“Do you like violence?” Weedman answers “yes!”
By Jim Terwoord
Promoter Tony Metcalf asked the Cowboys’ crowd: “do you like violence?” prior to the main event at Cowboy’s on July 25th. Receiving an affirmative roar – after all, these were MMA fans – Metcalf managed to fulfill their violent fantasies by virtue of a championship level performance from welterweight Brent Weedman in his convincing demolition of Franz Mendez. Think of the possibilities if Metcalf would focus on ring girl jello wrestling!
Weedman (Team Haycraft, Louisville, KY), fresh off an AFL championship victory over Douglas Lima on May 30th, entered the cage with the confidence and swagger of a champion – and then made it stick. With Mendez (Knuckle Up) attacking aggressively, unafraid of the champ, Weedman neutralized his early power with the patented “Weedman clinch” along the fence.
And clinch they did, exchanging multiple nasty knee shots, banging thighs, bellies and assorted body parts, looking for the opening that would change the fight. Weedman found it with a whopping right that dropped Mendez along the fence. Attacking the downed Mendez like a mongoose on a snake, Weedman pummeled him into a submission by strikes at 2:55 of the first. After the fight Weedman told the crowd that he likes fighting in Atlanta – and they reciprocated with a roar. Y’all come back now Brent!
David Curby (Outlaw MMA) and Clay Harvison (Knuckle Up) locked horns in a welterweight battle that provided the best round of MMA action this corner has seen in Atlanta this year. The veterans attacked each other furiously from the get-go, Curby spinning like a dervish with head high kicks, while Harvison beat him back with a fusillade of heavy handed bombs.
 The two continued to wage war with a vicious barrage of knees, kicks and fists, any of which could have ended the fight in a blink. Curby almost did, catching Harvison with a back fist that sent him to the canvas. Defending from his back, Harvison locked in a leg triangle that Curby managed to squirm out of, delivering a few more shots to Harvison in the process. Harvison managed to scramble loose, reversing Curby, who in turn reversed him – and so it went – two brawlers at their best – and the best round of fighting of the year.
In the second, Harvison, who appeared to have a height and reach advantage over Curby, caught his opponent off balance, tagging him with a hard right that sent Curby reeling into the fence. Pouncing quickly on the fallen Curby, Harvison managed to gain full mount. Dropping a thermonuclear elbow onto Curbys’ cranium and driving his head into the deck, Harvison caused referee Tony Mullinax to step in and stop the action midway through the round.
We talked to Curby the day after the fight and he reported that he felt fine, although Harvisons’ elbow did leave a mark – in the form of a blackened forehead. He plans to take a couple of months off and drop to 155 before returning to the cage in October.
The first pro fight of the evening featured Tom Munroe (Defkon One) against Anthony McKee (Knuckle Up) in a 185 (or maybe 205?) pound event that ended fast in the first. The powerful McKee punished Munroe with a blistering ground and pound attack that earned him a verbal submission victory early in the opening stanza.
In amateur action, Jeremy Sides (Knuckle Up) won a split decision victory over Aaron Hall (RushMMA) in a close contest that could have gone to either fighter. In the evenings’ opener, Bill Parker (Team Brutal – Golden Isles MMA) garnered a unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Garcia (Bellicose MMA) with an efficient win over the aggressive Garcia.
Eric “Asian Assassin” Takahashi (Knuckle Up) earned an armbar win over Clay Ward at 2:23 of the first round in their 145 pound tangle. Taking ample abuse from his cage side “buddies” for his hair style appeared to spur the talented Takahashi. In another short one, Sean Dyer (Bellicose MMA) dominated Devon Graham (Team Brutal) in a 160 pound event, winning by triangle choke at 2:33 of the first.
In the nights’ only heavyweight contest, Kevin Sergeant (Knuckle Up) tangled with Glen Elkins of Bamberg, SC in a banger that featured a lot of windmill bombs and heavy handed action. Sergeant’s higher fitness level won the fight for him when Elkins was unable to answer the bell for the third round.
 Jason “the Surgeon” Glow (RushMMA) took on Brent Culbreth (Outlaw MMA) in a 135 pound match. Although the first round appeared to be dominated by Culbreth, he left his neck open to “the Surgeon,” who promptly cut off all circulation to the carotids, earning Glow a submission victory via triangle choke at 2:52 of the opener.
We don’t know the next time that Bullet Fight Gear will put the guys in the cage – but we know we’ll be there. And we’ll ask Metcalf to think about that ring girl thing!
Jim Terwoord
jt@georgiamma.com
|
