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Alessio Sakara, Rome, Italy TKO 1 James Irvin, Citrus Height, CA. Irvin (14-6, 10 KOs, 2 SUBs) made his debut at middleweight (185) to take on the always dangerous Alessio Sakara (15-7, 9 KOs, 2 SUBs). Irvin had to cut a lot of weight to get down to middleweight but seemed to have spring in his step as the fight began. After a tentative start by both men Sakara landed a solid left hook which caught Irvin directly on the right eye, cause him to turn his back and collapse in the corner cringing in pain. After further review, it was ruled that it was a legal punch and not an accidental eye poke as it may have first appeared. Thus, the match was ruled a TKO in Sakara’s favor.
Cheick Kongo, Paris, France SUB 1 Paul Buentello, Amarillo, TX. Kongo (15-6-1, 9 KOs, 3 SUBs) was able to dominate the always game Buentello (27-12, 17 KOs, 9 SUBs) for the better part of two and a half rounds until Buentello tapped out after receiving vicious elbows to the thigh. It appeared Kongo forced the stoppage by the sheer accumulation of punishment.
Junior Dos Santos, Salvador, Brazil KO 1 Gabriel Gonzaga, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Both men got to business throwing kicks and punches early on. After a few minutes of rather even action, Dos Santos (11-1, 8 KOs, 3 SUBs) threw a beautifully timed left hook that landed right on Ganzaga’s chin sending him crashing to the canvas. Gonzaga was able to momentarily defend the coming onslaught but after a few seconds Dos Santos got back to Gonzaga’s chin and put him to sleep with punches on the ground.
Jon Jones, Rochester, NY TKO 1 Brandon Vera, San Diego, CA. It only took Jones (10-1, 6 KOs, 2 SUBs) just over three minutes to stop the very durable Brandon Vera (11-5, 7 KOs, 1 SUB). Jones was able to take Vera down rather easily and looked to work ground and pound. It was inside Vera’s guard where Bones landed a vicious elbow that caught Vera on the right orbital bone just outside the eye. Vera immediately reacted and turned away as Jones pounded away until referee Herb Dean stepped in and stopped the fight. Jones continues to impress and is no doubt a serious force in the light heavy weight division.
Matt Grizzle