Before the fights began, I learned from ringside medic Mike DiSalvo that Chrissy Yandolli, who was scheduled to fight for Support the Kid, had to pull out of the card with a knee injury, but even without its headliner, whom we hope is well enough to fight on September 9 at GLO, "New Beginning" was a good time.
In the first fight of the night, 13-yr-olds Steven Paul, trained by Bobby Campbell, and Chris Algieri-trained Nicky Cipolla (100-lb. limit) met in a kickboxing exhibition. Nicky put together some fine body work early. The opening frame was highlighted by Nicky’s push kick, left hook to the body, and 1-2's in rapid fire, but Paul would not go gentle into that good night ("Rage, rage against the dying of the light..."), landing a good looping left hook at the end of the round. In the second round, Nicky again pressed action and got off first. His crisp kicks kept the taller, longer Steven at a safe distance, but Steven scored with a hard body kick in the final seconds. This was an exhibition, so a winner was not determined.
In the second match, East Islip Kickboxing and MMA’s Brenden Estes took on LIMMA’s Sean Cavanagh in a tap-or-time grappling exhibition match (6 mins). Sean pulled guard early on Estes, who postured up and wriggled his way out of the guard, passed, and nearly sunk in a triangle, but his legs needed to get farther behind Brenden's head. Brenden emerged from a quick scramble and sought a far-side armbar and then switched for a kimura. Another mad scramble and Estes fell in side control, and mounted with 60 seconds left. Sean escaped and landed in Estes’s guard. Estes worked for a guillotine in the final moments and finished the match in top position. That was awesome.
The smell of the wings from the kitchen is exciting me in a way that is probably illegal in Massachusetts.
America’s Finest Kickboxing and MMA’s Holger Velez met Tommy Bottone-trained Timmy Persaud in a kickboxing exhibition at 120 lbs. High energy right away. The taller Timmy landed a crisp spinning back kick and some good hooks, but Holger, who battled intermittent headgear issues, kept coming with big left hands and backed Timmy up a few times. Timmy scored with a big head kick and hooks upstairs early in Round 2, but Holger was game as shit. He bullied his way inside and landed a solid left when Timmy was against the ropes late in the second. More of the same in the third round, but Holger’s kicks and punches landed more than they did in the first and second. He pressed the pace, swung harder, and landed more shots inside. Great action from both guys.
Time for the sweet science. Slade Sandival product Richard Jacques boxed Stefan Mitchell, whose right hand came with some heat. Richard countered with some goof left hands, but was backed into a corner and pounded a few times by a powerful Stefan in the first round. In Round 2, Stefan held the center of the ring, avoided any real damage, and landed a few good body punches with the left hand. Fast action from both guys early in the third. Richard pumped his jab, but not enough to keep Stefan from wading in with heavy punches in the corner and dictating the puligism overall. Stefan Mitchell earned the judges’ decision.
Up next was a super heavyweight Muay Thai match between Luis De Jesus and Peter Kaljevic-trained Nick Kosovich. The smaller Luis landed good left hands in Round 1, but was on the business end of some thundering kicks to the body and 1-2's from the hulking Nick, who closed the round with knees to the body. Good leather from both men at the opening bell in the second round. Nick’s punches and kicks looked more crisp, but Luis kept moving forward and swinging for the home run. A big body kick from Nick, who seemed to slow a bit, and a sweeping left hand upstairs from Luis punctuated a good Round 2. In the final frame, Nick kept kicking Luis’s legs and connected with some rough leg kicks. Luis responded, however, with another left hook to the head, but Nick walked right through it and withstood a final flurry from Luis. The unanimous decision was awarded to big Nick Kosovich.
I gotta pee.
The next contest was between 145-pound grapplers East Islip Kickboxing and MMA’s Danny Mendez and LIMMA’s Mike Kuhn. Big slam from Mike right away! Holy Shit. Mike fights out of a choke, still in the mount position, and works for a triangle. Danny frees himself, but is in trouble in Mike’s guard – looks like Mike wants an armbar. Danny wants to pass, but Mike’s got his hands. Danny breaks free, postures up, passes Mike’s guard, scrambles in front of Mike, and goes for a guillotine. He’s reversed, mounted, and Mike takes his back. Sixty seconds later, Mike sinks in the rear naked choke. Great stuff.
The intermission featured the comedy styling of Scotty Balls – who had a killer line about a girl with no chin – as well as a ceremony honoring those MMA and kickboxing luminaries in attendance (Chris Schlesinger, Bobby Campbell, Chris Algieri, Al Iaquinta, Tommy Bottone, Ryan Laflare, to name a few) and a pretty badass video montage for Bobby Campbell’s upcoming Gym Wars.
Back to the fights. Chris Torres vs. Jesse McBroom (160 lbs.). In Round 1, both guys exchange superman punches, but neither lands flush. Jesse mixed in his kicks and hands well, but Chris’s kicks seemed a bit heavier. Chris ended the round with a good flurry of punches that backed Jesse up. Chris hits hard. The second round saw more big swings from Chris, but not necessarily in combinations. Jesse had Chris in the corner and landed some punches, but Chris fought out if it and countered with punches of his own. A spinning back fist at the opening bell of Round 3 from the bigger Chris missed narrowly, but he scored with some body-head work. Jesse landed a stiff right; Chris countered with a left. Chris missed another spinning back fist in the closing seconds, and Jesse answered with a short, chopping right hand to end the contest. The judges’ decision went to Jesse McBroom. Close fight.
Here comes ladies’ kickboxing -- ring announcer Larry legend’s favorite. Laura Hofricher vs. Ellen Matthews. The crowd went nuts for Ellen -- by far the biggest ovation of the night. Laura connected with some good body punches and then attacked the head. Ellen fought back and landed right and left hands that backed up Laura. A subsequent flurry from Ellen pummeled Laura and prompted the ref’s 8 count. Laura is swinging for the KO now. And so is Ellen. More chilling screams from inches behind me after an exciting first round. Round 2: head punches from both fighters with a kick here and there. A kick from Laura sails a little low, but Ellen counters with more heavy punches that eventually prompt the referee’s stoppage. Ellen came to throw down. I thought Laura fought extremely hard and well during a close, tough fight, and I look forward to more from both fighters.
I then had the distinct privilege of presenting the Fight of the Night award. Long Island Fights was created for the sole purpose of celebrating those Long Islanders who train, ache, fight, and bleed as hard as the men and women we see on Spike, Showtime, and PPV, but who don’t always receive the same widespread recognition. The Fight of the Night trophies are mementos of exactly what this site is all about, and I’m sorry that not everyone had the opportunity to be formally honored as such. In the end, I handed the hardware to Sean Cavanagh and Brenden Estes. Skill, speed, strength, and endurance clinched them as the winners in my mind.
Back to the fights. Elvis Camejo vs. Chris Mesonero for the PKF NY State lightweight kickboxing title. These guys are animals. Big punches from Chris, who looks real strong. Elvis is undaunted, though, and withstands big hooks to the helmet. In Round 2, Elvis turned it up and hit some kicks. Chris’s pace has slowed a little, but he’s still firing heavy hooks and good kicks to the lead leg of Elvis. Quick exchanges opened the third round, with both men pouring it on. Chris hits hard. Elvis is almost surgical with his kicking attack. This is a great match-up. In the fourth, Elvis mixed up his offense, while Chris stuck to what works: nasty punches to the head. In the end, Chris earned the judges’ unanimous decision win and the PKF NY State lightweight kickboxing belt.
Main event time: Peter Kaljevic vs. Jonathan Lopez in a kickboxing exhibition. Peter is the kicker, Jonathan the puncher in this one. After a slow first round, it was who Lopez landed a good back kick that put Peter on the mat in the final seconds of Round 2. Round 3 featured solid kicks from both guys: Peter to the legs, Jonathan to the body. This was definitely the most skilled exhibition of the evening, and I’m looking forward to seeing Peter fight Josh Foley on September 9th at GLO for Long Island Gladiator’s Battle of Champions IV. Because Kyle Dunham didn’t show, Jonathan was awarded the PKF United States championship.
Big thanks to Bobby Campbell, Jackhammer Promotions, Mulcahy's, and Knuckles USA for another great event, right here on Long Island.
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