Blood and injuries highlight UCW 7
RANDELL BALDONADO VOLUNTEER STAFF
PHOTO BY CHARLES CUEVAS.
Ultimate Cage Wars 7 was a hit at the Convention Centre on Saturday, April 7, despite competing for viewers with UFC 69. Blood was spilt, fighters submitted, and brawlers tapped out; the crowd stood and cheered for it all. Nine of the 11 bouts ended in a knockout or submission with the other two rousing the crowd with full three-round wars.
In the first bout of the evening, Josh Gallant stunned the crowd with a first-round TKO cut-stoppage against Pete Brown. After starting the bout on the ground, the two fighters got to their feet and started throwing combinations of strikes. The referee interrupted the bout to check Brown’s cut; he was not allowed to continue.
The crowd stood in awe as Bob Keleman made short work of Manitoba’s Curtis Demarce. Demarce began the bout with crisp counter shots and leg kicks but was caught by Keleman’s flash head kick. Demarce’s body fell limp to the canvas, 29 seconds into the first round.
Rory McDonell and Todd Wood started the third match by exchanging bombs early in the opening round. After a clinch, the referee brought the action back to the centre of the cage where Wood shot in at McDonell. McDonell fell into a guard and manoeuvered his legs around Wood’s neck and arm, forming a triangle choke. Wood gasped, trying to get more oxygen to his brain, but was unable to counter McDonell’s hold. Hesitantly, Wood tapped out.
Winnipeg’s Ryan Boux suffered a second-round TKO stoppage facing Gus Doyon. Boux swung wildly at the start of round two with desperate full-hearted bravery. His bravery was not enough. Doyon picked his shots and took Boux to the ground; his fists followed Boux’s head to the floor. The referee stopped the fight due to a cut.
The crowd booed Aaron Basso after he knocked out Brandon’s Nathan Spen with a clean right hook to the chin, just 16 seconds into the fight. In fact, the crowds’ jeers lasted longer then the actual match, as they felt that the fight betrayed their expectations.
Victor Daychief and Brian MacEachern fought a war against each other. They exchanged lefts and right straights, knees, and thai kicks. MacEachern scored a single-leg slam against Daychief early in the first round. Daychief countered with an armbar attempt and wrestled his way to the top position. They continued to reverse each other’s position then stood and traded shots until the bell rang. The action continued in the second and third rounds and the crowd cheered as vigorously as the combatants fought. Daychief won by unanimous decision, but also agreed to a rematch with MacEachern in the future.
Bill Boland and John Dodson’s match also went the distance. Dodson put up a valiant effort holding his own against a superior opponent, but Boland’s kickboxing skills were too much. Boland won by unanimous decision.
Hometown favorite Steve Taylor submitted Aaron Gallant a minute into the first round. Taylor was almost knocked out by Gallant’s right hand, but he managed to manoeuvre himself into a guard and submit Gallant with a guillotine choke.
Alexis Davis and Sarah Kaufman proved that women are just as capable fighters as men. Any reservations were silenced as the two locked up and slammed each other into the fence, trading hard straights. Kaufman took Davis down from the clinch but Davis reversed their positions on the mat. They stood up and traded shots until the round ended. Kaufman got the better of round two’s opening exchange. She took Davis to the mat in a half guard, landed some straights, maneuvered into a mount, and flurried. Davis reversed her position only to have it reversed again by Kaufman. The bout was stopped after Kaufman proceeded to pound Davis with a flurry of shots.
Jason Tatlow defeated U of M’s Kevin Manderson in the second round of their bout, after Manderson sustained an injury. After a take down, Tatlow managed to fall into a half-guard, where he cranked Manderson’s arm, injuring him with an Americana/Kimura hold.
Aaron Tregear and Graydon Tannis did not disappoint in the main event. Tregear made a near-fatal error in the first round, slipping after attempting a high kick, but was able to recover. In the second round, Tannis attempted a guillotine choke but was countered by Tregear’s modified rear naked choke, forcing Tannis to tap out.
These bouts are set to air on the Fight Network at a later date. The next UCW is on June 23, at which UFC heavyweight legend, Randy (The Natural) Couture, is set to make a guest appearance.
