"T.A.C.-ticle Observations"

The Atemi Cast was live at Ultimate Kickboxing/MMA Amateur Challenge being held at the luxurious Bahia Mar Beach Resort, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This is the return of LeftHook Productions. They have packed the house with kickboxing and MMA fans ready to see some fists fly and kicks land. Rick and Tony were in the house ready to keep the Children of the Cast updated on the action.

First fight of the night was Leoncio Albarran vs. Clarence Autely. Albarran is from ATT Davie and Autely is from Training for Life MMA. First round is action packed and Autely ends up with a broken nose from Albarran. The first round was hard to call as both fighters landed blows.

The second round started and it looked as though Albarran was getting a little gassed and Autely made up some ground. The second round goes to Autely. It seemed that there is bad blood between these two; the way they exchanged low blows like they were checking each other for hernias.

The action in the third round was bloody because Autelys' nose ran like the mighty Rio Grande. Hard punches are thrown this round and the action was ceaseless. These guys left it all in the ring. The round ended and we awaited the result. The judges rule unanimously for Albarran.

Fight two of the night was Blake Wither from Legacy Fit vs. Alonzo Lopez from ATT Sunrise, both were debut fighters. Round one started and it was off to a wild start with both fighters just slugging it out and swinging for the fences. Wither looked more composed but its Lopez who seemed to be landing the cleaner shots. The round ended and it seemed Wither may have stolen that round.

Round two and it is Wither who came out jabbing and scoring early but he was warned for pulling Lopez’s head down with a Thai clench. Lopez seemed shook as Wither gained confidence. Wither landed three hard shots that caused Lopez to get a standing eight count.

The standing eight lead to the referee stoppage and Lopez looked like he was complaining about not understanding the question "do you want to continue?”. Lopezs’ complaints fall on deaf ears as he chalks up a loss and Whither notches his gloves with a victory by TKO.

Fight three was the first MMA bout of the night. Debuting was Bennet Balder from ATT Coconut Creek and Devin Dorsey of Training for Life MMA. Dorsey, who looked like he lost a lot of weight to make this fight, was a monster. He came out attacking but found himself on his back. Dorsey was pressed hard by Balder. Dorsey got a break when Balder landed a head shot that caused the ref to stand them up and Dorsey came back with a vengeance and looked to have stolen the round. 

Second round and Dorsey was back on the attack and Balder was on his back wishing he would have ended the fight in the first round. These guys were kicking each other’s asses. Balder caught Dorsey in an attempt for a triangle and lost it but recovered for a body triangle and squeezed the life out of Dorsey. Dorsey held on to survive the second round.

Both fighters started the third round exchanging blows trying to beat the other man down with body shots and cave in each other’s chests but it ended back on the mat. This is what fight sports is all about! Dorsey had just sunken in a guillotine choke but lost it and Balder mounted Dorsey and began an assault on Dorsey's ribs. The round ended and we awaited the judge’s decision. It was going to be hard to call. The split decision goes to Balder; The American Top Team Coconut Creek fighter pulled out the win with his ground work and body striking.

 Fight four of the night was Dwayne Cambell from Round 2 KickBoxing vs. Juan Fernandez from Knick Out Fight Zone; Cambell is 0-1; Fernandez was Debuting. Round one was on its way and both fighters were big time sluggers. The fighters looked like two bulls charging each other but it seemed to be Fernandez who got control of the fight. Campbell got his bearings and the action moved in front of us and we got a close up of the carnage happening in the ring.

Round two and Campbell came out with combos but took a hit and turned his back and paid for it when Fernandez opened up on him. Campbell was losing sight of his game "plan" and it started falling apart rapidly. He needed to get back on track! Fernandez was looking for the one "money" shot. Fernandez had equipment issues with his head gear and this gave Campbell much needed rest! The gear got fixed that and both fighters should have been rested. Campbell opened the fight back up with some hard head kicks and got a warning for not breaking a clinch on the command from Ref. Fernandez put his combos together well and landed a couple good shots at the end of the round.

Fernandez pressed the action in round three and took the fight from Campbell. This is fight action LeftHook style! Valiant effort by Campbell but I called this one for Fernandez. Fernandez wins the unanimous decision by the judges.

Next fight is Kelvin Pankow fighting for Team Bowon Muay Thai vs. Julien Blondin fighting for Team Training for Life MMA. Pankow is a debut fighter and Blondin is 1-0.

I said on twitter that this one would be over quick with Blondin wining by T.K.O. Both fighters came out swinging, Blondin gets overwhelmed early and takes some good shots but managed to block most of them. THEN! There was a low blow by Blondin and we get a quick break... Next there was a standing eight count for Pankow and then it got personal. Blondin showed his street fighting and Pankow showed why he is Muay Thai with some vicious knees thrown into Blondin’s mid section.. Blondin got thrown across the ring at the end of the round by Pankow but only after Blondin landed a great shot.

Round two and Pankow continued the shots with the knees and Blondin kept landing the hay makers but neither fighter can seem to get a definite advantage.  Blondin lands but so does Pankow and it was knee, knee, knee from Pankow and he gets warned for pulling the head down and hitting. Round two ends and this fight had lost what composure it had, but damn it was entertaining.

Round three and Blondin was bringing out the street and taking it to Pankow, but Pankow kept coming back for more and both fighters head gear sucked and kept coming off. Blondin ate a knee to the groin and goes down. This was funny to watch, the last round and the warriors are trying to kill each other. Blondin goes down from a combo from Pankow. The round ends and its Blondin who is angered by the loss of his head gear in the closing seconds. I admit I was wrong Pankow had more in him then I thought. Blondin wins, with the judges deciding unanimously for Blondin.

Fight 6 of the night is John De Jesus, ATT Davie vs. A.J. Rivas Key West Pal. Jesus is 2-0, Rivas, debut fighter. Rivas looked to be the bigger of the fighters but Jesus is 2-0.

Round one and Jesus opened up with a single leg but Rivas sprawled and stopped the take down, while Rivas worked some good body shots. It was not enough to stop Jesus. Jesus landed the take down points and Rivas was hard pressed to get back in control of the fight. Jesus opened up on Rivas while on the ground and Rivas ate right after right in the ribs from Jesus as the round ended.

 

Round two and Jesus landed a straight right Rivas that knocks the sweat from his head. Rivas laughed it off and dropped his hands and began talking shit to Jesus. At this moment in the fight, what every good fight spectator, fan, writer, FFB, Martial Artist, Instructor, trainer and just about any fight crazed fan wishes to see happens. Jesus looks at his over confident opponent, assess the situation and throws a perfect round house kick to Riva’s head! Rivas's head snapped back like he was just shot by a .50 Caliber sniper round and Rivas goes to Never, never Land. Jesus does the victory dance as the crowd awaits the paramedics word on “Sleeping” Rivas, and when he sits up and all seems well, the crowd cheers and Jesus checks on Rivas. Jesus has his hand raised in victory, the fighters shook hands, and Rivas walks out of the ring looking like shit in the face but that he learned the same valuable lesson that Victor Ortiz learned fighting “Pretty Boy” Floyd, “KEEP YOUR HANDS UP AT ALL TIMES!” That was the BEST knock out I have seen in a long fucking time! This was fight of the night!

The next fight is Ken Turner w/ Bowon Muay Thai vs. Alberto Rojas w/ Hammer Gym. Turner is 6-1 and Rojas is 4-6 both fight at 165. Turner came out landing some good shots but it was Rojas who got a quick knockdown and Turner gets a standing eight count.

Round two and Rojas looked ready to finish the job but it was Turner who was brought heat right. Round two ended and Turner was exhausted from chasing Rojas around the ring!

Round three ended and Rojas just got his ass handed to him. I know it is bad but it was funny to watch Rojas get beat down. It was like watching a drunken uncle in a bar fight who refuses to go down. Turner got the unanimous decision.

Next up was Mike Gomez with Legacy Fit vs Walter Gomez of ATT Coconut Creek. Mike Gomez wins in the second round by arm bar submission.

The ninth fight of the night Manny Ramirez vs. Roybert Rey. Round one and Ramirez pressed Rey landed good body shots and head snapping head shots. Ramirez was the taller of the two fighters and had the reach on Rey but Rey had good speed and quick hands.

Round two and Rey came out throwing, landing, and mixing it up with Ramirez. Rey landed a spinning back fist on Ramirez, Ramirez answered back with a flurry of punches and that scored wonderfully but had his nose broken at the end of the round by a stiff right from Rey.

Round three and Ramirez could not answer the bell and the fight was called due to the broken nose he suffered. Rey wins via TKO.

It was now time for the women to get in and mix it up. Aubrey Long w/ Club KO vs. Jamie Anthony w/Team Valhalla both weigh 120lb. Round one began and it was Long who is landed the power shots but it was Anthony who was the more active fighter going through her list of punches & kicks.

Round two and Long came out aggressively but it was the reach of Anthony that kept Long from getting inside and score.  Anthony, the taller fighter used her reach well but lacked real power to hurt Long.

 Round three and it was Anthony who used that reach to keep Long on the outside. The fight went to the judges and Long got the unanimous decision.

The Main Event was Mike Delapava with Wesley Carroll's MMA vs. Joe Martine from American Top Team Coconut Creek and it is a TITLE FIGHT for the ISKA Cruiserweight Belt! Delapava is 3-2 and Martine is 4-2. Martine is a long time friend of The Atemi Cast and a great fighter. Round one came ended and it was Martine who showed poise and grace like a mystical warrior from lore as he picked his shots.

Round two ended and Delapava landed the better shots and scored well on Martine. Martine looked a little weathered.

Round three ended and it was not looking good for Martine. Each round was costing him and he needed to hurt Delapava.

Round four Martine landed a right that rocked Delapava and dropped him.

Round five ended in a flurry of punches and it went to the judges. Joe Martine walked away with the belt and the bragging rights. Congrats to Joe and ATT Coconut Creek for obtaining another belt!