(Today’s Daily Haymaker will be a bit different from the usual format. Since there weren’t many notes from a news standpoint, and a lot from a fight standpoint, this Haymaker will be a special Ultimate Recappoolooza edition! There was a lot of events on Saturday (Bellator 106, Golovkin’s match, NWCA All Star Classic), so I’ll recap everything I saw or read about it. The recaps will be separated sport by sport.)
Bellator 106
The narrative of the show for me was the story of underdogs that have faced serious adversity in their MMA careers and lives, climbing to the top of the mountain and winning in their most impressive performances of their Mixed Martial Art careers.
Eddie Alvarez, a +200 underdog, reclaimed his lightweight championship against Michael Chandler in a fight that was an absolute war. Alvarez spent over a year outside of the cage due to a frustrating contract dispute with Bellator that cost him a huge contract with the UFC and a year of inactivity in a sport where a time in one’s prime is as valuable as water in an arid desert.
Emanuel Newton, a +290 underdog, earned a unanimous decision verdict and interim Light Heavyweight Championship against Muhammed Lawal. In 2007, Newton crashed his motorcycle in an accident that resulted in a serious arm injury. He ended up having surgery five times on that arm, and battled a scary staph infection that threatened his career.
Daniel Straus, a +250 underdog, dominated every aspect of his fight against Pat Curran en route to a decision win that awarded him the featherweight strap. In early March, Straus was driving two individuals that possessed a significant amount of marijuana. His car was stopped by police, and Straus was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis, MDMA as well as drug paraphernalia.
Straus’s arrest, like Newton’s staph infection, threatened his future as an MMA fighter. But here he was on Saturday night, winning a championship on the biggest show in Bellator history. Whether it was John McCarthy raising Eddie Alvarez’s hand or Herb Dean raising Newton’s or Jason Herzog raising Straus’s, all those hard times and adversity those fighters faced shrunk in that very moment as the success that their hard work reaped came to fruition.
Those three fights made up less than a fourth of what was an up and down card that featured upsets, impressive performances, and a multitude of F-bombs from Joe Riggs. Let’s run down every fight that took place on Saturday night.
Bellator Lightweight Championship
Michael Chandler (12-1) vs Eddie Alvarez (25-3)
Recap: At the end of year, when we discuss which fight was the best of year, it’s going to come down to three fights: Gustafsson vs Jones, Melendez vs Sanchez, and this one. Even if their third fight [Bjorn was alluding to a re-re-match in the press conference] is half as good as this one, this trilogy will go down as the best in MMA history, with the only other contender being Melendez/Thomson. Chandler took the first and fourth with takedowns and ground and pound, in particular in the latter period. Alvarez won the third and fifth by fending off Chandler’s takedowns and landing nice combinations, takedowns, and a few close submission attempts. The deciding round on Derek Cleary and Steven Davis’s scorecards was the second one. Chandler controlled the first half with a takedown and top control, but Alvarez stole it with a late combination that rocked Chandler. Personally, I [as well as boss-man Luke] had it as a 10-10 draw, but the judges’ did not see it that way. Nevertheless, this fight was so great and close that both fighters essentially won, but it’s worth noting that the case for Michael Chandler as the top lightweight in the world vanishes with this loss.
Result: Eddie Alvarez def. Michael Chandler via Split Decision (48-47 Mike Cleary, 48-47 Steven Davis, and 47-48 Mike Beltran).
Interim Light Heavyweight Championship
Emanuel Newton (22-7-1) vs. Muhammed Lawal (11-3)
Recap: I expected Newton to win, but not with a decision. After being dominated by Lawal in the first round with wrestling and ground strikes, Newton started to control the fight following a head kick that rocked Lawal. Rounds 2,3, and 4 were Newton’s thanks to effective takedown defensive and his leg kicks. Lawal could have stolen the last round with a late takedown, but it was too late. Next, Emanuel Newton will unify the lightweight heavyweight championship against Attila Vegh, and after this performance, I have Newton as the favorite.
Result: Emanuel Newton def. Muhammed Lawal via Unanimous Decision (49-46 Gene LeBell, 49-46 Steven Davis, and 49-46 Derek Cleary).
Featherweight Championship
Pat Curran (19-5) vs Daniel Straus (22-4)
Recap: This was undoubtedly the surprise of the night. It’s said a lot, but it’s never rung truer than now. Daniel Straus looked like the best I have ever seen in his career against Curran. Straus made Curran’s usually stout takedown defense look average in the fight with takedowns that were set up by controlling clinch-work. The round that put the nail in Curran’s coffin was the third. Not only did Curran lose the round, but he also had a point taken away due to a head-scratching illegal knee. This upset has me excited for the future of Bellator featherweight division because it creates a new star in Daniel Straus and will put a current one in an upcoming featherweight tournament.
Result: Daniel Straus def. Pat Curran via Unanimous Decision (48-46 Mike Beltran, 49-45 Derek Cleary, and 48-46 Ron McCarthy).
Fight Master Finale
Welterweight Bout
Joe Riggs (40-14, 1 NC) vs Mike Bronzoulis (15-6-1)
Recap: Joe Riggs came out with a smart game plan and executed it to perfection. Riggs won every round decisively with takedowns and top position grappling. While the fight was fairly forgettable, it truly is something the way that Riggs has revitalized his career. With the win, he earned a spot in the next welterweight tournament.
Result: Joe Riggs def. Mike Brounzoulis via Unanimous Decision (30-27 Derek Cleary, 30-27 Steven Davis, and 30-27 Gene LeBell)
Featherweight Bout
Mike Richman (16-3) vs Akop Stepanyan (13-7)
Recap: The opening bout of the TV broadcast set up the rest of the show perfectly. Stepanyan looked like he was going to win this fight early on as he was able to land with combinations due to his footwork and ability to create angles, but Richman knocked Stepanyan out with a left hand. Richman’s impressive hand speed was on display in the contest. Stepanyan is now 1-4 in Bellator, but Bjorn Rebney announced that he plans to keep the consistently exciting Russian featherweight.
Result: Mike Richman def. Akop Stepanyan via 1st Round TKO (4:05)
Welterweight Bout
Jesse Juarez (21-8) vs Joe Williams (9-2)
Recap: Going on last, this was the swing bout of the night. Jesse Juarez got a quick victory by pulling Williams down to the canvas for a fight-ending guillotine choke. Jesse Juarez is a journeyman fighter that seems to have finally put it all together. He’s got a strong takedown base and has gone 6-1 in his last seven.
Result: Jesse Juarez def. Joe Williams via 1st Round Sub (Guillotine) (:57)
Welterweight Bout
Cristiano Souza (7-0) vs Alejandro Garcia (14-6, 1 NC)
Recap: Souza is a prospect that Bellator is trying to bring up, but he didn’t perform like he should have against a heavy underdog. Garcia normally fights at featherweight [he knocked out Roberto Vargas in his last fight]. The Brazilian kept the fight on the feet and connected with a lot of powerful strikes, but he was also hit by some heavy leather from Garcia. Souza took over in the third round, taking down Garcia, attaining full mount, and eventually locking on a rear-naked choke for the finish.
Result: Cristiano Souza def. Alejandro Garcia via 3rd Round Submission (Rear-naked Choke) (3:06)
Light Heavyweight Bout
Brandon Hasley (5-0) vs Hector Ramirez (10-6-1)
Recap: Brandon Hasley, on the other-hand, looks like a promising prospect at 205 pounds. Hasley made short work of the former UFC fighter by taking him and down and landing ground and pound until the fight was called in less than a minute.
Result: Brandon Hasley def. Hector Ramirez via 1st Round TKO (:52)
Lightweight Bout
Michael Guymon (15-6-1) vs Aaron Miller (14-9, 1 NC)
Recap: After getting hit with a low blow and dropping the first frame, Michael Guymon locked on a triangle choke in the second for a hard-fought victory. Guymon secured the choke after a back-and-forth absurdly entertaining grappling scramble between both fighters. At 39, we likely won’t see Guymon much more in the cage, but it was pleasant to see him get a much-deserved victory.
Result: Michael Guymon def. Aaron Miller via 2nd Round Sub (4:20)
Lightweight Bout
Cleber Luciano (9-5) vs Joe Camacho (13-19-3)
Recap: This fight was a whole lot of BLAH! Luciano dominated Camacho in each round with takedowns, position control, and submission attempts.
Result: Cleber Luciano def. Joe Camacho via Unanimous Decision (30-27 Derek Cleary, 30-27 Steven Davis, and 30-27 Gene LeBell).
Lightweight Bout
Josh Smith (9-5) vs Darren Smith (4-4)
Recap: With each Smith having won one round, Josh Smith controlled the third frame with a takedown, riding it out on top for the remainder of the period.
Result: Josh Smith def. Darren smith via Unanimous Decision (Mike Beltran 29-28, Gene LeBell (29-28, and Ron McCarthy (29-28).
HBO Championship Boxing
WBA Middleweight Championship
Gennady Golovkin (28-0) vs Curtis Stevens (25-4)
Recap: While Stevens had his moments, this was all Golovkin, as most expected. Golovkin employed a patient and tactical game that eventually resulted in Stevens’s corner stopping the fight after the eight. The highlight of the fight for Golovkin was a double left hook combination that knocked Stevens down in the second frame. There aren’t too may middleweights that I would put over Golovkin at this point, Sergio Martinez is one, and maybe, Peter Quillin and Darren Barker. Nevertheless, Golovkin is poised to become a big star in boxing if he continues his dominant ways.
Result: Golovkin def. Stevens via 8th Round Corner Stoppage
Heavyweight Bout
Mikey Perez (20-0) vs Magomed Abdusalamov (18-1)
Recap: In a battle of two powerful heavyweight prospects, Mikey Perez come out on top by winning a decision. This fight was an absolute war and would’ve been the best match of the day had Chandler/Alvarez not happened. Both guys traded heavy shots, especially in the beginning rounds, but Perez began to control as Abdusalamov tired and was visibily affected by his facial damage.
Result: Perez def. Abdusalamov via Unanimous Decision (97-92, 97-92, and 95-94).
NWCA All-Star Classic
149 lb. Bout – Logan Stieber (Ohio State) def. Kendrick Maple (Oklahoma) 6-4 – In a spectacular match-up of NCAA champions, Stieber won with a reversal in the first tie breaker. This was a hellacious contest that capped off a great All Star Classic.
141 lb. Bout – Tony Ramos (Iowa) def. Devin Carter (Virginia Tech) 5-3 – Ramos had a big third period that extended the contest to Sudden Victory where Ramos executed a single-leg for the win.
174 lb. Bout – Andrew Howe (Oklahoma) def. Matt Brown (Penn State) 4-3 – 3-time All-American and National Champ Andrew Howe rode out Matt Brown in the third frame to attain the deciding point.
165 lb. Bout – David Taylor (Penn State) def. Mike Moreno (Iowa State) 13-2 – This was dominant performance by David Taylor who actually amassed over three minutes of riding time in the match.
285 lb. Bout – Tony Nelson (Minnesota) def. Mike McMullan (Northwestern) 2-1 – 2 time NCAA champ Nelson won in the first tie breaker by riding McMullan.
197 lb. Bout Taylor Meeks (Oregon State) def. Scott Schiller (Minnesota) 6-4 – Meeks scored a takedown in sudden victory after defending a cradle by Schiller.
184 lb. Bout – Jimmy Sheptock (Maryland) def. Jake Swartz (Boise State) 3-1 – Defending ACC Champ Sheptock won a close one in sudden victory with a takedown.
157 lb. Bout – Joey Napoli (Lehigh) def. Neston Taffon (Boston) 2-1 – Napoli scored with a reversal in the beginning of the third period and played it safe the rest of the period to win the match.
133 lb. Bout – Mason Beckham (Lehigh) def. AJ Schopp (Edinboro) 5-1 – Mason Beckham controlled the match and was commanding in an impressive victory.
125 lb Bout – Nahshon Garret (Cornell) def. Jarred Patterson (Oklahoma) 6-1 – Garret score a lot of points in sudden victories with multiple near-falls and a takedown.
Who’s Number One
155 lb. Bout: Jordan Oliver def. Bubba Jenkins 7-2 – Despite Jenkins’s efforts of scoring with a superduck, Oliver controlled the contest quite comfortably. Oliver’s dominance was highlighted by a takedown in the first. The result was expected since Oliver is training for the world team while Jenkins is focusing on his MMA career.
152 lb bout: #2 Ryan Blees def. #4 Zach Kelly 5-2 – Although Blees only won by three points, he looked phenomenal in the match. The Oklahoma State commit set the tone early with a takedown and was in control for the entire match.
132 lb Finals: #3 Fredy Stroker def #4 Michael Kemerer 3-1 – Fredy Stroker will end being ranked the number one 132lber by Monday after he knocked off Kemerer and #1 Seth Gross earlier in the day. Tied up at 1-1, Stroker scored a TD late to win 3-1.
138 lb Finals: #2 Jason Nolf def. #3 Joey McKenna 8-5 – A pair of ankle pick takedowns aided Jason Nolf to victory in this one.
126 lb. Bout: #4 Ryan Milhof def. #1 Jered Cortez 4-1 – Milhof pulled off the upset thanks to a surprising level change takedown to start the first frame. From then on, the future Sooner played it great and got a confidence boosting victory heading into his high school season.
152 lb Bout: #5 Fox Baldwin def. #10 Nick Reenan 5-1 – Baldwin’s 5-1 win was another one of those dominant wins that left me real impressed with the kid. He scored on a sweet spladle in the match.
145 lb Bout: #9 Mason Manville def. #8 Grant Leeth 3-1 – Manville, sporting headgear, won in overtime with a belly-to-back suplex.
120 lb Bout: #3 Nathan Boston def. #1 Sean Russell in OT – In a match that went nearly ten minutes into overtime, Boston capitalized on some questionable decision by Russell in the first three periods to get the win.
132lb Bout: #4 Michael Kemerer def. #2 Zac Hall 3-1 – Kemerer won in OT with a takedown, after escaping near defeat. Hall took down Kemerer at the end of the third period and was awarded two points. But the two points were taken away after the officials decided that it happened after time expired.
132 lb Bout: #3 Fredy Stroker def. #1 Seth Gloss 5-2 – Stroker scored with a takedown and trio of escapes to pull off the upset.
2013 No-Gi World Championship
These results were procured through the fantastic Gracie Mag website.
In the 2013 No-Gi World Championship, black belt absolute women’s division, Ana Caroline Lebre advanced to finals by beating Luiza Monteiro 9-0 in the semis and Nyjah Easton 7-0 in the quarters, while Talita Treta Nogueira beat Rachel Demara 8-6 in the semis and Shanti Abelha 7-0 in the finals.
That’ll do it for today’s Haymaker. Thanks for reading, and I’ll leave you with a quote from Joe Riggs.
“Fuck”.
-Daniel can be reached at [email protected] or @danielgal.
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