Beatdown for the Brave Happens in Killeen Friday Night

For Texas MMA Fans, we are entering what promises to be a truly exciting time. With Texas fighters Darrill Schoonover and Justin Wren joining Kimbo Slice and former NFL stars in the cast of Season 10 of UFC’s Ultimate Fighter TV show (what will most likely be the most watched season to date), promotions like King of Kombat in Austin putting on high-quality fights, UFC returning to Texas for UFC 103, and rumors flying for other great local fighters making the leap to the big-time in the weeks to come, it is easy to argue Texas is finally coming into its own on the national MMA scene.

(Not to mention The Texas Testosterone Festival will be the center of the MMA universe August 15 and 16 with UFC’s Amir Sadollah and Jiu Jitsu legend Relson Gracie hosting seminars, a jiu jitsu tournament hosted by Gracie, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez, and King of Kombat’s August 29 fighters in attendance. Register for the Seminars and Tournament today to secure your spot.)

That is today. If you want to see what is happening in Texas MMA tomorrow, make the trip to the Harker Heights Event Center for Beatdown for the Brave where 18 up and coming amateur MMA athletes fight for the heroes, Killeen and Ft. Hood’s large military community, some just back from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Harker Heights Event Center is just a short drive from IH-35 at 710 Edwards Dr. Harker Heights, TX 76548. Directions can be found here. General admission tickets are $20.00 and are available online by clicking here.

Full fight card (in expected order from first to last):

Joe Gorman vs. Benny Serrano

Scooter Glaustenshire vs. James Vick*

Sean Holden vs. Tim Goehl

Danny Flick vs. Jonathan Rivera

Donathan Hill vs. Louis Flores

Ken Krentz vs. Andre Kavanaugh

Burt McDonald vs. Jamison Brown

Jimmy Flick vs. Jimmy Alexander (125 lb. Title Fight)

Zac Childers vs. Robert Reavis (185 lb. Title Fight)

All non-title fights are scheduled for 3 rounds. Title fights are scheduled for 5 rounds.

Judges will be Mike Karlson, Ryan Schutt, and Hector Maldonado

*Early reports was James Vick was having car trouble and may not be able to arrive early enough to compete.

Darrill Schoonover Rumored for TUF 10

While Kimbo Slice and a handful of former NFLers are getting the attention, Texas’ own Darrill Schoonover is the one we’re most excited to see in action. Boasting a 10-0 record with wins over some of the region’s best Heavyweights over the past two years, Schoonover will take a solid resume of victories up against an internet sensation and NFLers without a Superbowl ring among them.

Here is footage of Schoonover taking on Justin Howard from Austin.

Another versus Jacob Hart

Our coverage of Darrill Schoonover previously.

If you find more online footage of Schoonover please post links below.

King of Kombat Returns August 29, not August 22

Updated 5/21: King of Kombat has moved their next show not only to August 29, rather than the previously announced August 22, but they will also be at a new venue, The Austin Music Hall. No word if the venue will be called The Austin MMA Hall for the show. A very exciting lineup of fights is being promised but nothing has been announced yet. Stay tuned!

Thank goodness it’s the weekend AFTER the Texas Testosterone Festival. That would just be entirely too much manliness in one weekend. Perhaps the second most vital event for you to attend in August (cough, cough), King of Kombat will return to the Crockett Center on Saturday, August 22.

The announcement comes on the heels of King of Kombat 6 being featured on HDNet’s terrific Inside MMA show and King of Kombat promoter Ron Hernandez being interviewed by Steve Sievert for MMAJunkie.com. (Sievert will be interviewing the UFC’s Amir Sadollah live on stage at The Texas Testosterone Festival.) MMAJunkie.com does tend to put up some highlights from Inside MMA so keep your eyes peeled for King of Kombat 6 highlights to possibly make their way online there.

Fight speculation for the King of Kombat 7 card should begin now… fights we’d like to see?

Welterweights: A rematch between Mikel Bronzoulis and Kamal Shalorus for the Welterweight title should be at the top of the list for just about everyone. Brian Cox won by brutal KO on the last show and would be great to have back. Not sure of too many people who would want to fight him though.

Lightweights: Nick Gonzalez defending his Lightweight title against Todd Moore or Moore throwing down with Duece King for a vacant title if Gonzalez is committed to Bellator. Derek Campos is 3-0 and is probably one win away from being able to contend. Is Lane Yarbrough that test?

Middleweights: Chris Spicer is everyone’s favorite Texas middleweight and while he hasn’t fought for KoK before, he’s active and has fought for nearly everyone else. Ken Laney must be itching to return to the King of Kombat cage since his last opponent didn’t show for KoK 6. Would Brandon Farran move up to 185 to take either of these guys on?

Heavyweights: Darrill Schoonover just keeps winning. He also hasn’t fought for KoK before but he’s active and there must be a Heavyweight out there to give Schoonover a big test before he’s called up to one of the national shows. Joel Traves?

Phil Cardella Wins at Shark Fights in 47 Seconds

WEC lightweight and Gracie black belt Phil Cardella showed off his jitz tonight by submitting Texas MMA veteran Johnny Flores in a mere 47 seconds by armbar. The Lubbock Shark Fights show featured a number of big-show veterans including Cardella, living legend Don Frye, Ultimate Fighter bad seed Jesse Taylor, Shannon Rich, as well as a Heavyweight title bout between Texas MMA scenesters Darrill Schoonover and Rex Richards.

We weren’t there but we believe the play-by-play probably went something like this:

The ref signals the start of the fight. Cardella and Flores circle each other. Flores is caught in a wicked armbar.

Flores taps before his arm is broken. Cardella wins via armbar at :47 into round 1.

XFC Results: April Coutino upsets Jen Babcock for XFC Women’s Title - Updated

An amazing night of fights for a huge crowd at the Travis County Expo Center tonight for XFC was highlighted by April Coutino’s stoppage of favorite Jen Babcock as well as Darrill Schoonover’s TKO of Relson Gracie fighter Justin Howard. A number of MMA superstars were in attendance including Paul Buentello, Anthony Macias, Jeff Monson - who did not compete, Shannon “The Cannon” Ritch, and Nick Gonzalez.

Dennis Gregory vs. Josh Lee

Rd 1: Lee quickly takes down Gregory and begins to work effective ground-n-pound. Gregory scrambles and defends well but is never able to mount much offense. TTF scores the round 10-9 for Lee.

Rd 2: More of the same for Lee as he gets an early takedown and capitalizes on the top position. TTF scores the round 10-9 for Lee.

Rd 3: Lee begins the round with a couple high kicks that don’t seem to connect but quickly secures a takedown shortly after and returns to grounding and pounding Gregory. Lee begins to pass Gregory’s guard and turns in a spin to north-south position where he lands some heavy punches from above and transitions to side-control. From side-control Lee attempts a kimura that looks like it might be enough to submit Gregory but Lee quickly abandons it to make sure he holds position.  Lee controlling position well, transitions to knee-on-belly and then traps Gregory’s arm between his legs as he returns to an improved side-control. Time expires as Lee begins to rain hammer fists and punches down on Gregory again. TTF scores another convincing round 10-9 for Lee.

Result: TTF scored this a dominating 30-27 win for Lee but two of the judges saw something in Gregory’s performance during one round, we’re just not sure what round it could be. Judges score 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 win for Lee by unanimous decision. Great fight to start the card. Lee has tremendous positional sense and Gregory has an amazing amount of tenacity. The crowd is pumped.

Daniel Gibson vs. Chris Tremel

Rd 1: Both fighters look ready. Tremel looks particularly confident. Right hand from Gibson seems to have hurt Tremel early. Tremel is now flat-footed despite being light on his toes earlier. Tremel throws a left hook, right hook, low right kick combination that Gibson counters with a straight right and Tremel is out before he kisses the canvas. KO is similar to Fedor’s KO of Arlovski a couple weeks ago. Tremel is KO’d clean. The crowd is surprised but absolutely roaring over the exciting conclusion to this fight.

Result: Gibson by KO, Round 1.

Ryan Carranza vs. Casey Hobson

Fight scratched.

Matthew Green vs. Roy Babcock

Babcock trains with Jackson MMA in Albuquerque and is one half of the Babcock fighting couple on this card - wife Jen is fighting for the Women’s Championship later tonight. 

Rd 1: Both fighters try spinning backfists at the same time and both miss! Never seen that before. Green is able to turn the corner on a single leg takedown and ends up in Babcock’s guard. When Babcock begins to apply a triangle choke Green makes the classic mistake of picking up his opponent and trying to slam him to the mat. Babcock uses the momentum to secure the choke and Green taps shortly after.

Result: Babcock by triangle choke, Round 1.

Conan Cano vs. Brandon Farran

Rd 1: Cano goes for a double-leg right from the opening bell but Farran sprawls and brawls, landing clean punches to the sides of Cano’s face and head. After taking much punishment Cano is able to determinedly  get top position, ending in Farran’s half guard. As Cano attempts to transition to mount he is reversed and Farran takes the mount. When Cano gives Farran his back Farran quickly goes for the rear naked choke and, after punching Farran a couple times behind him, Cano taps.

Result: Farran by rear naked choke, Round 1.

Cedric Marks vs. Daniel Gantman

Jeff Monson is in Gantman’s corner who is introduced as being an American Top Team fighter.

Rd 1: As the fighters clinch Gantman quickly establishes himself as the stronger fighter. He is pushing Marks against the cage and muscling Marks relatively easily. Once they fall to the ground, however, Marks reverses Gantman to take top position but finds himself in a very loose triangle. Marks chooses to throw punches with his free left arm instead of scrambling to get out of the position. Meanwhile Gantman works elbows into the top of Marks’ head and patiently cinches the triangle ever-tighter. Marks taps.

Result: Gantman by triangle choke, Round 1.

First intermission: Shannon Ritch and Jeff Monson take the center of the cage to announce Monson has signed a contract to compete in XFC June 13 at the Travis County Expo Center, but does mumble something about trying to get his legal problems resolved.

There have been some amazing fights so far. The crowd is very pumped and we’re excited to hear the submission attempts getting the same sorts of roars as the punches and kicks. This crowd knows its MMA.

Tony Melton vs. Grady Briley

Rd 1: Melton defends Briley’s takedown attempts, lands an uppercut then a combination on Briley that are some of the hardest punches thrown so far tonight. Melton starts his next combination with a superman punch that has Briley covering up. Briley then gets taken down and Melton takes side control before unleashing a barrage of punches and hammer-fists to end the round. TTF scores the round convincingly 10-9 for Melton.

Rd 2: Melton lands a left hand that backs Briley up into the fence. Briley is breathing heavily to start the second round. Melton looks fresh as he lands some good inside kicks that seem to bother Briely. The fighters scramble with seconds left to go in the round. Briley lands a knee flush to the face of Melton as the round ends but it appeared Melton’s knees were down when the knee landed. The referee does not pause the fight. Bell sounds to end the round. TTF scores the round 10-9 for Melton.

Rd 3: Melton lands a left-right combination that drops Briley but he recovers before more damage is coming. Melton continues to press Briley and eventually gains a clinch. From there, Melton lands vicious knees to Briely’s forehead which is cut and begins to trail blood down his face. Melton enjoys landing those knees so he goes to clinch again and lands more as the fight ends. TTF scores the round 10-9 for Melton.

Result: TTF scores the bout 30-27 for Melton but the judges unanimously score the fight 29-28 for Melton. Perhaps the late-moment knee to the face of Melton at the end of the second swayed them. First and third were all Melton.

Izzy Johnson vs. Ryan Lopez

Lopez is an impressive-looking athlete. He is introduces as a cast-member from The Ultimate Fighter Season Eight and has UFC veteran Anthony Macias in his corner.

Rd 1: Lopez makes a sweeping kick that takes Johnson’s legs out from under him. Lopez swarms but Johnson stays calm and is able to return to his feet where the two fighters wrestle for underhooks against the fence. Lopez tries to guillotine Johnson but the neck isn’t there. They continue to wrestle. Lopez drops for a single-leg but his neck is too far exposed. Johnson sinks a deep guillotine and Lopez is forced to tap. 

Result: Johnson by guillotine, Round 1.

Chris Spicer vs. Jon Kirk

Spicer comes out to Johnny Cash. The crowd loves it.

Fight of the night. Back and forth battle with Kirk often on top grounding and pounding while Spicer tries one submission after another, including an armbar to triangle transition in the second round that had everyone amazed. Unfortunately for Spicer, the 3 minute rounds didn’t give him enough time to work and Kirk superior positioning and cage control gives him a unanimous decision win. 

Jen Babcock vs. April Coutino for the XFC Women’s Championship

Babcock is considered by many a heavy favorite in this one as she is a Greg Jackson-trained fighter with a great record. Coutino appeared very unassuming at the weigh-ins yesterday but seems focused and confident coming to the cage tonight.

Rd 1: Babcock shoots for single-leg but Coutino defends well with a headlock that prevents Babcock from moving to Coutino’s back. Coutino looks strong - she takes Babcock down to the ground with the headlock. Coutino seems amazingly calm despite having one arm trapped as Babcock begins to slide on the triangle. Coutino is turned to one side, making the triangle difficult to apply, and is landing punches and hammerfists from above.  Some are connecting solidly. Coutino pulls out as Babcock transitions the triangle to an arm bar. The referee pauses the bout so a ringside doctor can look at the tremendous swelling beneath Babcock’s left eye. Her left eye is nearly sworn shut. The doctor calls a stop to the bout and Coutino is elated with the upset victory. 

Result: Coutino wins via doctor stoppage, Round 1.

Doug Williams vs. Patrick Castillo for the XFC Interim Heavyweight Championship

Rd 1: The fighters quickly clinch - while Williams is landing punches Castillo is landing knees and a grinding elbow to the face. Williams hates the elbow and tries a takedown that is sloppy, ending up mounted by Castillo. From there, Castillo returns to grinding his elbow into Williams’ face until Williams spins and gives his back, then returns to being mounted and very effectively covers up while Castillo rains down ineffective punches. Castillo surprisingly gives up the mount to return to standing position. The move seems to have been the right thing to do as Castillo rains punches, knees, and kicks on Williams until he crumples to the canvas just as time expires. Williams seems to have been saved by the bell.

Rd 2: Castillo returns to knees and elbows in the clinch that are very effective. The fight is paused momentarily while Castillo’s mouthpiece is recovered, rinsed, and returned. As Castillo begins to pour on the knees to Williams’ face in the clinch you can see Williams begin to get quite shaky. Williams just can’t stop the knees. He crumples to the canvas and the referee stops the fight.

Result: Castillo by TKO, Round 2.

Justin Howard vs. Darrill Schoonover

Very competitive fight with both men landing solid punches and kicks on the other. During the second round, Howard ducks from a Schoonover right hand and ends up being punched in the back of the head. After much discussion with the ringside doctor Howard admits he is having trouble seeing as a result of the strike and the fight is ended.

Result: Schoonover via TKO, Round 3.

The crowd is upset at the result of this fight but everyone has to be happy with the fightcard as a whole. Texas MMA Talent is rich and if the talent is this good in young fighters like Schoonover, Coutino, Spicer, and Farran, the future is going to only get better for MMA. Awesome night of fights.

Our picks:

Fight of the Night: Kirk vs. Spicer - plenty of back and forth action, true MMA with action on the feet as well as on the ground. This is a fight that should have had 5 minute rounds because both fighters have the stamina for it. Great fight.

KO of the night: Tough to argue Daniel Gibson doesn’t deserve this. His KO of Tremel was definite highlight reel stuff.

Submission of the night: Great that there are a bunch to choose from. Babcock’s triangle choke on Green was a thing of beauty as Green was able to pick Babcock up and slam him from inside the triangle, only to find himself deeper in it.

XFC Official Weigh-Ins

XFC’s public weigh-ins are tonight at 7:00 at Shiner’s Saloon at 422 Congress in Austin but the official weigh-ins happened at the XFC Training Center in lovely Cedar Park from about 2:30 to 3:15 this afternoon. The fighters were relaxed and hungry. The weigh-ins were officiated by Program Specialist Hector Barragan. Weights listed below are unofficial but the best we could make out standing just a few feet from Barragan.

No real exciting news other than Chris Spicer’s opponent, Jon Kirk, weighed in at 188 and has to share a couple hundred bucks of his purse with Spicer right from the get-go since he missed the 185 limit. Spicer came in at 184.5.

Daniel Gantman weighed in at 185.25 but possessed the heaviest shorts in the world, which he removed and weighed in at 184.75 on this second try. Opponent Cedric Marks watched closely. He weighed in at 178.5.

Here are a handful of the photos we took from the weigh-ins this afternoon. 

Chris Spicer 184.5	Jon Kirk 188

Darrill Schoonover 239	Justin Howard 248

April Coutino 124.25	Jen Babcock 125.75

Conan Cano 181.75	Brandon Farran 177.5