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The Victory Fighting Championship (VFC) returned to the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for the 11th installment of some of the Midwest's best-matched fights.
In addition to 1,500 screaming fans and an all-star professional card, special guests included Spike TV's Josh Rafferty and Sam Hoger, the UFC's Matt Anderson, Fred Ettish, Spencer Fisher and Josh Neer, and Pride Fighting Championship's "Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring! The night would prove again why the Midwest is the Promised Land for both mixed martial art fighters and fans.
Following is an overview of the action.
Mabin vs. Steele
 STILL PERFECT - Jason Brilz (left) defeated Alex Schoenauer and kept his perfect record intact.
The first fight of the night featured lightweight Kansas City fighter Joe Mabin against VFC veteran Aaron Steele. Both fighters were hungry to show what they had to offer and came at each other right off the bat.
Ultimately, trying for a takedown a second time, Mabin applied a cross face, turned Steele away from him and exposed his back for a rear naked choke.
Winner: Mabin/Round 1/rear naked choke
VanMeer vs. Duarte
The second bout was between Des Moines' Mike "Minivan" VanMeer and South Omaha bad boy Alex Duarte. Duarte has some serious hands and has utilized the one-punch knockout on the streets several times. VanMeer must have known this and immediately looked for the clinch.
In Round 1, Minivan tied him up and threw foot stomps, while Duarte pushed off and tried to strike. In Round 2, experience paid off, as Minivan took Duarte, who was clearly winded, down and controlled the mat. Between elbows and knees, Minivan secured a keylock from the cross mount, forcing Duarte to tap.
Winner: VanMeer/Round 2/keylock
Jefferson vs. Reiner
 THE NEW DOG - Chad Reiner (left) slugged out a victory over Vern Jefferson.
Vern Jefferson, who is from Tama, Iowa, has been around the block more than a few times in the MMA world. He is both experienced and technical. Omaha newcomer, Chad Reiner, on the other hand, is about a green as they come. However, as this match would prove, sometimes beginner's luck is more than just luck.
This match was a nonstop slugfest. Reiner quickly shot in and scored a huge Matt Hughes-style slam! Jefferson, unfazed, went to work on his trademark anklelock. Reiner would have none of it, though, and sat up and again began raining down punches. Jefferson may have tried to work the lock a little too long, and he exposed himself to a nasty barrage of punches in the process.
Although Reiner is the new dog on the block, I see him taking some territory very soon.
Winner: Reiner/Round 1/TKO
Jazz vs. P-Town
This match had been talked about, argued, debated and hyped for weeks beforehand. John "Jazz" Owens had put out the challenge to Sean "P-Town" Wilson that he wouldn't stand and trade with him. With both fighters also being professional boxers, who could back down from a challenge like that? The challenge was met, and the fans looked forward to a bare-knuckle boxing match. What we ended up with was a surprise.
Everyone knows about the knockout power of Owens, as well as his less than stellar groundwork. Any fighter crazy enough to stand with him usually doesn't do it for long. With his only losses coming from top-ranked fighters Justin James, Adam Copenhaver and Josh Rafferty (all by way of submission), standing with him would be a dangerous game plan for P-Town.
The surprise would come in the form of Owens' game plan. After setting the challenge, Jazz spent his training time secretly focusing on his groundwork. The minute that Wilson shot, Jazz was ready and waiting, locking in a guillotine choke that almost made Wilson's head pop off! The hold was in tight for at least a minute. Most thought that P-Town was going out, but he held tough and was saved by the bell.
In Round 2, both fighters came out swinging. Wilson tried for a slam and again exposed his neck to a choke. This time, however, Jazz was not going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. He pulled guard and turned his opponent over, tightening the hold and forcing the submission.
Winner: Owens/Round 2/guillotine choke
Hutchinson vs. Ripley STEELE CURTAIN BREAKS - Joe Mabin (right) and Aaron Steele get ready to get after each other. Mabin submitted Steele in the first round.
Experienced fighters sometimes enter into a larger production and completely freeze. This has happened when fighters progress from smaller shows into the VFC, as well as when they progress from the VFC to the UFC. Upon his VFC debut, Kansas City's Deryck Ripley was one such fighter. Ripley froze like a deer in headlights against Jake Ellenberger and was TKO'd in less than a minute.
In this match, it was Ripley who was the veteran fighter, and newcomer Shane Hutchinson was the one who froze. If this is the Ripley we can look forward to in the future, then we are in for a show!
Winner: Ripley/Round 1/strikes
Kimmons vs. Rau
This match was the start of a four-man 185-pound tournament over the next two events to establish the No. 1 contender for the middleweight title. Kansas City's Rob Kimmons came to town with the intent to take it all. Muscle-bound Dan "Rowdy" Rau intended to stop him.
Rau and Kimmons met each other in the middle of the ring like a set of semi-trucks playing a game of chicken. After a brief exchange of strikes, Rau powered his way into a clinch. Kimmons was able to use Rau's strength against him by slinging his weight against the fence. Capitalizing on a mat slip, Kimmons retained his clinch on Rau and sunk in a guillotine choke, bringing the hulking fighter to a halt.
Winner: Kimmons/Round 1/guillotine choke
Brudigan vs. Green
The second bracket of the tournament was between jiu-jitsu stylist Darin Brudigan and Des Moines fighter Brian "BG" Green. Brudigan is quite a sight to see; he is a technical submission fighter with the body of an NBA player. Although Green trains with some of the toughest fighters in the world, including Josh Neer and Spencer Fisher, he has never faced an opponent who can tie up with you from across the room.
Using his long limbs, Brudigan was able to wrap up Green and basically counter any offense that he had to offer, taking him to the ground and sinking in an anaconda choke that would have made the Gracies proud. Brudigan moved on to fight Kimmons for the No. 1 middleweight contender spot.
Winner: Brudigan/Round 1/anaconda choke
Ellenberger vs. Huffman
The co-main event of the evening pit Team Miletich's heavy-handed Sean Huffman against the undefeated young gun Jake "The Juganaught" Ellenberger for the right to be ranked as the No. 1 welterweight contender.
This fight went into the third round, and the fighters immediately clashed in the center of the ring. Huffman delivered a wicked thigh kick, and Ellenberger sucked up the kick to simultaneously deliver a massive cross of his own! Ellenberger then seized the opportunity to kick it into overdrive, and he pummeled his disoriented opponent until the referee intervened.
This was the first real test that the Juganaught has faced in his career, and he aced it. The next stop on the Victory tour will be a title shot against VFC Welterweight champion "The Meskawaki Bad Boy" Mark Bear.
Winner: Ellenberger/Round 3/TKO
Brilz vs. Schoenauer
The main event of the evening featured Spike TV's Alex Schoenauer and the VFC's undefeated light-heavyweight champion, Jason "The Hitman" Brilz. Schoenauer, who is hot off the UFC circuit, is known for his deadly striking capabilities. Brilz, who coached the University of Nebraska wrestling team, has walked away from every match with his hand in the air.
In this bout, Brilz did what Brilz does best-he neutralized his opponent and inflicted mass destruction. In Round 2, Brilz picked his favorite corner and put Schoenauer in "time out"! This time Brilz had head control like he was going for a guillotine choke, but Schoenauer was seated on his butt in the corner. This position really didn't offer up much protection from someone dropping elbows and knees like bombs over Baghdad. Finally Schoenauer scrambled out of his squatted position and spun to take Brilz in a leglock. Brilz followed the momentum and spun to take Schoenauer's back, quickly sinking in a rear naked choke and finishing the match.
At this rate, Brilz is going to have to move up the ladder to the big show, because there really isn't anyone left for him here to beat!
Winner: Brilz/Round 2/rear naked choke
A Midwest Hurricane After the show, I had the opportunity to discuss the fight game at length with Heath Herring, and he was absolutely blown away by the fact that there was a show of this caliber, as well as these top-notch fighters, this far into the mainland. Hearing this straight from the mouth of a fighter who has been a regular in the largest fighting circuits in the world only confirmed a fact that I have known for a long, long time: The best of the best come from the Midwest! -VJ Show comments (0) - Add comments to this article: |
