By Jim Terwoord
Dana Pitcher Productions blew into Wild Bill’s on Friday night, May 15th for their second MMA show in less than a month – and the twelve fight card was a real doozy. The man with the hat and cigar treated the crowd to a night of nastiness that will be remembered for bloody noses, broken bones and of course, the “babalicious” beer tub chicks, adding to the urban MMA legend that Wild Bill’s Fight Night has become.
The first fight was over like a firecracker - fast and loud. Joey “El Guido” Lopez of Savannah took on Kenny Yearwood of Valdosta in a 145 pound amateur fight that started furiously with some very nasty exchanges. Gomez managed to score a quick takedown, but Yearwood was able to sink in a deep G choke and the fight was over just as fast as it began – in 36 seconds.
The main event featured Stephen Bass against Nathan Murdock in another 145 pound collision. Bass (Savannah – Champions) brought a 3-0 record into the ring against the lanky Murdock, who entered with a 6-2 slate in a battle of skilled veterans. These two turned the ring into a “spinarama” free-for-all that nearly saw both go through the ropes on more than one occasion. Bass proved the more effective grappler, taking down Murdock in each of 3 hard fought rounds. Murdock fought much of the fight from his guard, but was unable to do much more than a last second reversal in the second that wasn’t enough to keep Bass from earning a unanimous decision.
The “fight of the night” award went to Clay Shackleford and Audris “the Lithuanian Hammer” Smaginas in a 155 pound battle that had everything but bullets and body armor. The “Hammer” served harsh notice of what was to come with a hard knee shot foul of Shackelford early in the first that caused a five minute “equipment check” time out. Shackelford came away from the dreaded “groin shot” with a lousy disposition and proceeded to land a savage combination of shots on the Smaginas smacker, probably breaking his nose and the two crashed to the canvas in a clinch, with Shackelford trying for a G choke. Pulling out of the attempted choke, Smaginas raised his head an emptied what looked like a half pint of blood onto his opponent’s chest, bathing both in a shiny red paint job.
After a referee’s time out to check the Smaginas schnoz, the boys went back to play again. This time the bloodied Smaginas took down Shackleford hard and managed to gain mount, pummeling him hard from all angles. Twisting to his stomach to protect himself, Shackelford gave up his back to Smaginas who sunk in a deep (and sticky) rear naked choke for a comeback win at 2:39 of the first. This was a ball buster of a bout and GeorgiaMMA kudos go out to both fighters. The fight was exactly what MMA is all about!
The carnage continued in a 170 pound bout that featured Billy Jackson (Cornelia – Team Hammer) against Jeremy “the Repair Man” Surratt (Savannah- Champions) in a three round bone cruncher. Jackson, who looks more like he’s come to audit your tax return, rather than clean your clock, quickly dispelled that notion, putting a hard right on Surratt, dumping him to the deck. The second round showcased several spinning kick and backfist attempts by both fighters with no serious damage done. In the third, Surratt gained control from the top, twisting Jackson’s arm into an obscenely acute angle that resulted in an audible snap – and the fight was over by TKO stoppage due to a broken arm. Ouch! If Surratt is the “Repair Man” - I believe I’ll stick with this old body.
Derick Schroeder and William Vivar got it on in a Pro match at 135 that had the 19 year old Vivar testing the veteran Schroeder, who at 40, is over twice his age. Vivar fought hard throughout and seemed comfortable on his feet, but Schroeder was clearly the better rassler, with Vivar unable to fend off his relentless takedowns. Schroeder prevailed by armbar tapout at 3:07 of the third, but both dudes earned the “sensible haircut” award from GeorgiaMMA.com for their conventional coifs. No red racing stripes for those two guys!
Bad hair was back in the next brawl, with the debut fights of Aaron Johnson (KnuckleUp) and Raymond “Ray Ray” Cortez (Douglas – ExtremeFightingAcademy) in a 185 pound mismatch that probably shouldn’t have happened. Johnson, who looked like the incredible hulk having a bad hair day, simply tore Cortez apart, dominating every facet of the fight that was thankfully stopped by the doc at 2:15 of the first round before something really ugly happened.
In another 185 pound contest, Jimmy ‘the Beast Master” Lancaster (Savannah – Champions) took on Rusty Riddle of SC (Southeast Karate) in the debut battles for both men. It was over – fast. Lancaster took Riddle down with a bang at the outset, which Riddle quickly reversed, but then fell into a choke that the powerful Lancaster used to force a submission a scant twenty two seconds into the first round.
In the only battle of big boys on the card, Jacob Adams (Douglas – Extreme) took on Derick Emig (Cornelia – Team Hammer) in a heavyweight contest in the debut fight for both amateurs. Emig managed to take down Adams early in the action, but Adams managed to reverse and eventually gain mount, sinking in a winning Kimura almost as the timekeeper was slamming the deck with ten seconds remaining in the first.
Dustin Waters and David Zavala tangled in another amateur bout at 150 pounds. The taller, more powerful and better trained Waters dominated Zavala, who was forced to take a standing count early on by a nasty head shot. The fight ended by corner stoppage at 2:29 of the first round.
In a Pro 145 pound event, David Derby (KnuckleUp) and Maajid “the Mongoose” Al’kush (Savannah – Champions) tangled in “the tap that no one saw.” After a spirited early battle, the combatants tangled in a pile, directly in front of our ring side vantage point. Following a lengthy discussion among the officials and both corners (about what we’re not sure), the fight was declared a win by knee bar tap for Al’kush. I never saw it and am still looking for someone who did.
Another Wild Bill’s winner – and there’s more where that came from boys and girls. Wild Bill’s next Fight night is Friday, July 18th. Tickets are already on sale at Ticketmaster or the Wild Bill’s Fight Line (404-626-2126). Be there – or you’ll only read about that one too.
Jim Terwoord
GeorgiaMMA.com
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