Ultimate Northwest Fighting Championship 2
August 7, 2009 Kuna Idaho
F Bar Arena
Idaho Fight League and Confetti Productions
Last night August 7, 2009 we got the invite to attend Ultimate Northwest Fighting Championship 2, in Kuna Idaho. The card was promoted by Cezar Luna and his company Confetti Productions, while the match maker was none other than Idaho’s own Ray Perales, fighter and owner of Idaho Fight League. The fight was originally going to be held outside, but due to weather the card was moved to the F Bar Arena. Hey it is Idaho and guys will throwdown anywhere and everywhere. The set up was actually pretty damn cool and reminded me of MMA mixed with Roadhouse. The seating was great for all the fans and there was not a bad seat in the house.
The lights dim and the fights have begun. Smoke and fog fill the arena and Disturbed is blasted over the speaker set up and IT”S TIME TO FIGHT!
Chris Higgins vs. Gabe Bernal
Chris Higgins is a solid looking guy, kind of reminds me of a Matt Lindlan type, guy looks like the good ol boy of the Midwest or in this case Eastern Idaho, while Gabe Bernal looks like a guy that has a few street fights under his belt and is just here to chunk em and keep it standing. My first instinct is that Chris Higgins is taking this to the ground if he’s smart.
Round 1
Bernal has Higgins against the fence early on, but Higgins reverses the position and Bernal against the fence now. Higgins lands some short knees to the body. Bernal trying to land some short dirty boxing uppercuts, but Higgins again with the knees to the body, and Higgins gets the takedown. Higgins into side control and Bernal looking to his corner for advice, Higgins trying to land some shots. Higgins buries his forearm into Bernal’s throat and just bearing down with all his weight and Bernal taps.
Chris Higgins with the win 1st round at 58 seconds due to forearm choke.
Rowdy Akers vs. Tim Kelly
This is the fight that I had been waiting on, Rowdy Akers vs. Tim Kelly. Akers being from Team Hardcore trained by Brandon Shuey, was coming in on a two fight losing streak to start his career. We didn’t get to see his 1st fight, but after seeing the heart of this kid at the CCF 18, he quickly has become a favorite for me. Kid is just one of those rough and raw guys. Kelly on the other hand at the weigh ins had a cigarette and beer in hand for the majority of the night. I do have to say though that he came out and brawled. I was happily surprised to see that this fight wasn’t a blow out in the 1st round.
Round 1
Akers lands some shots early and he is coming out hungry for the win wanting to finish it early, but Kelly answers back with shots of his own. Kelly gets Akers back to the fence, But Rowdy puts Kelly’s back to the fence. Akers with a pick up and takedown, Kelly grabs Akers head and they’re on the ground. Rowdy working to get his head out. Akers doing a great job to keep his head down and turned so Kelly couldn’t get his neck.Akers still inside of Kelly’s guard and Kelly tries for a guillotine, Akers lands some small shots and breaks free. Akers throwing leather and and Kelly lands an upshot. Akers stands up and tries to land another shot, but backs up and tells Kelly to stand up. They are both on their feet and the crowd is loving this. Akers comes out swinging, and Kelly throwing shots back. Akers attempts a high kick, but no damage done. Both fighters doing a little feeling out, and Akers shots in grabs Kelly and slams him to the mat! Kelly on his back holding Akers neck and Akers landing on Kelly’s face.Kelly gives up his back and Akers takes his back, Kelly reverses him and is in Rowdy’s guard. Kelly trying to stand up and the round ends.
I give the round 29-28 Rowdy Akers
Round 2
Kelly lands a nice shot, they both lock up and Kelly goes for an outside leg trip. Akers grabs Kelly’s leg and gets the takedown. Akers has Kelly up against the cage and throwing some punches, Akers takes side control and Kelly doing a damn good job of not being dominated in this fight. I didn’t think the kid stood a chance, but he has kept up. Akers landing some more shots, Akers stands up and comes back down with a shot and back into side control. Akers into half guard and he is dropping some blows, and Kelly is out. Rowdy Akers with a TKO from Ground and POUND!\
Rowdy Akers with the win TKO at 1:16 in the second round.
Blake Durst vs. Ulysses Vargas
Both of these fighters were making their MMA debut, so this could be a good fight!
Round 1
Durst and Vargas both land some shots early out the gate. Durst attempts to get a guillotine but Vargas has an arm in. Durst is off the ground and Vargas might slam him, but instead lets him down and pushes him off. Vargas lands some shots and Durst is on his ass, Vargas jumps on Durst while he is down. Vargas just unloading shots, not many landing but the crowd likes the action. Someone is cut and Durst’s blonde hair has patches of blood in it. Durst looking like he wants no more, while Vargas is still coming with punches in Dursts guard. They’re back on the feet and Vargas with a solid right. Durst again with a guillotine attempt and Vargas picks him back up, Vargas pushes Durst off and Durst is eating shots. Durst gets an arm bar attempt and goes to his back. Vargas is just landing shots to Dursts head while he is on his back. The shots aren’t big, but from across the cage I can hear Durst’s head bounce off the mat. Durst pulls guard and Vargas is trying to fold him up and they both take a rest. Vargas lands some shots, Durst though isn’t taking a lot of damage. The pace has slowed and this is where you see that they are first time fighters and they take it to the bell with not much action.
Vargas is the one who is bleeding and he has a nice cut on the bridge of his nose, and above his eye. Durst is still laying down and having to be helped to his corner. Durst looks like he might puke, Durst is saying that he can’t come out, Durst is verbally quiting between rounds.
Ulysses Vargas your winner as opponent can’t answer the bell at the start of round two
Raay Savant vs. Gapo Bernal
This one to me had no chance of going any other way then how Ray Savant wanted it to. Some of you may know Ray form his website Raysavant.com if you have some time go check it out, he is a pretty original guy. Savant was just the more powerful, bigger, stronger fighter. Savant was a solid and I mean solid 237lbs. While Bernal was just like his brother, a guy from the street with a few boxing matches on the block, but no solid training.
Round 1
Gapo shoots in right out the gate and runs Savant into the fence and tries for a double leg, but Savant just to big. Savant throws some punches and Bernal backs away. Savant smiles and looks like he is ready to have some fun. They separate and Bernal again charges in. Gapo with the double leg again and Savant with some big rib shots on Bernal. Gapo falls to his knees and Savant still landing power shots and he gets a good liver shot and Bernal drops his hands and the fight is over. Gapo is tapping due to stikes.
Ray Savant your winner by Tapout due to strikes 25 seconds in round 1.
Marc Pearson vs. Marc Dawson
Pearson was the bigger kid heights wise and just size. Dawson’s nickname was the bulldog and the kid looked just like a bulldog. He was short and stout, built like a brick shit house, only problem for him, his opponent was as well. This was a battle of two thick guys.
Round 1
They touch gloves and Pearson lands and Dawson answers with a leg kick and a punch. They both exchange leg kicks, and they are both throwing gloves, Pearson lands and Dawson goes down. Pearson runs up and they clinch and Pearson goes for an arm in guillotine and Dawson up against the cage and tries for the takedown and I would say Pearson scores the takedown. Pearson passes to side control, Pearson trying to land some knees and they are not doing much, but Pearson has total control of this fight on the ground. Pearson attempts a kimurah and lets it go, Pearson takes full mount and he is landing punches and Dawson taps due to strikes. Dawson is cut pretty damn good on his eye and he is dripping blood. Great finish by Pearson
Marc Pearson your winner Tapout due to strikes 1:38 in round 1.
Brian Merrill vs. Austin Sessions
Austin Sessions was from Team Hardcore with Brandon Shuey and I thought that this could be bad for Merrill. Merrill how ever looked cut and in much better shape than Sessions. Sessions was a bigger, softer kid. Any rate I thought that this fight had to be good.
Round 1
Touch gloves Sessions throwing some hands trying to connect and Merrill goes for the single let and Sessions turns him. Sessions ends up on his back, with Merrill inside his guard. Merrill lands some rib shots, Sessons grabs her arm and looks for the armbar, while eating some rib shots. Sessions gives up the armbar and tries to go for a knee bar, but he is to slow and Merrill takes his back. Sessions stands up and turns his back to the cage., Merrill turns him and slams him. Merrrill back in Sessions guard, Merrill’s corner yelling at him to posture up and land some punches. Merrill trying to land some shots, but Sessions is keeping it close, Sessions creates some distance but can’t get up fast enough and Merrill has top control in North and south.. Sessions lands some nice midsection shots, Merrill with a nice takedown and ten seconds left, and that’s the end of round one.
10-9 Merrill is how I saw this one.
Round 2
Touch gloves and Sessions comes in swinging and Merrill just eat them. Sessions puts Merrill into the cage and Merrill with the reverse. Merrill and Sessions exchanging shots as they both dirty box against the cage. Merrill with a solid knee and Sessions locks up with him and looks for a throw. Sessions lets go and comes out swingin, Merrill hit with a nice uppercut, but it doesn’t look like Sessions has much into these punches. Back in the center of the cage and Merrill throws a week high kick. Sessions starts swinging again and Merrill catches him with one. Sessions pushes Merrill in front of us into the cage and he backs up and starts swinging. Merrill swinging back and he looks like he is head hunting. They circle and Merrill hits him with a solid uppercut and Sessions backs up and doesn’t look like he really wants to fight. He backs up and comes back in swinging for the fences but they don’t have much on them. Merrill goes for a takedown and ends up getting it. Sessions with Merrill in his guard. Somebody is bleeding, and Sessions rolls Merrill over and ends up in Merrill’s half guard. Sessions trying to create some distance and Merrill is the one bleeding from a cut on his chin. Sessions inside of Merrill’s guard and he lands a few shots before the end of the round.
Round 3
Touch gloves and Sessions misses with his kick, as does Merrill and Sessions lands a few shots. They clinch again and push up against the cage. Sessions gets turned so his back in against the cage. Merrill throwing some punches. Merrill lands some solid knees. Both fighters miss on the few shots they throw. Merrill takes Sessions back and Sessions rolls back onto his back. Both fighters loading up their punches, but you can tell both of them are exhausted. Merrill lands a solid shot on Sessions, and everytime Sessions gets hit he back away. Sessions gets a hold of Merrill and holds him against the cage and the ref breaks them up. Merrill lands two solid shots and Sessions lands a solid knee in response, and again. Merrill with an uppercut. Ten seconds left and Merrill starts swinging and Sessions lands a knee. They’re both swinging and the bell rings. They both swung through the final bell, that was a great fight.
We got to the Judges scorecards
Judge #1 30-27 Sessions
Judge #2 30-27 Merrill
Judge #3 29-28 Merrill
Brian Merrill wins by split decision as the fight goes to the judges score cards.
Danny Zenor vs Leonard Owens
Zenor looked like the dominant fighter out the gate for me, clean cut kid that just had that confident look. Owens looked like a scrapper, but Zenor just looked to be the one to dominate the fight.
Round 1
They touch gloves and Zenor lands a solid left and he is still punching. Zenor shoots for a double and doesn’t get it. Owens with a nice sprawl. Zenor transitions 2 times in a few seconds and this kid is fucking quick. Someone is cut as Zenor has blood on his back and arm, Zenor unloads a few more shots. Zenor shoots again and ends up to far in, He grabs the single and tries to roll Owens but no roll. Owens with top control in north and south, and Zenor breaks free and stands back up. Both fighters circle and Zenor with a solid head kick and it lands clean! Damn that was the best shot of the night! Owens shakes it and they end up back in north and south. Zenor has his back to Owens and flips it and stands back up with his back to the cage. Zenor goes for the guillotine and pulls guard. Owens breaks free and they go back to north and south. Owens working for the guillotine. Zenor rolls him over and throws some shots and Zenor takes Owens back sinks in the rear naked and Owens taps.
Danny Zenor wins due to tapout from rear naked choke 2:20 in round 1
Zack Owens vs. Rolando Davila
Owens was the hometown favorite and Davila flew in from Wyoming. Owens was a tall, skinny, young guy, while Davila was thicker and shorter with a few years on Owens. Owens had the crowd behind him and was very cocky in his introduction while Davila looked like he was there to fight.
Round 1
They touch gloves. Davila with a superman punch and they lock up. Owens pulls guard and Davila lands some nice rib shots, and he lands some more. Owens has a triangle and Davila pulls out of it and slams Owens back to the canvas. Owens grabs Davila’s leg and he is going for an ankle lock and he has it. Davila doesn’t panic and he is trying to land some shots. Owens lets go of the leg. They are both rolling around and Owens takes Davila’s back and he is looking for the rear naked choke, but he is having a hard time getting his arm under Davila’s chin. Owens puts a body triangle on Davila and he lands some nice shots to the body and head. Davila gives up the rear naked choke and Owens does not hesitate sinking it in and Davila taps. The hometown favorite wins by tapout.
Zach Owens winner due to tapout by rear naked choke 1:14 in round 1.
That’s the night, some good fights and it was nice being able to see some new fighters and even to get to see some fighters from out of state. Look forward to seeing Ray Savant fight again, the guy is a beast. I also have to say that Zach Owens, Rowdy Akers, and Danny Zenor all could be individuals to keep an eye on. Ray and Cezar took good care of us and we want to say thanks again to both of them and their companies for having us out, look forward to more fights.
