Strikeforce Challengers Series Live Coverage

Michael  Roehlk posting on Joshua Stein’s account because we have had some issues getting into the areana.  First we had a mix up with getting the press pass; second my blog password was not working, and lastly it took about 10 minutes to get an internet connection here at the Savemart Center.  Josh and I are finaly here and we are getting ready for the first fight between Alex Trevino and Rico Altamirano

Alex Trevino v. Rico Altamirano

Rico comes out throwing a few solid kicks then gets a takedown.  not too much action on the ground and the fight gets stood back up rrally the round has continued like this for 5 minutes

Round 2

Much more exciting round Alot of good knees and takedowns by both fighters, as well as a Triangle Choke attempt by Trevino.  Good back and forth action in the second round.

Round 3

Rico comes out throwing leg kicks for the first 30 seconds followed by a head kick.  to counter the head kick of Rico; Trevino looks for a clinch but is taken down by Rico.  after the ref stood the fighters back up Rico landed a big head kick followed b y more clinch work, and another takedown by Rico.  If i had to pick a winner of this fight i would have to pick Rico Altamirano.

Decision:

Rico Altamirano Wins by unanimous decision

Josh’s Note: This was a great fight and while Alex Trevino definitely lost, he looked pretty good. It’s worth keeping in mind that Alex took the fight on short notice, and that he was fighting up a weightclass (normally, Trevino is a lightweight). Anyway, pretty much everybody loses at some point.

Fight number 2 of the night:

Maurice Eazel v. Cole “The Apache Kid” Escovedo

Round 1: The Fresno cround is clearly rooting for the home town boy Escovido, who at the 1 minute mark completely missed a Flying Triangle attempt.  but nailed a leg kick followed by a strait right and a blitzkrieg of punches for the victory in the 1:47 of the first round causing a roar from the Fresno fans.

Josh’s Note: Cole Escovedo was a clear favorite, and performed as such. The flying triangle was a nice touch, but it was very telegraphed.

Fight number 3

Chris “The Urban Legend” Culley v. Casey “The Underdog” Olson

Round 1

After a 15 minute intermission we begin the third fight between Olson and Culley.  lots of quick stand up action to start the round.  Olsen gets a big slam followed by a pass to the mound where he pounds out a victory at the 2:37 minute mark of the first round.

Josh’s Note: Casey Olson won a lopsided fight. Not much to say about it.

Fight 4

Ben “The Teacher” Holscher v. Johnny Goh

Round 1

Big Standing Ovation for the local fighter Holscher i have a feeling this will become a trend for the night.  Both fighters come out looking to find the range with their jabs, before they clinch where Goh delivers a knee to the body.  they separate and continue to strike before Holscher gets a takedown.  Goh gains what looks like a figure for in the guard, making it difficult for holscher to stand back up.  round 1 ends with Holscher throwing a few punches in the top guard position.

Round 2

both fighters come out of their corners looking to strike.  Holscher gets a takedown 30 seconds into the round.  seems like holscher is having difficulty passing Goh’s guard, and is not landing anything substantial.  the ref stands them up at the 3 minute mark.  holscher gets another takedown 30 seconds later, where he gains side control and goes to work with punches from the position.  goh gains Guard with 30 seconds left in the round and the round ends in that position much like the first.

Round 3

Third round sees a continuation of the first and second.  Holscher gets the takedown 30 seconds into the fight, and is alomst triangled right after.  holscher continues to throw punches from the guard.  holscher finaly is able to gain a better position and at the end of the round looks like he has gained a victory.

Decision: Ben “The Teacher” Holscher defeats Johnny Goh by Unanimous decision.

Josh’s Note: Johnny actually looked like he might win briefly in the third round, but if you lose rounds one and two, you’ve gotta finish, and Johnny Goh just couldn’t.

Time for the televised fights

Zolia Frausto v. Elisha Helsper

round 1

This is actualy the first Womens fight i have ever seen in person, and it looks like with another Zoila has the home town croud.  Zoila comes out with a superman punch but no significant damage.  Zoila’s leg kicks seem to be taking a toll on Helsper.  through out the round alot of back and forth stand up.

round 2

this round starts with Zoila throwing a few good strikes countered by Helsper and a rush of punches into the clinch against the cage.  after this exchange the two continued to kickbox until a big head kick by zoila followed by a takedown at the 2:15 mark of the round.  Zoila lets Helsper back up and the kickboxing battle continues to the end of the round.

Round 3

round 3 starts off with some clinch work by zoila against the cage.  Helsper gets a takeworn one minute into the round but is stuck in guard and the ref stands the two back up.  Zoila continues to throw leg kicks that stun Helsper.  the two clinch again and Zoila delivers a few big knee strikes anf gains the takedown at the 45 second mark.  it looks like Zoila has gained a unanimous decision victory to the delight of the Fresno fans

Decision: Zolia Frausto defeats Elisha Helsper via unanimous decision

This was a great fight. Both ladies brought the pain, and I was very impressed, especially with Elisha.

Televised fight 2

Thomas Diagne v. Merritt Warren

Round 1

fight starts off with a big takedown by Diagne who passes into half guard.  Warren regains guard after a small scramble, and goes for a heel hook at the 1  minute mark forcing Diagne to tap.  first submission victory of the night.

Josh’s Note: There is a moral to this story. If you have no submission game, don’t take your opponent down.

Televised fight number 3

Luke Rockhold v. Jesse Taylor

round 1

Taylor opens the fight looking for the takedown.  Rockhold gets back control at the 2:30 mark and delivers punches from the position until he sees an opening for the Rear Naked Choke and gets the victory by submission.

Josh’s Note: This was a pretty good fight, with really solid grappling by Rockhold, especially in the scramble. The short version is that while Taylor put Luke in some trouble, Luke is a monster and pulled out an amazing submission.

Televised fight number 4

Brandon Cash “Money” v. Shane del Rosario

Round 1

Cash comes out and drops Rosario with big right.  the fight then slows down on the ground untill Rosario attempts a triangle but Cash escapes.  to guard where he throws punches. out of no where Rosario pulls off a great omoplata and wins at the 2:57 by way of Omoplata, great fight.

Josh’s Note: This was my favorite fight of the night. Seriously, I’ll have a long writeup on it tomorrow, but (in short) this fight was everything I love about MMA.

Main Event Time

Billy Evangelista v. Jorge Gurgel

Round 1

OK. The Fresno croud is so loud i couldn’t here the introduction of Evangelista, but the fight did start off with some solid striking.  however the two never really had a serious exchange of strikes that would cause a lot of damage untill the two minute mark where both landed a handfull of punches.  the round ended with a takedown scored for Evangelista.

Round 2

Both fighters land solid strikes and leg kicks, in a opening 30 second exchange.  Gurgel seems to be the agressor but evangelista is landing knees and kicks everytime gurgel presses him and scores a takedown at the 3 minute mark.  Gurgel on the ground is very busy using a butterfly guard to try and pass and even attempts a Kimura.  Gurgel tries to use the cage to escape from the bottom but it takes the ref to stand the two back up at the 45 second mark after the stand up Gurgel locks in a Guillotine choke near the end of the round but Evangelista escapes just before the end of the round.

Round 3

Third round opens up with both fighters landing big strikes, but not enought to get a knockout.  with a minute 30 left Gurgel got a takedown fro ma clinch but Evangelista got back up where the two continued to strike until Evangelista got a takedown with 30 seconds left to go.  this was a close fight but my best guess is a gurgel victory by split decision.

Decision: Billy Evangelista Defeats Jorge Gurgel by Unanimous Decision, WOW!

Josh’s Note: Two of the judges scored this fight 30-27 for Gurgel. Clearly, they were watching something else. Gurgel definitely won round three, and could easily have won round two, given the brutal head kick and tight choke he locked in.