By Jim Terwoord
Friendly Dalton turned into a rough town on Friday, June 6th, when Extreme Freestyle fighting blew into the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center. Known as the carpet capital of the universe, there was no plush padding inside the square Dalton cage; instead there were knockouts, submissions and even a “drive by booting.” There goes the neighborhood - but the crowd loved every minute of it.
Tim Gawenda and Joe Watson anchored the eight fight card (down from an advertised thirteen) in the main event, a professional welterweight tangle. The longer Gawenda, who appeared stronger on the ground, won by tapout submission via leg triangle at 3:56 of the second round.
In another pro fight, Ramonte Chapman defeated Ben Pierce in a 145 pound event with a savage knockout just 28 seconds into the first. Stunning Pierce with a vicious right to the head, Chapman got in another five or six shots from the ground that quickly finished the fight.
The third pro fight of the night featured Greg (we think) Maryska against David Derby (we think). Maryska was making his pro debut that ended badly when referee Tony Mullinax stopped the fight at 4:09 of the first for a TKO win by Derby.
“Fight of the night” honors went to Justin Doyal and Jacob Clark in a welterweight flail fest that went three rounds. With both fighters swinging wildly in a pell mell slugfest, the only question was whether they would have enough juice to remain standing at the end of the fight. They did – and Doyal won a unanimous judges decision. A good, gutsy performance by both fighters.
Ian Stephens (we think) took on Lyle Ledford in a 180 pound match that went the distance. Stephens, the better grappler, won a unanimous judges decision.
Elliot Tieman and Joey Martin hooked up in a lightweight event dominated by Tieman. Catching Martin with a kick that toppled him like a tree in a well executed “drive by booting”, Tieman earned a TKO victory at 1:16 of the second round.
Jabo Beavers battled Clay Brooks in a 145 pound amateur match that ended when referee Mullinax again stepped in to give Beavers a TKO victory at 2:27 of the first round. Another quickie had Jason Pair submitting Ernie Sanford via armbar at 1:57 of the first, in the debut fight for both of the middleweights.
This fun night of fights was a blast – and the fight action was clearly no magic carpet ride.
Jim Terwoord
JT@georgiaMMA.com |
