ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series 8/15/08 Re-Cap

ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series 8/15/08

Mauro Ranallo and Stephen Quadros are the announcers.

They show highlights of the Suganuma/Hamman fight from 4 months ago when they fought and Suganuma quickly finished Hamman with a big knee and then the ref quickly stopped the fight. They will have a re-match tonight as Hamman is disputing the stoppage.

Catchweight Fight (190 lbs)- Keith Berry (7-2) vs. Ray Lizama (5-5)

Berry is the reigning King of the Cage Middleweight Champion. Berry is training at Extreme Couture. Lizama took this fight on short notice. Lizama has a win over Fabio Nagao (who recently lost to Matt Lindland by Decision at the Affliction Banned show).

R1- Lizama lands a nice punch that staggered Berry about a minute into the fight. About 3 and a half minutes in Berry lands a shot and Lizama goes down and Berry wastes no time and takes Lizama’s back and goes for a choke. He then releases the choke and hits some Ground and Pound. Lizama knocks Berry’s mouthpiece out and both guys are really swinging at each other. Really good first round with both guys really throwing some wild shots. I’ve got Berry winning the round based on the knock down and submission attempt. Berry 10-9.

R2- Lots of action early with Berry pushing the pace and hitting a nice shot that buckled Lizama against the cage. Lizama recovers and comes back and lands some really nice punches and Berry looks like he’s in trouble. Lizama just unloading on Berry, but Berry is staying on his feet. Berry is bloody but starts fighting back. Very Chris Leben type performance in that Berry really seems to bring it after he’s been rocked. Lizama again comes back with a body punch and again is unloading on Berry and Berry is finally beginning to sink and drops down to the canvas and the ref calls the fight.

Great opening fight.

Winner: Ray Lizama by TKO (strikes) R2 2:15

Women’s Fight (130 lbs)- Debi Purcell (4-1) vs. Rosi Sexton (8-1)

Purcell has a 4.5” reach advantage. Purcell is the first woman to compete and win in King of the Cage. Sexton has 5 submission victories out of her 8 wins. Rosi looks tiny.

R1- The first round was pretty much spent in a clinch with Rosi trying to take down Debi. Really close round but would have to give it to Rosi since she was the one that was causing the clinches and trying to get the take downs where as Debi was mostly on defense.

R2- Purcell starts with some kicks trying to keep Sexton off of her so she can strike but Rosi gets a take down and takes Debi’s guard. Rosi hitting some Ground and Pound. Purcell kicks her off and gets back to her feet. Purcell gets a take down with about 30 seconds left. Another close round, gotta give this one to Rosi as well as she did more damage on her take down. I’ve got it Rosi 20-18 right now.

R3- Purcell hit a spinning back fist. Lots of clinching. Sexton reverses a Purcell take down for one of her own then basically does a handspring trying to get better position. Purcell spends the last minute or so on her back..

I’ve got Sexton 30-27 in three very close rounds. Entertaining Fight.

The judges score the fight a split decision. 30-27 for Sexton, 29-28 Purcell and 30-27 for Sexton. Kind of crazy how two judges can have it 30-27 for one fight and the other judge 29-28 for the other fighter.

Winner: Rosi Sexton by Decision (Unanimous)

Light Heavyweight Fight- Cyrille Diabate (14-6-1) vs. Jaime Fletcher (9-3)

This is Cyrille’s first fight in the US. Cyrille has a huge height advantage of 7” and a huge reach advantage of 9”.

R1- Fletcher starting with leg kicks. Lots of clinching against the cage. Diabate hits a flying knee after they separated. Diabate hits a nice right hand and Fletcher bails out Diabate starting to hit some kicks. Fletcher goes for a take down and gets one with 25 seconds left in the round but basically just uses it to rest. He tried to lock in an ankle lock right at the buzzer. I’ve got Diabate with a 10-9 round as he landed more effective and damaging strikes.

R2- Diabate hits some nice body kicks early in the round after a brief stoppage for a low blow. Fletcher gets another take down. This time he’s got 4 minutes in order to work with. Diabate goes for a kimura from the bottom but let’s go of it. Jamie goes for a guillotine but Diabate passes it and comes out with side control on Fletcher. Diabate with some short elbows. Fletcher rolls out of side control and acts like Heath Herring by turtling up. Diabate hitting some elbows. Fletcher escapes but Diabate takes him back down in side control. Diabate with elbows and now punches to the face. Fletcher gives up his back again and is turtling up. Diabate with elbows to the side. Fletcher stands up and his face is covered in blood. Diabate 20-18 so far.

R3- Diabate hitting some strikes in the early part of the round. Fletcher grabs a guillotine attempt and pulls guard but Fletcher cannot hold the move. Diabate with some elbows from the guard position. Fletcher turtles up and is dripping blood on to the canvas. Diabate won this round as well and takes this fight 30-27.

All three judges score the fight 30-27 in favor of Diabate.

Winner: Cyrille Diabate by Decision (Unanimous)

Lightweight Fight- Fabricio Camoes (10-4) vs. Sammy Morgan (19-10)

Morgan has fought for Strikeforce, King of the Cage, and was on Season 2 of the Ultimate Fighter UFC show. Camoes once fought Anderson Silva in Brazil and went 27 minutes before losing. Morgan has a 3” height advantage. 14 of Morgan’s 19 wins have come by submission. Camoes has won 5 straight fights. Diego Sanchez is in Camoes corner for the fight.

R1- Morgan hits some leg kicks and then some punches and Camoes shoots in the take down and gets it via slam and moves into full mount. Morgan gives up his back and Camoes goes for a choke and this one is over. Short and to the point for Camoes.

Camoes basically calls out KJ Noons in his post-fight interview.

Winner: Fabricio Camoes by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) R1 0:47

Light Heavyweight Fight- Po’ai Suganuma (9-1) vs. Jared Hamman (10-1)

Their last fight lasted 15 seconds and they are fighting again due to a “controversial decision.” Po’ai trains with BJ Penn.

R1- Po’ai gets a quick take down via punch and takes side control. Hamman gets to his feet and then gets a take down of his own but then they stand up and he gets taken down again. Po’ai in Hamman’s guard. Hamman goes for an arm bar but is denied. Hamman gets back to his feet and gets in a couple of good punches and Po’ai goes to his knees and Hamman hits him with punches and Po’ai is out. Hamman gets the surprise victory.

Good fight.

Winner: Jared Hamman by TKO (punches) R1 2:34


Upcoming Elite XC shows:

September 26th: ShoXC Elite Challenger Series on Showtime
October 4th: CBS Saturday Night Fights
October 10th: ShoXC Elite Challenger Series on Showtime