OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA — In the mixed martial arts main event of a three sport card, Jesse Brock outwrestled local favorite Chris David before a sellout crowd at the Feather Falls Casino & Lodge in on Saturday night. Boxing and amateur kickboxing rounded out a fun-filled event dubbed “Playboy Fight Night.”
What looked to be a competitive main event on paper turned into a one-sided wrestling match as Brock (11-5, 2 KOs, 5 Submissions) of Boise, Idaho took David (13-8-2, 4 KOs, 5 Submissions) of Oroville to the mat early and often, never relinquishing control in the fight. Brock, 136, took David, 135, to the mat immediately, but did little real damage in the first round.
David momentarily locked in a rear naked choke with Brock on the mat, but the Boise native quickly broke the hold while maintaining his position on top. For the most part David was either on his back, or on his face, with Brock on his back. In either position he was at Brock’s mercy, unable to get started with any sort of offense. For a brief moment, David broke from Brock’s grasp, much to the delight of his loyal supporters. However, the shift in momentum was only temporary, as Brock took David back down to the canvas. The third round was more of the same before Brock was declared the unanimous victor via shutout, 30-27 on all three judges’ cards.
Fighting for the second time in ten days, Ryan Wong (2-2, 1 KO) of San Jose, California took a hotly-contested three-round split decision over previously unbeaten Colin Hart (3-1, 2 Submissions) of Santa Rosa, California. Each fighter had their moments in a tough fight. Wong, 185, fought just last Friday in Reno, but had no problem with endurance. Hart, 184 ¼, fought hard until the end, but two judges saw the fight for Wong, 29-28. The lone dissenting judge had the same score, but for the Santa Rosa resident.
Martin Sandoval (5-2, 3 KOs, 2 Submissions) of Oakdale, California scored a first-round submission victory over Sammy Sanders (1-3, 1 KO) of Santa Rosa. Sandoval, 125 ¼, had his back on the mat, for much of the fight. Sanders, 125 ¾, looked to be in complete control before Sandoval grabbed onto his arm. Time of the submission was 1:03 of the first.
Taylor McCorriston (4-0, 2 Submissions) of San Ramon, California remained unbeaten via first-round stoppage over Bryant Munoz (4-3, 4 Submissions) of Oakdale. McCorriston, 135 ¼, looked to be in some trouble on the mat, but was able to grab a hold of the arm of Munoz, 135, and forced the submission. Time of the stoppage was 1:33 of the first.
Rounding out the MMA portion of the card, Rafael Rios (2-0, 2 Submissions) of Stockton, California forced Junior Villanueva (1-1, 1 KO) of Oakdale to tap out in the first round. Rios, 149 ½, cinched in with an armbar and submitted Villanueva, 147 ¾, at just 1:11 of the round.
In the first boxing match on the card, former amateur standout Richard Hargraves (2-0, 2 KOs) of San Francisco, California scored his second consecutive stoppage victory, this time over J.C. Saade (0-2) of Los Angeles, California. Hargraves, 151 ¾, punished Saade, 151, throughout the first round, flashing hand speed that his opponent could not compete with. Before the bell to begin the second round, Saade told the referee that he could not continue due to fatigue which prompted the stoppage.
In the other boxing match on the card, heavyweights Yohan Banks (3-3-3, 1 KO) of Redwood City, California and Hector Martinez (5-4, 4 KOs) of Broderick, California let loose in an action-packed four-rounder. Banks, 264, dropped Martinez, 228 ¾, with a clubbing overhand right midway through the second. Martinez was clearly dazed, but managed to pull himself up with a little help from the turnbuckle. With some clever footwork, Martinez was able to get out of the round and clear his head.
Banks may have punched himself out going for the knockout, which allowed Martinez to punch his way back into the fight in the third. Two-way action closed the fight out in the fourth, with Martinez getting the best of it over the tired Banks. In the end, two judges liked Banks by the score of 38-37. One dissenting judge favored Martinez by the same score, 38-37.
In the first of two amateur kickboxing bouts, Ignacio Zambrano of Stockton, California scored two knockdowns in the third round en route to a unanimous decision over Mike Spatz of Sacramento. Zambrano, 197 ¾, may not have been body beautiful, but he was able to outslug the reluctant Spatz, 187, for the three rounds.
Gaston Bolanos of Pleasanton scored the stoppage victory over Mitch Thompson of Sacramento, California in a welterweight amateur kickboxing contest. Bolanos, 141 ¾, was the superior fighter and it was fairly evident from the outset. Thompson, 144 ¾, did not give referee Dan Stell the response he was looking for after a standing eight-count in the third. Time of the stoppage was 1:44 of the third-round.
Tonight’s event, promoted by ESMG World, was taped to air at a later date. Adding some spice to the evening was the Playmate Dancers, including 2006 Playmate of the Year Kara Monaco, and a bevy of ring card girls. Former contender Juan Lazcano worked the corner of Hector Martinez and current WBA Interim Super Flyweight Champion Nonito Donaire Jr. was ringside taking photographs.
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
