By: Angela Chustz-Parent

August 16, 2009

If you missed the Python Fighting Championships this past Saturday, you missed a great show! Twelve mixed martial arts fight bouts were scheduled at the St. Gabriel Community Center. The venue was sold out with packed MMA fans anxiously waiting to see their favorite fighters challenge the best in the south.

Participating mixed martial arts schools were from Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas and in Mississippi. Some of the involved teams for the event were: Team Warrior MMA (Gonzales, LA), Adrenaline X MMA (Walker, LA), Team Warrior MMA (Natchez, MS), Gladiators Academy (Baton Rouge, LA), Outlaw MMA (Picayune, MS), and Gracie Barra Northshore (Hammond, LA).

One of the most anticipated professional bouts and main event was between Matt Brown and Charlie Rader and was finally settled leaving some fans shocked.

Rader moving up in weight class to 185lbs. from 170lbs. said in his pre-fight interview that Brown was the first 185lb fighter that he would be fighting with extreme talent in mixed martial arts. Rader is known for his power and strength within his wrestling talent and Jiu Jitsu. Many have witnessed his display of talent at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitions annually held by the Louisiana Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation.

Brown mentioned in his pre-fight interview that before his last fight against James Brasco, he trained steadily on his take down defense and dominant control on his back if he was to be put in those positions. Brasco is a phenomenal mixed martial artist and has a long history and strong wrestling background. Even though Brown came off a loss to Brasco by a decision, he was ready to challenge Rader in a grappling match or a toe-to-toe striking match.

Brown defeated Rader 3:46 in the first round by triangle choke submission

I got a chance to speak to Brown after his victory. “It felt great – it was a great win for me. Charlie is a tough fighter with a very good record and something I definitely needed coming off of two back to back losses. I didn’t expect the fight to go that way but a win is a win. I learned early he didn’t want any part of the standup exchange and was able to use my Jiu Jitsu to finish the fight. His wrestling was better than I thought it would be. It was great to have a submission victory over a tough wrestler like Charlie. It just proves to everyone that my game is becoming more and more well rounded and plus it was nice to snap his two year winning streak,” says Brown.

Brown is scheduled to fight at the Baton Rouge River Center on Friday, October 9^th representing Team Louisiana in a huge USAMMA event against Team Florida, the night before the LSU vs. Florida football game.

The fight results from PFC 6:

Amateur bouts

170lb. Calvin Miller (0-0), Baton Rouge, LA vs. Matt Guidry (1-1), Walker, LA

Miller came in to this fight as a debut mixed martial artist but does have an outstanding third degree black belt in Karate. Miller fights out of Team Warrior MMA and has been working with his coaches there to make him an even better striker. Guidry has been training with Chris Haley at Adrenaline X MMA where he has been learning a great deal of striking and Jiu Jitsu.

Miller started this fight out brining Guidry to the mats followed up with powerful one armed body strikes. Back to their feet, Miller’s Karate experience came in to play using some front kicks to Guidry’s mid section knocking the wind right out of him making him struggle to stay in the game.

Guidry losing round one, made a spin on round two by coming out with a strong take down working towards full mount. Guidry using his Jiu Jitsu was able to keep Miller on the ground to deliver some nice strikes. Miller was able to maneuver himself back up to his feet with vengeance. He came back strong using his stand up power using strong knee and leg strikes leaving the referee to stop the fight in his favor.

Miller defeated Guidry 2:58 in the second round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes

145lbs. Michael Perez (0-1), Metairie, LA vs. Lucas Montelaro (0-0), Gonzales, LA

Perez trains with Warren Donnelly out of Metairie. Donnelly is known for his wrestling skills and trains his students to have wrestling ability, but also to be well rounded athletes. Montelaro’s home is at Team Warrior MMA and made his amateur debut as a mixed martial arts fighter.

These two fighters battled it out for three long rounds on their feet. Montelaro used his boxing skills to stay toe to toe with Perez delivering hard combos making damage with every strike. Montelaro won all three rounds and his first amateur fight.

Montelaro defeated Perez by unanimous decision

170lbs. Paul Cummins (0-0), Gonzales, LA vs. Travis Logan (1-0), Natchez, MS

Cummins was also making his amateur debut and trains out of Team Warrior MMA in Gonzales. Logan trains with Justin Thornton out of the Team Warrior MMA in Natchez and was looking for his second amateur win.

Logan started round one off going in for an early takedown using some powerful ground and pound the entire first round. Cummins and Logan started off round two with a nice exchange of combos on their feet. Cummins took Logan down to the mats shooting in destructive combos. Cummins followed up with a wrist lock submission to end the fight in his favor and winning his amateur debut.

Cummins defeated Logan 1:14 in the second round by wrist lock submission

205lbs. Chris Morgan (0-0), Baton Rouge, LA vs. Dave Capps (0-1), Natchez, MS

This bout was another Team Warrior MMA Baton Rouge vs. Natchez match up with Morgan making his amateur debut. Morgan and Capps started round off with a nice exchange of combos. Morgan swinging for the fences, landed hard destructive strikes. Morgan suffered from a groin strike early in the first round, but he quickly recovered defeating Capps by submission.

Morgan defeated Capps 1:59 in the first round by submission due to strikes

185lbs. Dustin Hatfield (0-3), Gonzales, LA vs. Marcus Whitfield (0-3), Picayune, MS

Both fighters were coming into to this fight with the same record and similar talents in Jiu Jitsu and striking ability. Hatfield, a Team Warrior MMA fighter was challenging Whitfield out of Outlaw MMA in Picayune.

Hatfield and Whitfield scrambled to get to the mats. Whitfield used his power and Jiu Jitsu experience to gain half guard delivering devastating strikes leaving the referee to stop the fight in his favor within a minute of the first round.

Whitfield defeated Hatfield 1:03 in the first round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes

155lbs. Barrett Gautreaux (0-0), Gonzales, LA vs. Kevin Thompson (1-1), Albany, LA

This fight was a battle for three rounds. Gautreaux, out of Team Warrior MMA, was a crowd favorite with fans surrounding the arena with excitement. Gautreaux took Thompson down against the cage at bell sound pouncing one arm superman punches. Thompson reversed control at the end of round one getting in a couple of strikes before bell sound.

Thompson went in for the take down for round two. He used his Jiu Jitsu to keep Gautreaux down on the mats landing nice body and head strikes for the entire round. 

Again with the take down, Thompson lead off round three in his favor landing devastating strikes leaving the referee to stop the fight.

Thompson defeated Gautreaux 57 seconds in the third round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes

145lbs. Keith Theriot (0-0), Gonzales, LA vs. Earl Kessling (0-3), Picayune, MS          

Another amateur debuter, Theriot entered the cage to challenge Kessling who was looking for his first victory. Kessling aggressively took Theriot down to the mats into half guard making some good ground and pound body shots and gaining full mount. Theriot reversed making nice body shots as well. Kessling saw an opening for a guillotine choke and took it winning his first mixed martial arts victory.

Kessling defeated Theriot 1:16 in the first round by guillotine choke.

140lbs. Cody Mitchell (0-0), Gonzales, LA vs. Dane Goodwin (0-0), Albany, LA

Two amateur debut fighters hit the cage ready to challenge their talents. Goodwin started off by taking Mitchell down right at bell sound delivering some nice body shots and ground and pound combos. Mitchell sunk in a tight guillotine choke leaving Goodwin struggling to get out of the submission attempt most of round one.

Mitchell stayed on top of Goodwin for the entirety of round two trying to gain full mount delivering some nice body shots. Mitchell went in for another take down in the beginning of round three and stayed on Goodwin for the remainder of round three delivering some nice body shots and combos again winning by decision and gaining another Team Warrior MMA victory.

Mitchell defeated Goodwin by unanimous decision

135lbs. Nick Gautreaux (1-3), Gonzales, LA vs. Curtis Holder (0-1), Natchez, MS

Both fighters come out strong with explosive strikes and aggressive combinations getting the fans fired up and excited to see some stand up entertainment. Gautreaux landed a devastating strike leaving Holder to fall to the mats and the referee to stop the fight by a technical knock out.

Gautreaux defeated Holder 1:53 in the first round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes.

170lbs. Cody Kidder (1-0), Gonzales, LA vs. Adam Dudrene (1-0), Houma, LA

Kidder is another product of Team Warrior MMA and is known to be an aggressive striker. He is definitely a fighter that most 170lb. fighters need to look out for as he climbs up the ladder in mixed martial arts. Kidder came out swinging for the fences landing every strike and ending up taking his opponent down for vicious ground and pound. Back up to their feet, Kidder struck Dudrene with a few leg kicks right before bell sound.

Round two started off with Kidder going in for the take down where he left off at the end of round one not giving Dudrene a break and leaving the referee to stop the fight due to strikes. 

Kidder defeated Dudrene 2:49 in the second round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes.

Co-Main Event

160lbs. Joseph Sumrall (3-2), Natchez, MS vs. Justin Martin (3-1), Walker, LA

Martin was a crowd favorite for this co-main event with pressure put on Sumrall. Martin fights out of Adrenaline X MMA and is known for his striking ability.

Round one starts off explosive with both fighters landing a nice exchange of combos exciting the crowd with every strike. Martin threw in a few leg kicks and attempted and arm bar submission right at bell sound.

Back down to the mats in round two, Martin gained dominant control landing destructive strikes for a TKO victory.

Martin defeated Sumrall 48 seconds in the first round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes.

Python Fighting Championships back again at the St. Gabriel Community Center

August 9, 2009

By: Angela Chustz-Parent

Cage fighting is steadily emerging as one of the most viewed sports nationwide. Many south Louisiana mixed martial arts (MMA) promoters have become prominent in the state bringing you cage fighting in many cities including Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas.

This Saturday, August 15^th, Donald “The Python” Mayeaux, owner of Python Fighting Championships (PFC) will be promoting his sixth MMA event in Ascension Parish at the St. Gabriel Community Center.

Some MMA fans may think this event will be similar to an event the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) airs many Saturday evenings on Pay Per View. These events are similar in the fact that they are mixed martial arts events. However, the UFC has all professional contracted fighters fighting in their events and the PFC in St. Gabriel is scheduled to have fourteen amateur bouts and one professional bout on its fight card.

Like many local MMA promotions, there has to be a place where upcoming MMA fighters compete until they get to the professional level. PFC has put together some of the top emerging amateur fighters in south Louisiana to compete against fighters from southern Mississippi.

After the amateurs compete, you will want to stick around for the most anticipated main event bout between professional 185lb. MMA competitors, Matt Brown and Charlie Rader. If the MMA fans have been following the sport in Louisiana in the past couple of years, they will know that these two have earned their way to be at the top.

Rader has an impressive 10-2 professional record. This New Orleans native started wrestling at the age of six and went on to compete at a high school level placing in state Wrestling championships winning in 2001 and placing in 2000.

He is member of the Gracie Barra Southshore team and holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Rader is an active competitor in the Louisiana State Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation and has placed in the annual No Gi and Gi competitions over the past two years in his weight class and open class divisions.

Rader has remained undefeated for two years winning majority by technical knock outs. Rader has dabbled in the 185lb weigh class, but has fought mostly in the 170lb division. “This will be a true test of my skills at 185. Brown is more skilled than any of the other 185 lb fighters I have fought,” says Rader.

Rader trains with boxer Kevin Saaverda in New Orleans, Louisiana and also spars with heavyweights in Jiu Jitsu. He feels that Brown’s weight advantage will not have a huge impact on his game plan.

Rader recently defeated Brown’s team mate, Rich McCloskey in an ongoing 170lb. eight man tournament by a rear naked choke submission in the first round. Rader decided to step up in weight class to challenge Brown, who is one of the top 185lb. competitors in Louisiana. “Brown is trains out of a good gym and is a tough guy. I think that I am at the top of my weight class at 170lbs. and he is at the top of his weight class at 185lbs. in Louisiana and this will be a great fight to see who’s the best,” says Rader.

Rader doesn’t feel this fight will go the distance. He says he never has gone three rounds in a fight before and doesn’t plan on going the distance on Saturday.

He says that most fans and fighters have seen him display his wrestling and ground and pound skills and says everyone will be surprised of the “new” Charlie. He plans on showing more than his wrestling skills when competing against Brown.

Matt Brown is a destructive striker holding a 4-4 professional record. He remained undefeated as an amateur with a 5-0 record and has been competing against some of the top middleweights in the southern region for over three years.

Brown is also a New Orleans native. He trains at Gladiators Academy with some of Louisiana’s most explosive fighters including UFC Veteran and TUF 4 season competitor, Rich “No Love” Clementi, UFC Veteran and TUF 7 season competitor, “Crazy” Tim Credeur, and UFC Veteran Kyle Bradley.

Like Rader, Brown is also an active Brazilian Jiu Jitsu martial artist holding his blue belt under Credeur’s BJJ Revolution Team.

Along with training with the top fighters in the state, Brown trains with Muay Thai instructor, Dustin Johnson who has helped Brown become an excellent striker standing up or on the mats. “Rader is a strong wrestler. I have seen him fight twice and he seems to be a tough kid. This will be a battle for sure,” says Brown.

Brown is looking to the “old” Brown where he finished fights. Many will agree that Brown’s record doesn’t speak for his talent as a mixed martial arts fighter. Brown is coming off of a loss to an all-state wrestler, James Brasco. Brown says that Rader is more of a brawler than a technical boxer and feels that his technical boxing will be an advantage in this fight if they stay toe-to-toe.

My prediction is if this fight stays standing that Brown will do enough damage for the referee to stop the fight. If the fight goes to the mats, I think Rader will come out with another TKO victory with his vicious ground and pound.

MMA fans will definitely want to stick around to see this main event! I have a feeling you will be on the edge of your seat with this one!

PFC is looking to have some of the most action packed LIVE cage fights on August 15^th ! Come out and watch the amateur’s display their talent and to witness one of the most anticipated main events in the south!!!

Python Fighting Championships Fight Card

(Fight card subject to change)

Battlezone XI: Caged Carnage

Patterson Civic Center

Friday, August 7, 2009

Battlezone XI fight results

Amateur:

145 lb. Josh Abercrombie (2-1) Gold Dragon MMA, Slidell, LA vs Travis Hauge (1-2) American Top Team, Port St. Lucie, Florida

Round 1: Abercrombie started off round one aggressive coming out with a quick takedown. He attempted a triangle choke and Hauge quickly rolled out of it. Abercrombie attempted multiple arm bar submissions but Hauge’s Jiu Jitsu was too strong. Round one ended with Abercrombie attempting a half guard mount.

Round 2: Abercrombie came in storming knocking Hauge down to the mats for a referee stoppage within seconds of the first round.

Abercrombie defeated Hauge :13 in the 2^nd round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes

135 lb. Scotty Smith (3-0) Dixons Dungeon, Houma, LA vs Robert Auzenne (4-4) Gladiators Academy, Baton Rouge, LA

Round 1: Smith came out with explosive leg kicks and taking his game to the mats ending the round quickly with a triangle submission.

Smith defeated Auzenne 2:19 in the 1^st round by triangle choke

Smith won the Fighter of the Night Award

USAMMA 135lb. Championship Title: Chris Myers (5-4) Gold Dragon MMA, Slidell, LA vs Thomas Hebert (3-3-1) Champagne Martial Arts, Lafayette, LA

Round 1: Myers took down Hebert for a hard slam to the mats working toward guard. Myers found an opening for an arm bar submission taking away the USAMMA belt.

USAMMA Banthemweight Champion: Chris Myers

Myers defeated Hebert 1:24 in the 1^st round by arm bar

170lb. Dexter Gamer (0-0) Fighthouse/Team Hopkins, Morgan City, LA  vs Mike Hill (2-2) Outlaw Fight Team, McComb, Mississippi

Round 1: Gamer started off round one with a powerful body shot to Hill followed up by a takedown to the mats. Gamer gained half guard throwing devastating haymakers leaving the referee to stop the fight due to strikes.

Gamer defeated Hill 2:32 in the 1^st round by TKO referee stoppage due to strikes

170lb. Brennan Sevin (5-0) Team Xtreme, Houma, LA vs Marshall Murphy (3-0) American Top Team, Port St. Lucie, Florida

Round 1: This fight went to the mats pretty soon with Sevin attempting an arm bar. With Murphy’s extensive Jiu Jitsu experience, he rolled out of it with no problem gaining half guard and delivering body shots to Sevin the rest of round one.

Round 2: Murphy started round two with a take down to the mats and working toward full mount the entire round. Sevin displayed some good defense in Jiu Jitsu by posturing up to avoid full mount. Murphy got some goo body and head shots in round two.

Round 3: Sevin came out swinging ending the fight with a devastating knock out.

Sevin defeated Murphy :21 in the 3^rd round by KO

Sevin won the KO of the Night Award

125lb. Cynthia Breaux (1-0) Fighthouse/Team Hopkins, Morgan City, LA vs Elisa Russell (0-0) AdrenalineX MMA, Walker, LA

Round 1: Both fighters started this round off strong with powerful combos. Breaux got knocked down early in the first round recovering to her feet pretty quickly landing some nice leg kicks and combos making some devastating damage.

Round 2: Breaux started swinging as the bell rang leaving Russell without a break. Russell suffered a bloody nose and swollen eye and was unable to defend herself leaving the referee to end the round.

Breaux defeated Russell 2:22 in the 2^nd round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes

This fight won the Fight of the Night Award

Battlezone Featherweight Championship Title: 145lb. Dominic Falzarano (3-1) Fighthouse/Team Hopkins, Morgan City, LA vs Giovanni Greco (4-0) Outlaw Fight Team, McComb, Mississippi

Round 1: Falzarano took Greco down to the mats where he felt comfortable working towards full mount and delivering some explosive ground and pound taking the featherweight title home.

Falzarano defeated Greco 2:16 in the 1^st round by TKO, referee stoppage due to strikes

Professional Bout:

Lanny Dardar ( 1-0) Team Xtreme, Pointe Aux Chenes, LA vs Hank Hughes (0-0) Gladiators Academy, Baton Rouge, LA

Round 1: Dardar started this fight off with a takedown. Hughes reversed gaining half guard working some ground and pound. Dardar also reversed landing some nice strikes. Hughes sinked in a tight triangle choke winning his first professional fight.

Hughes defeated Dardar 2:26 in the 1^st round by triangle choke

Gladiator Promotions: Bad Blood

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Northpark Assembly Center

Denham Springs, LA

Fight Results

155lb. Amateur MMA Blake Burton (0-0) Adrenaline X MMA, Walker, LA vs. Zack Gray (0-0) Rising Sun MMA, Friendswood, TX

Burton (Fighter of the Night Award) defeated Gray 2:25 in the 2^nd round by rear naked choke

HWY Pro Boxing Dewight Jarmons (1-0-1) J Prince Gym, Houston, TX vs. John Brown (0-1) Dixons Dungeon, Drew, MS (4 Rounds)

Brown defeated Jarmons by unanimous decision

170lb. Amateur MMA Dustin Hebert (1-0) AdrenalineX MMA, Denham Springs, LA vs. Jeremy Wilson (0-0) Rising Sun MMA, Texas City, TX

Hebert defeated Wilson 3:21 in the 1^st round by arm bar

155lb. Pro MMA Jarrod Brignac (2-6) Clementi’s Gladiators Academy, Slidell, LA vs. Fransisco Olonzo (0-0) Rising Sun MMA, Friendswood, TX

Brignac defeated Olonzo 1:19 in the 1^st round by rear naked choke

155lb. Pro Boxing Mark Hinson (0-1) Gladiators Academy, Baton Rouge, LA vs. Randolph Cole (0-0) Dixons Dungeon, Biloxi, MS (4 Rounds)

Hinson defeated Cole 1:58 in the 1^st round by TKO

HWY Amateur MMA Jonathan Davis (0-1) AdrenalineX MMA, Denham Springs, LA vs. Reginald Demps (1-1) Dixons Dungeon, Biloxi, MS

Demps defeated Davis :23 in the 1^st round by KO

USAMMA 145lb. Amateur Championship Title: MMA Ben Kristonis (4-4) Gladiators Academy, Baton Rouge, LA vs. Brian Billiot (7-1) Extreme MMA and Fitness, Grand Bois, LA

Kristonis defeated Billiot by unanimous decision

185lb. Pro MMA Thomas Webb (0-0) Gladiators Academy, Baton Rouge, LA vs. Eric Thompson (9-6) Clementi’s Gladiators Academy/Team Thompson, Slidell, LA

Webb defeated Thompson by unanimous decision (Fight of the Night)