“The Crippler” (R) توقفت “The New York Bad Ass” – Chris Leben stops Phil Baroni

(all pictures by Christopher Cook)

CASPER, وايومنغ (تشرين الثاني 10, 2018) – Bombs away was the theme last night (الجمعة) as combat sports veterans made their bare-knuckle fighting debuts on the exciting “Rise of the Titans” worldwide pay-per-view event, presented by the World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation (WBKFF), at Casper Events Center in Casper, وايومنغ.

Blood was flying, fighters were dropping, and fans and a near capacity crowd was really into the constant brawling throughout an evening entertaining, competitive and memorable fights.

The main event showcased a pair of combat sports icons, كريس “The Crippler” Leben و“The New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni, in a special light heavyweight attraction. Left-handed Leben, يقاتلون من سان دييغو, shook off Baroni’s early roughhouse tactics, floored him, and then put his lights out midway through the first round.

“He was clinching and I wanted to stand in the middle of the ring and bang,” Leben remarked. “Down he went from a big left hand. He does have a hard head.”

(L) Dakota Cochrane finished off Johny Hendricks

Hendricks suffered a cut under his right eye in round one, then Cochrane suddenly and shockingly ended the fight 21-seconds into the second round with an explosive, straight right that silenced the pro-Hendricks crowd.

“هو (bare knuckle fighting) was definitely different,” a jubilant Cochrane said after the fight. “I love my big right hand, I’ve been practicing it.:

“بصراحة, I’m moved” said an elated WBKFF CEO and founder Tom Stankiewicz after the conclusion of his organization’s inaugural show. “I was very surprised by the underdog, مونوز, and a new star was born tonight, داكوتا كوكرين. Everybody fought their best, they were all warriors. I hope all these fighters stay with us. We are planning our second show for February 9 at a site to be determined.”

الكفاح من الليل: جوليان لين (L) and Joey Angelo each won a new Ford Mustang (see picture below)

Always tough Ohioan fighter جوليان “Hellboy” Lane ولاس فيغاس’ المتوسط جوي أنجيلو had the ultimate showdown, which broke out into a fire-fight in the third round, at least until Lane connected with a straight right on the chin to drop Angelo. Trailing on the scorecards, Angelo opened the fifth round going for broke, but Lane was the aggressor from start to finish, as well as the more efficient puncher, كسب انتصار قرار منقسم. Lane overcame a broken left hand he suffered in the third round.

Christina Marks (L) bloodied Jasmine Clark en route to an impressive win

ال $100,000 WBKFF Lightweight Tournament launched last night with two black-and-blue type fights. Former UFC and Strikeforce fighter Robbie “Problems” بيرالتا, من إسكنديدو, مثل, caught Ireland-born أبو زريق طائر “The Mellow Fellow” Cucciniello, now living Spain, in the second round with an overhand right that dropped him. Blood dripping down his face like a badge of courage, the gutsy Irishman finished the third round strong, and the two fighters battled on equal turf in the fourth. Despite Cucciniello’s vision obviously hampering him, he kept coming forward in the fifth, but Peralta maintained control, effectively picking his spots, en route to an impressive win by unanimous decision.

South African ليون “The Iron Lion” Mynhardt, now living in Fairfield, مثل, was too much for Texan شق “الشبح” غونزاليس in the other tournament match, and the fight was eventually halted by the referee in the second round because of excessive punishment.

مقاتل سابق في UFC و Bellator جوش “طبيب الاسنان” أسفل, fighting out of Des Moines, أيوا, had not fought in 2-½ years, when he entered the ring to fight boxer “Mad” Max Alderete, من البوكيرك. Neer needed a round for the rust to wear off, after which he walked down Alderete and unloaded on his head and body, mostly throwing upper cuts, one putting him down near the end of the third round. Alderete was unable to answer the bell for the fourth round.

Brazilian MMA veteran مارسيلو “Mello” Alfaya put late replacement Joey Munoz on his back with the first punch he threw, but his Nebraska opponent showed tremendous heart, resulting in the crowd getting behind him. Attrition started to play a role in the third round, as both fighters slowed down, but they battered each other in a wild fourth round. In the fifth and final round, Alfaya was penalized a point for hitting after the break, and Munoz closed the show, pulling off the first upset of the evening by way of a five-round majority decision. Munoz took the fight on one-day notice, lost 17 جنيه, and drove three hours to Casper.

Former UFC and Strikeforce fighter Issac Vallie-Flagg and upset minded Cory Simpsonopened the PPV segment of the night fighting at a 175-pound catchweight. After a somewhat strategic first round the pace changed abruptly in the second round as both fighters opened-up. Class soon prevailed as Vallie-Flagg, من البوكيرك, knocked down a game Simpson early and he then finished him off with a barrage of brutal body shots for a second-round knockout.

Hall of Fame ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, الابن. joined WBKFF’s all-star announcing team –باس روتن, who is also WBKFF president, كيني رايس و Jessica Penne -for the pay-per-view and Preview airings, distributed by Integrated Sports Media.

Super heavyweight CJ. “Big Cake” Leveque suffered a cut to his right eye in the opening round, courtesy of Houston’s خوان توريس, لكن ال 288 ½ pound Californian immediately responded by decking Torres, who spotted his opponent 212-pounds, with a roundhouse right early in the second. Torres bounced right back, رغم أن. He drilled Leveque with a vicious shot in tight-quarters, sending him face-first to the canvas for a second-round knockout to conclude the preliminary card.

The first preliminary card fight set the tone right from the opening bell in a 160-pound catchweight fight. Long-haired favorite Jeff Chiffens, fighting out of Delaware, came out firing shots and 15-seconds in the opening round, Chiffens drew blood first, opening-up a cut overFred Pierce‘s right eye. After the ring doctor examined and cleared Pierce to fight, the action resumed and Chiffen dropped Pierce with a powerhouse right. Pierce beat the count, but referee stopped the fight at the 1:04 علامة من جولة واحدة.

Newly adopted rules including holding and striking, spinning backfists and hammer fists were allowed, and a traditional boxing ring was used for optimum viewing and safety. All men and women’s matches were scheduled five (two-minute) جولات.

The two participants in the Fight of the Night – winner Julian Lane and Joey Angelo – each won a new, high-powered Mustang from WBKFF

Lane floored Angelo before he broke his hand in third round

(L) Robbie Peralta and Jay Cucciniello put on a show

Jeff Chiffens (R) landed a picture-perfect punch on Fred Pierce

Joey Munoz (back on ropes) pulled off the upset of the night