MMA Hype 12 at The Palmtree in Las Vegas gave us an electrifying night of MMA action. Once again, the event set a new record for the highest earnout in MMA Hype history, with an almost sellout crowd of 2,063 fans. The fighters showcased incredible grit, delivering TKOs, submissions and close decisions. It was an event for all tastes.
Fight of the Night went to Dexter Watson vs. Manfred Kaum, a fierce middleweight clash. Watson used his Muay Thai skills to land numerous knees, while Kaum fought back with powerful elbows and a gritty determination to stay in the fight. Watson's relentless pressure in the clinch exchanges ultimately earned him a unanimous decision victory, with all judges scoring it 29-28. Both fighters left everything in the cage, earning well-deserved respect from the crowd.
KO of the Night was awarded to Jamal Powell, who delivered a stunning first-round finish against Jose Bernard. Powell dropped Bernard with a perfectly-timed hook to the temple and followed up with a brutal uppercut that crumpled his opponent. The referee stepped in, awarding Powell the TKO victory just 35 seconds into the fight. It was a spectacular display of power, and Powell continues to climb the ranks with this dominant win.
Submission of the Night went to Francisco Garcia, the 16 year old wunderkind secured a first-round Americana against Superkruang Markrolandbjj. Garcia faced an aggressive opponent who tried to keep the fight standing, but Garcia took control with a well-executed takedown. Once on the ground, Garcia quickly worked to lock in the Americana, forcing the tap at 1:57 of the first round. It was a clinical display of grappling, further solidifying Garcia's reputation as a dangerous submission artist.
