I’m pretty active on twitter
So XKO hit us with “XKO: Summer bash”. Also known as XKO 46. and I really like the XKO promotion, maybe because its my local promotion, maybe because I like the little themes that they come up with, and maybe because I like the format. – They sprinkle Muay Thai events in the fightcard to off-set some of the more grapple-heavy bouts.
Anyway, So the show wasn’t around the Arlington area this time. This time it was at “Gas Monkey Live” in Dallas and I am not a fan of this place holding MMA events. It was weird, with a huge bar dividing the cheap seats and you have to order your food from the kitchen, at the bar. The cage seemed really far away, and Its like, you pay money to be in an area that they just try to sell you stuff
I’ve been to two other local MMA events this year, and the crowd at this one were a little different. I wonder if the “Just bleed crowd” stayed at home to watch UFC Sacramento.
Main Event
Armando Servin vs Mario Nelson – Muay Thai
Round 1
Nelson is jacked. And they Muay Thai that they are showcasing here is, Muay Thai for MMA, but its high level Muay Thai for MMA. There is a little feeling out process in the first round, kinda like how the Thais do it it.
Round 2
Nelson has one of those bodies where, its not even offensive if he has his shirt off, it’s like his shirt is supposed to be off. Anyway, Servin seems to be having the better of the exchanges in this round.
Round 3
Nelson starts to hit Servin with a lot of push kicks, and at one point goes into a point-karate stance and throws some side kicks.🚩 Nelson wins by unanimous decision
Nelson has great kicks and looks powerful, but I don’t think he knows how to manage his muscle mass. He doesn’t use good footwork, and he can look a little heavy in there, but he’s a fantastic prospect for sure. I’m curious to see how he does in MMA. Servin looks technically sound, but he wasn’t willing to get into a dirty fight, I think that ultimately cost him the fight. Both guys looked pretty good in this Muay Thai bout
Loren Benjar vs Sam Hughes
Round 1
A lot of clinching with Hughes looking a lot crisper. Benjar is determined and throws a lot of volume
Round 2
Benjar is more game in this round, landing a solid head kick and getting some strikes off. Hughes clinches and hammers some knees to the body, Benjar goes down and Hughes finishes her with punches. 🚩 Hughes wins by TKO
These ladies were high level. I will be following both of them. Benjar was coming on strong and then Hughes made an adjustment, Benjar then upped her game, then Hughes made another adjustment. If these ladies are lucky with avoiding injuries we’ll see them at the higher level. I didnt get to see a lot of ground combat, but I’ll be following both of them.
Audrey Wolfe vs Lizzy McMullin – Featherweight
Round 1
Clinching and hitting with Wolfe getting the better of the exchanges. McMullin takes her down and Wolfe is able to get up and take McMullin down, Wolfe then works to lock up an armbar. 🚩 Wolfe wins by submission.
Wolfe is a little slow on the feet, but she looks slick on the ground. She has great wrestling and good Jiu Jitsu. Her striking seems to have improved from when I last saw her. She is related to one of my co-workers who wanted me to watch her. Wolfe actually came by my area, and I thought I’d name drop my co-worker, she didnt care too much, who can blame her, she was just in a fight and pretty emotional. McMullin should’ve tried to keep the fight on the feet. It was her first pro fight, and I don’t think she scouted Wolfe very well.
Evers Anderson vs Omar Benjar – Bantamweight
Round 1
Feeling out process until they clinch. Benjar puts Anderson in a guillotine for a while, Anderson is able to get out and get it to the floor and get on top. Anderson goes for a guillotine of his own and Benjar gets on top
Round 2
Great feints from Anderson, but he cant seem to pull the trigger. Benjar rocks Anderson and gets taken down at the same time.
Round 3
Both are apprehensive and evenly matched. Benjar has a little more finesse in his striking. 🚩 Anderson wins by split decision.
I thought that Benjar should’ve won, but to be fair the decision was razor close, its like both guys were fighting with the hand-brake on. They both look to have good fundamental striking, I just think Benjar just needs to be first in his exchanges, he needs to throw more volume and wait less. Anderson had a very similar problem. It was a tough night in the Benjar household, as both Loren and Omar lost.
Josael Fuentes vs Alejandro Gomez – Muay Thai
Round 1
Gomez is having success with kicks to the far thigh. Its an all action round,
Round 2
Gomez keeps hurting Gomez to the thigh, that is the big takeaway from the round
Round 3
More kicks to the far thigh from Gomez, but Fuentes has a lot of heart and fights through it. Fuentes rocks Gomez with some straight punches late in the round. 🚩 Gomez wins by unanimous decision
Very entertaining fight. Fuentes has a got to learn how to check kicks, and cant just rely on toughness. Gomez had a pretty good game plan.
Zak Alm vs Hamza Al-Saad – Featherweight
Round 1
Alm throws great stuff and has great awareness and really wants to take the fight to the ground. He fights really scrambly
Round 2
The only thing I can say to summarize this round is that Zak Alm really wants this to be a ground fight.
Round 3
They go to the mat. Al-Saad gets up a couple of times but it goes to the mat again and Al-Saad gets caught in a triangle. 🚩 Alm wins by submission
This is my second time seeing Hamza Al-Saad, and this is going to be my second time commenting the same thing, he needs to work on his ground game. He looks very strong, and his body looks like a classic “submission wrestler” type of body, but he is just not confident on the ground. Alm had supreme confidence on the ground, and I don’t like it. Your’e a little overconfident if you put yourself in that position so many times. His striking looked passable in the first round, I’d like to see a lot more of that, but I will be following both of these guys.
Marquis Jones vs Delmer Pierce – Bantamweight
Round 1
They start off by throwing hands. Pierce doesn’t use much head movement, but he uses his speed to get him out of trouble. Jones goes in for the clinch and pierce gets a hold of his neck. Pierce gets the tap with a standing guillotine choke. 🚩 Pierce wins by submission
Pierce looks very strong and exciting. His hands flailed around in the first round, so I know his striking isn’t very technical, but what he lacks in technique, he makes up for with speed. He just looked like he was willing to adapt to where-ever the fight went. Jones looked as though he was out of ideas, and it was like he was playing more defense than offense. Jones has a way to go, and the mental side may be a big part of the journey
Austin Powers vs Mark Eitel
Round 1
Eitel gets the takedown and beats up Powers on the floor. He takes Powers’ back, but the man from Arlington survives.
Round 2
They slug on the feet and Eitel lands some strikes, then Powers gets more technical and scores with some big blows. Eitel gets a takedown and Powers reverses and ends up on top.
Round 3
They’re both gassed, and Eitel is looking to clinch. Powers is winning the striking exchanges. 🚩 Powers wins by unanimous decision.
Powers has a great upside. He has great defensive wrestling, great defensive Jiu Jitsu and good boxing, when he settles down and gets focused. I think he has some cardio issues. If he can solve his cardio issues, he’ll be able to maintain his incredible boxing for longer. I’d like to see him add some submissions to his game as well. I know that wrestlers love that head and arm choke. Anyway, he’s an exciting prospect. Eitel has a lot of work to do. He’s not very confident in his striking, and his wrestling is below average. Eitel needs to go hard on getting his striking up to par.
Sean Moriarty vs Darwin Johnson – Welterweight
Round 1
Johnson is out of Dallas, and has big support from the crowd. Moriarty takes Johnson down and they stand and clinch. Johnson gets up and they wrestle, and Johnson sprawls and locks up a D’arce as the round comes to an end.
Round 2
Moriarty is having a little success on the feet and goes for the clinch for some reason. Moriarty is just looking to hold Johnson’s legs
Round 3
Johnson comes out and blasts Moriarty and gets the TKO. 🚩 Johnson wins by TKO
Moriarty looks bad in this fight. His style seems like “lay and pray” which is sad because he looked like he had some boxing chops in round 2. I don’t know if he’s scared of Johnson, or if he’s just not confident in himself. Johnson looked powerful, but to be honest, it was hard to judge his technical skills in this fight
The XKO referees were unbroken, they were good
The XKO 46 Summer Bash T-Shirts were unbroken, even though I didnt get one
Those Nachos were unbroken