November 2, 2007

Submitted by:  Ann Dain, ColoradoFightEvents.com

Do you remember as a kid that at the back of the comic book there was a photo of a wrapped gift box surrounded by a halo of question marks?  This was the "surprise box" that you paid $4.95 for and were guaranteed a gift much greater than the price would indicate.  THAT is what Kick Down 43 was all about.  Steve Alley, the charismatic local Ring Announcer/Promoter, had some challenges leading up to Kick Down 43 when many of his scheduled fighters were determined ineligible due to injuries inflicted on them in other recent bouts.  It's not that Steve had a lack of fighters to choose from - there are many eager fighters seeking a chance to be spotlighted in one of Steve's Kick Downs - but, as the professional that he is,  Steve wanted to be sure to have his card consisted of well-matched fighters.  Many of the fighters on the card Friday night were either having their debut bouts or were at least unknown to the local fan base.  But, like the "surprise box" - the little-known fighters did not disappoint the assembled crowd.  Some of these names will surely become well-known in the local fight community after Friday night.

Maybe it was the Friday night time slot or maybe it was the intimacy of the Red Lion ballroom location but the crowds were more date-oriented, clean-cut - even the tattoos were more refined and draped in the hotel environment.  As Dan Magnie and I of ColoradoFightEvents had walked to the hotel entrance, there was a couple hurrying beside us on their cell phone calling their friends to see where they were - how far away were they - where did they  want to save seats.  There was a general buzz of excitement as arriving fans found their seats after getting a drink or checking out their cameras to be sure their batteries are fresh.  Again, like the "surprise box" - this crowd may have had their favorites but they were also open to the new face, the new match because they knew - Steve Alley would have a show that was sure to entertain and excite.

Kim Blanchard vs. Dia Csay

For her debut Muay Thai kick-boxing fight, Dia Csay had a huge fan support section that loudly greeted her introduction to the crowd.  Both girls started by trading well-placed kicks that were balanced by punches that connected with their  head cages.  The fighters made it through the first round with no apparent damage inflicted on either of them yet they had sized each other up to find the strengths and vulnerabilities of their respective opponent.  As the coaches discussed strategy with the girls in their corners, both appeared ready to re-engage.   As the fighters made it through the second round, Dia connected with more punches, more knees and more kicks in spite of being the rookie.  Dia's "fan section" was sitting  to my left and they were on their feet throughout the entire round.  Neither girl seemed to have lost momentum as Round three began.  It was clear that these girls had trained very hard.  Dia did take a hard punch to the head but regained her footing  quickly.  The fight went all three rounds and the entire audience was on their feet cheering for the unflaggingly energy of these two girls.  The decision came down to the judges.  The win was given to Kim Blanchard by split decision.  In the post fight interview, Steve surmised that perhaps Kim's repeated uppercuts might have been what gave her the upper hand when it came to the judges' scoring decision.

Calvin Smedes vs. Geoff Brokx

This fight was to determine the Kick Down Muay Thai Kick-Boxing Lightweight Title belt that had previously been worn by the talented Jack Johnson.

Early in the first round, Brokx was knocked down by a from Smedes.  The referee brought both fighters to their feet and the fight began again.   For a second time just before the end of Round 1, Brokx hit the mat following a blow from Smedes.  At the beginning of Round 2, both fighters came out with more punches than kicks.  The first fighter to hit the mat was Smedes after eating one of Brokx's hooks.  Although Smedes was bleeding from his nose, that seemed only to spur him on with greater determination.  At the start of Round 3, neither fighter showed signs of exhaustion.  The intensity of their blows were undiminished.  Brokx did connect with a punch that dropped Smedes to the mat and caused the referee to send Brokx to his corner for a moment until Smedes regained his footing.    At the very end of Round 3, Smedes was again on the receiving end of a blow that caused him to fall and while Brokx's trainer lifted him in a victory strut around the ring, Smedes also lifted his arms in victory from his corner.  The win by unanimous judges' decision was awarded to Geoff Brokx.  The belt was presented to him by former champion, Jack Johnson.  Steve predicted in the post fight interview that Brokx would be an excellent candidate for the Denver Fury WCL team.

Cameron Thurgood vs. Bryant Kelley

Both of our fighters were young - Kelley at 19 years and Thurgood at 22.  Kelley entered the auditorium to a haunting harpsichord instrumental.  We had seen him fight before and were eager to see him again.   Thurgood arrived at his corner with a wreath of leaves draping his neck.   As the fight began,  Kelley moved quickly against Thurgood, dropping him to the mat twice within a short period of time.    As Thurgood tried to capture Kelley in an arm bar, Kelley picked him up and dropped him twice to extract his limb.  Kelley also found himself in a triangle choke before the fighters were able to return to their feet.  The crowd was very involved in this fight and it was clear that they had clear opinions as to who they wanted to win.  As Round 2 began, neither fighter had diminished intensity.  Kelley was saved from a second triangle choke by the bell - barely.  I wasn't sure how much longer he could have held on before tapping-out.  In Round 3, Kelley connected with several body upper cuts.  Both fighters ultimately fell to the mat but Thurgood maintained the dominant mounted position.    Once again, the decision came down to the judges who awarded the win by unanimous decision 30 - 27 to Thurgood. 

Mitchell Alexander vs. Alex Zuniga

Mitchell Alexander is 37 years old and had been trained by veteran coach and MMA Sensei, Tom Johnson.  As the fight began, Mitchell Alexander took Zuniga to the ground but Zuniga appeared to have trained for this eventuality and exhibited strong evasive moves.  Mitchell Alexander ultimately took the dominant mount position and rained blows on Zuniga until the referee pulled him off to prevent injury.  The fight was over due to strikes  1:16 into the first round.  Alexander won his first debut fight in the ring at an age where most fighters are stepping out of the ring.  In the post fight interview, Steve Alley referred to Alexander's age and labeled him as "his hero" to which Alexander admitted that he was really 38 years old!  Alexander told the crowd that the most challenging element of his participation in fighting is the time he must take to train that takes him away from his family.

Michael Riggs vs. Doug Martinez

Riggs is 36 years old and 2" shorter than Martinez.   Perhaps it was the intimidation of Martinez' heavily inked body or his air of confidence but the size difference seemed much more dramatic as they faced each other to tap gloves.  Shortly after the fight began, the referee called it over just 53 seconds into the first round after Martinez caught Riggs in a choke hold and Riggs expressed a verbal tap when he felt himself losing vision.  The TKO win was awarded to Doug  Martinez.

Matt Vigil vs. Danny Simpson

We knew "Dangerous" Danny Simpson as his photo had graced our photo album cover from a previous event held in Pueblo, Colorado.  We knew him to be an ambitious and ferocious fighter.   Vigil made a dramatic entrance to the ring by catapulting himself over the ropes.  Adam Davis from Red & Jerrys was sitting behind us and told me that Simpson is trained by one of the very best fight teams in Colorado.  As he was saying this, Simpson lifted and dropped Vigil onto the mat.  Although Simpson was in the bottom position, he was clearly confident in his ground game as he gave Vigil very little room to maneuver his fists or body.  Twice in the first round, referee Don Theus had to move the fighters away from the ropes.    Both fighters were unflagging as Round 2 began.  Although Vigil started in the dominant position, the pile became reversed as Simpson took a dominant mount over Vigil's back and attempted to get his hooks in.  Both fighters were extremely strong and Round 2 finished with still no decided winner.    As Round 3 began, Simpson first resisted a takedown by Vigil and then controlled the takedown by flipping the pile to his advantage and taking again the dominant position over Vigil's back.  Behind me I hear:  "Hook in Danny - Hook in".   As Round 3 drew to a close, it seemed clear to me that although this decision would go to the judges, that it would be a Simpson win by unanimous decision - and so it was. 

Jason McQueen vs. Ben Hand

Ben Hand entered the ring looking very fit and ready.  Both Jason McQueen at 35 and Hand at 31 were at the older end of the competitive age spectrum.  Before entering the ring, McQueen bowed with deference to his trainer.  The crowd was intensely and loudly into this fight even before the bell announced the beginning of Round 1.  McQueen took an early dominant position as he lifted and dropped Hand.  Hand caught McQueen in an arm bar until McQueen was forced to tap-out a short 58 seconds into the first round. 

Nathan Gates vs. Anthony Werner

The undefeated Nathan Gates was defending his Kick Down Lightweight MMA title.   Werner came to the ring with 4-4 record and being 34 years old.  Don Theus was the referee for this bout.   As Gates got his head temporarily trapped, he picked up Werner and dropped him to release the hold.  Ultimately Gates caught Werner in a rear naked choke that caused Werner to tap-out 1:39 in Round 1 allowing Gates to retain his title and his belt.

Josh Kirby vs. Robert Martinez

Robert Martinez entered this contest with a record of 1 - 0.  Josh Kirby (with a record of 2 - 1) entered the auditorium in a skeleton Halloween costume with full skull hood.  He unzipped the suit to reveal a heavily tattooed chest while Martinez stood facing his ring corner to ignore the psych being attempted by his opponent.   Martinez started out very strong; connecting with both blows and kicks.  Martinez caught Kirby with an elbow and several uppercuts that drove him to the ground where Martinez continued to drop blows onto Kirby's head.  Almost immediately, the referee pulled Martinez off the fallen Kirby.  The doctor came into the ring to check on Kirby but the fight was declared over as the win was awarded to Martinez by TKO only 39 seconds into the first round.   In the post fight interview, Steve told Martinez how pleased he was to have him as a contestant at Kick Down 43.  Martinez said that whoever he is set up with next, he is already looking forward to the match.

Patrick Wycoff vs. Prentice Ingram

Prentice Ingram was introduced into the ring first and it seemed that I was sitting in the middle of the Ingram fan club!  Some fans sitting right in front of me that had been watching me tap away on my laptop, turned around to be sure I knew their strong preference was for Ingram.  He was undefeated at 1 - 0 but had the demeanor of a more experienced fighter as he leapt over the ropes to enter the ring - nothing but air!  Patrick Wycoff was then introduced to the crowd along with the announcement of his affiliation with the Fire Mountain Fire Fighters.  The introduction set off loud cheers from his fan base. The best way to describe Ingram's style is to say that he had movements that reminded me of the Energizer bunny.  His body action was staccato and when he did fall to the mat, he popped up like he was on springs.   Around me his fans were yelling to Ingram "elbow" "elbow" "elbow" to which he responded as though he could hear them.  Just as Wycoff pulled Ingram on top of him, Ingram wrapped his legs around Wycoff's head and shoulders, proceeding to submit him by arm bar until he was forced to tap-out 2:07 into Round 1.  Steve announced that Ingram had earned a title bout with Nathan Gates.  Sign me up to be front and center for that match!!

Sergio Salinas vs. Ian Berg

The final fight of the night - the Main Event - was a match-up between two undefeated 3 - 0 combatants.   Berg came into this fight two inches shorter than Salinas and at 28 years old, 7 years older, but he appeared incredibly fit without an ounce of visible body fat.  Salinas entered the auditorium to music that hushed the audience as it started softly but built to a beat to announce his presence in the ring.  The fighters sized each other up until Berg stepped forward and with three left hooks, flattened and knocked-out Salinas in 28 "don't blink" seconds into Round 1.    

In the post fight interview, Steve indicated that Ian "Ice" Berg is ready for a title fight.  Berg was quiet and soft-spoken in accepting his congratulations.  This is a fighter to watch!

Steve announced that Kick Down 44 will be rockin' in Casper, WY on Saturday night November 17^th and the final Kick Down for 2007, Kick Down 45, will be held at Fat City on December 2^nd.  More will certainly follow back at the Red Lion Hotel in 2008.

Getting back for a moment to the treats that were featured at the back of comic books - I always yearned for a miniature monkey or a teacup poodle (how did they ship those??) but now that I have a flavor of the thrill of the "surprise box" - I'm all for the element of the exciting unknown!  Steve Alley again put on an incredible card of fighters that were well-matched and generated huge excitement among the growing local population of MMA fans!