Full Report: Jackson MMA Series I
Cageside by Gerardo Martinez
Photos by Ray Mares
Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Jacksons MMA promoter Ricky Kottenstette kept his promise to the raucous crowd in attendance and put on a action-packed show. There were no quick one-sided bouts – just thunderous strikes and kicks from the competitors in the cage.
Having fought in Albuquerque a couple years ago and losing by arm bar, Natasha Creger was looking to redeem herself against Grudge/Jacksons fighter Jennifer “Lil Ice” Berg. The Chute Boxe fighter, Creger, came out true to her style, wasting little time in beginning her redemption. Creger took control standing against the cage and landed some knee strikes to the belly. Berg was able to get in some elbows and face strikes of her own towards the end of the first.
The end came in the second round both fighters spent most of the round in stand-up, Berg was able to take down Creger. Creger locked in an arm bar with her back on the ground and Berg tapped out at 3:47 of the second round.
Inside the cage after de-icing “Lil Ice” Berg, Natasha Creger called out Albuquerque’s Angelica Chavez. Chavez, who was initially supposed to fight Berg, pulled out a couple of weeks before and Creger was brought in as a replacement.
Leyva finishes off Moore
In the co-main, Albuquerque’s Matt Levya used toughness and skill to finish off his taller opponent Doug Moore. In a battle of undefeated fighters, Leyva dominated his opponent in the first round with take downs and strikes from all angles.
The second was much of the same. Leyva took his tired opponent to the ground. Moore tried to reverse his position, but the skillful Leyva kept him on his back. After driving his opponent against the cage, Leyva punished him with a flurry of hammerfists causing the referee to stop the contest at 1:26 of the second round.
In a 145-pound battle, Nate Paterson of Las Cruces outpointed Ryan Webb of Albuquerque. This was an all stand-up fight beginning to end.
Webb dominated the first round landing some explosive side kicks to the body of Paterson knocking the wind out of him a couple of times. Paterson changed his strategy for the better in the second and began landing to the face of Webb by switching stances every now and then. He also began landing more kicks to body of Webb.
Webb came out strong in the third and landed a right to the face of Paterson to start off the round. Both fighters slowed down in the third and the crowd began to boo. There were good exchanges between the two men towards the end. In the end the judges handed Paterson a majority decision win after three.
Kedzie dominates
In the first pro MMA bout of the night Julie Kedzie dominated her opponent Malissa Sherwood over three rounds.
It seemed like this fight would be over quickly as both fighters began the first round. Kedzie had the height, reach and experience advantage, but her opponent was tougher than expected. Kedzie patiently dominated the first round with good stand up and ground game.
In the second her opponent attempted to take the fight to the ground, but Kedzie was unwilling. Sherwood seemed to have little or no stand up skills and Kedzie figured this out early. Towards the end of the round Kedzie landed a powerful side kick to the thigh of Sherwood, taking out her leg and dropping her opponent. The bell sounded and saved Sherwood.
Sherwood had close to nothing left in the tank in the third and Kedzie dominated with impressive kicks and strikes to the humanity of Sherwood. Kedzie dropped Sherwood again with a hard kick to thigh and after a lull in the action the referee stood up the fighters only to watch Kedzie drop her opponent again to end the round.
As expected the judges gave the unanimous decision win, 30-27 times three, to the Jacksons fighters. After the fight Kedzie said “she was a tough tough woman.”
Undercard
In the most notable of the amateur fights Nick Urso of Jacksons and James DeHerrera out of Pueblo, Colo. gave a crowd pleasing performance. The bout was highlighted by a thunderous left kick by Urso to the head of DeHerrera that knocked him to the ground in the second round. The tough DeHerrera actually got up and survived the round. It was all back and forth action throughout all of the three rounds. The judges gave a Urso a unanimous decision at the end of three, but the true winner was the crowd who got an all action fight.
In a catch weight bout Ryan Gomez tapped out Jeff Soderquist by rear naked choke at 1:41 of round two.
In a 145 lbs bout Hunter Tucker wins by unanimous decision against Matt Hunt after three rounds.
In a heavyweight bout Jody McCallon wins by referee stoppage against TJ Scarbrough at 1:54 of round two.
In a 135 lbs bout Angelo Crinzi decisioned Adrian Cruz with scores of 30-27 x 3 after three rounds.
In a 155 lbs bout Tim Dennison defeated Bruce Reis by tap out with a triangle choke at 1:57 of round 2.
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All those in attendance should look forward to the next Jackson MMA series card already scheduled for September 4th.
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