CutThroat MMA Invasion took place on Friday January 27th at La Sierra Banquet Hall in Aurora, Illinois just outside of downtown Chicago. The night of amateur fights action saw two Muay Thai fights and eight mixed martial arts bouts. Headlining the night of action were two title fights as David Hammons taking on Eddie Castillo for the heavyweight title and Sam Ferguson going to battle with Ryan Kirwan for the vacant middleweight title.

Kicking off the night of action were two Muay Thai bouts. Axel Mendez needed just over a minute to dispose of Mike Girton. Mendez came out with a big leg kick, but Girton countered with some good jabs and a hook. Mendez returned the favor landing a big combo that forced the fighters to clinch. Good knee work by both fighters before separating at which point Mendez unloaded a barrage of attacks. Girton went down but was able to get up within the ten count. Mendez again swarmed starting with a big body kick, followed by body punches and a head kick that sent Girton down again. He was unable to stand by the ten count and Mendez was announced the winner.

Women were up next with an exciting Muay Thai bout. Dorothy Schultz brought a massive fight to Katie Fry. Schultz came out with kicks that forced Fry to work a clinch game. Unfortunately she didn’t get the better of it, as Schultz landed multiple knees. As the round was ending, Schultz nearly landed a head kick to the crowd’s delight. Schultz opened the second round with two big front kicks and Fry again went to clinch. Schultz landed knee after knee to the body of Fry. She let go of her clinch and landed an uppercut as Fry was waving off the fight.

After the two Muay Thai fights it was time for some MMA action. Tim Kallas took on Anthony Corder in the lightweight division. Corder came out with a high kick that just missed. He landed a leg kick and Kallas came forward with massive punches. Corder shot forward and looked to grab a heel hook. Kallas spun free and landed punch after punch while taking Corder’s back. Corder turned into Kallas and wound up in a triangle choke. Corder tried to punch his way out, but Kallas adjusted the choke and squeezed. Two more punches by Corder and he knew he was going out so he tapped.

Brandon Conner and Travis Simpson came out swinging with bad intentions. Neither fighter was throwing crisp punches, but the wild hooks were landing for both. Conner shot for a takedown, but Simpson grabbed his neck and worked for a guillotine choke. He couldn’t get it as Conner was trying to roll out of it. As he adjusted to prevent Conner from escaping, he did just that and rained down hammer fists onto Simpson’s face. Conner looked to stand back up, but realized that Simpson left his neck open and grabbed a guillotine choke. He fell back and torqued the choke forcing Simpson to tap.

Andrew West came out with a big front kick to the belly of Mike Zahn that sent Zahn stumbling back. West pressed forward and hip tossed Zahn to the ground landing in side control. West tried to lock in an arm triangle choke before moving to mount. He kept the choke on and squeezed while on top of Zahn. Zahn tried to punch his way out, but West continued to squeeze and forced a tap.

Fight of the night went to Michael Manning and Shane Camp. The first round Camp likely won as he was able to land some massive punches on Manning. Manning threatened with a guillotine and an armbar submission, but Camp was able to escape by punching Manning in the head. At the end of the first round Manning was developing a mouse under his eye. The second round Manning turned up the pressure as he put Camp in submission after submission and nearly always had the better position. Manning was a little hesitant to punch Camp as he seemed to be setting up his submissions, but regardless he won the round. All tied up at the start of the third and Camp shot in for a takedown. Manning again worked a guillotine choke, but Camp was able to escape. Manning with his long legs kept pressure on Camp and switched to his back. Camp turned into Manning and was on top, but Manning wanted to secure an armbar. Camp escaped and got Manning’s back and locked in a rear naked choke with just twenty seconds left of the fight.

After the exciting battle between Manning and Camp, it would have been difficult to have another exhilarating fight. But that’s just what Jon James and Kyle Kurt did. The first round James looked for a takedown but got reversed. It wasn’t long however until he rolled and took the mount. James unloaded punch after punch after punch and Kurt was in danger. Kurt managed to grab a leg and escaped the bad position, but was nearly finished by a kimura as time ran out. At the start of the second round it was apparent that Kurt had more in his gas tank than James did. White spent most of the round on top of James raining down punches from James’s back. James finished the round with a takedown, but it wasn’t enough to win the round. The third round started and the crowd went wild. Both fighters looked to finish with a big single punch, but it was Kurt who scored first with a big knee that hurt James. Kurt rode James’s back again landing punch after punch. He nearly finished the round that way, but again James was able to escape and score a takedown as time expired. It was clear that Kurt had won rounds two and three, and the judges were all in agreement that that was the case awarding him the fight.

Best takedown of the night went to Anthony Nichols who just powered his way through Tom Shoaff and drove him not only into the cage, but also into the canvas. But Shoaff was extremely comfortable working off his back. Nichols did little to try and advance his position as Shoaff threatened with multiple submissions. Shoaff nearly finished the fight with an arm triangle from the bottom, but Nichols was able to escape. In the second round Nichols again scored a big takedown and again Shoaff threatened with a triangle. Nichols slammed his way out, but Shoaff used the opportunity to go for a takedown of his own. Shoaff quickly took the mount and from there went after Nichols’s arm. Three different versions of an armbar were attempted, but the third was the one that secured the win.

The heavyweight title was on the line as David Hammons challenged Eddie Castillo for his belt. Hammons immediately shot in for a takedown, but Castillo defended well. Castillo landed a knee and an uppercut that seemed to rock Hammons. Hammons shot for another takedown, this time eating three more knees. Hammons went down and it looked like the ref was stepping in to call it but Hammons said he was fine. Castillo came in again and landed several knees that sent Hammons to the canvas. Castillo continued his attack with several punches and the ref was forced to stop the action.

The main event feature Sam Ferguson and Ryan Kirwan battling for the vacant middleweight title. Ferguson came out looking for a takedown, but Kirwan was swinging for the fences. Ferguson worked a Thai clinch and landed a couple of knees. Ferguson then scored a takedown but was nearly rolled. As he was punching Kirwan, he did get rolled. Kirwan on top throwing punches, but Ferguson threatened with an armbar. Kirwan postured out of the submission and then just started throwing massive left hands. Ferguson visibly hurt by the left hands, but they still kept coming. Kirwan continued the assault until the ref mercifully stepped in and stopped the fight crowning Kirwan the new middleweight champion.

Muay Thai Quick Results
Axel Mendez defeated Mike Girton at 1:29 of round 1
Dorothy Schultz defeated Katie Fry at 0:47 of round 2

Mixed Martial Arts Results
Tim Kallas defeated Anthony Corder by triangle choke at 1:07 of round 1
Brandon Conner defeated Travis Simpson by guillotine choke at 1:00 of round 1
Andrew West defeated Mike Zahn by arm triangle choke at 0:45 of round 1
Shane Camp defeated Michael Manning by rear naked choke at 2:39 of round 3
Kyle Kurt defeated Jon Jones by unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28
Tom Shoaff defeated Anthony Nichols by armbar 1:49 of round 2
Eddie Castillo defeated David Hammons by TKO at 0:46 of round 1
Ryan Kirwan defeated Sam Ferguson by TKO at 2:16 of round 1

photo gallery to follow in the coming days

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