to the ground and was finally successful with about one minute gone in the round. As Hansen worked to advance is position, Dorh attempted to lock in a submission from his bottom position, but Hansen was having none of it. Hansen was eventually able to mount Dorh and landed some very nice ground and pound. Dorh was trying to escape and inadvertently gave up his back, allowing Hansen to go in for the kill. Hansen secured a tight rear naked choke and forced Dorh to tap out at the 3:27 mark of round one.
Mondo Topless (24-6) had a very clear mission in mind when he entered the cage with Dave Hawkins (25-15). He was looking to get Hawkins into the clinch and punish him. Topless was successful in implementing his game plan from the opening bell. Topless began to persistently pursue the clinch form the very beginning and despite Hawkins' best efforts to fight him off, Topless eventually got his opponent where he wanted him. Once in the clinch, Topless went wild throwing elbows at Hawkins, looking for the knockout blow. Hawkins managed to drag Topless to the round early in round one but remarkable chose to stand back up. Unfortunately for him, he quickly found himself back in the clinch dodging elbows. Hawkins repeatedly attempted to take Topless down, but Topless was not complying and continued to assault Hawkins as the round wore on. The second round was no exception. Topless imposed his will on Hawkins and continued the punishment until he finally rocked him just past the three minute mark. Hawkins continued with he desperate takedown attempts but was repeatedly rebuffed and eventually fell victim to a vicious flurry of strikes that saw him sink to his knees and drop his hands. The referee jumped in for the save, awarding the win to Topless via TKO.
Auron Almasy (13-8) most certainly made himself a fan favorite in our seventh fight, scoring a brutal 36 second knockout of his opponent, Cru Jones (19-27). Almasy came out swinging and cut Jones within seconds with heavy punches. Jones failed miserably with a takedown attempt and paid for his efforts by playing the role of Almasy's personal punching bag. Almasy drilled Jones with a nasty combination and then finished him off with a massive right hand that dropped an unconscious Jones to the canvas to the delight of the crowd.
Not to be outdone by Almasy, Kimbo Branko (3-0) came out and made short work of Charles Manson (7-2) in the next fight. Branko landed an immediate takedown to start the fight and positioned himself for a kimura right away. Manson had no answer and tapped out just 21 seconds into the fight.
The co-main event of the evening was a welterweight bout pitting Luke Skywalker (18-6) against Pete Daniels (12-6). Skywalker spent the early part of the fight shedding Daniels' takedown attempts and punishing him with stinging punches. Skywalker completed a takedown just before the one minute mark but was not active enough on the ground for the referee's liking. The referee stood the fighters up but Daniels took the fight right back to the ground. Daniels tried to unleash some ground and pound but Skywalker defended extremely well and was able to find an opening to lock on a tight arm bar. A shocked Daniel's was unable to escape and was forced to tap at the 3:39 mark of round one.
The main event was a light heavyweight tilt between Bobby Tupper III (17-18) and Kosmo Kramer (17-7-1). Kramer was taken down early in round one and a grappling match commenced. Tupper and Kramer went back and forth jockeying for position with Tupper attempting submissions at every turn. Kramer did a fantastic job of warding off the submission attempts and eventually ended up in full mount, pounding on Tupper as the round ended. That finally flurry seemed to give the judges just the nudge that they needed to score he round for Kramer. Kramer looked to clinch early in round two but Tupper would not allow it and took Kramer down once again. Tupper once again unleashed a chain of submission attempts that led to a sweep by Kramer that landed him in mount. Kramer worked some ground and pound and continued to fight of Tupper's submission attempts, once again impressing the judges. Kramer secured the clinch early and round three and was able to work over Tupper's body before taking him down and working some ground and pound. Kramer chose to stand back up and tried to re-initiate the clinch with no success. Tupper hit a takedown and went for a submission but quickly found himself back on bottom with Kramer in his guard. Kramer finished off the round pounding away on Tupper and clearly won his third straight round. The fourth and fifth rounds were all Kramer as well. Strong clinch work and wrestling kept Kramer clearly ahead in the fight. Tupper attempted 35 submission attempts throughout the fight only to be rebuffed by Kramer each time. An absolutely dominant performance by Kramer.
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