[LIVE-SMACK!] Play-By-Play of Samurai MMA Pro 4

STUDIO MMA, CULVER CITY, CA — It’s time for another installment of the increasingly popular Samurai MMA series.  Studio MMA will be cageside for the action.  Sadly, our slick microphone hawk Marcus Kowal will not be on the card tonight as he was last time.  However, the promoters have assembled a nice local line-up featuring Christos “The Spartan” Giagos, Thiago “Minu” Meller, and Cooper Gibson, among others.  Moreover, we at Studio MMA are excited to see our friends Jason Borba and Kory Kelley return to the cage on tonight’s prelims.  Samurai 3 was a wild one.  We expect no less on this warm Friday evening in southern California.

The first bout is at 8PM PT.  Refresh this page for up-to-the-minute results.

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Flyweights

Paul Amaro
James Acosta

Acosta introduced first.  In red checkered shorts, he’s relishing the moment, it seems.  Amaro gets plenty of cheers as he emerges wearing pink strings around his biceps.  In July, Amaro outlasted a tough wrestler in Terrion Ware to lock in a 3^rd -round guillotine.  He’s got endurance and the home crowd advantage.

Round 1

Here we go.  First fight.  They circle.  Amaro with some jabs and feints.  High kick misses for Amaro, and he attacks with a combo and then a low kick.  Acosta closes in.  Amaro with overhooks and big knees.  Acosta loses his mouthpiece momentarily.  This is a vicious set of knees from Amaro.  He maintains the clinch.  A flying knee know.  They trade rights.  Amaro turns him around on the cage and looks for the single.  They charge all the way across the cage.  Another flying knee from Amaro.  Tough fight.  Lots of action.  Right hand from Acosta and they break.  Spinning back kick from Acosta.  The action slows.  Acosta with a leg kick.  Headkick returned by Amaro.  It lands.  They clinch again and Acosta throws a combo.  Against the cage now.  A right lands for Acosta.  Amaro with an overhook and wrist control.  Uppercuts from Amaro.  Side kick from Acosta.  Head kick and front kick from Amaro ends the round.

Amaro the much more active fighter, landing all sorts of strikes.  10-9 Amaro.

Round 2

They tap.  Leg kicks traded.  Another from Amaro returned by a right hand from Acosta, who is throwing side kicks now.  Leg kick from Acosta.  Combo from Amaro.  Big right hurts Amaro.  He’s floundering, but gets a clinch against the cage.  Amaro turns it around and now throwing elbows.  They break.  Leg kick from Acosta.  Head kick from Amaro lands.  Acosta catches a kick and attacks.  Another side kick from Acosta.  Leg kick.  Spinning heel kick lands for Amaro.  Now a clinch and knees.  Acosta throwing rights over the top.  Acosta is bleeding and he misses with a heel kick.  Acosta cut horribly.  Left lands for Amaro.  Corner telling Acosta to finish the fight or it will be stopped due to a disgusting gash over his right eye.  The doctor is looking.  And that’s it.  It is a 4-inch bleeder over the eyebrow and the doctor makes the right call.  A stoppage victory for Paul Amaro.  Another gutsy performance.

RESULT: Amaro by TKO (doctor stoppage), Round 2.

 

Lightweights

Jason Borba
Kevin Bostick

Bostick a fit 155 pounds in black shorts.  Now Borba comes out in a hoodie, followed by Kings MMA fighters Raymond Ayala and Fernando Bettega.  The Hawaiian version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Round 1

Both men holding high hands.  They crack shins.  Borba attacks first and gets a Thai plum.  Bostick with a nice trip.  Borba immediately looking for a submission but no.  Bostick passes momentarily, but Borba gets butterfly guard.  Borba active from the bottom.  Rib punches from Bostick who moves Borba to the fence slowly.  Borba stands and gets the sweep.  Borba on top now, but a fantastic sweep by Bostick and Borba in guard.  Bostick lands some punches, but stands up.  Cecil stands Borba up and we restart.  Nice right lands for Bostick.   Bostick ducks under a punch and executes a double-leg takedown.  Borba looking for the guillotine, but Bostick out now.  Bostick attacking from the top and an awkward scramble ends the round.

Back-and-forth grappling, but Bostick seemed to have the better positions.  10-9 Bostick.
 

Round 2

Bostick very calm.  As is Borba.  Nice leg kick combo from Bostick.  Borba leading with the jab.  Jab leg kick from Bostick.  He misses an overhand and drives in for the power tackle.  They grapple and Borba ends up on Bostick’s back.  He’s trying to sink in a rear naked, but Bostick very calmly defending.  Borba has a body lock from the back.  Bostick defending the choke very well, but Borba in control here.  Still working for the rear-naked.  Bostick hoping to twist out.  Borba with rabbit kicks to the thighs.  Bostick throwing punches over his shoulders, but he’s stuck in this position.  Borba can’t lock it in though.  A head crank now.  Bostick surviving as the round comes to a close.

Close call for Bostick, and dominant grappling control by Borba.  10-9 Borba.

Round 3

This is the decisive round in our opinion.  Borba hunching and stalking.  Hard hook combo from Bostick.  He lands a right.  Swinging hard is Bostick.  Borba composed.  Big left lands fro Bostick and Borba was hurt, but he gets the clinch.  Bostick hooks a leg and gets the takedown.  Now in side control and throwing elbows to Borba’s head.  Borba hip escapes and looking for half-guard.  But Bostick with some big punches from the top.  And they’re landing.  Borba unable to sweep.  Bostick somewhat busy on top.  Side control maintained by Bostick.  Borba taking punishment in the form of hard punches.  Borba resumes butterfly guard at the end, and there’s the bell.

A dominant round for Bostick, who battered Borba from the top position.  10-9 Bostick for the 29-28 win.

RESULT: Bostick by Majority Decision, Round 3.

 

Lightweights

Eric Steans, Jr.
Emilio Chavez

Steans in braids and black shorts.  In his last Samurai MMA appearance The Matrix faced a much larger and more sturdily-built opponent and silenced all cynics with a thunderous one-punch knockout.  We’ll see if the dynamite is in his knuckles tonight.  Here comes Chavez in a Dan Hardy style outlaw face wrap and a hoodie.

Round 1

The tattooed girl walks around with a card notifying us that round 1 is about to begin.  And here we go.  Chavez light on that front foot.  He whips a head kick that misses.  Steans a southpaw.  Chavez stumbles.  As Steans attacks, Chavez with a  quick shot and now over-under against the cage.  Steans defending the body lock.  They spin and now break.  Steans throwing haymakers and lands an uppercut on the inside.  He’s got overhooks and they trade knees.  Chavez has the underhooks against the cage, but Steans pummels under.  They break again.  Steans with a  leg kick and attacks.  Chavez drops to his back and looked for a triangle that he’s not going to get.  Steans on top looking to land blows.  Chavez is stacked.  Steans lands a hard one down the pipe.  Chavez defending well and Steans falls into his guard.  That’s where the round ends. 

Well-fought by both men, but Steans got the position and did some damage at the end.  10-9 Steans.

 

Round 2

Chavez misses a right cross, and Steans ducks under for a nice takedown.  Chavez holding guard against the fence.  Steans with a  big elbow.  He stacks Chavez and rolls him over, but Chavez escapes and they’re back to the feet.  Nice head kick from Chavez.  Steans attacks and Chavez with a body lock and outside leg trip.  Nice.  Steans holding guard now.  Chavez lets up and Steans back to his feet.  They grapple against the cage.  Steans with knees to the thighs.  Steans looking for an elbow.  They continue to clinch and Chavez looking for the takedown.  Steans turns it around and throws a knee.  Big right elbow lands for Chavez, who drops for a takedown, but not luck.   Chavez looks for a judo trip, but Steans stays on top.  Steans goes for a leg lock right at the bell.

Close round.  Steans stunned Chavez with an elbow and maintained more control.  10-9 Steans.

Round 3

Nice leg kick from Steans.  Chavez looking for a head kick again.  Steans with a leg kick blocked.  Chavez with somewhat of a karate stance.  Steans catches a knee from Chavez and they’re against the cage for a second.  Back to the middle.  Head kick then leg kick from Steans.  Another one.  Chavez looking for an overhand right.  Steans attacks with a front kick.  Chavez not offering much.  Big left for Steans lands.  Steans stuffs a takedown and throws a knee.  Steans dancing.  He lands a left as Chavez goes for a leg kick.  Chavez lands a glancing head kick.  Steans drives in for a takedown at the end, but doesn’t get it.

Chavez did not look like he cared to win that fight.  More points scored for Steans in the final frame.  10-9 and Steans takes it 30-27.

RESULT: Steans by Unanimous Decision (all 30-27), Round 3.

 

Middleweights

Alex Coates
Chris Golz

Golz with the crew cut and sleeve of tats.  He’s in white and black shorts.  Here comes Coates, making his professional debut here at Samurai MMA.  Coates a bit more jacked up than Golz, and wearing Badboy shorts.  He’s a strong middleweight.

Round 1

A card girl in jeans starts the round.  Coates attacking wildly, but Golz calm with the jabs and ducks under for a double-leg.  Coates scrambles and looks for a guillotine, but no.  Now they’re up.  Golz is pushing Coates to the cage.  Coates with an elbow over the top and some punches that send Golz to the ground.  Golz in trouble.  Coates lands some hard rights to the chin and the lights go out.  Cecil Peoples dives in to protect the unconscious Golz.  Nasty work by Mr. Coates.  Golz is bloody and can barely get to the stool.  He’s being tended to.

RESULT: Coates by KO, Round 1.

 

Welterweights

Kory Kelly
Fernando Vargas

Both Kelly and Vargas are coming off Samurai MMA losses against high-quality opponents.  Vargas suffered a 2^nd-round TKO at the hands of a very impressive Jonathan Rivera, while Kelly worked tirelessly for 15 full minutes only to come up short against Eddie Jackson.  Vargas into the ring first, wearing the blue Hayabusa shorts.  Kory Kelly enters and stares down his opponent the full length of the catwalk.  He’s bearded with black shorts.

Round 1

Kory has some backing in the crowd.  He throws a big body kick to start and grabs the clinch.  A big series of knees from Kelly.  Vargas drives him to the cage and is warned not to hold the fence.  They trade dirty boxing.  Kelly looking to control Vargas’ attack.  Vargas warned again about the cage.  Kelly with an elbow.  Punches to the ribs from Vargas.  Kelly with the plum.  They continue to grapple.  A knee from Vargas.  Kelly holding the clinch, but trapped against the cage still.  Back to the center.  Big overhand right misses for Kelly.  He gets the Thai plum again and throws a flying knee.  A right lands for Vargas.  More knees from Kelly.  Lots of knees to the body from Kelly.  Good Muay Thai work from him.  Vargas looks for a takedown, well defended by Kelly. 

Good action.  Vargas was pressing Kelly against the cage most of the round, but Kelly did more damage with the knees.  10-9 Kelly.

Round 2

Big haymaker from Kelly.  Now he’s pressing Vargas to the cage.  Underhooks for Kelly.  They get off the fence and Kelly throws some hooks.  Vargas looks for a takedown.  A knee to the thigh for Vargas, who looks for a single now and eats a knee for his trouble. Body kick from Kelly.  They clinch and some tight boxing from both men.  Vargas with a knee to the body.  Some wild hooks from Kelly backs Vargas up.  An uppercut from Vargas  and knees from Kelly, who throws some spinning back fists.  They’re slugging now.  Tough fight for both men.  Vargas looking for a takedown, but Kelly composed.  Another spinner elbow, this time from Vargas.  Overhooks for Kelly.  Vargas drops and drags Kelly’s feet away for a brief takedown.  Some knees from Kelly end the round.

Neither man had the upper hand there.  Kelly was aggressive to start, but Vargas with the takedown.  10-9 Vargas. 

Round 3

Kelly telegraphs the body kick and looks for the clinch.  They are brawling now.  Both men very aggressive, but Kelly pushing forward.  Clinch and elbow from Kelly.  Right hand lands for Vargas, who thinks Kelly is hurt.  Now a takedown for Vargas, but Kelly back up.  They’re against the fence right here.  Knees from Kelly.  Knees from Vargas.  Vargas looking for the single, but doesn’t get it.  A right over the top from Vargas.  Kelly bleeding near the right eyebrow.  Vargas continuing to press him against the cage.  A flurry by both men.  Nice knees from Kelly.  One lands on the chin.  An elbow from Kelly, who is controlling Vargas with the collar tie.  The round ends in a stalemate against the fence. 

That round was a lot like the first.  And for consistency, we have to give it to Kelly, who landed a dozen knees. 10-9 Kelly, giving him the 29-28 decision.

RESULT: Vargas by Split Decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28), Round 3.

 

Featherweights

Jordan Isordia
Trace “Midnight” Gray

Here’s Jordan with a shaved head and white shorts.  He’s got a belly tattoo.  And Midnight Gray enters to the guitar rock of “Bad to the Bone.”  He is a thick 145-pounder.

Round 1

Isordia changing stances.  Side kick from Gray.  Isordia with a  left that misses.  Gray lands a left and huge head kick that rocks Isordia.  Another shin to the head of Isordia and he is able to  takes Gray to the ground.  Gray on his back in guard.  What  a sweep!  Full mount for Gray!  Gray posturing now, looking to pound.  Gray staying on top and using a body lock nicely.  He land a heavy right and Isordia turns over.  He stretches Isordia out and is looking for the rear-naked choke.  This could be it.  Isordia taps!  Efficient and powerful work by Mr. Gray.

RESULT: Gray by Submission (RNC), Round 1.

 

Featherweights

Cooper Gibson
Mark Vorgeas

Vorgeas sprints to the cage, where he is prepped and greased.  Cooper runs out as well.  He’s in Red shorts, and his whole team, including Trace Gray is in red as well.  At Samurai MMA 3 Gibson demonstrated his skills with a completely dominant 1^st-round choke finish of Bobby Sanchez.  He takes a lap.

Round 1

Head kick blocked by Gibson.  Vorgeas east a left hook and a big slam sends Gibson to his back!  Vorgeas on top.  He’s bleeding from his right eyebrow.  Lots of plasma.  They get up momentarily, but Vorgeas takes it back to the ground.  Gibson covered in Vorgeas blood.  Gibson stands up and picks up Vorgeas and slams him!  Great fight to start.  Gibson on top, looking to pass.  Vorgeas maintaining half guard and controlling posture.  Vorgeas looking for the sweep, but Gibson into side control.  A scramble and Gibson looked for the guillotine.  Vorgeas bleeding.  Now Gibson on his back and looking for an arm.  They stand up.  The crowd is chanting “Cooper.”  Slippery scramble.  Cooper looking for the Peruvian necktie.  Wild, crimson scramble.  Vorgeas on his back in full guard now.  The ref stops the action to have the cut checked… And the doctor ends another fight!!!  The ref waves it off.  Questionable stoppage on that one despite the blood.

RESULT: Gibson by TKO (doctor stoppage), Round 1.

 

Lightweights

Chris Saunders
Thiago “Minu” Meller

The mat is clean and we can start again.  This is the co-main event.  Saunders appeared on The Ultimate Fighter previously.  He’s sponsored by MMA Elite and in the white shorts with that logo.  Minu is calm and collected and also MMA Elite sponsored.  Saunders is pacing and ready.  Minu is a few inches taller and a hardcore Brazilian hip-hop song is playing that is repeating his name.  That’s kind of badass. 

Round 1

Saunders’ corner calling for “2112.  Hard kick from Minu of the thigh.  Saunders misses with a leg kick.  Then lands one.  Very hard kick from Minu.  Another one to the ribs.  Nasty.  Saunders is red under his left arm.  Nice movement from Both men.  Minu gets the plum and puts a knee on Saunders chin.  Saunders drops, but is back up.  They’re against the cage.  Minu holding the collar tie.  Another knee from Minu.  Peoples restarts them. Minu barely misses a head kick that would have hurt.  Saunders tries a flying something and ends up on his back.  Minu looking for the Darce choke, but Saunders is back up.  Minu controlling him and throwing knees.  Saunders is bleeding down Minu’s arm.  More knees from Minu.  Tough position to be in for Saunders.  Like a standing Darce choke.  They break.  Saunders wants to make up some ground.  Nut kick from Minu stops the action.  We’re back.  Minu very fast and another leg kick.  He’s outdueling Saunders.  Nice right lands for Minu and a front kick is blocked.  Minu is a matador in there.  Leg kick from Saunders.  Spinning heel kick misses fro Minu.  He’s got a lot in his toolbox.  Right lands for Minu.  Much faster than Saunders.  Leg kick for Saunders.  Axe kick lands for Minu.  Spinning back kick doesn’t.  Dirty boxing from Saunders ends the round.

Minu in complete control there.  He threw all kinds of kicks and landed many.  10-9 for Minu.

Round 2

Thigh kick for Minu.  Saunders frustrated by the Brazilian’s speed.  Saunders attacks with a combo.  Jab from Minu, and a leg kick.  Now one from Saunders.  Sharp thigh kick from Minu.  Saunders attacks and a counter right from Minu.  He gets the clinch and finds Saunders’ chin with his knee.  Now Minu looking for the takedown and gets it briefly.  Knee from Saunders.  Saunders turns it around and throws knees to the thigh.  They break off.  Saunders bleeding from the mouth.  Both men tiring.  Kicks from Saunders.  Now one from Minu.  Head kick blocked by Minu.  And now Saunders blocks one.  Nice counters from Minu.  Minu lands  short right uppercut and blood goes flying.  Nice hands from Minu there.  He gets the clinch and another knee.  Same thing again.  Saunders is taking knees to the chin.  Nice leg kick from Saunders.  Minu checks a kick.  Another nice leg kick from Saunders, then he blocks a head kick.  Minu looking to box.  Saunders lands an uppercut on the way out.  But he just ate a hard right.  They stall as the round ends. 

Saunders looked better than he did in the first, but Minu still clearly took this round and landed the harder shots.  10-9 Minu.

Round 3

Final 5 minutes.  Inside leg kick from Minu.  Then another.  Returned by Saunders.  Jab from Minu.  Minu with a body kick.  Saunders lands a right and Minu is hurt!  They’re against the cage.  Minu still rocked.  Saunders looking to attack.  Minu shoots, but ends up on the bottom.  Saunders pounding.  Minu taking some damage.  Cecil stands them up.  Minu still looks foggy.  Saunders with a  left. Minu swinging for the fences now.  Both men tired.  Left to the body by Saunders.  Left jab for Minu.  Front kick from Minu.  Leg kick for Saunders.  Right lands for Minu… and another over the top.  Now an uppercut to the body.  They clinch.  Saunders with some knees to the thighs.  They break off of the cage.  Minu still looking to box.  Left jab lands for Minu and they both throw hooks.  Leg kick from Saunders.  Minu attacking hard.  Now Saunders looks hurt.  Minu with the Thai plum.  Elbow from Saunders.  Another one.  Spinning back fist lands for Saunders and we end with an aggressive flurry from Minu!!!  Great fight!

Saunders made quite the comeback in that round, dazing Minu and taking it 10-9.  But it’s not enough for the fight.  We have Minu winning 29-28.

RESULT: Minu by Unanimous Decision (all 29-28), Round 3.

 

MAIN EVENT

Lightweights

Christos “The Spartan” Giagos
“Smoking” Joe Lewis 

Joe roars as he walks to the cage.  He’s a motivated and muscular lightweight in white and red shorts.  And, wow, the crowd loves Mr. Giagos.  Loud approval as he enters.  Cecil Peoples checks him and Christos takes his place in the cage.  The ring announcer does the honors.  As Giagos is introduced, the place goes nuts.

Round 1

Leg kick from Lewis.  Christos with aright hands that shuts Lewis’ lights off for a moment.  They flop to the ground, btu Lewis survives and they’re back to their feet.  Now a scramble against the cage.  Christos lifts him and slams Lewis to the mat.  Giagos on top.  He’s taking Lewis back now and almost had the RNC.  He slips off and now Lewis on top with Giagos looking for a sub.  Giagos holding half-guard and Lewis with some elbows from the top.  Now a knee.  Giagos stands.  Big right lands for Lewis.  Leg kicks from Lewis.  Giagos clinches.  They’re against the far fence.  Knees from Giagos.  He looks for the trip, but Lewis stays up.  Giagos relentless here.  Knee to the midsection.  Another one.  Lewis ducks under Giagos punches and takes it to the center of the mat.  This is wild.  Great fight.  Lewis in side control.  But Giagos to his knees.  Big rights to the body from Lewis.  Head kic from Giagos glances.  Body kick from Giagos.  Wild punches from Giagos.  They are both giving a lot.  Back and forth.  Giagos attacking.  Overhand right lands and khe dumps Lewis to his butt.  Punches and knees from Giagos as Lewis stands.  This place is crazy.  What an exhausting pace.  FOTN, folks.  Giagos throws him to the ground in the center of the cage at the bell.  Wildness!!!

An absolutely tremendous round of MMA.  Giagos is a mad man!  10-9 Giagos!

Round 2

Lewis looks defeated.  Giagos pace last round was insane.  Giagos takes the center.  Sharp body kick from Giagos and he locks onto Lewis and takes him down.  Now Giagos on top in half-mount.  Throwing rib shots.  Mount for Giagos!  This is bad news for Lewis.  The ref is watching closely.  Giagos throwing shots, but Lewis was surviving and defending.  The ref steps in to stop it… and that’s all she wrote!  Lewis is incensed.  He says he was fine, and we agree.  Early stoppage even though Lewis was in trouble.  Too bad.

RESULT: Giagos by TKO (punches), Round 2.

 

And that’s a wrap, folks!