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 HFC 2 - Ramsay vs. Keown Review
Main Card
Nimjal Configuracion 0-0-0 vs. Will Smith 0-1-0
The bell went for round one, and Smith immediately clinched up and trapped Configuracion against the cage. The strategy immediately backfired when one of Configuracion’s elbows landed, cutting Smith within the first minute. With elbows raining down Smith tried for the takedown without success. They remained glued to the cage, Configuracion flailing with his elbows, Smith trying to get the fight to the ground, and neither fighter able to construct an advantage. Configuracion caught Smith with a heavy elbow, rocking him down to his feet but Smith somehow survived. His wobbly legs settled . Finally Smith managed to get Nimjal Configuracion onto the mat by pulling guard only for his opponent to stand straight back up. No matter what Smith tried, his opponent had an answer. Configuracion now had the momentum and took his opportunity to clinch Smith against the cage. Once again he rained elbows down on his foe , whilst Smith kept working for takedowns that just were not there. Four minutes in, with Smith trapped against the cage, Configuracion let fly with his elbows, this time catching Smith, and then he let his hands go, causing the referee to call a stop to the fight after 4:37.
Result: Nimjal Configuracion wins by TKO(Strikes) after 4:37 of Round One.
Marc Tong Pahong 2-0-0 vs. Gregorio Smitzenhausen 0-0-0
The opening stanza began with the two fighters feeling themselves out, with Smitzenhausen landing a couple of kicks. Tong Pahong quickly decided that he didn’t fancy that much and clinched at the first opportunity. The fighters exchanged shots before Tong Pahong grabbed a Thai Plum and started using his knees to good effect. Marc Tong Pahong controlled the fight against the cage. Worryingly with little over a minute, Smitzenhausen looked winded. Tong Pahong’s dirty boxing was clearly having an effect. Smitzenhausen hit the deck, but it looked to be a slip. When he rose to his feet Tong Pahong was on him like Donkey Kong and quickly trapped his opponent up against the cage and it remained that way for the rest of the round, with Pahong dominating with his superior Muay Thai technique.
The second round began the way the first ended. Tong Pahong quickly forced Smitzenhausen back against the cage and immediately began peppering Smitzenhausen with strikes. After a minute Tong Pahong began to land some cleaner shots, but still seemed to be sitting on them somewhat. After snapping Smitzenhausen’s head back, Pahong rocked his opponent with a nice hook, landing shots, but none of them particularly powerful. After three minutes Smitzenhausen managed to find some space and break the clinch, only for Tong Pahong to continuously force him back against the cage.
When the final round began it very much looked as if Gregorio Smitzenhausen needed a finish. Once again Tong Pahong forced his opponent backwards and would not let go. With his gas tank on empty Smitzenhausen looked devoid of any answers. Pahong kept finding his way into the Thai clinch, dropping knees and elbows, working by volume rather than power. With twenty-seconds remaining Tong Pahong once again found is Thai Plum and let fly with a barrage of knees upstairs, and Smitzenhausen had nothing left.
Result: Marc Tong Pahong wins by TKO(Knees) after 4:50 of Round Three.
Marc Tong Pahong landed 40 of 43 head shots in the clinch.
Jason Johnson 0-1-0 vs. Jeff Spicoli 0-1-0
The action opened with Johnson swatting at flies whilst Spicoli launched half-hearted takedown attempts. It was slow going around a failed takedown attempt by Spicoli gave Jason Johnson the opportunity to push his opponent up against the cage. They broke away from each other before Johnson landed a slapping head kick. Spicoli’s takedowns got him nowhere and Johnson seemed to be content to move in and out of the clinch, using his largely ineffective striking.
Round two began in much the same fashion until Spicoli finally landed his jab flush on his opponent’s jaw. It was quickly evident that Jason Johnson was running out of steam as he began use the clinch as a means to rest. He begun to counter Spicoli’s takedown attempts with counter leg kicks to try and generate space. Towards the end of the round Spicoli began to run out of gas as the constant clinching and wrestling was beginning to take its toll.
With Spicoli in need of a finish, round three saw the two exhausted fighters try to solve each others puzzle. Neither fighter diverted from their tactics, allowing Johnson to control the action. Jason Johnson began landed more shots, leading to an uppercut that got Spicoli’s attention. His use of the clinch was allowing him free shots every time he broke away. With Johnson beginning to land more freely, Spicoli, as exhausted as he was began stepping up the pace to no avail
Result: Jason Johnson wins by unanimous decision.
Jason Johnson clinched 28 times.
Jeff Spicoli was successful with 0% of his takedowns.
Co-Main Event
Aace Zajac 1-0-0 vs. Anton Ilmarinen 0-0-0
The fighters started out cautiously circling one another, feeling each other out whilst launching tentative shots. As soon as the opportunity presented itself Ilmarinen cut the distance and clinched Zajac up against the cage. Ilmarinen managed to free one of Zajac’s legs and uses a trip for the takedown. Both fighters were pacing themselves, with neither fighter able to find clean shots. The round came alive again when Zajac, in a butterfly guard, used a scissor sweep to get to top position. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to take advantage of his position as his ground and pound lacked any kind of accuracy.
The second round started in hilarious fashion when Ilmarinen landed an open handed slap that woke the audience up. Ilmarinen used his size advantage to get another trip takedown and immediately landed a bone thudding hook. This time he let himself go, peppering the squirming Zajac with hammerfists and elbows. With Zajac having nowhere to go, Ilmarinen began loading up on big shots forcing the referee to call a halt to proceedings.
Result: Anto Ilmarinen wins by TKO after 2:58 of Round Two.
Anto Ilmarinen landed 78% of his ground and pound strikes.
Main Event
Gordon Ramsey 1-0-0 vs. Martin Keown 0-0-0
Gordon Ramsey was fast out of the traps putting his chopping leg kicks to good use. Keown was desperate to get the fight to the ground and threw himself at takedown after takedown to no effect. It was as if Gordon Ramsey was swatting at mosquitoes and Martin Keown was quite desperate for a cuddle and a lay down. Ramsey used his kickboxing to good effect and attacked Keown’s stationary front leg. Ramsey focusing on the body easily had the best of what was a very tame round.
Round Two was much of the same, as every time Keown moved forwards to attempt the takedown, he was met by a Ramsey leg kick. Keown tried to do himself a favour and clinch but couldn’t hold his opponent against the fence. Ramsey began to land more frequently, working the body well before connected with a hard straight right hand. Keown’s zombie strategy began to cause him problems in the middle of the round as the low kicks kept raining down, and Ramsey hit him with a stinging liver shot. With time running out Keown managed to grab hold of Ramsey only for his corner to tell him to break the clinch.
The final round was all set, with Gordon Ramsey clearly up two rounds, and never having looked threatened. After yet another failed takedown, Keown clinched with Ramsey against the cage, and found himself eating some knee. With Keown bleeding, Ramsey broke the clinch, leaving an exhausted Keown visibly frustrated. Ramsey, his confidence growing, began to let his fists go, landing with a beautiful overhand right, and a mocking open-hand swat. Keown, as is his way, just kept walking forwards. The round played out with Ramsey landing a head kick and controlling the remainder.
Result: Gordon Ramsey wins by Unanimous Decision.
Gordon Ramsey landed 14 from 15 leg kicks.
Martin Keown landed 0% of his takedowns.
Bonuses:
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