XKO 44 took place at Gas Monkey Live in Dallas, Texas, and they played on the gambling theme all night. “Vegas style” fights took place, and there were both Muay Thai and MMA fights on the card.
I missed some of the Amateur fights, but I caught a couple of good ones before they moved to the main card
Muay Thai
Tracey Thompson vs Turbo
Round 1
Both guys look tentative and both started with their hands down. Not very skillful from either guy, and I can picture both of them getting fucked up by a 15 year old in Lumpinee Stadium. The fight seems like a “Muay Thai fight for MMA” and I feel a little bit better watching it, once I figure out what it is.
Thompson looks apprehensive throughout the whole first round, Turbo is a little more active, I am also disappointed that there is an American Football score after the first round
Round 2
Turbo drops Thompson with a straight right. Thompson starts throwing wildly. Thompson then lands an illegal reinforced knee on Turbo, which stops the action for a while. Reenforced knees are banned in amateur competition. Leg kicks by Turbo puts the fight in his favor. Sloppy fight all together.
Round 3
Thompson comes out and tries to make it a brawl. Turbo looks gassed. Thompson then hits Turbo with a low blow which stops the action for a while. Low kicks by Turbo drops Thompson in the last 15 seconds and the fight comes to an end. 🚩 Turbo win by majority decision.
Both guys need work. Turbo was fighting with his hands down for a significant part of the fight, whether that was because, he was tired or he didn’t respect Thompson, it is a bad habit, and more seasoned fighters would capitalize on this. Thompson has a lot of fighting spirit, but he needs a lot of work.
MMA
Felisha Magallan vs Jackelyn Walker
Round 1
Magallan starts off looking very crisp on her feet. She gets Walker to the ground, begins ground and pounds her, and sinks in the Rear Naked choke. Easy peezie, lemon squeezie. 🚩 Magallan wins by submission.
Magallan looked very professional in this fight, and we learn nothing about her, because she fought a perfect fight, she put on a dominant performance, and I’ll definitely be looking at more fights from her.
MMA
Chris Saenz vs Edmaicon Moraes
Round 1
Saenz starts off looking jumpy, and we have a sloppy stand up fight with Moraes looking a little more polished. Moraes falls to the ground, Saenz goes into his guard, and Moraes finishes him easily with an Armbar. Just like that. 🚩 Moraes wins by submission.
Moraes is a highly touted BJJ player, and never really got his hands tested. Saenz will be disappointed that he couldn’t keep the fight standing longer than he did. Moraes is one to watch for the future for sure.
Muay Thai
Ridvan Vllasaliu vs Vaughn Govia
Round 1
Govia looks great. He looks like he actually fights Muay Thai, and he drops Vllasaliu with a huge body shot. Vllasaliu recovers and Govia drops him again! Vllasaliu is supposed to be a highly touted eastern European kickboxer, but Govia ends the round ripping him apart.
Round 2
Groin shot by Vllasaliu slows the fight a bit. Govia picks up where he left off and begins beating Vllasaliu and pressuring him in the corner. He slows down a little at the end of round 2, but this fight is all about Govia.
Round 3
Vllasaliu looks a little toothless in this fight. He has heart, but he seems a little out of his depth. Govia hits Vllasaliu with a highlight reel Tornado kick and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches. 🚩 Govia wins by TKO
As impressive as Govia looked in this fight, there are a lot of improvements that he can make, he needs to add more leg kicks to his game, his footwork could be a little quicker, and he could cut more angles, but I may be wrong about all of this and Govia just didnt respect Vllasaliu and anything that he brought.
MMA
Katherine Roy vs Valerie Soto
Round 1
Roy takes it to Soto in the first round, Soto decides to wrestle and takes Roy down. Roy ends the first round in full mount
Round 2
Roy needs to escape the clinch and stop playing Soto’s wrestle-heavy game. They briefly come apart and Soto rocks Roy with a right hand. Soto’s cardio is starting to look like it is much better than Roy’s. Soto goes back to her clinch game and begins to throw knees while having Soto pinned up against the cage.
Round 3
Roy is fighting off the backfoot. Soto looks more confident and knees from the clinch is the name of the game. Roy is tough but, she is showing no urgency and her technique flew out the window after she got taken down in the first round. 🚩 Soto wins by Unanimous Decision.
Soto looks impressive, but she was always the hammer in this fight. She just looked more aggressive against the cage. She’s one to watch and I personally think she has a high upside.
MMA
Audry Wolfe vs Trinity Williams
Round 1
Wolfe starts off very kick heavy, and she uses her length to great effect. Williams looks just a little tougher though, even though she is taken to the ground by Wolfe. Williams shows no signs of wanting to get back up and in fact closes her guard in a defensive position, and the referee actually stands the ladies up, which is absolutely horrible. Wolfe then proceeds to fight from the outside for the remainder of the round.
Round 2
Wolfe comes out and looks bigger somehow in round 2, she puts more of a pace on Williams and gets her to the ground and proceeds to put her in a mounted crucifix, then she begins to triangle Williams’ arm with her legs in an Americana position. then she goes cross body and puts Williams’ other arm in a more conventional Americana. The round ends with Wolfe on top. Dominant performance from Wolfe.
Round 3
Wolfe outmuscles Williams with her size and her reach, and Williams almost seems resigned in this fight as she closes her guard while Wolfe is on top. 🚩 Wolfe wins by Unanimous decision.
Wolfe can work on a lot of things, she needs better head movement, she needs better footwork, and she can be robotic at times. If there was anyone on this card that needs a dance class, its Wolfe.
MMA
Desiree Yanez vs Shannon Goughary
Round 1
Flurry by Yanez. She is able to get Goughary down. Goughary is trying submissions, but she really should uses them as sweeps to advance her position. Yanez finds her self on to for the whole round.
Round 2
Goughary comes out kicking. Yanez goes in with her trademark flurries, it gets to the ground and Yanez gets on top. Arm triangle choke attempt by Yanez, then a rear naked choke attempt by Yanez. The rear naked choke should have been sunken in, but Yanez had poor technique, it also didn’t help that Goughary was punching her in her face from the bottom.
Round 3
Clinch work by Yanez. The clinching and the striking makes Goughary look amateur. 🚩 Yanez wins by Unanimous decision
MMA
Hayward Charles vs Evan Cutts
Round 1
The fight starts out with Charles pulling guard. Charles proceeds gets beat on the bottom. Cutts’ top game is very advanced. Cutts is on top all round and the elbows to the body are especially brutal.
Round 2
Charles pulls guard again! Is Charles that afraid of Cutts’ striking? Cutts’ is a true professional on top and his wrestling is advanced. Bully beatdown from Cutts.
Round 3
Cutts takes Charles down. Same as round 2. 🚩 Cutts wins by Unanimous decision.
Cutts is a guy that can go into the UFC and beat top opposition. I have no doubt about that. He is good and being the nail, and he is a professional and consistent hammer. I think he should be top 5 on the local circuit currently
The hooters girls at the show were unbroken
The rap mixed with Tejano at the show was unbroken