Ross Claims Lion Fight World Title, Van Soest Stops Huyer and Calls Out ReeceIn an action-packed fight that delivered as both fighters promised, Kevin Ross fought like a man possessed and punished Australia’s Michael Thompson over five rounds to claim the Lion Fight super lightweight title.
In what may have been the finest performance of his career, Ross (30-8) put an exclamation point on his victory in the waning seconds of the title tilt with a well-timed flying knee that stunned Thompson and appeared to have broken and shifted the game 24-year-old’s nose.
“Michael’s a beast … (My corner was) telling me to throw (the knee) the whole fight. I can’t believe he took it man, because it was loud,” said Ross, who became emotional as he dedicated his world title belt to his coach, Kirian Fitzgibbons, before the live crowd inside The Pearl at The Palms Hotel & Casino.
Judges scored it 50-45, 49-46, 49-46 in favor of Ross, who was the aggressor throughout and raced to a quick 3-0 lead in the first three frames on the strength of crisper boxing and landing a lot more shots than the Aussie (in addition to slamming Thompson twice to the canvas from the clinch). To his credit, Thompson – who owns a win over the legendary Maliapet, kept coming forward and occasionally landed some nice boxing combos of his own – just not frequently enough to turn the tide.
“Twelve years ago I was an alcoholic living everyday partying,” Ross told the crowd. “I gave all of that up and dedicate my life to Muay Thai. I had no idea I would end up here. I’m just blown away and I feel like I’m living in a dream.”
In the evening’s co-main event, former champion Tiffany Van Soest (10-1-1) predicted her speed would overwhelm Italy’s Sindy Huyer (38-7) and the California surfer gal proved correct.
“Time Bomb” dropped Huyer to the canvas in round two with a perfectly timed spinning elbow, a blow that bled considerably for the remainder of the bout. Van Soest kept Hoyer off-balance and at bay throughout with movement and footwork, doing her best work on the outside and having her way on the outside with a crisp array of punches while avoiding the toe-to-toe exchanges Hoyer seemed to favor. The unpredictability allowed Van Soest to thoroughly out-class Hoyer and came to a crescendo late in round five when Van Soest – a sometime training partner of former UFC champs Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida – unleashed a potent front kick to the face that snapped Hoyer’s head back and forced her to turn her back to the action. As it happened, Huyer seemed to have a bit of a wardrobe malfunction with her sports bra and was trying to correct it as the referee waved off the action and stopped the fight at 56 seconds of the final tilt.
“It’s one of my favorite techniques and I practice it like it’s a basic,” Van Soest said afterward. “I have a karate background so the front kick is something that I like to use.”
A fiery Huyer often swung for the fences – perhaps wanting to settle the score for damage to her nose. Though Huyer stalked and pressed forward, she usually struck only air as the slicker Van Soest slips continually slips out of harm’s way. Fresh off the one-sided dominance, Van Soest announced she is ready to avenge her only defeat against Australia’s Caley Reece, who took Van Soest’s title earlier this year during a competitive bout.
“I want my belt back!” Van Soest yelled. “I’m coming for my belt! I’m getting it back!”
In other action at Lion Fight 16 on Friday night:
Adrian Morilla (15-5-1) vs. Rungravee Sasiprapa (78-45-2)Round one:
The 131-pound Morilla asked for this fight, believing he has what it takes to beat Rungravee. The Californian promised he would start fast and does, dancing on the outside and trying to make a boxing match of it as Rungravee, in typical Thai fashion, sits back and uses the opening tilt as a “feel out” round.
Round two:
Morilla again the aggressor with punching combos. Rungravee lands a hard leg kick. Morilla darting in and throwing. Rungravee expressionless and lands a nice right hand. Competitive round with Rungravee landing kicks and Morilla staying with his box-and-move strategy, which is risky given that elbows, knees and kicks trump punches in the scoring criteria.
Round three:
Hard kick to body by Rungravee and hard kick to the leg scores as well. And Rungravee, as he is prone to do, picking up the pace and stalking forward more determined. Morilla staying with his boxing-centered approach and dancing about. A Rungravee kick to the body scores, followed by one to the leg and a hard right hook. Rungravee again chopping at the legs. Rungravee a super-hard kick to the body that produces a loud thack!! And not much going for Morilla this round. A clear-cut Rungravee round, though Morilla proudly raises his hands as he goes to his corner at round’s end.
Round four:
Some boxing exchanges and then a hard inside leg kick from Rungravee, who then gets Morilla against the ropes and scores with a nice combo upstairs. More low kicks – and Morilla has no answer for them. Rungravee is heating up and the tide has turned.
Round five:
Rungravee again pressing. From a body clinch the Thai superstar slams Morilla to the canvas and then parades about as if to say, ‘This is my ring.’ When action resumes, the Muay Thai world champ makes a habit of brutalizing Morilla with more of his famed low kicks. And soon enough Rungravee is punishing Morilla with hard body shots and elbows as a fading Morilla lays on the ropes. Morilla wincing as Rungravee pours it on late with kicks and elbows.
Judges’ verdict: Rungravee by unanimous decision 48-47, 49-46, 49-45
Tyler Toner vs. Gaston BolanosRound 1:
Duane “Bang” Ludwig, MMA Coach of the Year, cornering Toner. During the first minute of action Bolanos lands a vicioius and perfect spinning back elbow that temporarily has Toner grabbing his eye and bleeding considerably from his right eye – with a deep gash that requires a check fro the doctor.
Bolanos, a highly decorated amateur and one of the sport’s top young prospects, is looking like a much more seasoned pro, not someone entering his second fight. The round ends and it was pretty much all Bolanos – scoring from the clinch with knees and punishing Toner with elbows.
“On the advice of fighters’ corner” the fight is halted at the end of round one and Bolanos declared winner via TKO, improving to 2-0 and looking like he will soon be a force to be reckoned with.
Casey Parlett vs. Josh ShepardThe main card on AXS TV broadcast got jumpstarted with a middleweight scrap between unbeaten hometown standout Josh Shepard (3-0) and CrossFit stud Casey Parlett (making his pro debut).
Round one commenced with San Diego’s Parlett stalking early, occassionally rushing and smothering Shepard and scoring a few combos. Shepard, the taller fighter, was more effective on outside while landing a couple good legs. A competitive round ended with both fighters in the clinch scoring tight elbows, with Parlett landing a few more and perhaps carrying the round by being busier.
Round two:
Round two saw Parlett play the aggressor throughout the round, being methodical and scoring with some lighter leg kicks and again rushing in to score with combos. Shepard, a Nick “One Kick” Blomgren protege, has yet to find his rhythm or truly assert himself in the ring, for some reason not letting his hands go much.
Round three:
Shepard finally opens up and attempts a flying knee early that misses. But early in the round Shepard lands a nice, hard inside leg kick. Parlett again outworking Shepard but not landing anything hard. Shepard lands another strong inside leg kick, and then a kick to the upper thigh. Shepard has clearly awakened and is fighting with more urgency, realizing perhaps that he might be trailing 2-0 on the judges’ scorecards. Shepard unleashes two more low kicks – really the only reliable weapon he’s been able to score with in this bout and perhaps enough to win him round three.
Round four:
The fighters immediately meet in center, trade some hard shots and Shepard appeared to slip but for some reason is wobbly, and so referee Steve Mazzagatti proceeds with a standing 8 count that might raise eyebrows. Shepard seems fine but as the action resumes Parlett comes swinging aggressively, perhaps sensing Shepard is hurt.
Parlett aggressively stalks Shepard, going hard to the body several times and lands a crisp right hook to the jaw that scores well and sets Shepard into a crazed frenzy and yelling, “Come on!!! Come on!!!” in a fashion that UFC fighter Nick Diaz might appreciate. The round ends in the clinch with Shepard scoring short elbows, though it looked like Parlett might be up 3-1.
Round five:
Some nice inside leg kicks by Shepard to start the round, and the Las Vegan misses with yet another spinning elbow.
Parlett once more the aggressor – charging with combos and missing with an elbow. But Parlett has never really allowed Shepard to come forward and establish his rhythm. In the final 30 seconds, Shepard lands a nice straight left and some low kicks and action heating up with punches.
Judges’ verdict: Parlett wins by split decision (scores of 48-46, 49-45, and 46-48)
- See more at:
http://www.lionfight.com/news/2014/07/r ... Imp9v.dpuf
