Bangkok Fight Night VII at Center Stage Atlanta GA

By Cesar J. Hernandez

Great night of fights at Bangkok Fight Night VII at Center Stage, it was a solid fight card from top to bottom.  Here is how I saw it from ringside.

Amateur Muay Thai
145lbs:  Darius Crowley (Knuckle Up) vs. Ian Tosayanon (GA Fighting Arts Saravia MMA)

RD1: Nice round house kick to the head by Darius introduces Ian to the canvas for the first time tonight.  Ian is up, showing no ill effects from the kick he quickly jumps in trading kicks and punches once again.  Darius uses his hand speed advantage to overwhelm his opponent along the ropes.  Ian has no choice but to take a knee on the canvas to avoid more damage and gladly takes the eight count by the referee for a quick breather.   Darius closes the round strong with heavy punches and powerful kicks to the head. I gave the 1^st round to Darius Crowley.

RD2: Darius is pressing the action early in the round but Ian is not backing up. A kick on the shin by Ian stops the bout momentarily (Darius shin guard needs adjusting).  Ian catches Darius front kick, sweeps the opposite leg, and scores a knockdown.  Darius walks into a straight right by Ian, he looked to be off balance, but it’s a knock down none the less.  Darius is up and in the next exchange Ian lands a knee south of the border.Referee stops the action and gives Darius time to recover. The action resumes, Darius lands a short right “superman” punch with a left hook, straight right combination that puts Ian on the seat of his pants. Round ends with both fighters circling each other. Close round to score, if we go by knock downs Ian took the round.

RD3: Third and final round.  Ian connects with an overhand right and Darius goes down along the ropes.  Ian punches his downed opponent repeatedly and forces him to fall through the ropes before the referee can step in.  Alertly Darius corner reacted and prevented their fighter from hitting the concrete floor. Darius climbs back in the ring but before the fight resumes the referee takes a point away from Ian.  Great exchange in the middle of the ring Darius is landing the cleaner blows, another low blow (knee) by Ian.  Fight on, Darius lands a barrage of punches, Ian is down and looks hurt.  Ian is up at the count of 9, Darius steps in with a right kick to the mid section; Ian goes down for the last time in the fight.

Winner by KO in 1:59 of the 3^rd round, Darius Crowley!

Amateur Muay Thai
154lbs:  Jonathan Beam (Knuckle UP Fitness) vs. Demonte McQueen(ATL Extreme Warrior)

RD1: Demonte comes out with a flying side kick, Jonathan is unfazed and smothers him with punches along the ropes.  Jonathan chases Demonte with kicks.  Demonte working his kicks to the mid section and to the inside of Jonathan’s left thigh.  Gave the round to Jonathan for his activity level.

RD2: Slower pace for the second round favors Demonte’s stick and move style.  Jonathan clinch game is on; he defends very well against knees and delivers his own without a problem.  Jonathan looks tired at the end of the round.  I gave the round to Demonte, the pace favored his style and he was able to capitalize on his offensive opportunities.

RD3: Jonathan comes out aggressive but he’s telegraphing his kicks and punches.  Demonte is sticking his jab and stopping Jonathan in his tracks.  Slight pause in fight due to a low blow (kick) on Demonte.   The break in the action helped Jonathan, he seems energized and is landing well, big overhand right by Jonathan closes the round.  Round goes to Jonathan on my scorecard.  Let’s wait for the judges as they tally their scores.

Winner by Unanimous Decision Jonathan Beam. Scores: 29-28, 29-28, 30-27

Amateur MMA
225lbs:  Dexter “Bolo” Carthon (ATL Bangkok Boxing) vs. Curtis Smith(SC Evolution MT)

RD1: Straight right to the jaw by home town Carthon puts Smith down, Smith beats the count but get’s dropped again courtesy of another Carthon right hand.  This one is over, the referee has seen enough.

Winner by KO: 25 sec into the 1^st round, Dexter “Bolo” Carthon.

Amateur Muay Thai
145lbs:​Robel Kebede (ATL Bangkok Boxing) vs. Jeremy Barrett (SC Evolution MT)

RD1: Both fighters are technically sound.  Barrett gets the better of the clinch with crisp knees to the body.  Kebede works his reach advantage with punches and kicks from outside but his offensive lulls are enough for Barrett to unload his combinations.  Great action round, gave it to Barrett due to his combinations.

RD2: Second round is stating great for Barrett, two front kicks to the mid section put Kebede down.  Barrett is the aggressor while Kebede counters effectively when given space. Kebede goes for the clinch and lands 4 unanswered knees to the body.  Round ends with an exchange along the ropes.  I gave the round to Kebede for working his Muay Thai in the clinch and controlling most of the second half of the round.

RD3: Nice kick to head to start the round by Barrett.  Kebede clinches and lands knee after knee until Barrett breaks free from his grip. Barrett seems tired but is still pushing forward and letting his hands go.  Round ends with no clear winner of the round or the fight.  I scored the round Even so on my card this fight is a draw, let’s see what the judges have to say.

All three judges have it 29-28 for the winner…. Jeremy Barrett!

Amateur MMA
155lbs:​ Guilherme “Gee” Cury (Knuckle Up Fitness)vs. Waltair Cordeiro (X3 Sports)

RD1: Cordeiro goes for the takedown but Cury stuffs it. Small exchange and Cury shoots and takes Cordeiro down. Nothing happening on the ground both fighters stand up. Cury takes some punches to the body after a Cordeiro takedown.  Cordeiro backs out of Cury’s guard; he wants to keep the fight standing. Cury looks very tired as he is slow to his feet.  Cordeiro secures another takedown and punishes Cury’s mid section.  Round ends with Cordeiro in control.  Easy round to score in favor of Cordeiro.

RD2: Cordeiro pushes Gee to the ropes and land knees to his thighs until Curry breaks from the clinch. Curry is keeps wanting to take the fight to the ground but Cordeiro wants no part of the ground game.  Who can blame him he’s gotten the best out of the standup, until now, he just ate a nice straight right by Curry that bloodied his nose.  The round ends.   Another round in the bag for Cordeiro.

RD3: Both fighters look spent. It’s desperation time for Curry, he is trading punches with Cordeiro but neither seems to have the energy to hurt the other. Curry goes to the ground to bait Cordeiro but no luck, the referee makes him stand. They try to slug it out at the end of the round but are too exhausted to be effective.  I gave the round to Curry, Cordeiro seemed to be cruising.

Winner by Unanimous decision Gui Curry. Scores:  29-28, 30-27

Amateur Muay Thai
154lbs:​Eric Castro (Kuckle Up D’ville) vs. John Garcia (Saravia Martial Arts)

RD1: AT 5’5” Garcia is doing well by getting on the inside and trying to overwhelm the taller Castro with punches to the body and head. Castro is having trouble finding his range with the smaller more active Garcia.  Garcia wins the round on my card.

RD2: Looks like Castro found his groove; he landed good kicks to the midsection and established his jab all while staying outside of Garcia’s range. Low blow (kick) by Garcia in the closing seconds of the round.  Castro won the round on my scorecard.

RD3: Castro worked his range well and kept Garcia at bay with front kicks and a long jab.  The only thing Castro did wrong in this round was a low blow (kick) to Garcia in the opening seconds of the round. Gave Castro the 3^rd round.

Winner by Unanimous Decision…Eric Castro. Scores: 30-27, 30-27, 30, 27

Amateur Title Fight
Muay Thai​154lbs:​Josh Glover (Hard Knox) vs Jeromy Murphy (Memphis Judo & Jiu Jitsu)

RD1: Glover working from a southpaw stance lands jab effectively.  Glover’s hand speed seems to be a problem for Murphy as Murphy’s strategy seems to be countering his opponent.  Glover caught Murphy’s front kick twice and scored knockdowns by sweeping his back leg. Round goes to Glover.

RD2: Murphy is more aggressive with his kicks this round while Glover is being patient with his attack.  Murphy is checking Glover’s low kicks well and countering with kicks to the body.  Glover is using his footwork to keep him out of Murphy’s reach. Glover lands a right to Murphy’s chin that sends Murphy’s mouth piece flying across the ring. Close round but gave the round to Glover for landing cleaner kicks and punches.

RD3: Final round, second round was close so it they both come out swinging.  Glover catches Murphy with a kick to the legs; the kick took Murphy’s legs from under him and sat him on the canvas. Oh! Glover is hurt! Murphy caught him with a straight right! Glover’s legs are shaky; he’s still coming forward though. Murphy lands another right and Glover is hurt again, Glover clinches this time and they tumble through the ropes landing on the apron.  Both fighters are ok, the fight continues but Murphy missed his opportunity.  The round ends.  Round goes to Murphy.

Winner and Amateur Champion Josh Glover! Scores: 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

Pro Muay Thai
180lbs:​ Mike Maniaci (Bangkok Boxing) vs. Steve “The Hitman” Hall (X3 Sports)

RD1: Hall comes out on fire and lands a right to Maniaci’s temple, Maniaci goes down!  Referee reaches 7, 8, Maniaci is up but he looks very shaky on his feet.  Hall moves forward and Maniaci clinches until the referee pull them apart. Another right by Hall and Maniaci is down again!  Manici beats the count but he’s looks done, his eyes look glassy and he has no legs under him.  Remember…This is a pro event so the referee might let it go a little longer. He does! Hall moves in for the kill, he land a low kick, a high kick, he lands a crushing right hook to the head!  Maniaci goes limp and hits the canvas, the referee mercifully waves off the carnage.

Winner by KO at 1:16 of the 1^st round….Steve “The Hitman” Hall

Note:  Maniaci landed awkwardly on his left ankle the third time he went down. His ankle looked very swollen and slightly deformed as he limped out of the ring.

Pro Muay Thai
200 lbs:​ Devan Plaisance (Hard Knox) vs. Clint “Head Bussa” Hester (X3 Sports)

RD1: Right hand to the temple puts Hester down!  Hester is up and using the ear muff defense.  A quick exchange and Hester return the favor by flooring Plaisance with an overhand right.  Plaisance is up quickly, and Hester unloads with haymakers to the head.  Hester hits Plaisance with a flying knee to the point of the chin and Plaisance is down again. Plaisance is up at the count of nine but doesn’t look well, he’s still staggered.   Hester gets caught in a clinch and breaks free with knees to the body.  Hester throws a superman punch, No, he turned the superman into a crushing elbow that landed on the Plaisance’s forehead….Plaisance goes down…oh he’s cut!  Plaisance has a nasty gash on his forehead!  The referee waves off the fight and the ring doctor rushes in.

Winner by KO at 2:38 sec of the 1^st round…Clint “Head Bussa” Hester!

Note: According to the ring doctor, it took 7 stitches to close the cut on Plaisance’s forehead.

Main Event

Pro MMA 195lbs​ Warren Thompson vs. Dave Vitkay

One of the most anticipated rematches in Bangkok Fights History, and hey, it lived up to the hype.  It had everything, back and forth action, fan interaction, Atlanta’s men in blue, and Center Stage Security…lol

RD1: Dave comes out swinging but Warren nullifies Dave’s power by pinning him in the corner and delivering knees to his thighs. Warren takes Dave to the ground but Dave manages to land in top control.  Warren uses his butterfly guard to elevate and reverses Dave. Warren ends up in Dave’s half guard. While looking to pass Dave’s guard Warren manages to deliver some elbows to his opponent before the round ends.   This round was all Warren Thompson.

RD2: Dave comes out looking for a takedown, he pushes Warren against ropes but Warren defends by pushing Dave’s head down.  Dave finally gets the take down and falls into Warrens rubber guard.  Warren sinks in a Kimura attempt from the guard; Dave blocks the Kimura by stepping over and keeping the trapped arm between his legs. Dave frees his arm and immediately goes for what appears to be an Americana from my vantage point.  Warren wiggles free from Dave and they scramble towards the ropes, Dave is standing and knees Warren on the head as Warren was getting to his feet.  It’s a judgment call by the referee calling the knee illegal, close call in my opinion, but I don’t have the same vantage point as he does.  Referee takes a point off from Dave for the infraction.  Restart, Dave goes back to working for a takedown but is negated by Warren once again.  Dave working his standup well, Warren answers with a kick to the head but Dave takes it well.  I gave the round to Dave, but remember a point was deducted from him.

During the one minute rest period Dave Vitkay took the time to taunt the Warren supporters in attendance, which happened to be seated directly behind me, with one finger salutes and with what appeared to be a gesture of him complaining of a low blow.  Their boos, choice words, and them inching closer to the ring, added to the already tense ambiance of the evening.  This situation prompted security and a couple of ATL’s finest to set camp behind me and pacify some of the more animated patrons in attendance.

RD3: Warren has one of Dave’s legs in a takedown attempt, Dave surprises Warren with a guillotine, it’s tight and Dave takes him to the ground in full guard.  Dave needs to arch his back to sink the guillotine deeper, Warren slowly slips out of danger.  Dave is breathing hard from the submission attempt.  Warren slips behind him and get’s back control, one hook is in but Dave tucks his chin to his chest to avoid the rear naked choke.  Dave spins out and is standing over Warren.  Dave splits the guard with an axe kick and gains side control.  Warren lands some elbows from his back, Dave answers with a huge right hand!  Warren snaps on a triangle choke!  Dave lifts Warren and slams him to the matt, then breaks free of the triangle.  Dave will not be submitted tonight.  Not enough action on the ground and the referee stands both fighters.  Ten seconds left, the fight is over.  I gave the round to Dave so that would make it 2-1 for Dave but with one point off, it becomes a Draw on my scorecard.

Judge’s scorecards read 28-28, it’s a DRAW!

Here are my picks for KO of the Night:

Clint “Head Bussa” Hester KO’s Devan Plaisance (Elbow) at 2:38 sec of the 1^st round.

Steve “Hitman” Hall KO’s Mike Maniaci (Overhand Right) at 1:16 sec of the 1^st round.

Fight of the Night:

Warren Thompson vs. Dave Vitkay (Draw)