Fight Club 1
On Thursday, August 28th 2008, New York Fight Club brought us 12 full contact kickboxing, Muay Thai and SanDa fights.
To see all the pics from this event, check out the pic site.
The event opened its doors at 8pm in the Freeport Recreation Center in Freeport, N.Y. and lasted about 2.5 hours. There were 8 amateur fights in total. The show was headlined by our boy, “Ill” Al Iaquinta who dominated his opponent, as usual. As a fight fan, it is always good to see live fights, especially so close to home (I live in New Hyde Park, a 20 minute drive for me) and on a Thursday night. I wasn’t always paying attention to which fight camp each fighter was out of, but I did get videos of each fight this time, so we’re even!
The fights were sponsored by Bikram Yoga in Carle Place and Aquaflex, the first sports drink with Hyaluronic Acid in it. I never heard of Hyaluronic Acid and it doesn’t sound like something I’d like to pour into my mouth, but the guys over at Aquaflex believe in it so take a look at the site to read some articles about what it does for you. If anybody has actually drank the stuff, let us know. Steve could use all the help he can get while scaling Mt. Everest. If you work for Aquaflex and want to send Steve and the Tank a case, holla achya boy!
I was accompanied by a beauty who will remain nameless, because if I give S&TT readers her name, you’ll be stalking her on facebook, myspace, or whatever social networking sites nice girls like her use to communicate with their friends and field requests from random perverts like yourselves (and by yourselves I mean us). Nameless beauty was my photographer for the night.
For readers new to combat sports, kickboxing, Muay Thai and SanDa are all disciplines that along with many others make up mixed martial arts (MMA). Each fight had its own rules depending on the discipline and sanctioning. From a spectator’s perspective, you definitely notice the lack of takedowns, elbows, and ground fighting you’re used to seeing in MMA while watching The Ultimate Fighter or UFC pay-per-views. The hunger these amateurs had to fight and win more than made up for it!
Thanks to the promoters who gave me front row passes to cover the event. I was even seated in-between the nameless beauty and the Bikram Yoga girls. It is good to be me. Now lets get to the action!
Bout 1
Super Welterweight (147-153.9 lbs) – San Da
Jon Christ (Separation Anxiety)
vs.
Doug Miller (NY San Da)
Congratulations to Christ who is made his amateur debut. He opens Round 1 up with a high kick. Miller scores a takedown. When the two fighters are back on their feet, Miller lands a high kick of his own. Miller moved around well on his feet, throwing nice combos with his hands. Miller scores another series of takedowns, culminating with a shot for a single leg takedown (single) into a sweep. After the referee standup, Christ throws a spinning backfist but Miller winds up taking him down anyway to end the round.
At this point I would be willing to bet Steve’s first born (that he is aware of anyway) that Miller wrestled in high school.
Round 2 Christ opens with a leg kick and surprise surprise, Miller takes him down with a trip. Miller scores with a couple of more takedowns. Miller throws a spinning backfist. As the two clinch, Miller throws Christ down using a pie face. Yes, I said pie face. I’m guessing that was not something he was taught to do in a fight during his training. In Millers defense, it did get Christ down to the floor.
Round 3 was very similar to Round 2 with Miller dominating the round.
Miller wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-26)
Bout 2
Super Light Heavyweight (175-182.9 lbs) – Thaiboxing
Kevin Murphy (Emerson Souza BJJ)
vs.
Doug Bonner (New Generation Karate)
Bonner comes out to Queen’s We Will Rock You. He looks focused for his amateur debut. Murphy comes out and controls the pace to open Round 1. Murphy unleashes a barrage of punches capped off with a high kick to the head which forces the ref to break up the action and award points to Murphy. Nothing exciting for the rest of the round as the round ends in a clinch.
Round 2 opens up with Murphy landing a kick to Bonner’s ribs. The ref separates the two and immediately following the separation, Bonner returns the favor, kicking Murphy in his ribs. The two clinch again and the ref breaks it up. Bonner ends the round by sending Murphy to the floor with a viscous straight right hand to the head.
Round 3 opens with a slugfest! Bonner nails Murphy with a sidekick, Murphy is hurt, but Bonner does not capitalize. Both fighters are notably exhausted at this point.
Murphy wins by a questionable split decision in a close fight (29-28, 27-28, 28-27)
Bout 3
Super Middleweight (160-166.9 lbs) – San Da
Ivan Gomez
vs.
Kevin Jansen
Jansen is being cornered by “Ill” Al Iaquinta. The decorated amateur mma fighter, wrestler, and our boy gives some last minute advice to Jansen as he gets ready to fight.
Round 1 sees Gomez coming out with red, white, and blue headgear (style points!). Gomez lands a knee and transitions into a takedown. Jansen answers with a single leg takedown of his own. Jansen gets another single. When the two are on their feet again Gomez throws a nice combination. Jansen has his mouth wide open and looks very tired. Jansen is punching but they don’t look like they have anything behind them. Gomez’s strikes look crisper now.
Round 2 opens and Jansen is now being coached by the Miletich N.Y. coaches who joined Iaquinta in his corner! Uniiiiiiiiiiitttttttyyyyyyyyyyy (check 2:27 of this video to get the reference, it is funny shit) !!!!! Jansen gets a takedown and when the two fighters are stood up he throws a flurry of kicks and punches. Looks like Team Miletich is motivating this kid. Instructions from Jensen’s corner are flying. Jansen’s punches don’t seem to have much left on them. Jansen gets another takedown. Back on his feet, Jansen throws a huge haymaker but misses and almost falls down. Gomez gets a takedown off of the miss. Jansen throws a combo to end the round.
Round 3 sees Gomez opening up with a leg kick. Jansen counters with a takedown. Back on his feet, Jansen throws a nice uppercut but a stinging right hook by Gomez counters it. The two clinch and the ref breaks it up. Gomez throws a nice leg kick and follows up with a punch and Jansen is stunned. Gomez doesn’t capitalize. Jansen gains his composure back and as soon as he does he eats a nice straight right hand. Jansen ends the round with a nice flurry.
Gomez wins by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Bout 4
Super Welterweight (147-153.9 lbs) – San Da
TJ Gullo
vs.
Ian Morgan (Separation Anxiety)
Gullo opens the round with some nice punches, working well on his feet. Morgan throws a couple of nice leg kicks. Gullo answers with some leg kicks of his own. Morgan throws a nice combo ending in a leg kick. Gullo retaliates with his own. The crowd is really getting into it now! Morgan is reigning down blows on Gullo with some nice combos and really turning it up. Morgan sends Gullo reeling to the floor and the ref stops the fight.
Morgan wins by referee stoppage at 1:53 of Round 1
Bout 5
Welterweight (140-146.9 lbs) – Thaiboxing
Jared Picarrello
vs.
Chris Laird
Best Knockout (and best victory yell) goes to Picariello. His entrance music put me to sleep but thankfully I woke up for the fight. I went to high school with this guy and actually saw a few of my friends in the crowd. I haven’t heard anything about him in years… he caught me up really quickly!
Picariello opens up Round 1 with a flurry of punches followed by a viscous knee to the ribs that really looked like it hurt. Picariello transitions the knee into a takedown. The ref separates the two waving his hands as Laird is on the ground thrashing in pain.
Picariello wins by KO at 0:20 of Round 1
Bout 6
Super Welterweight (147-153.9 lbs) – Thaiboxing
Turan Hasanov
vs.
Greg Tease
Tease opens round 1 by clipping Hasanov with an awesome shot. The ref stops the action to check Hasanov but he is ok and the action continues. Tease misses with a spinning back kick. Hasanov attacks with a huge series of kicks and punches. He is fluid like Neo from the Matrix in his attack; fast and accurate. Tease is getting picked apart after a series of knees from Hasanov to end the round.
Round 2 opens with Tease throwing a flying jump kick that looks insane and gets the crowd moving. Too bad for him it didn’t hurt Hasanov! Hasanov counters with a nice knee and is boxing well. Hasanov lands a nice high kick. Tease counters with a big hook but misses. Hasanov lands nice leg kick to the body of Tease. Hasanov launches himself at Tease with a superman punch followed by a series of one two combinations. The two fighters find themselves on the canvas and Tease punches Hasanov in the back of the head while he is down. Tease gets a point deducted and the round ends.
Hasanov dominates Round 3, and I mean DOMINATES. Tease is overmatched in this fight.
Hasanov wins by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Bout 7
Light Heavyweight (167-174.9 lbs) - San Da
John McFeely
vs.
Marvin Leggitts
Round 1 was unexciting with a lot of sloppy takedowns and nobody really taking the round. If I had to give it to someone, I would have given it to Leggitts because McFeely looks like his head is not in the game.
Round 2 was more of the same with McFeely looking very tired. McFeely falls sloppily. From that point on, It looks like he doesn’t want to fight anymore. He is breathing really heavy and the ref asks the doctor to check him out. The fight is stopped as McFeely is done for the night.
LEGGITTS wins by doctor stoppage at 1:58 of Round 2
Bout 8
Super Middleweight (160-166.9 lbs) - Thaiboxing
USKBA Amateur Thaiboxing Super Middleweight East Coast Championship Title
Al Iaquinta (Miletich NY)
vs.
Valentin Stratichuk
I have to apologize in advance for not taking as much notes as I usually do during this fight. I was all screaming at the top of my lungs for most of this fight and when I woke up the next day, I had no voice left to show for it.
Round 1 opens up with the two fighters feeling each other out. Iaquinta gets a takedown. When they get back to their feet, Stratichuk throws a spinning back kick and Iaquinta takes him down again. Iaquinta dominates the round as he scored frequently with accurate striking and takedowns.
Round 2 was dominated by Iaquinta as he used Stratichuk as a human heavy bag to practice leg kicks. Stratichuk’s leg is starting to look an STD; red, blotchy, and just screwed!
Round 3 is much of the same with Iaquinta putting on a striking clinic, attacking Stratichuk’s legs while his coach Dave is smiling and screaming “That’s my boy right there!” Stratichuk is limping and favoring the leg. The crowd is really into this fight as the round comes to an end.
IAQUINTA wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fight Club 1 at the Freeport Rec center was a success. Take into consideration that these guys are still amateurs and are fighting their hearts out with the skill level that they have. That takes a lot of guts! For future shows, I’d like to see the scoring judges upgraded, as they seemed to not know how to score an MMA bout correctly, often times seeming not to abide by the scoring rules of the USKBA. This will come in time as the sport grows.
It’s always good to see “Ill” Al Iaquinta in action. He’s heavier than we’ve ever seen him, stronger, faster, and his striking was pinpoint accurate as usual. I’m looking forward to seeing him in a bout with rules that allow him to take guys down and submit them.
Until next time!
Posted by Jason Nocco while conflicted between going out drinking and staying home and praying for Steve to return safely from the middle of nowhere... Sorry Steve!
Edit: This was originally written while Steve was away climbing Everest. As it is being posted a few weeks after it was written, I am changing my sign off to: Posted by Jason Nocco as I wait for today to be over because tomorrow I AM SEEING MORE FIGHTS! Stay tuned!