Our man Daniel 'Gumby' Vreeland live on the scene at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Preliminary Card
Results:
Bantamweight (135 lbs): Rico DiSciullo vs Marvin Maldonado
ROUND 1 – DiSciullo opens up aggressive early. He hits a few legs trips. He doesn’t engage and beckons him up each time. He then gets his opening on the feet too and backs Maldonado up. He lands upper cups and knees. It looks like it’s almost over and McCarthy calls a time out. Upon replay, it looks like DiSciullo landed two illegal knees.
Winner: No Contest (1:53) (Accidental Illegal Strikes)
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Heavyweight (265 lbs): Josh Diekmann vs Manny Lara
ROUND 1- Diekmann pumps the jab and throws a kick. However, it looks like he pumped the jab with a little too much finger because Lara steps away bleeding and it’s called off.
Winner: No Contest (Accidental Illegal Strike)
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Lightweight (155 lbs): Ryan Quinn vs Andrew Calandrelli
ROUND 1 – The round starts with the notorious ground fighters using their stand up to set up the ground game. Jabs and low kicks exchanged. That soon gives way to Quinn throwing a few heavier strikes. He spends most of the round prodding forward with Calandrelli on his heels. Finally, with a minute left, Calandrelli shoots a takedown. It’s unsuccessful and Quinn takes this round on our scorecards.
ROUND 2 – This round starts with more of the same. Quinn landing and moving forward. The feints seems to be the difference here. Calandrelli changes the pace a bit with a glancing overhand right. He clinches him up and goes for the takedown, but after a little struggle, Quinn breaks. After a few more heavy hands from Quinn, Calandrelli gets another clinch with similar results. They get up against the cage and Quinn gets the best of him. Calandrelli ends this one bleeding and down two rounds.
ROUND 3 – A little more urgency from Calandrelli this round, but he seems tired. After a couple of body kicks, Quinn has him backing up again. Calandrelli is throwing, but it just seems to be one at a time and Quinn’s movement is keeping him out. Quinn gets a trip on a leg kick, Calandrelli gets right back up. Calandrelli finally begins to throw more. He’s moving forward now. A few cracks in and with 10 seconds he throws wildly, but winds up in a clinch. May be enough for Calandrelli to win the round, but Quinn wins the fight 29-28 on our cards.
Winner: Ryan Quinn (9-4-1) (Unanimous Decision – 30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
———-
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs): Atanas Djambazov vs. Egidijus Valavicius
ROUND 1 – They feel each other out a bit and Djambazov looks for the takedown. Valavicius sprawls on it and lands a knee on the way back up. Back to their feet, Djambazov is looking for big hooks and he’s throwing them with intent. Valavicius seems to be trying to get more clinch work in. Djambazov eats a fist and looks stunned. Valavicius moves forward and gets the knee he was looking for. Djambazov falls back and Valavicius lands a haymaker on the ground to bring an end to this one early.
Winner: Egidijus Valavicius (26-10) (Rd 1 – :48 – Knockout)
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Featherweight (145 lbs): Saul Almeida vs Andrew Fisher
ROUND 1 – After the initial feeling out process, Almeida shoots for a takedown. He gets Fisher against the cage and works his way to a body lock. He sucks out his lower half and gets him down. Fisher takes some time to work back up, but Almeida keeps that body lock. He pulls him back down again. Fisher pushes the head down and works back to his feet a second time, but Almeida gets a hook in. He doesn’t seem to be able to get the second, but he kicks off the cage and takes a full body triangle upon landing. He spends the last 90 seconds there and takes the round on our scorecards.
ROUND 2 – Fisher starts this round with the body lock against the cage. Almeida pushes away and then telegraphs a takedown of his own. Pushing through he gets Fisher up against the cage and then takes his back. They land back down and Almeida locks up another body lock. He works for awhile from there. Until about 10 seconds left when Fisher turns in. Almeida tries to get arm triangle from his back, but time expires. He goes ahead two rounds to zero.
ROUND 3 – Uppers from an urgent Fisher to start this round and he lands a couple. Almeida looks stunned. He drops down desperate for the takedown. Fisher stuffs it and winds up on top himself. He tries to do damage, but Almeida gets space and sweeps. He lands in side and looks for a d’arce. He appears to have it locked up. Fisher rolls him over and Almeida might still have it from the bottom. He loses it and Fisher starts dropping shots from side control. He moves into crucifix and really starts damaging Almeida’s face. Almeida gets his hand back, but Fisher moves back to crucifix. He ends the round dropping shots. He clearly wins the third, but the fight goes to Almeida on our cards 29-28.
Winner: Saul Almeida (14-5) (Unanimous Decision – 29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
———
Featherweight Tournament (145 lbs): Scott Cleve vs Daniel Weichel
ROUND 1 – Weichel starts the round out right with a strong right hand. They trade a bit more and Weichel seems to be getting the best of Cleve. He’s changing levels well, faking a takedown and landing a straight. Cleve is getting his share in too. Weichel goes up stairs with a head kick, partially blocked. Cleve catches a kick and lands a right that seems to make Weichel think twice. They circle and Weichel lands a hard right. He pushes forward and lands a combination that has Cleve stunned and down. He looks almost out as Weichel tries to finish from side. Cleve grabs a leg and tries to reverse the position, but Weichel takes his back and sinks in the choke tight. Cleve tries to turn in, but it’s no use and he taps.
Winner: Mike Weichel (32-8) (Rd 1 3:46 – Submission, Rear Naked Choke)
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Featherweight Tournament (145 lbs): Will Martinez vs Goiti Yamauchi
ROUND 1 – They touch and Yamauchi throws some big hooks. Martinez sends some back his way. Both of these guys came to throw leather. Yamauchi hits hard and Martinez goes for a takedown. Good sprawl and they separate. Some more throwing and Martinez shoots in again. Yamauchi uses the transition to look for an omoplata and a heel hook. He gets neither. The rest of the round plays out with a mix of open guard, de la riva guard, up kicks and odd leg lock attempts. Yamauchi was more dangerous, but Martinez likely wins the round based on control and some minor ground and pound.
ROUND 2 – Press in Martinez and he gets another takedown. More interesting guard work from Yamauchi. He realizes that it’s not winning him the fight and he wall walks back to standing. They separate. Yamauchi lands a body kick and some shots. Martinez stands and trades with him and they both land power shots. Back and forth, back and forth. Martinez tags Yamauchi and it prompts him to drop his hands and ask for more. Martinez stays more composed as the round ends. Close one again, but again likely to Martinez.
ROUND 3 – Martinez lands some shots early. His confidence brims as he attempts a very poorly timed spinning back fist. Yamauchi gets a body lock against the cage. They work off and Yamauchi throws an oddly placed spinning heel kick. More work in the pocket at they throw heavy shots with Martinez getting the best of it. Yamauchi jumps guard and works for submissions. They get back to the feet and it ends there. Martinez wins another round and although they are all close, MMA-Manifesto’s card reads 30-27.
Winner: Will Martinez (9-2-1) (Unanimous Decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Manifesto Prelim Awards
Best Fight: Will Martinez vs Goiti Yamauchi
-Great aggressive grappling from Yamauchi and lots of heavy shots from both. Had the fans excited the whole way through.
Worst Fight: Josh Diekmann vs Manny Lara
-It only lasted a few jabs and a poke in. Very disappointing.
Crowd Favorite: Josh Diekmann
-While his fight ended kind of early, the fans got behind him before and after the fight.
Best Walkout Song: Goiti Yamauchi (“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor)
– Goiti fell back on this classic and the crowd seemed to love it. Honorable mention to Andrew Fisher for walking out to “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz. It takes guts to walk out to that.
Main Card
Results:
Featherweight Tournament (145 lbs): Desmond Green vs Mike Richman
ROUND 1 – Richman takes the center of the ring and jabs away. Both fighters work to find their range. Green lands an eye poke and Richman takes a second to recover. He’ll continue. Green thinking takedown, but Richman sees it a mile off. He’s using leg kicks to keep the distance. Green moves forward for a straight and awkwardly falls. He’s right back up, but it happens again. There appears to be something wrong with his right knee. Richman kicks it a couple times, but doesn’t exploit it too much. He lands a few shots while Green circles. He’ll win this round on our cards for just that reason.
ROUND 2 – A few failed takedowns from Green starts this round. RIchman lands a few shots as Green continues to circle. Richman lands a few more, but Green slips past and gets a head and arm takedown. Richman works out, but Green takes his back. He hits some knees to the thighs as Richman works back to his feet. He throws him back and Green is in side control. He spends the round between there and the back landing punches. He wins this one clearly on our card and we’re all tied up going into the 3rd round.
ROUND 3 – The round starts with jabs from Richman. He’s working the center as Green moves around. Richman misses a leg kick and that’s only the second he’s thrown since Green’s apparent injury. Green shoots in for a double leg, Richman sprawls on it well. He gets a front headlock and goes back to his feet. Richman continues to work the jab, but Green is getting counters in. The round ends the way it started, with Richman chasing down Green. Green may have landed more, but MMA-Manifesto’s card gives it to richman for staying active. He gets the fight on our card 29-28.
Winner: Desmond Green (Unanimous Decision – 30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
———
Featherweight Tournament (145 lbs): Matt Bessette vs Diego Nunes
ROUND 1 – Nunes starts the round with a mad rush. Bessette weathers the early storm. He lands some leg kicks and then weathers another storm. He takes minimal damage. Bessette throws a leg kick, but Nunes catches this one and trips. Bessette in butterfly guard. Nunes moves to half and is landing some shots. Back to guard, Bessette looks for some arm bars and triangles. He makes it back to his feet and breaks. Nunes hits a flying knee that sends Bessette to his back. He ends the round in guard and a clear one for Nunes.
ROUND 2 – Nunes again starts this one moving forward. Bessette countering here and there, but Nunes getting the best. Nunes moves forward and Bessette catches him and sends him to the canvas. He tries to follow up, but Nunes pins him against the cage to recover. They trade shots throughout the round, but Bessette seems to have turned the tides. He lands a pair of rights. Nunes ends the round with a takedown, but it’s not enough to steal the round on our card. Bessette wins this one.
ROUND 3 – Nunes throws a kick and Bessette catches it. he lands a body kick off of it. They trade kicks a bit more. Nunes keeps throwing huge power shots and the head movement of Bessette is keeping him just out of range. He dodges one and beckons Nunes to bring it. I few shots by Nunes. Bessette returns with a few of his own. Bessette lands an uppercut and rocks Nunes a bit. Nunes pins him up against the cage to recoup. He fails at a takedown and they separate. Bessette hits a right hook and a straight to end the round and that might be enough to steal it. We give him the fight 29-28.
Winner: Matt Bessette (13-4) (Split Decision – 28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
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Light Heavyweight Tournament (205 lbs): Muhammed Lawal vs Mikhail Zayats
ROUND 1 – Fight starts with a long feeling out process. Lots of respect on both ends. King Mo in on an early takedown. Zayats works back to his feet. Mo gets in a punch of the out. Mo is landing jabs and really loading up on the right that hasn’t landed. A good body shot from Mo lands. He gets a left too. Zayats hits a combination and the round ends with a lot more respects. Round to King Mo.
ROUND 2 – Zayats opens the round with a hard leg kick. A lot of respect still is unsettling the crowd. Zayats lands some on the combination running in. King Mo tries a number of takedowns, all failing. He gets one close, and gets some knees, but is largely unsuccessful with his grappling. Zayats lands a jab or two and another leg kick. More respect and a few small exchanges. Zayats wins this one on our card, but there was barely enough action to call a winner.
ROUND 3 – Zayats starts this round with a little more forward motion. He moves forward on a combination and partially lands. Overhand right by Zayats blocked. Some more leg kicks by Zayats. King Mo catches one and tries to trip, but fails. He fails on a few more before he gets one to work. He gets the back, but no hooks, but Zayats gets right up. A few more failed takedowns for Mo, while Zayats looks to land here and there. Another rough round to watch, but we give it to Zayats. Fight to Zayats 29-28.
Winner: Muhammed Lawal (12-3) (Unanimous Decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
———
Light Heavyweight Tournament (205 lbs): Rampage Jackson vs Christian M’Pumbu
ROUND 1 – Rampage is instantly moving forward and M’Pumbu is already circling away. Rampage calls for action and M’Pumbu signals back to him. They show disrespect for opponent, while resecting the skills. Rampage makes the first move in and tags M’Pumbu. They lock up and switch on the cage a few times. The referee eventually breaks them up. Dancing around, Rampage hits a jab that sends M’Pumbu to the mat. He jumps on him and lands two heavy shots. M’Pumbu is out cold and Rampage is in his face talking smack.
Winner: Rampage Jackson (34-11) (Rd 1 4:34 – Knockout)
———
Manifesto Main Card Awards
Best Fight: Matt Bessette vs Diego Nunes
-A few near knockouts and constant action. The crowd’s intensity may have swayed me on this one, but I enjoyed every second.
Worst Fight: Muhammed Lawal vs Mikhail Zayats
-Too much respect led to tentativeness and King Mo flipping off the crowd. Not a pretty sight during or after.
Crowd Favorite: Matt Bessette
-It’s hard to out do Rampage Jackson, but I think anybody who has ever met him was in the house. At least it sounded that way throughout the fight.
Best Walkout Song: Matt Bessette
-Maybe it’s a sign that I am not currently with the times, but I noticed none of the songs on the main card. Bessette wins because he’s won everything else and the dubstep he came out to had some energy.
Daniel Vreeland is a writer and teacher with an avid love for martial arts. He has practiced jiu jitsu and submission grappling under and next to many top names including Royce Gracie, Rousimar Palhares, Murilo Bustamante and Marco Alvan. He has placed in multiple NAGA grappling tournaments and currently trains under black belt Dave Roy in Amherst, MA.
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