Ring Rulers: Ruthless

Welcome to RING RULERS: Ruthless Report!

Amateur Action from Shreveport, LA. I can’t say where you might see this- but you can see the poster. This show is yet another sell-out, the norm here, with about 1700 fans packed into Harrah’s LA Downs. Sadly pictures and Video are going a bit slower then normal, so I’ll be adding to this as I get them in. Click on the links to get to photographer Andew Griggs Facebook page and he should have them shortly.

NOTE: All records are amateur, Listing is Name,Record,Gym and Town.

Lightweight: Mike Sharp (debut) Lonestar MMA, Tyler, TX vs Jason Pace (debut) Twin City MMA /Gracie Barra, West Monroe, LA

Pace takes the center of the cage and shows good movement. Mike eats a sidekick and hits a solid double leg takedown. Mike is using his shoulder to hold Jason’s face to the cage. Mike tries to take Jason’s back after stacking him up- but doesn’t have and support in his grip and Jason is able to squirm out of it. Good scramble as the round ends.  10-9 Sharp

R2- Another good double leg by Sharp to start the round, this time works the body. Pace climbs the cage and they exchange on the feet for a time. Pace sinks a kick into Sharps ribs- but Sharp dosent try to take Pace down this time. Pace clinches to the cage, and starts throwing good knees to the body. Sharp reaches down and lifts Pace up and SLAMS him down. The remainder of the round is spent in trying to control Pace and doing some damage. 10-9 Sharp.

R3 – Pace tries a takedown, gets stuffed. Mike is able to roll him over and gets side control. Sharp is able to move to mount. Pace does a great job not takeing much damage, and is able to scramble out, Sharp is able to hold him down and keep him into a North/South then switches to his back, Sharp stays there to the end of the round trying to get a better position but Pace does a good job defending. 10-9 Sharp, Not enough damage to get a 10-8.

The scorecards have the fight the same way I do- 30-27 Mike Sharp by Unanimous Decision.

Pace has some decent standup, what little we could see, and has some VERY good defense from the bottom, but coming from that camp, I have no doubt he’s had a lot of people put him on his back. Mike Sharp was a very good wrestler, and barely looked winded after the bout. Keep in mind this is the first time in the cage, and for two debuting fighters- some solid building blocks for the camps to look at.

Bantamweight: Johnny Keeton (debut) Wolfpack MMA, Beebe AR vs Jason Cefalu (1-0) Team Deliverance, Flowood MS

They clinch to the cage, both try to trip and Jason ends up on top and gets mount, shows excellent top control, Keeton is showing some great defense, and actually is able to kick off the cage 3 times, yet Jason shows some EXCELLENT control and is able to hold him down all three times. 10-9 Cefalu

R2- Takedown by Jason, Johnny is fighting better off his back this time but Jason is able to sneak some shots through this time, Johnny looks to be taking more chances but Jason is able to catch an arm and IT IS DEEP. Johnny is forced to tap!

Winner: Jason Cefalu 1:19 R2 (Armbar)

I met Jason after the show, as 99% of the fighters at these shows I have been to, was very well mannered, polite and friendly. But is THICK, he is only 5’5 but let me tell you something- most guys this short at this weight are not as thick on the shoulders or on the neck, unless they are crazy wrestlers from a big high school. At only 19, This guy could be worth watching,  Keeton was game, the Wolfpack don’t let just anyone in the cage, but Cefalu was just great.

Featherweight: Scott Whitley (debut) Lonestar MMA, Tyler TX vs Gary Hickaby (debut) Team Dogpound, Center TX

Scott and Gary both come out and after 2 quick kicks by Scott, he clinches to the cage, tries to take Gary down but Gary shows good sprawl and defense. Quick exchange comes with a NUTSHOT! After a break, Hickaby drops Whitley and tries to finish! Scott recovers quickly and is able to score 2 takedowns at the end of the round. After a slow start, this one picked up the pace. I’ll go 10-9 Hickaby for the knockdown and followup damage.

R2- Gary charges and leaves his neck out- Scott grabs a guillotine and holds it tight, Gary tries to roll out of it but it is just to deep and he is forced to TAP!

Winner: Scott Whitley :59 R2 (Guillotine Choke)

Scott showed one heckuva chin and really solid all-around game, and once he got that choke I don’t think a firehose could have gotten him off. Hickaby is the 3rd fighter I’ve seen from Team Dogpound and it looks like Sensei Roddy has yet another winner in the ranks. Huge shoes to fill following with Chris Bell (fighting for Bellator Sept 26th) and 185 contender Shad Jenkins, but Gary looks like he can do just that. Chael Sonnen leaves his neck out too, Gary- Don’t let it get you down.

Heavyweight: Michael Redd (2-1) Vicksburg MMA, Vicksburg MS vs Darnell Trotter (5-0) Karate Mafia, Bossier City LA

Waiting for this one. Darnell was BEGGING for a fight, and got this one on short notice, This was an off and on fight all the way up to weigh-ins last night. Darnell is wearing a knee pad, and Redd goes right after it, kicking it, Darnell kind of grins and shakes his head, Redd attacks it with a single, but Darnell backs up to the cage and starts beating on Redd, when Redd gives up the single, Trotter goes to a M-T clinch and throws some good knees, Redd is a bit shorter but not many shot sneak through. Darnell is only going up and down, not throwing to the side. Redd breaks free and they both go down, Darnell is able to take Redd’s back and secures a choke to get a win.

WINNER: Darnell Trotter 1:51 R1 Sub (RNC)

Darnell Trotter vs Michael Redd

Redd is a bit of an unknown to me, and is able to take some serious damage but Darnell is JUST A BEAST and has an improving clinch game. Trotter is anxous to defend is LA HWT title and calls out any and all fighters post fight. I’d like to see Redd fight again, there is a shortage of heavyweights with solid chins.

Featherweight: Eliazar Rodriguez (3-0) Dallas TX vs Dillion Cowart (2-2) Monroe LA

Cowart takes the center of the cage and Eliazar backs up up then takes him down, both fight to improve position. Dillion is able to bridge out from the bottom, impressive defense but Eliazar takes him down again and this time is able to gain full mount before the the round ends 10-9 Eliazar

R2- Much slower start, Cowart is not tucking his chin but Eliazar is moving in and out, not really throwing many power shots- but finding his range on his jab. NUTSHOT to Cowart.  Cowart is alright, and Eliazar takes him down on the restart, Cowart kicks him off and Eliazar takes him down again. 10-9 Eliazar

R3- Coming into the third round Eliazar was more than happy to drop Cowart again on his back, into Cowart’s full guard. Eliazar goes for an ankle-lock, Cowart defends and is able to get out- Cowart tries to boot-scoot back but Eliazar jumps on him again, gets to mount and just punches-n-bunches, but Cowart is able to intelligently defend himself until the horn.

WINNER: Eliazar Rodriguez 30-27 across the cards

Some people didn’t like my critique of Stark, the lamb sent to get beaten by Couture at the SHO-MMA. Dillon Cowart proves my point- he is 2-3 now, with a TON of heart, and if anyone looks at him on the card, and says oh, he’s under 500- I can take him- you got issues, Dillion comes to fight and he needs to find out why matchmaker Jon Munz is mad at him, seemingly everyone that beats Cowart gets a title shot next. Ok, Eliazar, Pressure time. I’m sure a title shot is coming up, and I hope I’m there for that. Coming from Team Reyes, that has got to be one SCARY GYM.

Bantamweight: Gilbert Moore, (4-2) IMEX Fight Club, Longview TX vs Chris Gutierres (2-1-1) Chop Shop MMA, Greenville TX

Both take the center of the cage, and start swapping kicks, Chris shoves to cage, picks him up and SLAMS him! Gilbert does a good job avoiding damage and grabs an arm! Chris is trying to power out of it but is forced to tap! Looks like the capsule popped there! (Note: I was sitting next to the doctor ringside, he later told me that it was just hyper-extended, good news there)

Winner: Gilbert Moore Submission R1 1:57 Armbar

Flyweight: Shane Bridges (11-6) Wolfpack MMA, Beebe AR, vs Anthony Jaco, (3-2) Psycho Dojo, Monroe LA

Both men come out and start swinging, clinch and they both go down,  Shane on top, Jaco is doing a good job defending from damage, but is unable to get to a better position, he seems to tire a bit and Shane snatches an arm and gets the submission!

Winner: Shane Bridges 1:13 R1 Submission Armbar

Shane is an experienced opponent, and I’d like to see a rematch for this one- maybe for the belt that Jaco has?