XKO had their XKO 48 Casino night “All in” event in Dallas at Gas Monkey live, on a hail-y, rainy night in Texas. I wanted to go, but I also didn’t want to be trapped on the highway, because of delays from hail, so I kept myself at home.
The stream on the XKO site was pretty bad. I missed all of the prelims, and was only able to see small segments of the post fight speeches.
Main Event
Isaiah Gutierrez vs Evers Anderson – Bantamweight
Round 1
This was for the XKO Bantamweight strap. Both guys are feeling out with Gutierrez doing a little more
Round 2
Evers gets a knockdown. They exchange leg kciks
Round 3
Neither guy taking any chances and very apprehensive. Leg kicks
Round 4
More of the same
Round 5
Gutierrez does just a little more. 🚩Gutierrez wins by unanimous decision
I felt like neither of these dudes really wanted to win the title. Maybe the XKO money is that bad. Very apprehensive fight
Landry Ward vs Charles Williams – Lightweight
Round 1
Ward throws several strikes and looks to be winning on the feet
Round 2
Ward winning on the feet, and takes Williams’ back at the end of the round
Round 3
Ward winning on the feet. Ward wins by unanimous decision
I think this is a great fight for Landry Ward. This was fantastic matchmaking by his team. Charles Williams has had some tough fights in his young career, and Ward needed to face someone like him to see where his skills are at. Ward has good Muay Thai, there is a whole lot of room for improvement, but its good right now. He also showcased an offensive wrestling game. I think this was a great fight for his development. I’m interested in what is next for him.
Vaughn Govia vs Ross Stevens 155 – Muay Thai
Round 1
Govia lands a hard body kick, that sis Ross Stevens down. He gets up before the 10 count and Govia lands a beautiful knee from the clinch. 🚩Govia wins by KO
Ross Stevens was fighting MMA Muay Thai. Govia was fighting Muay Thai – Muay Thai – Technical and destructive. He retired from fighting after this fight, but for some reason I believe he’ll be back in some capacity, he’s too good and too young to not be back.
John Pham vs Jeremy Hudson – Bantamweight
Round 1
Pham settles down, gets technical and rocks Hudson with some strikes on the feet. He puts his opponent against the cage and rains down strikes. 🚩 Pham wins by TKO
John Tao, John Pham, John Tao Pham, He really should just pick one and go with it, whatever his name is, he’s exciting, and he bangs. Now he’s a guy that should challenge for the XKO title. This guy looks like he actually puts on a show. I have yet to see his ground game, but I think I’ll be seeing it very soon, because I know a lot of guys are not going to want to deal with his striking.
Clarence Brown vs Andrew Sosa – 182 Muay Thai
Round 1
Andrew Sosa took this fight on two days notice with no training. Sosa lands some good knees in the clinch
Round 2
Good Muay Thai refereeing in this one – breaking up stake clinches, and allowing the fighters to fight out of certain situations
Round 3
Sloppy on the feet from both guys. Sosa is gassed. 🚩 Brown wins by unanimous decision.
I thought Sosa won this fight. If this fight was full Muay Thai rules, I know Sosa would’ve won this fight. He was the aggressor and he threw the most punishing shots.
Jaden Mitchell vs Dannie Pierce
Round 1
*Missed the entire round 1* because of stream trouble
Round 2
Mitchell lands a knee to the body to win the fight. 🚩 Mitchell wins by TKO
I really would like to see more of Mitchell. That’s about it
Noah Villemaretta vs Wrangler Hicks – Welterweight
Round 1
Hicks throws a kick and Villemaretta takes him down and grinds on him on the ground. He takes full mout and finishes with ground and pound. Villemaretta wins by TKO
So this is only Villemaretta’s second amateur fight, but he looks like he knows what he’s doing. He looks very raw, but he also looks like he’s handled situations like Hicks’ before. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t crowd-friendly, but it was effective. I’ll be keeping an eye on Villemaretta.
John Pham was unbroken