Chicago Cagefighting Championship 3 Recap And Results
Chicago Cagefighting Championship 3 took place on Saturday March 5 from The Odeum Sports Complex in Villa Park Illinois. The event featured an all pro card with a main event of Jens Pulver taking on Wade Choate and a co-main event of Chase Beebe versus Steven Kinnison. Read on for the recap of the event and the quick results.
Kicking off the night Jason Graves made his professional debut against PJ Cajigas. Graves came out swinging hard and then quickly clinched Cajigas against the cage. Graves had a smooth trip takedown to land in the mount. Cajigas gave up his back and Graves immediately worked to get his hooks in as well as an arm under Cajigas’s neck. Once the rear naked choke was secured, it was a mater of time before Cajigas was forced to tap.
Midwest Training Center’s Will Brooks took on Guillermo Serment in the second fight of the night. Brooks looked for a touch of gloves, but Serment declined. Brooks quickly rushed Serment and threw him to the ground. Serment stood up, Brooks quickly grabbed a Muay Thai clinch and threw multiple knees. The fighters separated and multiple times Brooks hurt Serment with strikes forcing Serment to attempt a takedown but was unable to get it. Brooks started to find his range and Serment went to the ground. Brooks quickly got his back and worked punches and elbows trying to get a choke. Time ran out in a round that was very clearly for Brooks. The second round started and Brooks landed an uppercut that buckled Serment’s knees. Brooks again took Serment’s back, but this time was able to secure the choke and the tap.
Chris Haney took on Team Curran’s Joey Diehl in a rematch, only this time it was a professional fight instead of an amateur fight. The first round Haney attempted a superman punch and over shot Diehl. Diehl quickly worked for Haney’s back, but settled for side control. Diehl worked elbow after elbow forcing Haney to try to escape. Diehl was able to get the mount and again threw punches and elbows. Diehl had a fantastic transition from mount to an armbar and the submission was in deep. Haney was able to roll into it and finished the round in Diehl’s guard. The start of the second round looked like both fighters wanted to stand and trade, however Haney shot for a takedown and Diehl quickly tied up a peruvian necktie. Unable to get the choke, Diehl worked for a guillotine but Haney escaped and was in Diehl’s guard. Diehl wanted to use a kimura from the bottom to sweep Haney, but Haney used the opportunity to get Diehl’s back and ultimately mount. The back and forth grappling match continued as Haney nearly finished with an arm triangle choke. Diehl escaped and Haney quickly transitioned to a triangle choke. Diehl tried to escape, but Haney squeezed and continued the pressure giving Diehl his first loss of his professional career.
An early candidate for comeback of the year, Christian Reynoso overcame a devastating first round to secure an armbar early in the second and end the fight. The first round started with Reynoso landing an illegal kick but Grindstaff quickly shook it off. After the restart, Grindstaff landed a big right that dropped Reynoso. Grindstaff quickly got the mount, but Reynoso stood up. The fighters were clinched against the cage, and Grindstaff again took the fight to the ground. Reynoso was able to tie up Grindstaff and prevent damage until the ref stood them up. Again Grindstaff took the fight to the ground, but this time was able to avoid being tied up and landed many punches. Reynoso looked for the early takedown at the start of the second, but was stuffed. Grindstaff worked for a takedown of his own, but Reynoso locked in a guillotine choke. The choke was in tight, but Grindstaff was able to pop his head out. Reynoso quickly transitioned to an armbar and after a few adjustments got the tap he was looking for.
Prior to the fights, MMA Recap predicted that the fight of the night would belong to Eric Kriegermeier and Michael Santiago and the two did not disappoint. The first round started with both fighters looking to throw bombs. Santiago was able to get the fight to the ground and from there he landed punches in bunches and elbows galore. Kriegermeier was visibly hurt as he had a cut above his eye and a mouse under the other. Santiago clearly won the round with the sheer damage he was inflicting. Like the first round, both fighters stood in the pocket to start the second round throwing massive punches. Santiago again took the fight to the ground and had the dominant position. Santiago had a crucifix and looked to finish the fight, but Kriegermeier was able to escape and pulled guard. Santiago quickly passed to side control and attempted to throw a knee to the body. Unfortunately Kriegermeier used the opportunity to slide out from under him and escape. Kriegermeier grabbed a front headlock and then transitioned to Santiago’s back. Kriegermeier flattened Santiago out and was landing big lefts and rights until Santiago’s neck was exposed and then squeezed to force a tap.
The undefeated Gilbert Grappling protege Carson Beebe took on Team Top Notch’s Giovanni Moljo. Moljo started the fight with a flying knee as Beebe shot for a takedown. Beebe shot for the takedown, but Moljo was able to secure an inverted triangle choke. Beebe tried to escape, but Moljo held the choke until Beebe went to sleep and the fight was stopped.
After the intermission, middleweight fighters Dan Bolden and Mike Pitz were ready to throw leather. Both fighters are known for their heavy hands and fans were expecting a knockout. Bolden caught Pitz with a big right and Pitz looked for a takedown and got it. Pitz worked short elbows before getting the mount. Bolden was able to escape and both fighters stood up. Pitz again got a takedown and while working to get mount landed an accidental knee to Bolden’s groin. After the restart, Pitz again shot for a takedown, but Bolden was ready for it. Bolden started unloading massive punches and nearly dropped Pitz. Pitz got another takedown and rained down punch after punch. The ref warned Bolden to do something. Bolden tried to escape but caught up in a triangle choke and was forced to tap.
The women were up next as Team Curran’s Felice Herrig took on Andrea Miller. Herrig came out with a push kick that sent Miller back. Miller retaliated with a good stiff jab to Herrig’s nose that bloodied it up. Herrig looked for leg kicks before clinching Miller against the cage. Herrig dropped for a double leg takedown and got it landing in side control. Herrig worked small strikes to set up the pass to mount. Once in the mount Herrig threw punches and elbows over and over. Miller covered up, but the strikes were relentless and the ref was forced to stop the action.
The co-main event of the evening featured former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe taking on Steve Kinnison. The three round fight was an all Beebe all the time performance. The only thing doing more work than Beebe trying to pass from half guard to mount was Beebe’s elbow as the majority of his strikes were elbows. In the second round Beebe landed a massive elbow that cut Kinnison above his eye. More elbows were thrown by Beebe and the ref didn’t like the cut and asked the doctor to look at it. Kinnison wanted to continue and showed a lot of heart. Beebe easily took Kinnison to the ground in the third and again worked his elbows. In the end, the judges had a very easy decision awarding the victory to Beebe.
The main event featured former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver taking on Wade Choate. Pulver came out and stalked Choate through out the fight. Both fighters were respectful of the other’s power. The first round was a great back and forth round. Pulver landed a big kick and winced after but it wasn’t evident what was going on right away. The second round featured the two fighters circling and trading punches and kicks. It was an extremely close round that could go either way. The third round Choate became the aggressor and while Pulver was stalking Choate, it was Choate who was landing punch after punch. When the fight was over, Pulver was visibly hurt and his left foot was extremely swollen. The judges gave their score cards and it was a split decision for Pulver.
Quick Results
- Jason Graves defeated PJ Cajigas by rear naked choke at 0:31 of round 1
- Will Brooks defeated Guillermo Serment by rear naked choke at 0:45 of round 2
- Chris Haney defeated Joey Diehl by triangle choke at 3:39 of round 2
- Christian Reynos defeated Ray Grindstaff by armbar at 1:09 of round 2
- Eric Kriegermeier defeated Michael Santiago by rear naked choke at 3:48 of round 2
- Giovanni Moljo defeated Carson Beebe by inverted triangle choke at 0:52 of round 1
- Mike Pitz defeated Dan Bolden by triangle choke at 4:38 of round 1
- Felice Herrig defeated Andrea Miller by TKO at 3:30 of round 1
- Chase Beebe defeated Steve Kinnison by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jens Pulver defeated Wade Choat by split decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Chicago, Illinois – Chicago Cagefighting Championship will return to action on Saturday March 5 live at the Odeum in Villa Park, Illinois. For the first time, the card will feature only professional fighters, highlighting the talent in the Chicagoland area. The main event will feature former UFC champion Jens Pulver taking on Wade Choate and a co-main event of former WEC champion Chase Beebe going to battle against Steve Kinnison.
