CES MMA XXX @ Twin River Casino, RI Names a New Lightweight Champion!
Talk about pulling double duty, photographer Drew Pion, shooting the whole time, managed to text me his comments throughout night so that we could pass them along to you, so here they are (along with his photos, of course!), just as he sent them to me…unedited and from right next to all the action~ and as always, all the main fights were broadcast live on AXS TV.
“Red ~ Balletto can take and throw a good punch but Giacchia took him to the ground and won by decision.
Red ~ Pollard vs Lauzon
Pollard controlled the fight from start to finish. Lauzon gassed out in the first round and suffered damage on his left arm at some point. I believe it was from checking kicks in the 2nd. Great TKO by Pollard in the second.
Red ~ Jeudi vs Davis
Pretty even first, could go either way. David takes the 2nd by controlling the ground, largely boring but with a little ground and pound mixed in for some excitement. 3rd is the same as the second. Davis wins this underwhelming fight by unanimous decision. The crowd is only clapping ‘cause it’s over.
Morgan vs Miele
Red ~
This is the only female fight on the card at Bantamweight.
All stand up anticipating exciting action from the ladies! Morgan did the most to win that 1st round. 2nd round was all Morgan again with a takedown and more powerful punches landed than Miele. 3rd round saw Miele score a front leg kick which let her jump into a choke. The choke lasted two minutes before Morgan popped out and took top control for some ground and pound. Great fight with Morgan winning by unanimous decision.
Red ~ Walsh vs McElligott
Light heavyweight bout between two Massachusetts natives is up. Walsh walking in to “Everything is Awesome” from The Lego Movie. He instantly becomes my favorite MMA fighter of all time.
Round one: Walsh did a little of everything ~ slams, takedowns, submission attempts… He rules this round. Everything is awesome for him so far. (I will use the phrase again!) Round 2 ~ see Round 1! Walsh is consistent, Round three is more of the same. Everything is awesome for Walsh (see?) as he takes this win by unanimous decision with two judges scoring a 10-8 for one round.
Red ~ Bessette vs Wheeler
It’s an international matchup between Bessette (USA) and Wheeler (Canada). This should end in Round 1 as these guys like to throw down. Bessette walks to the ring in a power ranger outfit and now HE is my favorite MMA fight of all time.
Round 1 ~ as quick as predicted, big right by Wheeler to end Bessette’s night. Wheeler called out Dana White for a shot in the UFC. He will get it one day.
Red ~ Lane vs Felix
This is what I have been waiting for. In the first matchup for the title, Ultimate Fighter alumni Lane submitted to Felix. The trash talk has been going back and forth with these two and they do not like each other. “All I have to do is tap him on the chin and it’s over,” is all then-lightweight champion Lane had to say.
This is by far the loudest the Twin River event center has been all night. Cranston, RI native Felix has the home advantage here. Although I think Lane feeds off the haters with a smile.
1st Round
Felix started with a big front kick to the face and was more active throughout the round with kicks and punches. Lane basically did nothing.
2nd round
All stand up, lots of kicks from Luis and one big headlock midround. Lane is scared of those kicks and has not been aggressive.
Round 3
All stand up again, better round for Lane. I think it’s two rounds to Lewis and one to Lane at this point.
Round 4
Even round of standup… Hard to tell with this one but I think Felix is winning. Lane needs to end it to win.
Round 5
Crazy round with Lane knowing he needs a KO to win. Felix survives the craziness and…
Your new Lightweight Champion by unanimous decision is…Luis Felix!”
Felix takes the belt!
Official Results
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Luis Felix (14-8) def. Julian Lane (9-4-1) by UD to win the CES MMA World Lightweight Championship (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) -
Lenny Wheeler (9-3-1) KO1 Matt Bessette (15-7) at 39 seconds
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Pat Walsh (6-2) def. Jesse McElligott (5-3) by UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
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Peggy Morgan (4-3) def. Jesse Miele (4-2) by UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
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Leon Davis (7-3) def. Andres Jeudi (6-4) by UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
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Chip Moraza-Pollard (10-8) KO2 Dany Lauzon 18-5) at 3:12
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Anthony Giacchina (1-0) def. Gary Balletto Jr. (0-1) by UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
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Rico DiSciullo (5-0) submits Jake Constant (6-8) by verbal tap
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Manny Bermudez (2-0) submits Mak Kelleher (0-2) by triangle choke at 3:12 in the first round
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Jacob Smith (1-0) KO2 Chris Caterino (0-1) at 4:03
