Testosterone Festival Showcase in Houston October 17-18
October 5, 2009 by Garp
Filed under Announcements, Blog, Feature, MMA
We are very proud to be taking the Texas Testosterone Festival across the stage, building on the success of our inaugural event. Immersed in Ink, the national tattoo convention, has invited The Texas Testosterone Festival to showcase during their festival at the Marriott Westchase October 17 and 18.
The Import All-Stars Auto Con is happening at Immersed in Ink but the MMA Bootcamp Intensive has been cancelled! If you pre-registered, please email us for your refund: info@texastestosteronefestival.com
Kamal Shalorus Returns to Action June 20
SWC 7 is being held at the Frisco Convention Center outside Dallas on June 20 and includes a packed card of Texas’s most talented MMA fighters headlined by Kamal Shalorus.
Kamal is coming off an exciting draw against Mikel Bronzoulis at the last King of Kombat show, trading head-kicks and punch combinations with Mikel that had the crowd on its feet and each opponent barely able to stay on their own. Kamal faces 2-0 jiu-jitsu prospect Justin Miller on June 20 in a fight sure to be quite different than the one against the heavy-handed Bronzoulis.
Duece King, Tim Snyder, and Ryan Lopez are among the other fighters on the card. According to The Fight Network, this is how the card looks of late:
SWC 7: Discountenance
June 20, 2009
Frisco Convention Center
Frisco, Texas
-Justin Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus
-Ira Boyd vs. James “Duece” King
-Johnny Bedford vs. Tim Synder
-Frank Barragan vs. Steve Garcia
-Julias Karrow vs. Ryan Lopez
-Sam Mohmad vs. Jay Don Wells
-Josh Clopton vs. Edwin Figueroa
-Jerry Hinojosa vs. TBA
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?
King of Kombat Comprehensive Recap
All of our King of Kombat coverage in one place.
Pre-Fight Information:
Duece King Pre-Fight Interview
Todd Moore Pre-Fight Interview
Mikel Bronzoulis Video Preview
Kamal Shalorus Pre-Fight Video Interview and Workout Footage
King of Kombat Weigh-In Results
Fight Results:
King of Kombat Undercard Results and Fight Descriptions
King of Kombat Superfight Results and Fight Descriptions
Kamal Shalorus vs. Mikel Bronzoulis Fight Description
Post-Fight Video Interviews:
Aaron Suarez Post-Fight Video Interview
Brian Cox Post-Fight Video Interview
Derek Campos Post-Fight Video Interview
Duece King Post-Fight Video Interview
Mikel Bronzoulis Post-Fight Video Interview
Mike Bronzoulis Interview
Interview following his epic fight with Kamal Shalarus.
Kamal Shalorus vs. Mikel Bronzoulis King of Kombat Blow-By-Blow
The crowd is amped for this King of Kombat fight but it will not be a five round championship fight. Bronzoulis weighed in at 171.5 pounds, missing the 170 pound cut-off. The Austin crowd is definitely behind Shalorus as the fighters make their way to the cage. The fighters both look remarkably composed and relaxed as the opening bell rings.
Round 1: Bronzoulis kicks and Shalorus replies with kicks and then a flurry of punches of his own. Lefts, rights, uppercuts, and body shots are all landing flush as Bronzoulis covers. Shalorus takes a weathered Bronzoulis to the ground and unleashes more punches from above. Bronzoulis gets to one knee and Shalorus knees him to the face flush. The referee stops the fight to take a point away from Shalorus for the illegal strike. Bronzoulis doesn’t hesitate to have what is left of the round re-started. Bronzoulis looks more ready to fight than ever even after Shalorus is landing more punches. Shalorus lands a punch to the back of Bronzoulis’s head that Bronzoulis complains of being illegal but the referee disagrees or didn’t see the strike. Shalorus may be arm-tired from all the punches he has thrown so far. Most of those punches landed, hard, and Bronzoulis looks more pissed than beaten as he goes to his corner. TTF scores the round 9-9 due to Shalorus losing a point due to the illegal strike.
Round 2: Both fighters seem tenative after such an active first round. Shalorus lands a brutal right hand flush to Bronzoulis’s face that floors Bronzoulis momentarily. Shalorus is yelling as he lands knees and punches against Bronzoulis against the cage. Shalorus takes Bronzoulis down with a double-leg takedown but Bronzoulis stands back up and the fighters return to the center of the cage. Bronzoulis jabs and both fighters size each other up in the center of the cage. Bronzoulis lands a brutal left kick to the side of Shalorus’s head flush. The kick rocks Shalorus and Bronzoulis follows with knees and punches that are landing. Shalorus clinches as the round comes to an end. It’s a war! TTF scores the round 10-9 for Bronzoulis. Shalorus took the first few minutes of the round but Bronzoulis’s wicked kick and strong punches and kicks afterwards had Shalorus rocked and should have finished all but a superman like Shalorus.
Round 3: Another big left kick from Bronzoulis to the head of Shalorus. How is Shalorus still standing? Shalorus clinches and takes Bronzoulis down and controls Bronzoulis’s back but Bronzoulis is able to escape to the side and the fighters stand. Bronzoulis lands huge left knees to the face of Shalorus in the clinch and Shalorus is forced to turtle. Bronzoulis rains down ground n pound from Shalorus’s half guard until Shalorus effectively ties Bronzoulis up. The referee stands the fighters up. From standing Bronzoulis lands a right-front kick that seems to knock the wind out of Shalorus. Bronzoulis follows with a double-leg takedown of his own as the fight comes to an end. TTF scores the round 10-9 for Bronzoulis. We don’t know how Bronzoulis survived Shalorus’s first-round onslaught and we don’t know how Shalorus survived Bronzoulis’s second and third round onslaughts. Amazing fight. Possibly fight of the night. Don’t know if either of these guys would be interested but a rematch would definitely be highly anticipated.
TTF scores the bout 29-27 for Bronzoulis. The scores are announced - 28-28, 29-27 Bronzoulis, and 28-28 for a majority draw. The crowd voices its displeasure either at the draw being declared or, more likely, their surprise Bronzoulis was not declared the winner. Amazing fight.
We will post a video interview with Mikel Bronzoulis from just minutes after the fight is over as soon as we can. Check back soon.
King of Kombat Weigh-In Results
King of Kombat Saturday, April 25 at the Crockett Center in Austin, TX. Doors are at 6:00 PM. Tickets still available.
Jordan Jackson - Austin, TX (0-0) 145.5
vs. Aaron Suarez - San Antonio, TX (0-1) 147 re-weighed at 146 one hour later
Sherif Ghaly - Austin, TX (0-1) 168.75
vs. Brian Cox - Dallas, TX (2-0) made weight
Ralph Kelley - Plano, TX (6-6) 245.5
vs. Joel Traves - Amarillo, TX (4-7) 243.5
Edwynn Jones - Houston, TX (4-4) 170.75
vs. Red Fraiser - San Antonio, TX (0-0) 168.5
Ken Laney - Houston, TX (2-1) 186
vs. Francisco Alcantara - Corpus Christi, TX (1-3) did not weigh in
Derek Campos - Dallas, TX (2-0) 155
vs. Adam Schindler - San Antonio, TX (3-0) 156
Layne Yarbrough - Huntsville, TX (8-5) 161
vs. Seth Clifton - Dallas, TX (4-1) 159.75
James “Duece” King - Cedar Park, TX (10-7) 155.75
vs. Mike Barreras - Albuquerque, NM (6-2) 156.25
*weight forgiven by King
Tim Snyder - Houston, TX (8-2-1) 141.25
vs. Davis Sylvester - Dallas, TX (3-0) 139
Todd Moore - Houston, TX (9-3-0) 159
vs. Rocky Johnson - Denver, CO (20-8) 159.5
Kamal Shalorus - Austin, TX (6-0) 170
vs. Mikel Bronzoulis - Houston, TX (7-1) did not weigh in during official weigh-ins
Notes from the weigh-ins:
Mikel Bronzoulis was jogging around Dave & Buster’s in an effort to cut two pounds when his weigh-in was scheduled. The search for Mikel was extensive and most of the room bailed rather than wait for his weigh-in and pose-down with Kamal. Even Kamal made his way to an eagerly anticipated plate of chicken and mashed potatoes. We can not report whether he eventually made weight or not.
Aaron Suarez needed an hour allowance to cut the additional pound to compete against Jordan Jackson. Competitive Training Center fighters were 2 of 3 with opponents missing weight on the first try.
The previously announced Freddie Poole vs. TBA and Ryan Larson vs. Ken Jackson fights were scrapped. Jackson reported suffered a KO loss just a few weeks ago and could not get permission to fight from the athletic commission.
Kamal Shalorus Exclusive Interview and Workout Footage
We had the pleasure of filming Kamal Shalorus with boxing trainer Charles Adams and then interviewing him at the Competitive Training Center in Austin two nights ago. Kamal faces Houston fighter Mikel Bronzoulis this Saturday night at King of Kombat at the Crockett Center in Austin.
We were amazed by a number of things. First, Kamal’s striking, in particular his uppercuts, are amazingly strong. Not sure if that translates to the video but the sound of his fists hitting the pads from 10 feet away was awe-inspiring. Secondly, Kamal went from vicious striking to a very relaxed interview at the flick of a switch.
Kamal talks about his training at the Miletich Academy with Pat Miletich and Tim Sylvia, his elite wrestling and its transition to MMA, and what he has taken from seminars with Relson Gracie in combination with his training with Phil Cardella and now at the Competitive Training Center.
Kamal Shalorus defends his Welterweight belt against Mikel Bronzoulis on the King of Kombat card Saturday, April 25 at the Crockett Center in Austin. Sign up on our mailing list through April 23 for a chance to win 4 tickets to the King of Kombat show or visit KingsEmerge.com to purchase tickets online.
King of Kombat Austin, TX April 25 Fight Card Released
In Pride-like fashion, King of Kombat has released the fight card for its April 25 event at the Crockett Center in Austin with just over two weeks to go. For fans of Texas MMA, the wait is worth it.
King of Kombat will be headlined by a Welterweight Championship throwdown between current champion Kamal Shalorus of Austin versus Houston’s heavy-handed Mikel Bronzoulis.
A Lightweight Superfight is scheduled between Houston’s Todd Moore, a veteran of the WEC and Dream promotions who is coming out of a three fight losing streak against John Alessio, Shane Roller, and Shinya Aoki, versus Denver’s Rocky Johnson, a MMA veteran with matches against Alvin Robinson, Josh Thomson, and Leonard Garcia.
Other highlights on the card include a Lightweight grudge match between Cedar Park’s Duece King and four time NCAA All-American wrestler Mike Barreras, Ryan Larson versus Ken Jackson, and Ken Laney versus Cole Cortez.
For the full fight card and press release from King of Kombat, click here.
Kamal Shalorus vs. Mikel Bronzoulis on for King of Kombat April 25
And we hope Houston’s Bronzoulis brings his Jet Blue frequent flyer card because, just like the sun comes up each morning, you can expect Austin’s Shalorus is going to pick his ass up and then put it back down again. And vice versa, Shalorus is most likely going to be punched quite a few times. It’s going to be a great fight. Both of these dudes are scary.
Want to see what Shalorus is up against? We’ve done the homework for you. Videos below.
Mikel has fought twice since these videos were shot, according to Sherdog. Both are TKO’s, albeit against (at the time) 0-3 Joshua Lee and 0-1 Mark Ortiz, but you make the most with what’s in front of you and Mikel seems to consistently do that. He comes at his opponents fast with fists none of the opponents below seem to care for, a strong wrestling base, and solid, though basic, submissions. He beats guys up until they quit, the referee stops him, or he slaps in a choke or armbar.
Mikel Bronzoulis vs. George Sweeney 8/3/08 (fast-forward to 2:30)
Mikel Bronzoulis vs. Edwyn Jones 7/26/08 (fast-forward to 1:10 so you don’t miss the slick “are you ready?” from the referee. VERY cool.)
Mikel Bronzoulis vs. Paul Hansen 7/18/08 (fast-forward to about 3:45) Notice, this fight was only eight days prior to the fight against Edwyn Jones. Hardcore.
Mikel Bronzoulis vs. Robert Larson 5/3/08 (fast forward to about 50 seconds in)
