Kick Down 100
Written by J.R. Gordon at
www.MMABuzz.com Saturday April 7, 2012 at the Red Lion Hotel in Denver, Colorado was an historic night in Colorado MMA as fight promoter Steve Alley hosted the 100th edition of his Kick Down fight promotion. Long known as a promotion that works to set firsts, tonight was no different as every fight on the eleven bout card was for a title.
Main event: Jack Johnson vs. Ian Stonehouse for the Kick Down professional lightweight MMA title. The fighters both landed hard strikes to open the round, including several strong flurries by Johnson. Off of the clinch Stonehouse scored a takedown and used his GNP to set up back control. Once there Stonehouse worked more strikes to be able to get the title winning RNC set in at 2: 47 of round one.
Travis Peak vs. Ali Hanjani for the Kick Down professional welterweight MMA title. The fighters had a feeling out process striking before Peak took it to the mat. On the ground Peak was able to control position and use GNP to set up the title winning Americana with the victory coming at 3:49 of round one.
Cody Connell vs. Mitch Peterson for the Kick Down lightweight MMA title. Peterson scored a quick takedown and worked for a guillotine that Connell escaped. From the top Connell worked GNP until the referee stood the fighters. It went to the mat again and Connell worked GNP to end the round. Round two also went to the mat early and again it was the positional control and GNP of Connell that shone. Round three was mainly Connell working GNP from top position with Peterson working several times for reversals and finally escaping back door to take back control and end the round working GNP and trying for an RNC. The scorecards were read and the title winner by unanimous decision was Cody Connell.
Joey Munoz vs. David Payne for the Kick Down featherweight MMA title. With an early punch Payne dropped Munoz and he flurried with GNP but Munoz recovered, got to his feet, scored a takedown and spent the rest of the round working GNP from the top while Payne looked to escape. Round two went to the mat very quickly and almost all round Munoz controlled position and worked for submissions including several RNC attempts. Round three had a good portion of the round play out with Munoz hunting for a takedown and Payne defending. Finally Munoz took his opponent down and on the mat he worked GNP and positional advantage until the round ended. The scorecards and the title winner by unanimous decision was Joey Munoz.
Patrick Walsh vs. Mourad Laiti for the Kick Down heavyweight MMA title. The fighters traded very hard punches to open the bout with each able to stagger the other. Off of the cage Walsh scored a takedown and worked GNP before trying to isolate an arm for a Kimura. Laiti swept him but immediately Walsh swept Laiti and this time he closed off the title winning Kimura at 1:57 of round one.
Margaret Bloom vs. Heather Sachleben for the Kick Down women’s flyweight MMA title. Round one was all standing with Sachleben landing strong, fast and accurate punches while Bloom looked to counter with kicks. Round two was also all standing with half of the strikes coming from a distance, with Bloom still favoring kicks while Sachleben continued her punching attack. In the clinch each was able to turn the other and each was able to land solid knees. Round three also was mainly standing with the majority of the fight being contested in the clinch with both landing knees and working dirty boxing. Near the end of the round Sachleben scored a takedown and ended the fight in side control working knee strikes to the body. The scorecards were read and the title winner by unanimous decision was Heather Sachleben.
Anthony Peairs vs. Marquise Mcknight for the Kick Down Jr lightweight MMA title. Very quickly the fighters engaged and traded hard strikes. From there a repeated sequence took place where 3-4 times Peairs would get a takedown and Mcknight would get back to his feet. The round ended with Peairs on top working GNP. Round two had the fighters going to the ground very quickly with Peairs working solid GNP then escaping a triangle attempt. Peairs scrambled and set in an armbar which he let go when he thought his opponent tapped. The fight continued and the Peairs worked from inside the guard of Mcknight until the fight was stopped and Mcknight lost a point for grabbing the cage. It hit the mat again and a scramble ensued until the bell ended the round. Round three again went to the mat almost immediately and Peairs worked a prolonged series of GNP while Mcknight was active off of his back working to escape until the round ended. The scorecards were read and the title winner by unanimous decision was Anthony Peairs.
