Xtreme Knockout, North Texas’ longest running MMA promotion, returned to the sparking concert venue of Gas Monkey Live in what may have been one of the most electric nights of action under the Arlington-based promotion’s long history. The night was filled with exciting young fighters who put forth an evening of action inside the square cage.
To say that there were whispers of concern heading into Saturday night’s card was a bit of an understatement. The much hyped and advertised welterweight title fight (XKO’s first ever welterweight title) between rising star Kevin Holland and dangerous prospect Geoff Neal was scrapped in the 11th hour when Holland pulled out of the fight citing injury Thursday night. Then, to make maters worse, a scheduled fight between Delis Borges and Zach Haney was scrapped the day of the fights when Borges failed to show up the day of the fight.
Still, in light of these challenges the show went on and the sell out crowd that crammed into spacious confines of the Gas Monkey Live for eight exciting fights.
Due to the title fight falling through, the main event spotlight when to the bout between Miles Johns (Octagon MMA) and David Miramontes (South Side Fight Club). With less than a days notice for both combatants there was a tangible level of nerves present given that their combined professional record is 1-0. However, both Johns, with his extensive wresting background, and Miramontes, with some decent amateur MMA scraps, eagerly put on a three round war.
After eating a flying knee at the start of the first round Johns and his wrestling acumen went to work in smothering Miramontes with constant pressure. While Johns was constantly threatening Miramontes showed tremendous poise in weathering the pressure early on, keeping Johns working. The second round followed suit but midway through Miramontes began to stick the jab which kept a noticeably tiring Johns at bay. The third round turned into a war of attrition as both fighters gave their all despite showing signs of fatigue. In the end all three judges scored the bout 30-27 for Johns who improved to 2-0 with the victory.
Former Texas high school state champion and OSU colligate wrestler Alex Munoz (Team Takedown) made his professional debut Saturday night against Spring’s Angelo Anzaldua. With tempers running high following an intense stare down at the weigh-ins, Anzaldua tried to use his striking experience to keep Munoz at bay. Such a plan is hard to execute against a fighter with the wrestling pedigree of Munoz. Munoz seemed comfortable in mixing it up a bit standing even landing a head kick at the beginning of the first round. However, that was short lived as Munoz followed it up with a quick takedown. From that point on it was Munoz controlling the action by smothering Anzaldua with ground and pound before referee Aladdin Martinez waived a halt to the bout toward the end of the first round.
In what had to be the fight of the night Oscar Ramirez (Arlington MMA} battled back from the brink of defeat at the hands of Hawaii’s Jireh Torres-Umi (Team Lutter) with a second round rear naked choke submission. Early on in the fight it was all Torres-Umi who blitzed Ramirez in the first round taking him down and essentially beating Ramirez over the course of the round. With one eye swollen shut and blood dripping out of his mouth and nose Ramirez battled back in the second and upon being taken down by Torres-Umi was able to sweep onto the Hawaiian’s back and sink in a tight rear naked choke to secure the win.
Other Results
Ulyses Aguila (The Fray) scored a second round rear naked choke over Jacob Norsworthy. The time of the tap was 1:00 in the second round.
Caleb Trumbull (Infinite Dynasty/Siam Star) was able to battle back from some very rocky moments to secure a second round rear naked choke submission over Alejandro Gomez (Octagon MMA).
Jacob Capelli (Team Takedown) smothered and battered a game but out gunned Andrew Sosa scoring a second round TKO.
Phat Chau (Next Generation) scored a debilitating headkick knockout of Kelvin Martinez in the opening round.
Federico Olivera (George Prevalsky/Snow BJJ) secured a text book arm bar over Mark Plata in the night’s opening bout.
FULL RESULTS
Miles Johns def. David Miramontes via UD. Scores: 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.
Alex Munoz def. Angelo Anzaldua via 1st round TKO.
Oscar Ramirez def. Jireh Torres-Umi 2nd round submission (rear naked choke).
Ulyses Aguila def. Jacob Norsworthy via 2nd round submission (rear naked choke).
Caleb Trumbull def. Alejandro Gomez via 2nd round submission (rear naked choke).
Jacob Capelli def. Andrew Sosa via 2nd round TKO.
Phat Chau def. Kelvin Martinez via 1st round KO.
Federico Olivera def. Mark Plata via 2nd round submission (arm bar).
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