Fight Tour Rockford: Felice Herrig, Tim Sylvia
Fight Tour will take place August 20th at the Metro Centre in Rockford. The card and date has changed a few times, but it’s going down next Saturday. Here’s a rundown of the pro card.
- Former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia will take on Patrick Barrentine in the main event. Barrentine hasn’t fought in almost two years, but he is a submission specialist that could potentially give Sylvia problems if the fight hits the ground.
Sylvia needs a win after losing to former TUF contestant Abe Wagner at Titan 16. He’s been lobbying to get back into the UFC and a loss to Barrentine would derail those plans indefinitely.
- Felice Herrig will fight Kelly Warren. The “L’il Bulldog” has settled into a nice groove since moving to Team Curran. She’s won 5 of her last 6 fights and two straight. She’ll face the undefeated Warren (3-0) who fights out of Jackson MMA. They have a common opponent in Amanda LaVoy, with both Herrig and Warren getting wins against her.
- UFC and King of the Cage vet LaVerne Clark will take on former UFC fighter Sean Salmon.
The event will also have live music. Rockford’s ‘The Pimps’ are scheduled to perform at the show, and Drowning Pool will also perform.
Tickets can be purchased at www.metrocentre.com or at the Metro Centre Box office located at 300 Elm Street in Rockford, Illinois.
Pro Card:
Tim Sylvia vs Patrick Barrentine
Shayne Adams vs William Penn
Felice Herrig vs Kelly Warren
Laverne Clark vs Sean Salmon
Nate McCoy vs Ruddy Gray
Amateur Card:
Jose Leiva vs Jason Powell
Chad Aldrich vs Dilon Berg
Kevin Burke vs Dustin Howell
Josue Lugo vs Herculanno Decosta
Allen Zuelke vs Travonta Collins
Robert Covey vs Douglas Deback
Derrick Williams vs Kurstan Davenport
Emma O’Connor vs TBD
Demond Wade vs TBD
THE FEMALE DIEGO SANCHEZ? YES!
May 14, 2011 by Matt
Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc fought her heart out in a decision loss to Felice Herrig at XFO 39. On her walk out to enter the arena, she displayed the passion and determination of Diego Sanchez, complete with his trademark “Yes!”
XFO 39 RESULTS
May 13, 2011 by Matt
Live results for XFO 39. The Vince Ramos vs. Ivan Wolshlager bout has been scatched. Ramos did not make weight according to MMA Recap.
Nick Scotti Vs. Hector Garcia (155)
Garcia KOs Scotti just :13 into round 1. He was out from the power right, but it will be ruled a TKO as the ref was slow to get to him and Garcia landed 2 more before it was waved off. On the way out of the cage, Scotti asked his coach if he was out and his coach said that he was. Good stoppage.
Will Brooks Vs. Bobby Reardanz (155)
Reardanz got off early, landing some head kicks. But Brooks controlled the cage and did more damage as the round went on. He landed a hard knee to the body that felled Reardanz near the end of the round. We score it 10-9 Brooks.
Brooks lands a right cross to start round 2, then drops Reardanz with a knee to the forehead. Brooks is doing what he wants now. 3 straight knees to the head from the clinch spill blood from Reardanz, and Brooks pulls off a power slam that makes the crowd roar. It was all Brooks from pillar to post, I can see if it was scored 10-9, but we score it 10-8.
Round 3 begins with another barrage from Brooks. A right cross drops Reardanz and Brooks smothers him. This needs should be stopped, as any contact sends Reardanz to the ground. Brooks gets full mount and mixes elbows and punches. They roll a bit and Brooks grabs an arm and submits Reardanz. Amazing performance by Brooks, with props to Reardanz for his courage. Brooks via tap/armbar at 3:22.
Kent Rexford Jr. Vs. P.J. Cajigas (190)
Rexford got his eye dotted early in the round, but then took control. He spent most of the round on top, doing damage with elbows and strikes. He took Cajigas’ back near the end of round 1 and choked him out at 4:47.
Michele Gutierrez Vs. Amanda LaVoy
Gutierrez is landing power rights, dropping LaVoy to the canvas twice. LaVoy remains game, and tries to clinch and throw knees. Nothing connects cleanly. But LaVoy does recover to make it an interesting round, and almost closes Gutierrez’ left eye. Still, 10-9 Gutierrez.
Round 2 begins and Gutierrez’ eye gets busted open and she is leaking badly. The ref stops the fight and calls for the doctor. The end comes at :24 as the doctor calls the fight. LaVoy wins by TKO, and tells me as she leaves the cage that the it was her knee that opened the gash on Gutierrez’ forehead.
Dan Stittgen Vs. Jason “Reaper” Graves
The fighters battle for position and Stittgen is able to roll into an armbar. It’s quick work as Graves has to tap. 1:10 of round 1.
Jon Murphy Vs. Lucas Gwaltney
Murphy dominated round 1 with takedowns and punishment from top position. He trapped Murphy’s arm across his own face and dropped some big bombs that bloodied Gwaltney’s face. We have it 10-9 Murphy.
Round 2 is action-packed with some excellent scrambles. Murphy is on the hunt for more takedowns, but Gwaltney counters with elbows to keep him off his back. Gwaltney reverses position an hammerfists Murphy. A brief doctor stoppage to check Gwaltney’s bloodied face, but action resumes.
Gwaltney lands a body kick that hurts Murphy. Jeff Curran calling for Murphy to set up his shots because Gwaltney knows they are coming. Gwaltney ends the round with a catch and it’s his round, 10-9. Awesome bout.
3rd round is full of action again, with Murphy getting takedowns but Gwaltney countering with unorthodox strikes. It goes the distance though, and the crowd boos as Gwaltney gets the UD, 29-28 across all 3 cards.
Daniel Aguirre Vs. TJ Kinney (135)
Aguirre — behind the biggest fanbase of the night — wastes no time in getting Kinney to the ground. He locks in a triangle, adjusts in several times and finally gets a tap at 2:20 of round 1. The cageside doctor was screaming to stop the fight as Kinney appeared totally out, but after the fight was stopped he popped right up to his feet. Very strange.
Mike Stumpf Vs. Dan Bolden
Spirited grappling between the 2 combatants that goes to the scorecards. Mike Stumpf controlled the pace and the cage and wins via unanimous decision.
Felice “Lil Bulldog” Herrig Vs. Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc
Three rounds of gritty grappling between Felice Herrig and Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc. Neither fighter did much damage, but Herrig controlled the bout in all three rounds. She wins it by unanimous decision.
Jamie Varner Vs. Tyler “Tyrant” Combs
Varner wastes little time getting back on a win streak. He defeats Combs with a North-South choke at just 1:30 of round 1.
Jeff “Big Frog” Curran Vs. Billy Vaughan
Curran the busier fighter, and lands more meaningful shots in all 3 rounds. He catches Vaughan in a guillotine near the end of round 1, but Vaughan wriggles loose. Curran wins via unanimous decision, 30-27 across the board.
EPIC STAREDOWN: FELICE HERRIG VS. NICDALI RIVERA-CALANOC
May 13, 2011 by Matt
Felice Herrig will take on Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc tonight at XFO 39. I’d say they are both ready to go, judging by these pics from Suckerpunch’s FB page. What do you think?
XFO 39: FRIDAY AT SEARS CENTRE
May 9, 2011 by Matt
Some news and updates for Friday’s XFO 39 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.
Jeff Curran told us that even though Joe Pearson had to drop out, he is still fighting on the card. He also said that while Jamie Varner is rumored to be fighting Shinya Aoki later this month in Japan, Varner will still fight Tyler Combs on Saturday night.
Curran will be matched against Billy Vaughan. Vaughan holds a record of 9-8, and fought in Strikeforce this March. Vaughan has dropped three straight bouts after winning three in a row.
This fight should go to the ground sooner rather than later. Curran is a world-renowned BJJ Black Belt, and of Vaughan’s 17 pro fights, 14 of them have ended by submission.
Varner has a tough rest of the month in store, if he indeed is taking the fight against Aoki. He’ll have to travel to Chicago from the West coast, fight a very game and dangerous opponent in Tyler Combs and hope he escapes with full health. Then he’ll have to make the arduous trip to Japan and get ready to fight Aoki, who has won 4 straight after his loss to Gilbert Melendez.
Here is the card:
- Jeff “Big Frog” Curran Vs. Billy Vaughan
- Jamie Varner Vs. Tyler “Tyrant” Combs
- Felice “Lil bulldog” Herrig Vs. Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc
- Mike Stumpf Vs. Dan Bolden
- Daniel Aguirre Vs. Terrance Kinney
- Jon Murphy Vs. Lucas Gwaltney
- Dan Stittgen Vs. Jason “Reaper” Graves
- Michele Gutierrez Vs. Amanda LaVoy
- Vince Ramos Vs. Ivan Wolshlager
- Kent Rexford Jr. Vs. Brandon Saling
- Will Brooks Vs. Bobby Reardanz
- Nick Scotti Vs. Hector Garcia
XFO 39: CURRAN VS. PEARSON
April 5, 2011 by Matt
The official fight poster is out for XFO 39 and so is the latest update on the card. Click the pic for full-screen goodness.
Jeff Curran vs Joe Pearson
Jamie Varner vs Tyler Combs
Felice Herrig vs Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc
Jon Murphy vs Ryan Bixler
Michele Gutierrez vs Amanda LaVoy
Will Brooks vs Christopher Garcia
Mike Stumpf vs Dan Bolden
Jacob McClintock vs Dan Gilbert
Dan Stittgen vs Jason Graves
Nicholas Scotti vs Frank Pizzirulli
Vincent Ramos vs TBD
Christian Reynoso vs Daniel Aguirre
Kent Rexford Jr. vs Brandon Saling
For ticket information and a look back at the last time the XFO was at the Sears Centre, check out this article.
And here’s the recent interview that LJ Tabano did with Jeff Curran, where Curran discusses his comeback from arm surgery.
XFO RETURNS TO THE SEARS CENTRE
March 21, 2011 by Matt
The XFO has announced that XFO 39 will take place at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. Before we get to the new card information, let’s take a trip down ol’ memory lane and look at the XFO 13 card, which was the last event the XFO held there.
Alonzo Spellman, yes the former Bear, took on Antoine Hayes. The main event was Jeff Curran vs. Raphael Assuncao, who fought this weekend at UFC 128. Assuncao was KO’d by Duke Roufus-trained Eric “New Breed” Koch. Other notables onthat card in 2006:
- Combat-Do’s Bob Schirmer
- Kerry “Meat Truck” Schall, UFC veteran heavyweight
- Donnie Liles, who fought in the IFL and Strikeforce
- Brian “Mandingo” Gassaway
- Jason Guida
- Terry Martin
- Matt “Sunshine” Fiordirosa
- Justin McElfresh, who went on to fight in the WEC
- Mike Marrello, former XFO Heavyweight champ
- UFC vet Nate Mohr
- Mike Stumpf, who went on to fight in ShoXC Challengers
- John Hosman, who later fought in the WEC
So fast-forward back to 2011, and the card will feature Jon Murphy, Felice Herrig, Chris Garcia, Will Brooks, Ryan Bixler, Tyler Combs, Michele Gutierrez, Christian Reynoso, Dennis Dombrow, Mike Stumpf, Jerad Karlen, Nick Scotti, Matt Tobie, Jason Graves & Jeff Curran vs. Joe Pearson.
The event will take place on May 13th at the Sears Centre, and you can get your tickets by visiting the event page on the Sears Centre site.
PULVER WINS DESPITE BROKEN FOOT
March 6, 2011 by searstapper
Veteran Jens Pulver wins a split decision over downstate Illinois fighter Wade Choate at Chicago Cagefighting Championship III in Villa Park. The fight was standup match which saw Pulver pressing forward most of the night and Choate circling from the outside and selectively picking his times to trade. Pulver revealed in the post-fight interview he had broken his foot in the first round of the contest. This makes two wins in a row for Pulver since hooking up with Team Curran.
In the night’s other main event Chase Beebe from Gilbert Grappling/Midwest Training Center put his wrestling skills on display and ground and pounded his way to a unanimous decision win over veteran Jiu Jitsu player Steve Kinnisen. Beebe spent most of the night working from top position and made a couple kimura attempts from inside Kinnisen’s half guard.
Felice Herrig bounced back from a loss in January to finish Andrea Miller by TKO in the first round. After a brief exchange on the feet Herrig took the fight to the mat and worked herself to the mount and hit Miller with a flurry of punches till the referee stopped it.
The highlight of the night goes to Team Top Notch’s Giovanni Moljo who caught Carson Beebe, the younger brother of Chase, in an inverted triangle choke early in the first round.
Chicago Cagefighting Championship promoter Joe Smith is planning to produce another professional show later this year in October, and is also looking to throw an event for June.
RESULTS
- Jens Pulver def. Wade Choate via Split Decision
- Chase Beebe def. Steve Kinnisen via Unanimous Decision
- Felice Herrig def. Andrea Miller via TKO(ref stoppage) @ 3:30 of 1st Round
- Mike Pitz def. Dan Bolden via Triangle Choke @ 4:38 of 1st Round
- Giovanni Moljo def. Carson Beebe via Inverted Triangle Choke @ 52 of 1st Round
- Eric Kriegermeier def. Mike Santiago via Rear Naked Choke @ 3:48 of 2nd Round
- Christian Reynoso def. Wayne Grindstaff via Arm Bar @1:09 of 2nd Round
- Chris Haney def. Joey Diehl via Triangle Choke @ 3:39 of 2nd Round
- Will Brooks def. Guillermo Serment via Rear Naked Choke @ :45 of 2nd Round
- Jason Graves def. BJ Cajigas via Rear Naked Choke @ :31 of 1st Round
FELICE HERRIG TALKS SUPREMACY MMA VIDEO GAME
February 23, 2011 by Matt
Local fighters Michele Gutierrez and Felice Herrig are in the new “Supremacy MMA” video game for XBox 360. Here’s Felice’s take on the game, intimidated men and breaking noses.
CHICAGO CAGEFIGHTING RELEASES MARCH 5TH CARD
Chicago Cagefighting Championship just released the card for their March 5th show, and it looks excellent. Besides Jens Pulver and Chase Beebe, fans get to see the return of Dan Gilbert. Gilbert has fought only sporadically since 2004, but he is a veteran of Shooto, XFO, Ironheart Crown and Brawl at Bourbon Street. He has fought big names like Hayato Sakurai and Frank Trigg. Now he’ll make his first appearance in the cage since 2009. Check out our interview with Dan Gilbert from November of 2009, where he tells us how he and his brother, UFC vet Joey started Gilbert Grappling.
Also on the card are Team Curran’s Joey Diehl, Felice Herrig and Eric Kriegermeier, MTC’s Mike Pitz and Dennis Dombrow, Hackney’s Jeff Lavallee and Gilbert Grappling’s Carson Beebe.
