SANTA YNEZ, California - In the debut of ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series, KJ Noons bounced back to register a third-round knockout over Edson Berto Friday (July 27) on SHOWTIME.

In the co-feature of a live two-hour telecast, Jaime Jara blasted out Jeremiah Metcalf in the third round to capture his fourth Gladiator championship belt.

Noons (4-1), of San Diego, mostly had his way against Berto (12-4-1), of Orlando, Fla., before dropping him with a devastating right knee to the face.

"This is definitely a different feeling than I had the first time I fought on SHOWTIME, but it solidified what I have been saying, that my last MMA fight was a fluke," said Noons, who followed the knockdown with a right hand and right elbow to the face before the referee stepped in and stopped the proceedings 45 seconds in the third round. "This win reestablishes my status in MMA. I don't want to say that a loss would have been devastating, but now I am right back where I need to be."

Berto, understandably, was upset.

"I was really dehydrated and very fatigued," said Berto, who had an eight-fight unbeaten streak (7-0-1) end. "It just didn't allow me to be myself out there."

JARA
Jara (16-4), of North Highlands, Calif., won a brawl and the Gladiator Challenge middleweight title with an exciting first-round knockout over Jeremiah Metcalf (5-3) of Modesto, Calif.

In a match that featured numerous non-stop exchanges, Jara caught Metcalf with a punishing left hook that dropped him shortly before the fight was stopped at 4:15.

"I think it tells a lot about a guy like me who can win a fight like this on two days' notice," Jara said. "I had to cut a bunch of weight so that is why I was a little slow. Winning my fourth belt in my fourth different weight class (heavyweight, light heavy, middleweight and welterweight) is quite an accomplishment that I am proud of. I am a warrior. I get calls all the time. I am always ready to fight.''

Metcalf, who connected with his fair share of shots, disagreed vehemently with the ref's decision to stop the slugfest.

"I had him where I wanted him,'' he said. "The punch flashed me, but it wasn't a knockout. I was fine. They called it too early."

OTHER BOUTS
In other bouts on the ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series, Scott Jorgensen (4-1) of Boise, Idaho, took a three-round unanimous decision over Chris David (8-6-1), of Santa Rosa, Calif., winning a one-sided war by the scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice; in an excellent performance, undefeated Aaron Rosa (10-0), of San Antonio, Tex., scored an impressive technical knockout over the more highly regarded Brazilian Jefferson Silva (3-2) in a bout halted by the cageside physician after the first round due to an eye injury; and Muhsin Corbbrey (5-2), of Hilton Head, S.C.), opened the telecast with a unanimous three-round decision over Lee Gibson (10-3) of Kansas City. Corbbrey won by the scores of 30-27 twice and 29-28.

OTHER BOUTS
Immediately following the SHOWTIME telecast, five bouts were streamed live on the Internet (www.proelite.com). In fights called by Todd Keneley (blow-by-blow) and $kala "Jared" Shaw (color commentator), Shayna Baszler (8-4) of Sioux Falls, Iowa, won by first-round submission (armlock), over Jan Finney (3-4) of Springfield, Ohio; Josh Neal (2-0) of Turlock, Calif., scored a 2:15, opening round knockout over Eric Biondo (2-1) of Sacramento, Calif.; Anthony Ruiz (16-10) of Coarse Gold, Calif., scored a first-round TKO over Jason Geris (4-3) of Sacramento, Calif.; Tony Rubalcava (1-0) registered a first-round TKO over Drew Montgomery (3-2); and Brian Cobb (12-4) defeated John Reedy (2-3) with a rear naked choke at 4:09 in the first round.

NEXT UP
EliteXC returns to SHOWTIME on Sept. 15 from Hawaii. Viewers and fans can expect to see EliteXC's world middleweight champion, Murilo "Ninja" Rua, top-notch welterweight Nick Diaz, world-ranked welterweight Jake Shields and women's superstar Gina Carano.