Promoter Keith Forant put together a card filled with Ko’s Submissions with this 13 fight card with a grappling match.  I am going to break down the card fight by fight give my two cents

  First match of the night was a grappling contest between Troy “The Chosen” Ferris (Spar)and Alex “Ketchup” Hernandez (Integrity).  Troy had a big size advantage on Alex when the action began and quickly established a head lock position. Alex tried to escape and was even able to break Troy’s balance but left an opening and was finished by a crafty arm lock.  We hope to see both competitors back soon.  Heard some rumblings maybe Alex big brother would through his name in the hat.  That would be a great match to sell.

    First Muay Thai Fight of the night was up next Brian Beard (Lombard MMA) took on Earius McCloud (WNYMMA).  This fight was very competitive out of the gate.  For débuting fighters they looked pretty good.  Both struggled early with range but halfway through the first they were tagging each other.  2^nd round was close but I thought Beard was winning the round but McCloud was coming on.  Beard took it out of the judges’ hands 28 seconds into the third with a beautiful combination that left McCloud unable to get to his feet.  2 fights 2 finishes to get the show started.  Both men looked really good for a first outing and I hope both jump into the local fight scene.  I know E well and I was glad to see him in shape doing what he loves I truly hope to see him lace up again. Once again, these Lombard fighters are all always ready to fight.

    Alexander Martel (Soundara Muay Laos) and Rayan Achour (Lombard MMA) kept the crowd on there feet with there back and forth fight.  You could tell from the start this one wasn’t going to go the distance.  Martel started to get the upper hand and finished Achour 22 seconds into the second round. K-4 was a night of finishes. 3 fights 3 finishes you could feel how excited the building was. I have been at a lot of events the feeling was different at this one. There was a real sense of excitement in the building.  All of the fighters were going after it and the fans were excited. 

  Next up was Gabriel Vega (Elevation) and Rob Smith (Southtowns MMA).  This was knockout of the night.  This was the first time Rob Smith made it down to 155 and after talking to him it will be his last.  Vega hit him hard and often in the 1:22 that the fight lasted.  I have a lasting impression of Vega hitting Smith so hard Smith’s pony tail came around his head and hit him too.  To me this is the most devastating knockout in K-4 history.  Smith was so out his leg was spasming.  I checked in after him to make sure he was okay. He was fine and said depleting to 155 was a mistake and he was diminished.  I hope to see Smith back at 170 there are a lot of matchups for him.  With a knockout this big I hope Vega gets a bump into the title hunt for 155. 

  Next up was Thomas Traxler (Lombard) vs Jayden Peters (Synthesis).  I was really excited when this one was signed.  I have watched Tom grow into the true savage he has become in the cage.  I was intrigued with the height mismatch and was excited to see Jayden live.  Traxler had a masterful performance and was able to control the range on Peters all three rounds.  He was able to shut Jayden masterfully.  I know this was a last minute fight and Traxler was set to fight a wrestler and Peters wasn’t even on the card but I was very impressed.  I think I need to push Traxler on Keith for a title shot he has been a company guy and impressive.    This was the first fight to go to the scorecards and Thomas Traxler took the uniamious decision.

Robert Vanthoff (Buma) Vs Zack Boyle (Livingston MMA) was next.  This fight started out very technical.  Both men where finding range on each other.  Switching from Muay Thai to mma changed the feel and pacing of the fight.  Just as the crowd started to get anxious these men started to deliver the fight everyone came to see.  Like all of Buma’s fighters Vanthoff was patient found an opening and continued the night of K-4 great finishes at 2:24 of round two.

 Next Skylar Neathery (765 top team) took on Austin Bohemier (Indy) in a 160 lb. catchweight mma bout.  Skylar has been driving in from Indiana to fight show after show searching for a win.  He stopped in my gym before the fight and borrowed my shorts at the fights.  I always have a pair since I jumped in the cage on the spot and had to borrow a pair. To say Skylar is a character is an understatement.  He came out through a few punches on the feet that looked much improved got the back and choked Bohemier quickly. 1:06 to be exact. Great performance by Skylar hopefully Austin regroups and finds a gym.  Your always welcome to come train with me.  I heard some Rumblings that Skylar wanted to jump right back in the cage and take on Tyqwan Coles next.  If he wanted to jump up the rankings that would be a good match up to make. 

  Nathan Taylor (Niagara Top Team) vs Maxwell Dowd (Ground Zero MMA). Man those NTT guys are so good.  Everyone of them from 0 fights to pros come in so well rounded.  They are good in every aspect of the game.  Dowd put up a good fight showed a solid striking game and he understood the ground game.  He wasn’t prepared for the wrecking crew that Niagara Top Team is.  For the time being it looks like all title shots are going to go through there guys.  Taylor was patient and looked like a veteran of 10 fights.  I would love to see how Taylor would match up with a wrestler.  Maybe that title eliminator match for Traxler maybe the title shot????  I know that would be a recipe for an amazing fight. 

   Jack Sheehan (Synthesis Bjj) and Tyqwan Coles(Livingston MMA) had a very spirited bout at 170 lbs.  It was over in 2:21 but that doesn’t tell the story of the fight.  Coles started out fast channeling his inner stylebender and had Sheehan in trouble quickly.  They were fighting under novice rules and ground strikes were not allowed.  When Coles had Sheehan hurt he struck him illegally on the ground and the referee stood them up and gave Sheehan the opportunity to recover.  He did, he took Coles down and finished him with a rear naked choke. Very smart and opportunistic win.  I’d like Sheehan to get another good striker and see if he can clean up his striking.  Tyqwan and Neathery seems to be a good matchup for both. For the comeback from behind choke Sheehan was awarded Submission of the night.

 Damonte Wilson (Niagara Top Team) vs Cory Pipher (Art of Combat) had a short scrap next. Wilson dominated start to finish.  Every kick he threw dropped or hurt Pipher.  He kicked so hard I checked his shin pads for illegal foreign objects (there were non in there)  I was so impressed by this guy.  Definitely performance of the night and maybe the best fighter on the card period.  When he Ko’d Pipher he knew it and walked off instead of trying to do more damage.  Amazing fighter with great respect reminds me of fighter/promoter Keith Forant.  As for Pipher I would love to see him come back and fight someone not Wilson.  I am whispering in Keith’s ear right now let’s do Damonte Wilson and Gabriel Vega!!!!!!!!!

 Next up was Peter Vandeusen and Cedric Ortiz.  Sexual Chocolate (Ortiz) came out of the gate strong peppered Vandeusen with strikes and got the early takedown.  I know he was trying to prove a point. He wanted to take the wrestler down, but pride may have taken a W away from him.  Vandeusen recovered and for the next 2 rounds a pattern emerged Vandeusen would get on top Ortiz use the butterfly hooks to slightly advance the position Vandeusen would recover and slightly improve the position.  I was frustrated with Ortiz.  He is a K-4 vet fought every card so far, so he has become my favorite fighter.  I showed him the proper way to take the back IN MY SUIT after the last show. It is a position he is in every fight he still needs some work there.  Hopefully Keith can get him a non-wrestler for the next show and he can notch another impressive win.  As for Vandeusen I think him, and Bret Huffman would make an excellent fight.  Both guys are tough as nails.  It would be an epic clash of middle weight wrestlers.

Not only did I think this could have been the main event or co-main at the least I thought it would be fight of the night. The first ladies fight in K-4 happened featuring two undefeated ladies!  Joan Nelson (Synthesis BJJ) Vs Kara Hoad (5^th Round Fitness) put on a great show over three hard rounds.  Kara was faster and in better shape.  John Franchi had her in shape and she had a spectacular performance.  She out worked and put pace on Hoad on route to her decision win.   I know that Nelson was looking for sponsors so she could spend more time training.  Hopefully some of you reading can reach out and help her. She will be able to advertise with some wins.  Hoad looked amazing putting together amazing combinations.  She Is ultra-talented even when she got taken down in the takedown Nelson was trying all fight, she turned it into a kneebar and used it to escape.  This girl fights like she should be K-4 champ. 

   Todd Banks and Brett Vallone made me eat my words and put on a show for the crowd in 175lb Muay Thai bout.  First of all, Todd Banks is good now.  I remember the first time I sparred with him; I was like man this kid has got a lot of work to do to fight.  He put that work in and more.  He is so much better he is my Western NY most improved fighter of the year last year and it showed in this contest.  He was a step ahead of Vallone every step of the fight.  His sweeps were devastating.  His combinations were sharp his range was on.  Vallone was the epitome of the word tough.  At one point he ate a clean shin to the face from Banks and just looked at Banks like that’s all you got.  It’s probably not an ideal weapon to use in the fight, but Vallone headbutted Banks shin so hard on the last kick of the fight that Banks was injured.  There was not enough time left in the fight for Vallone to capitalize but his head is a weapon not a liability.  On a normal card this would have been fight of the night.  Awesome job fellas.  Todd Banks is for real.  He called for a title shot on the mic to Keith after his unanimous decision win.  Keith said one more and the shot is his.  I can’t wait to see him back in the ring.  WNYMMA is doing a great job with there fighters.  Looks like they are on there way back to being the dominate fight gym in the area. 

The main event we didn’t know we needed lived up to its promise.  Dillion Tharpe (WNYMMA) won the main event with a Unanimous decision over Isaiah Ket(Buma).  This fight was an amazing back and forth.  All fight long Ket had the much crisper punching and Tharpe had some great sweeps and some strong clinch work.  Throughout the contest I felt Ket won the fight but I haven’t been able to watch a replay of the fight yet.  Calling the fight I miss a lot more than I would just observing the fight so I don’t trust my observation until I can rewatch it.  That being said I thought the fight was ultra-close.  I thought once again like I write every event Tharpe looked better than last time.  Watching his mom celebrate his win was a really nice moment as a commentator.  This fight had everything great exchanges, clinch work, sweeps, knees, and heavy kicks.  Tharpe did a great job avoiding Ket’s power and showed how physically strong he is in the clinch.  Both guys fought the fight they wanted. Both guy’s thought they won at the end. Both sets of corners thought their fighter won.  That makes it the fight of the night.  I would love these guys to rematch.  Let the promotion hear what you guys think leave a comment. 

    I want to take a second and thank Keith Forant so much for giving me the opportunity to work for K-4.  He truly cares about his product.  He makes sure things get fixed show to show.  Locker rooms are better and heated mats to warm up on.  Promoting the fights and fighters and growing mma in the area.  K-4 has reinvigorated my love of the sport and wanting to prop up local armature fights as much as the pro’s.   Thank you for making our sport better.  Truly a fighter makes the best promoter.