Epic Fighting 16 results plus highlight reel
At the conclusion of the show, Epic Fighting 16 at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in San Diego, two of the fighters, Eric Wilson (center right) and Benny Borjon (center, left) received additional trophies. Wilson for “KO of the Night” and Borjon for “Bout of the Night.”
How does that U. S. Postal Service creed go? “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” It’s only a matter of time before someone writes a similar anthem to the Mixed Martial Artist. Despite Friday night’s nasty weather and most everyone suffering from the flu epidemic, the Epic Fighting Series, went on as scheduled and as usual 30 fighters did their best to entertained another packed house in the Main Ballroom of the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in San Diego.
In Bout #1, Chris Kirk (top) got the best of Jose Manuel Huerta.
Bout #1 featured Bantamweights, Chris Kirk (0-1) of Team Jhanex from Victory MMA, Point Loma, San Diego, CA going up against Jose Manuel Huerta (2-1) of the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. This was an extremely even match aside from the closing seconds of both the second and third rounds at which time Kirk gained an upper hand by landing several unanswered blows and managed to gain top position to deliver some ground and pound late in round three. With the mixed decision win, Kirk improved his record to (1-1) while Huerta dropped to (2-2).
In Bout #2, it was Wayne Collier (L) getting the victory over Odon Alvarez (R).
In Bout #2, it was Wayne Collier (1-0) of The Compound in Oceanside, CA, making his debut a success with an unanimous decision victory over Odon Alvarez De La Campa (3-8) of Team Quest, Temecula.
With his reach advantage, Collier was able to maintain the proper distance and clobber Alvarez from afar. By Round #3, Collier had the match in cruise control and closed out the fight with some powerful uppercuts. After winning his first three fights, the always tough Alvarez has now lost eight in a row.
In Bout #3, it was Joshua Kilpatrick (L) defeating Troy Percy.
Bout #3 featured featherweights Troy Percy (0-1) an Independent from Highland, CA going up against Joshua Kilpatrick of Team Quest, San Jacinto, who was making his MMA debut.
This was one of those fast and furious matches and before Percy knew it, Kilpatrick had him in a Triangle Choke hold and put him to sleep for a Submission win at 1:13 of the first round.
For the second time, the match between David Judd (L) and Martin Georges (R) ended up in a draw.
Bout #4 was a rematch between David Judd of Right Cross MMA, Point Loma, CA and Martin Georges (3-1-1) of Team Quest, San Jacinto, CA. Back on November 10, 2012, these two gents fought to a draw.
On Friday night, Georges clearly took Round #1 after landing solid shots to the head along with two decisive takedowns. After Round #2 became far too calculating (not much action) many wondered if another draw was in the making. That feeling remained right up till the closing seconds when Judd landed a final flurry of punches on Georges. Once again, the three judges ruled their bout a draw.
Bout #5 – it was James Pou (R), holding his secret formula energy drink, GENX Premium Energy Drink after getting the best of Greg Mooney (L).
Bout #5 featured two first-timers James Pou of Team Hurricane Awesome of the San Diego Combat Academy, Mission Gorge, S. D., CA going up against Greg Mooney, an Independent from Murrieta, CA.
In this one, Pou had a lot of striking success and ended up with the TKO victory at 1:30 of Round #3.
Bout #6, Luther Smalls (R) defeated Don Murphin.
Bout #6 featured two 155 pounders, Don Murphin of Victory MMA going up against Luther Smalls of Austin, Texas who trains at The Pit.
While Murphin looked impressive with his high leg kicks, Smalls negated that advantage by getting him to the ground for a little ground and pound. The end came in the second round after Smalls caught Murphin with a flurry of unanswered strikes to the head which had the referee calling for a stoppage.
In Bout #7, it was Carlos Garcia (R) over Roberto Lerma (L).
Bout #7 featured middleweights Roberto Lerma of American Top Team, Temecula, CA (1-1) going up against Carlos Garcia of the So Cal Martial Arts Academy, Chula Vista, CA who was making his MMA debut.
This one featured many momentum swings. After Garcia started things off with a hard strike to the head, Lerma made a comeback with some solid ground and pound. Then it was back and forth with the knee kicks in Round #2. In the end, the judges decided Garcia had been the busier and more accurate of the two.
In Bout #8 it was Tim Quiroga (R) getting the victory over Joey Bryant-Sowka (L).
In Bout #8 it was lightweight Joey Bryant-Sowka (1-1) of Swiftkick MMA, Escondido, CA. going up against Tim Quiroga (2-0) of Team Quest, San Jacinto, CA.
Bryant-Sowka got himself in trouble by being wide and off the mark with his punches which left him open for Quiroga’s straighter counters. The end came at the 1:41 point of Round #2 after the referee called for the early stoppage. Quiroga gets the TKO victory.
Julio Aguilera (R) has his arm raised in victory after defeating Chris Fluke (L).
In Bout #9 it was southpaw Julio Aguilera (1-4) of Team Quest, San Jacinto, CA. getting his first win, an unanimous decision victory over Chris Fluke (0-3) of Puminator MMA, Temecula, CA.
After a ton of action in Round #1, things slowed considerably but with Aguilera in control.
Bout #10 winner Tyler Sidders of the Arena has his arm raised in victory after defeating Ritchie Rodarte (L). All photos: Jim Wyatt
Bout #10 featured first-timer, lightweight Tyler Sidders of The Arena MMA going up against Ritchie Rodarte (1-1) of Team Quest, San Jacinto, CA.
After getting off to a slow start, Sidders got a late takedown near the close of Round #1. In both Rounds #2 and #3, the fighters went tit for tat, matching blows, matching kicks, to make this one close. In the end, all three judges had Sidders ahead.
In Bout #11, the excited Benny Borjon (L) of Victory MMA gets the well deserved win over Paul Wentworth, an Independent. Photo: Jim Wyatt
At the close of the evening Benny Borjon received the trophy for “Fight of the Night.”
Bout #11 featured two more rookies, Benny Borjon of Victory MMA in Point Loma, S. D. versus Paul Wentworth an Independent from Wildomar, CA.
In this one, Borjon dominated throughout but Mr. Wentworth showed a tremendous amount of heart as he hung in there after each takedown, after each big shot to the head. The way Wentworth stood his ground, he could have easily been auditioning for the next Rocky movie.
In Bout #12, it was Thomas Watson (L) of The Arena MMA getting the best of Jimmy Melendez (R) of Team Quest.
In Bout #12, Thomas Watson of The Arena MMA defeated Jimmy Melendez from Team Quest, San Jacinto, CA via submission at 1:12 of Round #3.
Watson controlled the action from the outset and took Round #1 with his striking ability. It was more of the same in Round #2, as Melendez barely escaped a rear naked choke. The tap out came early in the third round.
Bout #13: Eric Wilson (L) of Victory MMA has his arm raised in victory after defeating Ruben Covarrabias of Team Quest San Jacinto for the 140 pound title. Photo: Jim Wyatt
Bout #13 was a 140 pound title match between Eric Wilson of Victory MMA and the always tough Ruben Covarrubias of Team Quest, San Jacinto, CA. You couldn’t help noticing that the crowd was anxiously awaiting this match.
Then, don’t blink your eyes, the big KO punch was thrown by Wilson dropping Covarrubias at just 20 seconds of the first round.
At the close of the show Eric Wilson received the trophy for “Knockout of the Night.”
To the victor goes the spoils. Matthew Spencer celebrates his victory over Benjamin Fanjoy in Bout #14 for the 170 pound title. Fanjoy, lower panel right, walks away dejected after becoming the victim of an Armbar Submission hold, while Spencer is congratulated by his support group and the show’s matchmaker extraordinaire Heather Hyatt (top left).
Bout #14 was an exciting 170 pound title match with the majority of the bout being contested on the canvas. Matthew Spencer from Los Angeles (3-1), an Independent, was going up against a local favorite Benjamin Fanjoy (4-0) of The Arena MMA in Point Loma, San Diego.
While on the mat, Spencer ended up getting the talented Fanjoy in trouble twice with Armbar holds. Fanjoy miraculously got loose from the first attempt, but couldn’t in the final round. The submission by Armbar came at 2:06 of the third round.
Matthew Spencer was later awarded the trophy for “Submission of the Night.”
With the fight unable to continue after midnight, Bruce Smith (R) was awarded the victory over David Valdez in Bout #15
Bout #15
Rules are rules. With the clock ticking ever so close to the bewitching hour of 12 o’clock, the final match could not be completed in time to meet the CAMO deadline. After just one round, the decision had to go the scorers’ table. The one round decision went to Bruce Smith from City Of Champions Team 9 MMA over Daniel Valdez of Camp Wolverine.
Mariano Lorde sent along his highlight reel for your review and as always it is topnotch. https://vimeo.com/58681539 The Epic 16 Highlight Reel is from the January 25, 2013 Epic Fighting 16 show at the Four Point By Sheraton Hotel in San Diego.
Epic Fighting 17 has already been announced. Here is the early flier:
