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It was a great night for Honor Fighting Championship as we had a very high rated event. It was also a good night for the ten winning fighters and a terrific night for Mister Julius Caesar. Unfortunately it was a bad night for yours truly as I had my lowest percent of correct predications with only getting six out of ten correct. To make matters worse one of the fights I did predict correctly did not have odds, so I went five and four with the bookie loosing just under nine hundred dollars. In another sad note we had six fights go to the judges’ score cards and the question becomes did they get them all right? Well let’s take a look!
Preliminary Bout Number 1- Light Heavyweight Fight (205lbs)
Peter "Spiderman" Season defeats Kurt "Swift" Zukaryian
Zukaryian got a big takedown to start out the fight, and he landed in side control which is where he would want to be other than full mount. Season being the good ground grappler that he is was able to take control of the fight even in the bad positioning. He was able to do just about anything he wanted to, and he even stood up and allowed Kurt back to his feet. Zukaryian looked hurt and he was. Spiderman took the fight back to the ground and landed a couple of shots and the referee had seen enough stopping the fight at 2:57 of the first round. A big win for Season who should get someone a little higher rated in his next fight. As for Zukaryian I think he is done as he and his manger parted ways. That is the first step in the process of retirement but we will have to wait and see.
Preliminary Bout Number 2- Middleweight Fight (185lbs)
Anthony "Heavy Hands" Newsom defeats Anderson "Shogun" Christopher
The first round was all Newsom. He cut Christopher early and also scored with two big takedowns. In the first round Newsom won on the ground and in the stand up. He was able to win the standup by utilizing the clinch often. Christopher saved face with some kicks and a late round takedown of his own. I honestly thought Christopher would have one the fight by this point, but I scored the round for Newsome 10-9.
We had a bit of a different story in the second round. Christopher engaged the clinch which was strange but then Newsom scored with a takedown instead of inflecting punishment from the clinch. Once on the ground Christopher went to work with submissions even from the bottom. From the submission defenses Christopher was able to get on top but he was unable to finish the fight. Clear round for Christopher 10-9, and for the fight I have it locked at 19-19
Newsom comes out looking strong in the first minute to minute and a half of round number three. He was more aggressive and was landing and then he engaged the clinch. Christopher pulled guard and got a big sweep. From that point on Christopher dominated the rest of the round. He was landing shots and trying submissions. All three judges scored the last round for Newsome, but I do not know how. Damage was about the same, aggressiveness was about the same, stand up goes to Newsome, ground goes to Christopher, cage control goes to Christopher, takedown Christopher, big sweep Christopher and he tried to finish with a submission. I scored the round 10-9 Christopher all three judges scored it 10-9 for Newsom and Newsom is the winner by unanimous decision, all three judgers cards read 29-28. Christopher was robbed and I would like to see a rematch though I don’t think it will happen.
Preliminary Bout Number 3- Middleweight Fight (185lbs)
Gustavo Gracie defeats John "Drav" Dravinski
Gracie scored an early takedown and moved around like it was nothing. He was passing without Dravinski doing anything. Gracie submitted John Dravinski with an armbar in less than two minutes. This was the only fight I could not get odds on, and I predicted Gracie to win by submission in the first round. If I would have had 1.9 odds or better I would have made a profit on this card. Oh well you win some and you lose some. Gracie should get a top ten opponent in his next fight so he can move up in the top ten, because I don’t think this win did much for him.
Preliminary Bout Number 4- Featherweight Fight (145lbs)
Bruce Shashia defeats Brian "Cold Bloded" Fury
Shashia got a big win against a fellow HFC top ten featherweight, and it was not even close. Shashia got an early takedown and started working. Fury did a great job from the bottom though. He defended the ground and pound well, had wrist control for a long time, tried to improve his position, and kept Shashia working hard. Right after the three minute mark Fury got busted open and blood was just everywhere including his eye. Shashia landed a few more shots and we now had a puddle of blood on the mat, and the doc was called in. The cut was so bad the fight had to be stopped. Fury had to get stiches and he will be out of action for the rest of February is what the early reports are saying. Bruce Shashia wins by TKO due to a cut at 3:52 of the first round.
Preliminary Bout Number 5- Featherweight Fight (145lbs)
Dallas "Haneous" Riley defeats Jack "The Tank" Harris
Riley was not a part of the top ten for featherweights but Jack Harris was ranked number five. How did Riley get this fight you ask, well its simple he had forty seven fights under his belt. This was a great chance for Harris to move up and get a shot at Zaylor. In the first round we seen nothing but Riley as he scored three takedowns, worked some nice ground and pound, and even tried to submit Harris. Harris actually landed nothing and scored zero takedowns as this was clearly a 10-8 round for Riley.
More pure domination in the second round for Riley as he landed some shots from the clinch. More of the same on the ground as he worked the ground and pound and looked for submissions. Riley was able to complete five takedowns in the round, and he was even standing up just to take Harris back down. That is one more 10-8 round in my books making the fight on my card 20-16
Another five takedowns in the third round from Riley but you could tell he was running on fumes alone. He did not do much but lay on top of Harris for most of the third round, but Harris couldn’t do anything to stop him. We got several stand ups from the referee but still in my opinion another 10-8 round and I scored the fight 30-24 for Riley. Harris will need to regroup as I think a loss like that can send you to the bottom of the division. I would like to see Riley take on Nunes in his next fight, as that will be a better test for the experienced fighter.
Main Card Bout Number 1- Welterweight Fight (170lbs)
Georgey "Suplex" Prendergast defeats James "The Snake" Chaney
He was an incredible one sided fight once again. Prendergast got the clinch early and went to town swarming Chaney with punches to the head and body. Chaney had zero percent offence and the round was scored by all three judges and myself 10-8 in favor of Prendergast.
Second round was a mirror of the first round. Georgey gained the clinch immediately and continued working the head and body with punches. Chaney could not do anything in the round once again. Chaney is the more experienced fighter in this one and I don’t think anyone seen this coming. 10-8 for Prendergast 20-16 for the fight on the judges and my score card.
Chaney started the third round knowing he needed a finish with a takedown attempt. Prendergast said no and locked up the clinch one more time. It seemed as though beating Chaney’s face and rib cage in is exhausting work as Prendergast is taking a little break. The ref restarts them and we go right back to the clinch. At one point I thought Chaney was out on his feet, but he recovered and took the fight to the distance. All of the judges and me scored the fight 30-24 for Prendergast. Some quick stats for you Prendergast landed every single punch he threw. Chaney was zero for one in punches, zero for two in knees, and zero for three in takedown attempts. I have no idea what could be next for these two since almost the entire division is booked so we will wait and see.
Main Card Bout Number 2- Middleweight Fight (185lbs)
"The Wasp" Wayde West defeats Jonathan "Beast" Vinyard
West was inside and outside in the first round. He would lock up a clinch push Vinyard around and make him carry the weight. He would then pop back outside only to move back to striking range and tag up Vinyard. West completely dominated the first round, but Vinyard was active enough to not get the dreaded 10-8 round. It was 10-9 for West on all the score cards after out classing Vinyard in the first round.
This is where I said West would knockout Vinyard, and boy o boy he tried. It was another 10-9 round in favor of West making the fight 20-18. It could have been 10-8 but I think West was too crazy with the clinch and break in the judge’s eye. Vinyard is still in this thing though, and if he can explode in the third he could pull off the draw.
West continued the strange clinch and break in the third round, but it made more since here since he should feel the fight is in the bag. West did not land as many strikes in the third but then again Vinyard was trying to take the fight down a lot. The round ends with everyone agreed with the 30-27 unanimous decision for West. I think West’s next fight will be a number one contender’s match, or a title fight. Maybe West versus Ellington with the winner getting the shot at the title, and Jaysimpson getting the shot at Robertson on the same card.
Main Card Bout Number 3- Bantamweight Fight (135lbs)
"The Magician" Ari Birmiski defeats "Unanimous" Rory Kincade
Birmiski gets the fight right to his comfort zone which is the ground. Ari was throwing a lot of punches and elbows from the ground and then he started working in submissions. Kincade escaped on of the submissions and got a great spot on Ari even though he was still on the bottom. Rory was able to sneak out the back door and take Ari’s back with over a minute to go in the round. I thought Kincade had the fight but Birmiski was able to hold on until the end of the round. Ari was more aggressive and that is why I edged him out for the round, 10-9 Ari is up.
The second round starts and Ari works for the takedown and gets it. He then decided it would be a good idea to punch the mat instead of Kincade’s head, wow he needs to work on some accuracy issues. Kincade looked great off his back attempting a submission or two and really preventing damage from getting done until late in the round. Ari did get his chance to try and finish, as he laid down several strikes that connected at the end of the round. I think Ari did just enough to win the round and I have him up 10-9/20-18.
Kincade needs to finish to win the fight in the third and final round. Kincade looked really strong in this round, stuffing all the takedown attempts and connecting with a lot of shots. For a while I was thinking we would see a draw as Ari was catching a beat down. Somehow Birmiski was able to shove Kincade up against the cage, and he was then able to hold on to the clinch until the final bell. The late desperate clinch is what saved him from a draw. Kincade wins the round 10-9 but it’s too little too late as all three judges score the fight 29-28 for your winner by unanimous decision Ari Birmiski. Ari should be looking to fight someone near or in the top ten and get his career rejuvenated.
Co Main Event, Main Card Bout Number 4- Bantamweight Fight (135lbs)
Gabriel "DaBeast" Douglas defeats bj "Boogieman" Ferguson
Ferguson just seemed to not be able to get anything going. In the first round he was swinging and missing a lot. Threw the first minute Douglas was counter punching with his pitter patter style and landing at decent rate. Ferguson got the clinch, and then was able to take Douglas down. No panic or fear from Douglas as he was able to stand up and the two resumed the one sided striking affair. The takedown saved Ferguson from getting ten eighted in my opinion. I scored the round 10-9 in favor of Gabriel Douglas.
Douglas was looking strong to start round two stopping several takedown and clinch attempts while making Ferguson pay in return. Douglas landed a flush spinning back fist that did not drop Ferguson, and Douglas needs to do something to get his knockout power up. A few seconds later Douglas landed a big shot that had Ferguson wobbly, and Douglas was able to finish shortly thereafter. Douglas gets his third win for HFC and his first finish of his career. This fight should earn him a shot at the Bantamweight Title or at least a number one contender’s match against new comer Aj Smith.
Main Event, Main Card Bout Number 5- Lightweight Title Fight (155lbs)
Julius Caesar defeats Arshnoor "THE BRUTALIZER" Singh
Julius Caesar absolutely dominated the first round. He knew he would have to avid the head kicks some way and he was able to so in the first round. Caesar would take the fight to the clinch and force Singh to break it and every time we got a little separation Julius would tag Singh with punches one of which opened a nice cut. While the two were at range Caesar was able to avoid most of the kicks by back peddling. After round one I have Caesar up 10-9.
We got much of the same in round two. Caesar was able to minimize most of the damage from Singh’s kicks with his in and out style. Caesar was more active in the clinch in this round, all though Singh was able to block most of the shots. Another 10-9 round in favor of Caesar and I have the fight scored 20-18.
This is where Singh needs to turn it around. The opening minute or so seems to be going well for Caesar even though he is not engaging in the clinch. In and out a strike up stairs and down Julius is mixing it up incredibly well and Singh is whiffing with head kicks and punches. We only got one clinch in the round, and Singh was able to break it quickly, but he was not able to string anything together. I gave this round to Caesar for sure 10-9 for the round 30-27 for the fight.
Singh will now have to finish or get at least one 10-8 round in his favor to not lose. Caesar was more aggressive than Singh in the fourth round, but both fighters have slowed way down. Early in the first Singh landed a nice shot that opened up a cut on Caesar’s face. Both fighters only landed one significant strike in the round, and even though Caesar was more aggressive I think Singh did more damage. I will have to disagree with all three judges and score this round 10-9 for Singh bringing the total to 39-37 for Caesar.
Moment of truth time as Singh needs to land one of those famous head kicks and send the fans home happy. Singh did pour on the head kicks in the final round but Caesar blocked or avoided all of them. On top of that Caesar was landing punches and striking a lot of strikes together. When Caesar would look winded he would engage the clinch as we are now back to that for the fifth round. Singh did land a leg kick or two in the final round but the head kick just was not there tonight. I scored the final round 10-9 for Caesar and I had the total at 49-46. All three judges scored the fight 50-45 for your winner and first Lightweight Champion Julius Caesar!
With the Lightweight division being so small I could imagine Singh getting another shot quickly. Maybe one or two wins to get him back there. I am not sure who would be next for Caesar and right now I don’t think he cares as he is riding on cloud nine. That will wrap up Wednesday Warfare II, be sure to join us for Honor FC 3 Evolution!
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