American Predator Fighting Championships: Unleashed Recap and Results

APFC Unleashed Oliver Vazquez – photo by Brent Todd
The main event featured Kevin Thomas taking on Oliver Vazquez for the lightweight title. Vazquez was quick to score with knees inside the clinch and tried for a standing guillotine which seemed to be the submission of the night. The two separated and Vazquez landed some good uppercuts as the first round ended. The second round the two clinched again and Vazquez took Thomas down. He stood up and wanted to drop a big punch but spent a lot of the time kicking Thomas’s legs before dropping down with the big punch. The third round Vazquez again scored the takedown but Thomas tried to finish with a heel hook. After getting out of danger from the submission Vazquez worked short punches to the head and body of Thomas to earn the unanimous decision.
The co-main event featured Jose Torres challenging Shawn Gee for the bantamweight title. The first round Gee landed several body shots as Torres tried to take him down. At one point he did and mounted him, but Gee just shoved him off and stood up. Gee continued his assault throughout the rest of the round and likely won based on damage. The second and third round were just as close, but likely for Torres. He took Gee down and threw small punches before Gee would stand back up. Torres started to land leg kick after leg kick, Gee just smiled and taunted but didn’t return fire. Torres landed a beautiful superman punch that seemed to piss Gee off more than anything as he quickly swarmed. But Torres weathered it and worked for a takedown again. The fight was extremely close and any of the rounds could have gone either way. In the end, Torres earned the unanimous decision and is the new bantamweight champ.
Egidijus Lialko and Stephan Von Aulock battled for the welterweight tile in the fourth title fight of the night. The two of them each obviously wanted a head kick knockout as it seemed like a battle of who could kick harder. Von Aulock started the fight landing some flashy spinning kicks, but Lialko kept pressing forward like a machine. No matter what Von Aulock landed, Lialko just walked forward. In the second round Lialko hurt Von Aulock with a high kick and then followed him to the ground and worked ground and pound. He nearly finished the fight, but time ran out in the round. In the third Lialko continued his assault and Von Aulock looked to just land a kick and get out. In the end Lialko was awarded the victory.
Pat O’Connor and Jason Belyew fought for the vacant light heavyweight belt in the third title fight. Belyew took control in the first as he was clearly landing more. O’Connor tried to finish in the first with a standing guillotine, but Belyew was able to escape. O’Connor took him down and Belyew worked for a triangle choke and then switched to an armbar. Unfortunately for Belyew time ran out in the round and he was unable to finish. THe second round the two clinched right away. Again O’Connor grabbed a standing guillotine and Belyew tried to punch his way out, but then was forced to tap.
Chad Mashinter took on Emilis Jaskevicius for the vacant featherweight title. Jaskevicius wanted to stand and trade while Mashinter tried time after time for the takedown. In the second round Jaskevicius defended the takedown with a guillotine and it looked extremely bad as he lifted Mashinter off the ground with it. But Mashinter got out and then scored a quick takedown. The fight was close all around, but Jaskevicius was relentless with his body punches while defending the takedown and that is what likely won him the rounds as Mashinter wasn’t successful with his takedown attempts most of the time.
The first of six title fights featured Luis Arriago taking on John James for his middleweight title. James came out with a high kick and then shot for a single leg. Arriago sprawled and tried to get his back. He wound up in side control, but James reversed. James then passed to mount but Arriago was able to pull guard. James surprised many including Arriago with a gogoplata attempt and Arriago was forced to tap to the champion.
Mike O’Connor struggled through out the three rounds to find his range against Jimmy Mareno. Mareno meanwhile was able to counter nearly everything O’Connor threw at him. Mareno was content just playing a counter striking game against O’Connor and that didn’t sit too well with some fans as they shouted boring on more than one occassion. Mareno landed several big hooks that seemed to stumble O’Connor, but he didn’t follow up and each time let O’Connor recover. In the end it wasn’t the most exciting fight, but Mareno earned the victory.
Nick Boulahanis scored the fasted finish of the night over John Massey. Massey rushed Boulahanis and ate a knee. The two clinched against the cage and Boulahanis ate some knees to the body. After separating, Boulahanis landed a big left and Massey went down. Four punches later and the ref stopped the fight awarding Boulahanis the victory.
Jose Mariscal missed a big punch and Jermy Rone ducked under and tried to take his back. He couldn’t get it and the two scrambled for position before standing. Big leg kicks by Mariscal but Rone scores a takedown. He tried to get Mariscal’s back and landed several hammer fists while Mariscal stood back up. Mariscal then had a huge takedown and passed to mount. Rone gave up his back and tried to sneak out from under Mariscal. Mariscal was ready for it though and held onto his arm and then secured a fight ending arm bar.
Super heavyweights were up next as Daniel James took on Mamadiev Elyor. Both fighters landed a big overhand right at the start. James then landed a big left hook that sent Elyor to the canvas. James jumped on top and started to rain down punch after punch and it looked like the ref was going to stop it, but Elyor started to defend and worked for a submission. James escaped and postured up and the heavy punches came fast. Elyor gave up his back and James went to town and the ref stepped in to stop the fight just before Elyor tapped to the strikes.
Otis Brumfield and John Marino put on an amazing fight. The two went back forth through out most of the fight. In the first Brumfield landed a low knee and after the restart Marino turned up the pressure. He was able to get Brumfield down and took his back, but couldn’t finish the fight. The second round he again took Brumfield down and threw punch after punch while working for a rear naked choke. Brumfield spit out his own mouth piece and then complained that it was out. The ref told him he couldn’t stop the action as he spit it out. The third round Marino attempted a takedown, but Brumfield was ready for it this time. He worked for a guillotine choke, but Marino was able to escape. Marino spent most of the round attempting a takedown, but Brumfield defended it well. In the end, the three judges scored the first two rounds for Marino and thus the fight.
Dustin Stusse is known for his wrestling and it was on display against Kevin Tadder. He immediately clinched and worked for a takedown. While he was unsuccesful with his first attempt, his second he was and landed in side control. He passed to mount and Tadder had a fantastic grip on Stusse preventing a lot of damage. The second round it was Tadder who shot for a takedown, but Stusse used a guillotine to take the top position. The two stood and Stusse took him down and again scored mount. Stusse postured up and started to throw punch after punch until the ref stopped the fight.
Heavyweights were up next as Angel Cabral took on Dakota Stanton. Cabral came out swinging with left hands before taking Stanton down. Cabral stood over Stanton trying to figure out which position he wanted to be in, all while landing short punches. He opted for the back and once it was in, he landed a couple more big punches before he snuck his arm under the chin of Stanton and secured the fight ending rear naked choke.
Rob Mesh and Anthony Gasso put on arguably one of the best fights of the night. The two ran to the center of the cage and started swinging at each other. Gasso landed the better as Mesh was hurt and went to the canvas. Gasso took his back, but couldn’t finish the fight. Mesh able to pull guard and worked for a guilotine choke. Gasso escaped but then Mesh took his back. Mesh then got the mount and finished the round throwing punches from the position. The two started the second much the same, standing and throwing. Mesh again was hurt and he shot for a takedown. He got Gasso’s back and then locked in a rear naked choke. At first Gasso seemed ok, but then he tapped and the fight was over.
The lone woman’s fight was up next as Rachelle Bacon took on Liz Roig. The two seemed content to stand in the center and throw punches at each other. Roig landed a straight right that bloodied up Bacon. Roig then went for a guillotine and pulled guard. The submission wasn’t there, but she used it to roll Bacon onto her back. Roig had the mount and started throwing punch after punch. Bacon gave up her back, but Roig continued her assault and the ref stopped the fight.
Dinisio Gilbert and Karamoatov Azaz went the full three rounds and fought to a draw. The first round Gilbert clearly won as he took Azaz down and worked punch after punch. Azaz tried to threaten with a submission, but Gilbert just used the opportunity to pass to mount. The second round was close as Azaz was stalking Gilbert, but Gilbert was landing more. Gilbert scored a takedown and and wound up in side control. Time was running out and he grabbed a guillotine choke but couldn’t finish as time ran out. The third round was clearly for Azaz, even after being deducted a point for an illegal knee. MMARecap scored the fight for Gilbert 29-27, but all three judges scored it a draw.
Jonathan King needed little time to finish Gerard Mills. King took Mills down and worked short punches. Mills turned onto his knees to shoot for a takedown, but King sprawled. King then threw Mills on his back and from side control landed four good punches. Mills tapped from the strikes and the crowd was rather deflated from the finish.
Donnie Simpson took the center of the cage against Justin Gray with jabs. He then shot for a takedown and got a big scoop slam landing in side control. Gray tried to threaten with a guillotine choke, but Simpson spun out and into Gray’s guard. Simpson worked short punches and Gray grabbed ahold of his arm and worked for an armbar. Simpson stood up and slammed Gray down not once, not twice, but three times. The third time was a bit scary as he timed and aimed it right, knocking Gray unconscious.
Nate Walker had a huge reach disadvantage against Khuseyn Kurbanov. The first round it didn’t seem to matter as Walker just closed the distance, grabbed ahold of Kurbanov and threw him to the ground. Kurbanov escaped, but Walker tried to finish with a guillotine. As the round ended, Walker landed a jumping spinning back kick to the crowd’s delight. The next two rounds Kurbanov used his reach and size to his advantage. Even when Walker closed the distance, he was able to stay standing for the most part. Walker tried with various attacks but Kurbanov seemed to be there first. Rounds two and three were very close, and the fight and could have gone either way. In the end all three judges scored it for Kurbanov.
Manny Vazquez’s strength is on the ground, and that is where he took Andrew Gates immediately. The first time it happened, Gates tried to counter with a guillotine choke, but Vazquez moved to side control to neutralize the choke. He spent the rest of the round punching Gates in the face and the second round was much of the same. The only difference in the second was Vazquez passed to mount. Vazquez nearly finished the fight in the second, but time ran out. In the third round he again scored the takedown and passed to mount. He worked several punches, then attacked Gates’s arm with an armbar and finished the fight with the submission.
Jerry Freeman tried to get to the inside of Al Corona, but was unable to as Corona kept him at bay with leg kick after leg kick. Corona then switched things up with a takedown attempt and got it. Freeman looked to have defended it with a guillotine choke, but Corona countered with a Von Flue choke and Freeman tapped.
Rick Gonzalas took the center of the cage and started throwing big punches at Dan Almario. Almario quickly clinched and landed a big knee to the belly. Gonzalas reversed the position and the two jockeyed for positioning against the cage. Almario then dropped for a single leg, picked Gonazalas up and slammed him to the canvas. Once on the ground Almario threw several quick punches and the ref was forced to call a stop to the action.
Steven Smith and Dalton Box came out and threw straight rights at the same time. The two then clinched and worked some serious body shots with Smith landing the better. Smith then landed a big knee to Box’s belly and Box went down. Smith jumped on top of Box and worked for a guillotine, but it wasn’t there. Box was able to escape and then got the mount. He started to punch Smith repeatedly. Smith rolled to escape, but didn’t finish and Box was able to get Smith’s back. He locked in a rear naked choke and Smith was forced to tap.
Danny Ortiz came out with a high kick against Jake Strazzanti, but Strazzanti just wanted to throw punches instead. He swarmed and Ortiz shot for a double leg takedown and got it. Ortiz passed to side control, but Strazzanti turned into him and stood up. Ortiz then didn’t let up the pressure as he started connecting with left and right hooks. One clearly got through and Strazzanti shot for a takedown of his own. Ortiz sprawled, then pulled a guillotine choke to finish the fight.
Tim Phinny was standing and looked like he wanted to unload a massive left against Mike Krause. Krause kept kicking the lead leg of Phinny, but then Phinny landed his left hand and Krause went to the ground. Phinny followed up with big left hands from side control. Krause wasn’t defending himself, and the ref was forced to stop the action.
Nick Cinnurasti came out with a big right hand that put Giovanny Tarrago on his butt. Cinnurasti took the mount and he waited patiently for the right time to punch. Tarrago tried to sneak out from under him, but it wasn’t there. Cinnurasti postured up and landed massive right hands that knocked Tarrago out cold.
Chris Conway and Fernando Fuentes put on an exciting back and forth fight. THe first round Conway took Fuentes down and worked punches. Fuentes tried to escape, but gave up his back. Conway nearly finished with punches and a rear naked choke, but time ran out. The second round the two started swinging with Conway landing the better in the exchange. He then got the takedown again and got the mount. From there he again nearly finished as his left hand was finding its mark over and over again. The ref warned, Fuentes, and he tried to escape. Conway grabbed ahold of his arm, but couldn’t finish the submission. The third round Conway scored a double leg takedown and spent the round on top of Fuentes throwing right hand after right hand. Fuentes did enough to hold on, but it didn’t matter as time ran out and the judges had an easy decision for Conway.
Kyle Starks wanted to get the fight to the ground as quick as possible against Justin Moore. He got the takedown, but Moore was quick to stand and work a guillotine choke. Starks escaped the choke and then countered Moore’s kick with a nice right hand. Starks caught a kick and took the fight to the ground again, but Moore was able to spin out from under and get Starks’s back. Starks fought out and started to throw punch after punch. He then quickly jumped to Moore’s back and locked in a fight ending rear naked choke.
The first fight of the night featured Ralph Howard taking on Konstantin Denev. The two fighter had a combined age of ninety three. Howard wanted to keep the fight standing, and showed off his flashy kicks. He nearly landed a spinning back kick that would have made for a short night. But Denev timed his takedowns and spent most of the fight on top of Howard working small strikes and looking for submissions. In the end, the two fighters put on a hard fought battle and the judges awarded the fight to Denev.
Quick Results
Konstantin Denev defeated Ralph Howard by unanimous decision 29-28, 30-27, 29-28
Kyle Starks defeated Justin Moore by rear naked choke at 2:05 of round one
Chris Conway defeated Fernando Fuentes by unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27
Nick Cinnurasti defeated Giovanny Tarrago by knockout at 1:39 of round one
Tim Phinny defeated Mike Krause by technical knockout at 0:42 of round one
Danny Ortiz defeated Jake Strazzanti by guillotine choke at 1:26 of round one
Dalton Box defeated Steven Smith by rear naked choke at 2:38 of round one
Dan Almario defeated Rick Gonzalas by technical knockout at 2:08 of round one
Al Corona defeated jerry Freeman by Von Flue Choke at 2:24 of round one
Manny Vazquez defeated Andrew Gates by armbar at 1:25 of round three
Khuseyn Kurbanov defeated Nate Walker by unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28
Donnie Simpson defeated Justin Gray by knockout at 1:05 of round one
Jonathan King defeated Gerard Mills by tapout due to strikes at 0:43 of round one
Dinisio Gilbert and Karomatov Azaz fought to a draw 28-28, 28-28, 28-28
Liz Roig defeated Rachelle Bacon by technical knockout at 1:32 of round one
Rob Mesh defeated Anthony Gasso by rear naked choke at 1:46 of round two
Angel Cabral defeated Dakota Stanton by rear naked choke at 0:55 of round one
Dustin Stusse defeated Kevin Tadder by technical knockout at 2:00 of round two
John Marino defeated Otis Brumfield by unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28
Daniel James defeated Mamadiev Elyor by technical knockout at 1:35 of round one
Jose Mariscal defeated Jermy Rone by armbar at 1:51 of round one
Nick Boulahanis defeated John Massey by technical knockout at 0:30 of round one
Jimmy Mareno defeated Mike O’Connor by unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27
John James defeated Luis Arriago by gogoplata at 1:34 of round one
Emilis Jaskevicius defeated Chad Mashinter by unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 30-27
Pat O’Connor defeated Jason Belyew by standing guillotine at of round two
Egidijus Lialko defeated Stephan Von Aulock by unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
Jose Torres defeated Shawn Gee by unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-29
Oliver Vazquez defeated Kevin Thomas by unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27


