2013-02-02
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GFC IX Review

Event Review: GFC IX
Gladiator Fighting Championship
2013-01-19, Las Vegas, Hard Knocks - Las Vegas
Attendance:3,000, Event Rating:196
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Gladiator Fighting Championship crowned two new champions on Saturday night and delighted a capacity crowd at the Hard Knocks Arena with ten exciting fights, eight of which ended in knockout or submission.  After seeing a number of fights decided by questionable judging at recent GFC events, the fighters came out obviously looking for finishes.  Here is a quick wrap up of the action.
 
Bobby Tupper V (9-7) came out incredibly aggressive in the opening fight against Jonny Utah (15-20), throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Utah.  Utah seemed somewhat shell shocked as Tupper V pressed forward throughout round one throwing a variety of punch combinations and leg kicks.  Though Tupper V missed with most of what he threw, his aggression evidently impressed the judges and they awarded him the first round 10:9.  In the second round, Tupper V continued to work at a frantic pace, throwing all kinds of strikes Utah's way.  Utah began to settle into a grove and hit Tupper V with some nice counter strikes, but his offense just wasn't enough to sway the judges as all three gave Tupper V the second round 10:9.  Utah finally started to find his range and get the best of Tupper V in the final round but he was not able to inflict enough damage to take Tupper V out.  When it was all said and done the judges awarded the fight to Tupper V via 29:28 unanimous decision.
 
Anton The Jew (4-0) was impressive in his GFC debut and used phenomenal clinch work to overwhelm his opponent Tony Danza (23-19-1).  The Jew initiated the clinch early and often and battered the helpless Danza with a variety of punches, elbows, and knees.  Danza suffered a nasty cut midway through the first round and looked like the victim of a violent crime as he came out of his corner to start round two.  Danza briefly managed to get The Jew to the ground early in the second round, but The Jew quickly managed to reverse his position, stand up, and get Danza back into the clinch.  The Jew went right back to work punishing Danza with spectacular Muay Thai.  At roughly the four and a half minute mark of the second round, The Jew rocked Danza with a knee to the head and and then dropped him with a pair of additional knees, forcing the referee to stop the fight and award The Jew the win via TKO.
 
The third fight saw James Bowens (6-1) get tagged with his first career loss in a somewhat surprising performance by Shane MacLain (10-10-1).  MacLain defied conventional wisdom and took the BJJ specialist Bowens to the canvas early in round one and went to work with some ground and pound.  MacLain even went so far as to attempt few submission.  Bowens managed to work his way into top position but quickly found himself being pushed off by MacLain.  MacLain wasted no time and deposited Bowens right back onto his back.  MacLain used his superior wrestling to smother Bowens for the remainder of the round and clearly won the round with ease.  MacLain stuck with his game plan in round two and once again took Bowens to the ground.  MacLain worked his ground and pound game and eventually worked his way into mount, leaving Bowens in serious trouble.  Bowens proceeded to rain down vicious blows from the mount, rocking Bowens at around the three minute mark.  MacLain continued to work over Bowens until just before the round came to a close and finally rattled him with a massive shot to the head that forced the referee to stop the fight with just five second left in the second round.  Quite an impressive showing by Shane MacLain.
 
Keha Anoki (5-1) looked phenomenal in his demolition of Dominic Borowiec (5-3) in the fourth fight.  Borowiec appeared to have an early advantage, turning back Anoki's takedown attempts and peppering him with leg kicks.  Anoki stayed persistent and managed to land a takedown into full mount, signaling the beginning of the end.  Anoki wasted no time looking for the submission and quickly swiveled his way into an arm bar that had Borowiec tapping right away.  It took just 58 seconds for Anoki to pick up a nice win by way of submission.
 
Kosmo Kramer (18-7-1) used his knees and elbows as meat tenderizers to beat Raian Baaden (20-12) to a bloody pulp in their light heavyweight match up.  Kramer consistently pulled Baaden into the clinch and cut him up early with some brutal knees.  Baaden repeatedly tried to escape the clinch, but each time he got away, Kramer pulled him right back in. Some wicked knees early in the fight had Baaden pouring blood not even two minutes into the fight.  Kramer continued to pour on the punishment and threw an elbow that had Baaden gushing blood about three and a half minutes in and then drilled him again with another elbow that forced the referee to pause the fight and bring the doctor in to check Baaden's cut.  The doctor wasted no time deeming Baaden unable to continue and called the fight, giving Kramer the win by TKO.
 
The sixth fight was a middleweight battle between Payakaroon Bot (10-3) and Eric Castle (16-13).  Castle came out of the gates aggressively throwing some nice, effective kicks at Bot before taking him down and spending the remainder of the round working ground and pound and dominating his opponent.  Castle's strong first round obviously got Bot's attention as Bot came out to start round two and immediately knocked down and rocket Castle with a huge head kick.  Bot stung Castle with a few leg kicks and then beautifully faked a kick the got Castle off balance before clobbering him with a punch combination that sent him to the canvas for the knockout 1:22 into round two.
 
Cooper Abreu (8-1) looked fantastic in his welterweight battle with Pete Daniels (13-7), making short work of Daniels with a dominant ground game.  The fight started with Daniels looking to land some punches, but he was taken to the ground by a double leg takedown by Abreu.  Daniels managed to scramble back to his feet and went to score with more punches but he was once again dropped to the ground by a takedown.  Abreu worked his way into full mount and started to pummel the hapless Daniels.  With roughly two and a half minutes gone in the fight, Abreu landed a massive elbow strike that put Daniels on queer street and then finished him off with some heavy fists.  The referee saved Daniels at the 2:40 mark of the very first round, giving the win by TKO to Abreu.
 
The eigth fight was a contest for the GFC middleweight title.  Auron Almasy (15-8) came in and shocked the crowd by knocking out Dmitry Belov (9-3) in the blink of an eye.  Belov went for an early takedown and failed.  Almasy peppered Belov with punches and kicks, cutting him in the process.  Belov appeared to be the victim of an eye poke, but the referee allowed the action to continue.  Almasy continued to press forward and drill Belov with punches, ultimately dropping him with a right hook.  The referee jumped in to save Belov just 36 seconds into the fight, giving Almasy the win and the middleweight title.
 
The co-main event featured light heavyweight Bobby Tupper III (18-19) taking on Terry Smith (9-4).  Smith used the clinch early in round one to get the advantage on Tupper III and cut him open with a glancing elbow shot.  Tupper III managed to score a couple of takedowns in the later part of the round, but Smith worked well on the ground and clearly took the round in the eyes of the judges.  Smith continued to impress the judges in round two despite being taken down a couple more time.  With both takedowns, Smith managed to work his way back to his feet, secure the clinch and inflict some damage on Tupper III.  Tupper III scored three more takedowns in round three, but never had any control in the fight.  Smith maintained the upper hand throughout round three, controlling the action and defending against everything Tupper III threw at him.  Both fighters stayed very active throughout the fight, but Smith was the hands down winner, picking up the 30:27 decision.
 
The main event of the evening was a light heavyweight battle for the GFC light heavyweight title between Ansgar Axelsson (12-2-1) and Puppy Love (19-13).  The first round was an entertaining one with Axelsson showing himself to clearly be the aggressor in the fight, throwing a variety of punches and kicks.  Love did score a takedown about mid way through the first round, but knowing he did not want to be on the ground with Love, Axelsson slowed the action, forcing a referee standup.  Love landed a couple of solid punches as the round came to a close, but Axelsson won the round with ease.  Axelsson took the fight into the clinch early in round two and looked to do some damage, but Love pulled guard.  Axelsson once again slowed the action and forced the referee to stand the fighters up.  Axelsson strung together a pair of very nice kicks before drilling Love with a big hook that dropped him to the ground.  Axelsson dove into side control and pounded away on his opponent until he became unresponsive.  The winner by TKO and new GFC light heavyweight champion, Ansgar Axelsson.

 

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