Some call the night before Halloween “Devil’s Night,” and there probably couldn’t have been a more appropriate name for CXF’s inaugural “Thursday Night Fight Series” which took place on October 30th at the El Monte Expo Center. “Thursday Night Fight Series” is CXF’s new program of bringing various combat sports (boxing, Muay Thai / kickboxing, and mixed martial arts) to local fight fans on a monthly rotating basis, making CXF the only full-scale fight promotion in the state of California. The debut event delivered no less than ten exciting mixed martial arts fights, drawing a packed house.
Match 1, 145 lbs. – Francisco Rivera vs. Chris Drumm (Team Wildman)
Drumm wins by TKO in the first round.
Match 2, 170 lbs. – R.J. Clifford vs. Dan Hernandez
R.J. Clifford uses ground-and-pound technique to win by TKO at 2:37 in the second round.
Match 3, 174 lbs. catch weight – Devin Howard (Combat Sports Wrestling) vs. Mano Taha (Team Diamond)
The first round saw Taha drop Howard early with a punch that almost ended the match, but Howard was able to hold on and survive. In the second round, Howard controlled the action with clinch work and a takedown. The third round delivered the most action, as Howard and Taha scrapped on the ground in a clash of dueling heel hooks. Neither could get the submission, leading Howard to move into top control, directing the rest of the match with ground-and-pound combinations and an attempted rear naked choke. Judges awarded the match to Devin Howard via unanimous decision.
Match 4, 145 lbs. – Angelo Catsoures (Subfighter MMA) vs. Ruben Vera (Chute Boxe)
These two submission experts came out trading blows, but eventually went to the ground when Vera scored a trip takedown. However, Catsoures was able to transition and catch Vera with a triangle choke at 2:01 in the first round.
Match 5, 145 lbs. – Andrew Patlan vs. Brian Abram
Abram scored a takedown early in round one with a textbook hip toss, but Patlan was able to work his way to his feet. In round two, Abram was in punching control, and again took Patlan down to the ground. In round three, Patlan stuffed a takedown attempt, and then bulled Abram into a corner with a takedown attempt of his own. The two nearly fell out of the ring before referee “Doc” Hamilton restarted the match. Patlan and Abram continued to battle over a takedown and guillotine choke, respectively, to the end of the match. Judges awarded the match to Brian Abrams by unanimous decision.
Match 6, 185 lbs. – Reggie Orr (Millennia Fight Team) vs. Fernando Bettega (Chute Boxe)
Round one saw Orr and Bettega jockey for position with a lot of clinch work. At one point, Orr dropped Bettega with a right hook, but it was not enough to put the Brazilian away. Bettega came out swinging in the second round. Orr landed a solid body shot on Bettega, who shot in for a single leg takedown. The third round saw more of the same, as Orr controlled the pace of the match and the center of the ring. Bettega unsuccessfully shot for another takedown, but ended up on bottom with Orr in his guard until the clock ran out. Judges scored the decision unanimously for Orr.
Match 7, 125 lbs. — Sofie Bagherdai (Millennia Fight Team) vs. Angela Hayes
In one of the more anticipated fights of the night, Angela Hayes came in from Colorado Springs, CO to challenge local fan favorite Sofie Bagherdai. The two women used most of round one to feel each other out, with Bagherdai throwing a lot of high kicks that hit their mark, but didn’t seem to do much damage. Hayes countered with a clinch and side headlock in the waning seconds of round one. They continued trading kicks in round two, with Bagherdai opting to target low with kicks and follow up with two single leg attempts. She continued her single leg campaign in round three, finally taking Hayes down and working ground-and-pound to the end of the match. Judges awarded the match to Bagherdai via unanimous decision.
Match 8, 265+ lbs. – Tim Persey (No Limits) vs. Ross Clifton
This battle of superheavyweights was short-lived, as “Big Perm” Persey pushed “Grizzly” Clifton into the corner. Clifton came out of the corner off-balance and caught a punch by Persey that put him to the mat. Persey followed up with punches for a quick TKO win in 21 seconds of the first round.
Match 9, 155 lbs. – Toby Grear (True Warrior Fitness) vs. Anthony McDavitt (Gazza Academy)
In what many will point to as match of the night, Toby Grear and Anthony McDavitt fought a war which was clearly driven by personal drama as well as professional competition. McDavitt attacked with several single leg takedown attempts, which Grear neutralized with overhooks and knees into the ropes. McDavitt did drop Grear with an overhand right and got top position in Grear’s guard. But from there, Grear pushed the action from the ground, landing elbows and almost escaping with au up-kick and roll-out. After the first round ended, McDavitt shoved Grear away, fueling an already heated battle. Round two saw McDavitt shoot in several times for takedowns, with Grear evading and countering with body kicks and low kicks. In round three, Grear picked his shots selectively before dropping McDavitt with a hard straight left, then following up with a single kick to the midsection before the referee jumped in and stopped the fight. Toby Grear wins by KO in the second round.
Match 10, 205 lbs. – Jaime Fletcher (Combat Sports Wrestling) vs. Nick Braker (West Coast Jiu-Jitsu)
In the main event, Braker and Fletcher fought another war of attrition, as each vied for control against the other in the clinch and in whizzer position that seemed to travel all over the ring. At one point, Braker tripped to the mat, but Fletcher wasn’t able to capitalize on the potential takedown. The clash for control continued in round two, as Braker and Fletcher continued in the clinch. There was a lot of respect going on, as both were very cautious in throwing knees, and even more guarded in blocking them. Braker finally forced the takedown. As round two ends, Braker is going for a takedown and Fletcher is working for a guillotine choke. In round three, Fletcher came out swinging, and at one point almost dropped Braker, who continued to fight for the single leg. Braker spent tons of energy trying for the takedown, but doesn’t seem fatigued. Fletcher worked knees from the corner and eventually pulled Braker into his guard for a guillotine choke, ending the match by submission at 2:41 of the third round.
On November 13th, CXF returns to the El Monte Expo Center with more “Thursday Night Fight Series” action with a full card of boxing. This event features the boxing return of former EliteXC Lightweight MMA champion Karl “K.J.” Noons (7-1, 5 KOs), who squares off against Ontario’s Alex Bogarin (8-6-3, 2 KOs). Also in action will be the hometown heavyweight Javier “Monster” Mora (21-4-1, 17 KOs), stepping into battle with Jonathan “Too Sweet” Williams (7-5-1, 6 KOs).
Tickets for this event are available at www.californiaxtremefighting.com. For more information, call 949-716-2557 or email Craig@mezsports.com.
Mixed Martial Thoughts from the Tan Dynasty 