[LIVESMACK!] Play-By-Play of Samurai MMA Pro 3

STUDIO MMA, CULVER CITY, CA — Here we are on Friday the 13th!, reporting live from the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Culver City, CA for Samurai MMA Pro 3.  This mid-sized promotion is run by Lucas Pires of Werdum Combat Team, in conjunction with Blackhouse Manager Ed Soares.  It features a lightweight main event starring Strikeforce veteran Magno Alameda [9-3-0 MMA] and Darren Smith [3-1-0 MMA].  And squaring up for the co-main event is, of course, StudioMMA‘s head reporter and pro fighter, Marcus Kowal [2-1-0 MMA].  Kowal is also a Strikeforce alum, and will have his hands full with fellow bantamweight Mike Kubeska [0-1-0 MMA].

Keep refreshing this page for the LIVESMACK! play-by-play.

Go Marcus!

=======

Samurai MMA Pro 3

Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Culver City, CA

July 13, 2012

 

Vinicius Zana (Blue) 140 lbs, 0-0
Cassino Laureano (Red) 140 lbs, 0-0

Vinicius Zana enters the cage and the PA system dies.  After a few minutes, it’s back on.  The ring announcer just announced Fabricio Werdum.  Here comes Cassiano, who trains with Werdum in Marina Del Rey, CA.  Cassiano has Strikeforce striker Fernando Bettega in his corner.

Round 1

Cassiano with a kick and shoots.  They clinch.  Lots of action to start.  Zana throws a kick.  Lots of feinting.  Nice body shot by Van and Cassiano attacks.  They clinch in the center of the ring again.  Knees and body shots exchanged .  Even fight so far.  Big kick lands for Cassi.  Another inside leg kick for Cassiano.  Vana in active for the moment.  Cassiano with a huge body kick, but Vana gets the takedown.  Nice scramble and Cassi is back to his feet.  Vana throws a body kick.  Cassiano attacks.  They’re clinched against the cage now.  Great fight.  Cassiano with the stronger strikes it seems.  Vana looking for a takedown.  More big body shot sfrom Cassiano.  Vana seems  a little hurt.  Cassiano attacking.  Vana back to the cage, looking for a takedown.  Nice body kick by Vana.  Big left by Vana lands.  Cassiano hurt at the end of the round.  Great spar!

StudioMMA gives a very close one to Laureano, 10-9.

Round 2

They tap in the center.  Combos miss from both men.  Cassi with a superman that misses.  Vana looks for the double-leg, but Cassiano ends up on top.  He throws some bombs tha miss and Vana scrambles to his feet.  Vana misses with a spinning backfist and it just turned into a slug fest with both men landing.  Cassiano got the better of it, and now a takedown for the Werdum disciple.  Zana on his back.  Half-guard now.  Cassiano looking to pass.  Nice sweep by Vana and a big knee.  Another spinning fist by Cassiano misses.  Vana with huge kness, well defended by Cassiano.  A HUGE right lands for Cassi and Vana is hurt!  They go to the ground and back up.  Vinici with some muay thai clinching.  Both men tiring.  Tough battle.  Big body shots end the round for Vana.  Wow.  Great round!

Another remarkable round.  Cassiano landed the bigger shots and was on top, so 10-9 to him again.

Round 3

Vana attacking to start.  Cassiano misses the single-leg.  Cana in Cassi’s guard.  Body shots from the top.  Vana looking to land elbows now.  Cassiano looks tired.  Big GnP from Vinici.  Lots landing.  Cassiano turtles, not defending.  GnP from Vana continues.  Dominant round for him so far.  Cassiano seems to be out of gas.  Elbows land for Vana.  Cassiano with a hammer from the ground.  Cassiano recovers guard but offering nothing.  Vana landing and landing.  Some square shots.  Cassi to his feet and Vana looking for knees.  Against the cage now.  No offense from Cassiano.  A low knee lands for Cassiano. Big right misses for Cassi, who is bloodied.

The ref stops the action to have the doc check a nasty gash on Cassiano’s eyebrow.  But he’s ok.  Big left lands for Cassi, but Vana walks through it.  Cassiano attacks to close the round!

This could be a 10-8 round for Vana.  Did a lot of damage.  But, not enough in our opinion.  10-9 for Vana.  We call it 29-28 for Cassiano Laureano, in what could be FOTN.

RESULT: Vinicius Zana by unanimous decision, Round 3 (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)

 

Paul Amaro (Red) 132 lbs, 1-3-0
Terrion “Flash” Ware (Blue) 135 lbs, 1-0-0

Paul Amaro seems to have a good deal of fans here.  We’ll see if the home crowd advantage pays off.

Round 1

They tap and here we go.  Amaro with a sharp leg kick.  But Ware gets a takedown in front of his own corner.  Amaro throwing his hips up from guard, looking for something.  Ware controlling.  Body shots from the bottom by Amaro.  Ware struggling to pass.  Great job by Amaro to push him off and their back to their feet.  Uppercuts from Ware.  E grabs a leg.  Right in front of me now.  Ware has Amaro on his butt, but he lets his foe escape and some shots land for Amaro.  They clinch in the center.  Nice technique by Amaro.  Throwing standing elbows now.  Ware locks in a guillotine and throws a knee.  A right hook by Ware lands.  He’s looking for the double and gets it.  But Amaro with the guillotine.  It’s locked in.  But Ware escapes.  Knees from Amaro end the round.

Ware with the takedowns and the bigger shots, he gets the10-9.

Round 2

Nice knee land for both men.  Uppercuts from Ware as Amaro attacks, but cant’ get the takedown.  Now Ware looking for a single and some nice elbows from Amaro as he’s pushed against the cage.  Good TDD from Amaro.  He spins Ware around and lands some shots.  Ware too with some strikes.  Ware attacking, pushing the smaller man against the cage and dropping for a double.  Amaro lands some elbows.  Ware gets the takedown, but Amaro reverses and some big GnP from Amaro.  A scramble and Amaro with the guillotine again, Ware trying to survive.  And he does.  Both men tiring.  Ware into half-guard and on top now.  Back and forth.  Side control for Ware, but not attacking.  That’s where the round ends.

Better round for Amaro, but Ware with the slight edge in striking and wrestling. 10-9 Ware.

Round 3

Slow to engage, then a combo lands for Ware, who is showcasing his boxing.  A low knee doubles Ware over and Amaro escapes.  A big right from Amaro.  Ware stalking.  Big right from Ware, now a combination from Amaro.  He’s landing!  Ware missing with some strikes.  Is the tide turning?  Big elbow misses for Amaro, but he lands a left.  He’s definitely getting the better of the exchanges now.   Both men very tired as Ware attacks.  Low knee from Ware.  Amaro with a jumping knee from the clinch and a takedown for Ware.  But Amaro locks in the guillotine again and Ware taps!!!  Unbelievable comeback for the fan favorite!!!

RESULT: Amaro via Submission (guillotine), Round 3.

 

Jonathan Rivera (Red) 167.5 lbs, 0-0-0
Fernando Vargas (Blue) 174 lbs, 1-0-0

Rivera getting some love for the crowd, which has grown more vocal as the fights progress.  Vargas in the white shorts.

Round 1

Nice leg kick from Rivera and Vargas throws a wild combo.  Rivera with the shot and he trips Vargas.  Vargas looking for the kimura, but he’s not gonna get it.  Rivera attacking from the top.  Vargas has Rivera’s right arm locked up.  Cecil stands them up.  Nice combo by Vargas answer by a Rivera leg kick.  Great action here.  Nice combo from Rivera, who is stalking.  Great leg kick from Vargas.  They are both swinging hard.  Rivera with a nice jab.  Big rights land fro Vargas, but another takedown for Rivera and he get side control for a moment.  He’s looking for the Darce choke!  He lets go, but gets top position.  Rivera pounding as the round ends, hurting Vargas.

Rivera is tougher and stronger.  Two takedowns and a dominant position.  10-9 Rivera.

Round 2

River lands a jab.  Both men active.  Leg kick from Vargas.  Combo misses from Rivera and Vargas lands.  Lead left hook from Rivera and a crushing leg kick.  Combo and kick from Vargas.  Another takedown for Rivera.  Vargas looking to attack from his back, but Rivera passes into half-guard.   Rivera is very strong and aggressive on top.  Pounding and he passes into side control.  Now mount for Rivera.  This is not good for Vargas.  He turns to his stomach.  Rivera pounding and pounding.  Cecil Peoples looking close before he steps in and stops it!

Rivera looks like a interesting young MMA prospect.

RESULT: Rivera via TKO (punches), Round 2.

 

Alex Coates (Red) 184 lbs, 0-0-0
Walter Selva (Blue) 184 lbs, 0-2-0

RESULT: No contest. Coates cannot fight due to lack of medical clearance before the fight.

 

Eric “The Matrix” Steans, Jr. (Red) 155, 1-0-0
Jerome Buchanon (Blue) 163, 4-2-0

Buchanon is big and cut.  Do his skills match his physique?  And here is Steans, a significantly smaller lightweight.

Round 1

Nice rights land for Buchanon as Steans attacks.  Buchanon countering well.  Good combo from Steans, who is circling now.  Buchanon looking for the double, well-defended by Steans.  Steans reverses it and doing the same.  They break and a HUGE right hand lands for Steans.  Buchanon drops like a sack of potatoes.  A little bit of GnP and this fight is OVER as the ref dives in!  Huge KO for Steans!

RESULT: Eric Steans, Jr. by KO, Round 1.

 

Kory Kelly (Red) 168 lbs, 0-0-0
Eddie Jackson (Blue) 170 lbs, 0-0-0

Jackson enters first in the blue corner – bald and tatted up.  Kory Kelley in introduced to cheers.  A pro debut for both men, but Kelley is a Kings MMA product and has the local fans.

Master Rafael Cordeiro is in Kelley’s corner.

Round 1

Kory lands a leg kick and Jackson stumbles.  Kelley attacking and has Jackson pinned on the cage.  Jackson throwing from the bottom.  Kory controlling the action, refusing to let Jackson to his feet.  Now some punches and body knees from Kory.  Jackson finally to his feet.  Kory with the underhooks.  Jackson with knees, but Kelley pressing him to the cage.  Knees landing for Jackson, who look for the trip.  But Kelly reverses it and looks for the back as they stand.  Kelley pushing him against the cage.  But more strikes landing by Jackson.  Now Kelley with a flurry.  Underhooks for Keley.  Nice knee for Jackson.  Cecil takes them off the cage.  Nice right land for Jackson and some more bombs.  Kelley clinches and takes him to the cage.  Tough round to score.  Kelley controlled the cage, but many more strikes landed by Jackson, who did some damage.  10-9 Jackson.

Round 2

Nice lead left by Kelley is countered fervently by Jackson.  Kelley takes him to the fence and Jackson throws knees.  Kelley with the clinch, but Jackson reverses it.  Reversed again by Kelley.  Nice knees by Jackson, scoring.  Jackson lands a knee that visibly hurts Kelley.  Kelley baits the knee and gets the takedown, but Jackson scrambles back to his feet.  Lots of knees from Jackson.  Kelley attacking with a wild combo, and drives Jackson to the cage.  Kory seems to be wincing.  A scramble.  Lots of clinching.  Jackson has Kory on the cage, and Cecil breaks it up.  Back to the center, huge combo lands for Jackson, but Kelley marches through it.  More combos from Jackson.  Kelley has a chin!

A clearer round for Jackson.  Better, more technical striking and did I mention LOTS of knees?  10-9.

Round 3

Kelley again the aggressor.  He throws a hook and a knee.  Both men very tired now.  Cecil intervenes and we restart.  Big lefts land for Kelley.  He presses Jackson to the cage.  Cecil calling for action and the break.  Jackson throws a big right.  Kelley hurt?  Not quite.  He throws another left.  Against the cage again.  Kelley looks for the trip.  Cecil stops the fight because of Jackson’s hand tape.  The crowd chanting Kory!  Ory attacks with  a Superman, but Jackson with the better combo.  Kelley is a tough cookie.  They clinch again.  Low knee from Jackson.  They slug it out wildly with elbows and punches.  Jackson bleeding onto Kory’s shoulder.  The fight ends in a clinch.

Admirable heart and grit for Kelley, but Jackson threw punches and knees in bunches that landed.  We call it 10-9 for Jackson, for a clean sweep 30-27.

RESULT:  Eddie Jackson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3.

 

Cooper Gibson (Red) 148 lbs, 3-1-0
Bobby Sanchez (Blue) 142 lbs, 4-12-0

The crowd prefers Gibson.  Sanchez has a lot of pro fights to his record, but ¾ are losses.

Round 1

They circle in the center.  Big kick by Gibson and Sanchez shoots.  But reversed and Gibson on top looking to pass guard.  Sanchez holding half-guard and looking for a guillotine.  Gibson throwing body shots.  Sanchez still holding the guillotine, but not locked in well.  No action.  Cecil watching.  Gibson escapes and quickly takes Sanchez’s back.  Gibson locks in the rear-naked choke and Sanchez taps.  That’s it.  Gibson solid, but Sanchez doesn’t seem to belong in the pro ranks.  That loss puts him at 7 and 21.
RESULT: Gibson via submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1.

 

 

Marcus Kowal (Red) 135 lbs, 2-1-0
Mike Kubeska (Blue) 134 lbs, 0-1-0

Kubeska introduced first for our Co-Main Event of the evening.  He enters the cage with a framed photo of someone, and shows it to the crowd.  Marcus Kowal gets a huge reception from the hometown crowd.  This place loves our boy!!!

Let’s do this, Marcus!!!

Round 1

Kowal circling, Kubeska stalking.  Marcus with a front kick that misses, a jab from Kubeska, countered by a combo from Kowal.  Marcus with a  jab and spinning heel kick.  Kubeska takes him down and then slams him as Marcus tries to get to his feet.  Nice scramble by Marcus and he’s up.  Kubeska pressing Kowal to the cage.  Good TDD from Kowal.  Kubeska the bigger stronger man.  Marcus defending the double now.  Great work from both men.  Marcus throws some hooks and uppercuts that land.  Marcus with a knee that lands and just misses with an overhand.  Theyre back in the center.  Big leg kick lands for Marcus and some knees now.  Marcus with the neck crank and some uppercuts.  An elbow from Kowal.  Kubeska pushes him against the cage and the round ends.  Big slam from Kubeska, but better striking and excellent defense from Kowal.  10-9 Kowal!

 

Round 2

Head kick misses for Kowal, then a front kick to the face lands.  Spinning heel kick to the gut by Kowal.  But he slips and Kubeska takes him down.  Kubeska gets the hooks in, and Kowal has to defend now.  Kubeska looking for the rear naked.  Marcus defending.  And he’s out of the choke!  The crowd goes wild for Kowal.  He’s trying to get to his feet, but Kubeska still on his back.  Marcus is up, and he slams Kubeska.  Big elbow from Marcus as Kubeska is still on his back!  Now Kowal on top pounding! Fans cheering loudly.  Kubeska defending from his back.  Marcus on top as the round winding down.  More pounding from the Swede.  What a round!!!

So close.  Kubeska had the choke, but Kowal landed the strikes.  Maybe we’re biased, but 10-9 Kowal!

 

Round 3

They engage and suddenly Marcus drops to his knees clutching his eye!  He’s gushing blood!  Oh this is nasty!  Is it his eyeball or eyebrow?  Can’t tell.  The crowd is quiet.  Marcus wants to continue, but the doctor is calling it off.  He’s attending to Marcus, who is gushing blood from his eyebrow.  This is an ugly scene.  The ref just came over and told me that an unintentional head butt caused it and Marcus cannot continue because of the nasty gash.  They are going to score the fight based on the first two rounds.   The crowd is very quiet as the decision is about to come.

RESULT: The judges rule it a majority draw.

Time for Marcus to head to the hospital, but he’s going to speak first!  He takes the mic and thanks everyone.   What a guy!!! 

 

Magno Alameda (Red) 160 lbs, 9-3-0
Darren Smith (Blue) 160 lbs, 3-1-0

The main event fighters are introduced.  Cecil Peoples calls them in to touch gloves and they don’t.  Let’s dance!

Round 1

Kicks to start.  Magno attacks and lands a strong punch combo, driving Smith to the cage.  Magno with the underhooks.  Smith reverses and they clinch.  Smith with the slam, but Magno locks in a choke.  He let’s go as Smith gest side control  Big pounds from Smith, who is on top.  But Magno shifts and get’s the armbar!  He stops because he thought that Smith tapped, but the ref says continue!  Magno locks in the armbar again and this time there is no doubt.  That thing is hyperextended!  Ronda Rousey style!  Smith taps and that’s it!

RESULT: Alameda via submission (armbar), Round 1.

 

And that’s the event folks!