Fight Card Entertainment invaded Joe’s Bar and Grill on Weed street in downtown Chicago.  “FCE 38: Cross the Line” featured eight amateur mixed martial arts fights with a stellar main event featuring Matt Tierney and Danny Morales for the FCE welterweight title.  Read on for the full recap of the action and quick results.

The first fight of the night was an exciting welterweight matchup featuring Robert Lewis and Tom Kriplin.  In the first round Lewis and Kriplin looked to exchange, but Lewis quickly attempted a takedown.  Kriplin reversed and scored a takedown of his own.  Kriplin looked for ground and pound, but Lewis was able to push off and stand up.  Once on their feet, Lewis clinched and landed a big knee that took Kriplin’s legs out.  Lewis quickly jumped on the back, but Kriplin somersaulted and reversed the position.  Kriplin was able to get the mount as time ran out in the round.  The second round Kriplin quickly got a takedown and worked vicious ground and pound.  Kriplin landed some serious knees to the body of Lewis while trying to pass to the mount.  Kriplin got the mount and started raining down strikes.  Kriplin nearly ended the fight, but time expired in the round.  The third round Kriplin landed a right hand before taking Lewis down.  From half guard, Kriplin worked several strikes to the body and head until the ref was forced to stop the action.

Heavyweights were up next and Maurice Greene and Jason Miller put on a fantastic fight.  In the first round Greene tried to utilize his reach advantage on Miller, but Miller was able to frustrate Greene with his movement and closed the distance.  Greene landed a left high kick that excited the crowd.  With time running out Miller shot for a takedown, but ate a big knee instead.  In the second round Miller looked to throw leg kicks to throw Greene off his balance.  Greene landed a fantastic front kick that sent Miller to the canvas.  Greene quickly pounced and landed several short uppercuts that bloodied up Miller.  Greene stood up and threw a massive knee to the body and then continued his punches sending blood into the crowd.  Miller couldn’t defend and the ref halted the action.

After an intermission to clean up all the blood shed in the last fight, lightweight Logan West and Charlie Radtke went to battle.  Radtke came out with a big right and West shot for a takedown.  Radtke defended and worked for a guillotine, but West was able to escape and stand up.  Radtke continued the pressure with strikes and West stalled him with a big body kick.  Radtke then shot for a takedown and never let up the pressure as he threw multiple lefts.  After standing up and landing some heavy shots, Radtke landed several big rights and then was like a machine gun with his punches forcing a stop to the fight.

Wanting to follow his brother’s victory, Brian Radtke looked for the victory over Franco Martinez.  The first round Radtke looked for a double leg takedown and got it.  Martinez had a high guard looking to quickly submit Radtke, but Radtke stood up and slammed him to the ground.  Radtke worked multiple strikes and Martinez threatened with submission.  Radtke stood up to drop a big right hand, but instead went for a heel hook.  Martinez punched his way out, but Radtke remained on top. Martinez had a beautiful sweep to get the mount on Radtke, however Radtke then swept Martinez and was back in his guard.  Radtke finished the round with punches and the round ended with Martinez nearly getting an armbar.  The second round started and the fighters quickly clinched.  Radtke landed a big knee and then quickly got Martinez’s back while standing.  Radtke worked for a rear naked choke while standing and got it.  The fighters fell to the canvas and Radtke was able to tighten the choke forcing Martinez to tap.

Lightweight Omar Diaz was the crowd favorite against Ken Hansen.  The first round  had the crowd really going as both fighters were causing damage to each other.  Diaz grabbed a clinch and threw multiple knees that found Hansen’s face.  Hansen would land uppercuts from the clinch, forcing Diaz to separate and create distance.  Diaz continued with jabs and Hansen looked to be in trouble, but was able to recover and land punches of his own.  In the second round Diaz continued his jab and quickly bloodied Hansen up.  Seeing the blood just flow from Hansen’s nose, Diaz was relentless with his punches.  Hansen never went down, but ate several shots and was unable to intelligently defend himself forcing the ref to stop the striking clinic.

After another brief intermission, featherweights Richard Dey and Rudy Behena were up next.  Dey landed a high kick, one-two, high kick combo, but Behena defended and was able to get Dey’s back.  Behena had a fantastic belly to back suplex and quickly got the mount.  Behena nearly finished the fight with his ground and pound, but Dey was able to buck and stand up.  Once on the feet, they clinched and Dey landed two knees before working for an omoplata.  Unable to get the tap, Dey transitioned to a heel hook.  Behena was tough to finish and continued to punch his way out of the submissions.  Dey was able to put Behena in his guard, and quickly worked an armbar.  The submission was in deep, but Behena defended well.  Dey rolled and the arm looked to be in bad shape.  Behena, sensing his arm was about to break, verbally submitted.

The co-main event featured light heavyweights Ivan Garcia and Andrew Navickis.  The exciting three round fight had the crowd going crazy.  In the first round Navickis used leg kicks to keep Garcia at bay.  When Garcia would rush in and clinch, Navickis landed several knees.  Navickis used a guillotine choke to take Garcia down, but both fighters quickly stood.  Navickis looked like he had a standing guillotine choke, however Garcia was able to escape.  Navickis scored another takedown with time running out in the round and tried to finish it with strikes but was unable to.  Round two was extremely close.  Garcia again attempted a takedown, but it was Navickis who was able to get it.  Garcia defended well with submission attempts but Navickis threw the legs to the side and got Garcia’s back.  Garcia countered by spinning into Garcia and able to get the mount.  Navickis bucked and was able to stand up.  An extremely close round that could have been scored for either fighter.  The final round Navickis came out with a spinning backlist that just missed.  Both fighters were swinging wildly looking for a finishing blow.  Garcia was stalking Navickis and able to close the distance working knees and punches from the clinch.  Garcia was clearly controlling the fight at this point and with time running out, both fighters attempted big strikes but neither landed.  With a close second round that could go either way, it was no surprise that the judges were split in their decision for Garcia.

The main event featured undefeated Matt Tierney taking on Danny Morales for the FCE welterweight title.  Both fighters came out swinging and looking to cause damage.  Morales used leg kicks to set up his punches.  Tierney was able to clinch and take Morales down on two separate occasions, but Morales just popped back up.  Both fighters started to find their range when Morales landed a spinning backlist sending Tierney down to the floor.  Morales quickly jumped on the wounded Tierney and landed two strikes before the ref could stop the action.  Morales became the new FCE welterweight champion with the knockout victory.

Quick results
Tom Kriplin defeated Robert Lewis by TKO at 1:14 of round 3
Maurice Greene defeated Jason Miller by TKO at 1:22 of round 2
Charlie Radtke defeated Logan West by TKO at 2:02 of round 1
Brian Radtke defeated Franco Martinez by rear naked choke at 0:59 of round 2
Omar Diaz defeated Ken Hansen by TKO at 1:14 of round 2
Richard Dey defeated Rudy Behena by armbar at 2:29 of round 1
Ivan Garcia defeated Andrew Navickis by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Danny Morales defeated Matt Tierney by KO at 1:30 of round 1

Chicago based Fightcard Entertainment will be putting on their first event of 2011, “Cross the Line”, on February 24.  The night of amateur mixed martial arts action will take place at Joe’s Bar and Grill in Chicago, Illinois.

FCE has held several cards at Joe’s and the bar is considered the “home” location for Fightcard Entertainment.

Headlining the fight is expected to be a welterweight fight featuring Matt Tierney versus Danny Morales.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at fightcard.net

A night of solid Amateur MMA last night for Fightcard Entertainment for FCE 35 Victory. The event had a solid attendance at the Cicero Stadium on the south side of Chicago, Illinois.

The night started out with lightweights Julius Collins vs Victor Johnson. They both came out trading early, and Collins immediately went for the take down after taking some shots. Victor showed some nice sweeps, but Julius ended up on top. He was mainly just controlling and not really trying to finish. This is how the rest of the fight went too. Collins showed some excellent control, and really exploited the top position the majority of the time. Julius grinds out the Unanimous Decision over Victor Johnson.

Middleweights Andrew Wombley and Gene Garcia were up next. As soon as Gene got his hands on Wombley he rag-dolled him across the cage. Gene took the top position and moved into a dominant position near the fence. The ref rescues Andrew from the ground and pound at 30 seconds into the first round.

Tony Ortiz and Mario Gomez were up next for a welterweight scrap. Ortiz came in looking relaxed and more focused. He took Gomez down after a small feeling out process. After Mario got in some ground and pound of his own, Ortiz created a scramble landing him in top position. Mario took advantage of a high guard turning Tony over into a slick armbar at 2:37 in to the fight.

Heavyweights Anthony Torres and Ivan Garcia came out in a hurry. This fight almost seemed one sided. Although Torres showed a lot of heart, and the ability to take punches in bunches, it was clear from the get go that Ivan was in control. After landing a questionable illegal knee I van was warned in the first, but no points were taken. Torres kept going for take downs, and drop his hand as a point of contact when he saw knees coming. In the second round Ivan kept his distance, and was landing at will. He showed an excellent clinch game, and avoiding the take downs. He was close to ending the fight at the end of the round. In the the third Ivan came out swinging and Torres finally wilted from the strikes at 30 seconds.

Steve Kozola and Chris Johnson were up for a lightweight fight. Steve had a significant reach and used it to get inside for a take down. Chris turned the tables and swept Kozola. Steve went for a kimura and used it to end up in full mount. Johnson took some heavy shots and gave up his back. Kozola sank in the rear naked choke at 1:20 in the first round.

Welterweights Yousef Al-Ghoun and Nick Watermont took the cage. This was a close round, and I only gave it to Nick for ending up on top at the end of the round and landing strikes. However at one point Yousef had Nick’s back. However, for the rest of the fight Watermont really showed off his ground game. Al-Ghoun had no answers for the big take downs from Nick, and Nick controlled him the entire time on the floor. At the end of the second Nick was landing some decent shots, but there was nothing threatening to end the fight. Nick grinds out the Unanimous Decision over Al-Ghoun.

Quincy Smith and Matt Tierney started with a short feeling out period. The welterweights finaly got in close and Matt pinned Smith up against the fence. Matt created distance and started landing big shots on Quincy. The ref almost stopped the fight a few times but Quincy kept coming forward. Matt finally dropped Quincy with a big right hand earning a solid knock out at 2:15 in the first. Tierney holds on to his undefeated amateur record.

Heavyweight champ Jeff Burdof and Shane Bumbar were up next for the FCE heavyweight crown. Burdof came out and immediatelyput the pressure on Shane. Jeff goes for a take down after avoiding some punches, and drags Shane up to the cage. Burdof went to work from half guard after stacking up Shane and started landing big shots. Bumbar tapped to strikes at 2:15 in the first frame.

Although no awards were given, Matt Tierney clearly had the KO of the night, Mario Gomez had the submission of the night, and Fight of the night to Al-Ghoun and Watermont. It was a solid outing by the FCE, and they are planning on being back early to mid summer at Cicero Stadium.

Quick Results:

Julius Collins wins U. Decision over Victor Johnson
Gene Garcia wins 1 TKO :30 over Andrew Womble
Mario Gomez wins 1 Sub 2:37 over Tony Ortiz
Ivan Garcia wins 3 TKO :20 over Anthony Torres
Steve Kozola wins 1 Sub 1:20 over Chris Johnson
Nick Watermont wins U Decision over Yousef Al-Ghoun
Matt Tierney wins 1 TKO 2:15 over Quincy Smith
Jeff Burdorf wins Heavy Weight Title by 1 Tap to strikes 2:15 over Shane Bumbar

Fightcard Entertainment’s “Mayhem” took place on Friday February 5, 2010 at the Pyramid Club in Addison, Illinois.  The night was scheduled to have a total of seven fights, but due to complications with the weather the night saw only eight fighters step into the hex.  While there was only four fights that took place, the night saw plenty of action with two submissions, a close battle before a tko and stunning knockout leaving the crowd very pleased with the night’s entertainment.

Danny Babolcasy versus Sam Scozack
The first fight of the night saw Danny Babolcsay making his amateur debut taking on Sam Scozack.  In the first round Scozack controlled the action with multiple takedowns.  To Babolcsay’s credit, he controlled Scozack’s head and wrists and dodged multiple punches.  In the second round, Babolcsay tried to force a stand up battle, but again, Scozack shot for a takedown.  Unfortunately for Scozack he left his neck open and Babolcsay quickly locked in a guillotine choke forcing the tapout at just 28 seconds of round 2.

Cory Forshaw vs Mike Savoree
After a quick touch of gloves between Cory Forshaw and Mike Savoree, the action was non-stop.  Forshaw wanted to punish Savoree’s legs with kicks, however Savoree quickly took the fight to the ground.  Forshaw attempted a guillotine choke, but Savoree was able to break free due to multiple punches to Forshaw’s side.  Once in full guard, Savoree used his wrestling ability to transition to full mount.  As Savoree went to punch, Forshaw swept him and landed in full guard.  From guard, Forshaw rained down several punches before Savoree gained wrist control.  As Savoree tried to get off of his back, Forshaw transitioned to Savoree’s back and locked in a fight ending rear naked choke.

Dave Galagoes versus Alex Gilman
The fight that earned “Fight of the Night” honors from the staff at MMA Recap saw Dave Galagoes take on Alex Gilman.  In the first round Gilman showed off his amazing judo skills by throwing Galagoes around with ease.  Gilman worked several submissions including an amazing transition from a rear naked choke to an arm bar.  Galagoes was able to defend the submissions and work his way to a second round.  In the second round, Gilman again had a big hip toss, but was unable to capitalize as Galagoes secured Gilman’s back and worked several damaging shots to the side of the head for nearly a full minute till the round ended.  In the third round, Galagoes landed a big right forcing Gilman to shoot for a takedown.  After a scramble, Galgoes again got Gilman’s back and this time didn’t stop punishing Gilman’s head until the referee stopped it.

Matt Tierney versus Pat Reck
Matt Tierney stayed undefeated by knocking out Pat Reck.  The back and forth battle saw Tierney work a viscous right jab that consistently kept Reck at bay.  Reck also worked several combos and at one point seemed to have hurt Tierney.  As the round went on, Tierney’s strength started to overwhelm Reck as Reck resorted to attempting takedown instead of striking.  Tierney just used his sprawl to defend and kept the fight standing.  After the second takedown attempt by Reck, Tierney punished Reck with a big knee that knocked Reck out cold.

Quick Results

• Danny Babolcsay defeated Sam Scozack by guillotine choke at :28 of round 2
• Cory Forshaw defeated Mike Savoree by rear naked choke at 1:35 of round 1
• Dave Galagoes defeated Alex Gilman by TKO at 2:23 of round 3
• Matt Tierney defeated Pat Reck by KO at 2:46 of round 1

“Fightcard Entertainment Domination” was held at Jesse Oaks Bar and Grill in Gages Lake, Illinois.  A sell out crowd of over 700 fans were in attendance for the night’s events.  The first fight of the night was an exciting fast paced sslugfest that set the mood for the rest of the evening.

The night opened with Steve Kozola taking on Armando Llanes.  After a brief touch of gloves, Llanes landed a big inside leg kick, but Kozola rushed in and unloaded a very quick flurry of short punches.  Kozola would use these short bursts of punches to keep Llanes off his game.  After the third rush by Kozola, Llanes backed up and started throwing big overhands and went for a takedown.  Kozola realized Llanes’s neck was exposed and grabbed a hold of it with a standing guillotine choke.  Llanes wasn’t in too much troube, but Kozola looked to his corner for advice.  His corner man told him to pull back and a second later Llanes was tapping.

Max Humseld opened his fight with front kick to Chris Volpe.  Volpe responded with a leg kick and a four-punch combo forcing Humseld to shoot for a takedown.  Volpe secured a tight arm in guillotine and dropped Humseld on his head while pulling guard.  Humseld was able to pop his head out and landed a couple of shots to Volpe’s head.  The ref warned for action and Volpe threatened Humseld with an arm triangle choke from the bottom.  With the threat of the choke, Volpe swept Humseld and reversed position.  Humseld gave up his back and Volpe locked in a rear naked choke forcing the tap.

Chris Hayden and Aderlin Lopez didn’t have much technique to their fight, but the fans loved it.  Early in the round Hayden had very impressive belly to belly suplex takedown but didn’t capitalize on his dominant position.  After both fighters stood up, they stood in the center of the cage slugging it out.  Hayden went for a clinch, but Lopez landed a big knee that hurt Hayden.  Hayden sort of stood there giving up his neck and Lopez didn’t think twice and choked him out.

The last fight before the first intermission was between Luke Foster and Bernie Vasquez.  Foster landed a nice jab forcing Vasquez to try and take the fight down.  Foster defended it very well and then got a trip takedown of his own.  Foster quickly passed to mount and Vasquez turned to give up his back.  Foster shift to a combination of back and side control and landed several punches.  Vasquez rolled and reversed the position to be in Foster’s guard.  Vasquez postured up and in a series of body, body, head punches passed from guard to side control to mount.  Several punches later, the ref was forced to stop the fight.

During the first intermission, Brian Angelo brough in many ring girls to give away t-shirts and hats from their sponsors Dos Lunas Tequilla and Finisher Clothing.

After the intermission we returned to action with Carlos Encinas and Brent Lutger.  Encinas opened the fight with a big right hand that hurt Lutger badly.  Lutger looked to clinch up, but Encinas took the fight to the ground.  Lutger quickly rolled and was able to get side control.  After a couple of pop-shots, Lutger postured up and started to throw hammer fist after hammer fist.  Encinas, hurt, turned and gave up his back.  Lutger tried to get a rear naked choke, but Encinas rolled some more to prevent it.  Lutger ended the round in mount throwing big shots looking to end the fight.  Unfortunately for Lutger the bell rang.  In the second round the fighters decided to keep the fight standing.  Encinas landed a big right hand that dropped Lutger.  Encinas looked for a guillotine choke, but then decided to stand up.  Lutger was on all fours and Encinas teed off on Lutger’s head before the ref called a stop to the fight.

The lightest fight of the night was contested at 120lbs between Camron Monyelle and Cory Forshaw.  Monyelle opened with a great combo of punch, punch, kick and then secured a Muay Thai plumb.  Forshaw tried to attack Monyelle’s body from inside the clinch, but Monyelle just responds with big knees.  Monyelle decided he was done with the a clinch game and litteraly threw Forshaw to the ground.  Monyelle quickly passed to mount and was throwing punch after punch.  Forshaw tried to defend and eventually rolled and reversed the position.  Forshaw attempting some offense from within Monyelle’s guard but Monyelle controll’s his wrists and then locks in a triangle choke.  Forshaw attempted to stand out of it, but Monyelle transitioned to an armbar.  Forshaw rolled one way to escape the submission, then tried to roll the other way, which was a mistake as it just put more torque on his arm forcing the tap.

Matt Tierney is by far the largest welterweight I have seen.  He had a serious size advantage of Steve Vignicchi who was not a small fighter by any means.  In the first round Tierney used his massive jab and straight lefts to keep Vigincchi at bay.  After the first four jabs, Vigicchi had a large mouse under his left eye.  Both fighters were landing several shots, but Tierney was the more accurate striker.  By the end of the round the mouse had doubled in size and it was very difficult for Vignicchi to even see.  In between rounds, Vignicchi’s corner does a great job of reducing the size of the mouse and the doctor checks the damage.  The doctor gave the okay to continue.  Tierney opened the round with a big body kick jab that hurt Vignichi.  Tierney then followed up with two jabs, stepped back, and then threw a huge body kick that crumbled Vignicchi.  The ref stopped the fight before Tierney could follow up with any extra punches.

Bobby Pa dominated PJ Cajigas in their fight.  Pa opened with several kicks before taking Cajigas down.  Pa had a triangle choke from side control, but Cajigas rolled out of it.  Cajigas tried to stand up, but Pa grabbed his neck and squeezed.  Pa tried to lock his hands, but it didn’t matter as Cajigas went to sleep from a single arm guillotine.

The main event was a back and forth battle that had all 700 plus fans on their feet.  Pedro Velasco dropped Mike Ryan early at the very beginning of the fight.  Ryan immediately grabbed a hold of Velasco to try and recover.  Velasco attempted a takedown, but Ryan had recovered and reverses the position and gets his back.  Ryan sinks in a standing rear naked choke, but Velasco flipped to break the hold.  Ryan still holding on after the big flip, but Velasco turned into the choke and broke free.  Both fighters stand up and exchange before Ryan again gets Velasco’s back and lands a big takedown.  Both fighters rolled to get the better position and Ryan won the battle landing in side control.  Numerous hammer fists to the side of Velasco’s head and then one hits the back of the head.  The ref calls a stop for the illegal strike and gives a warning.  Ryan landed a huge head kick as the bell rang to end the round.  The opening of the second round, Velasco attempted a kick, but Ryan countered with a kick of his own.  Velasco caught the leg and took Ryan down, but Ryan kept his leg up and locked in a triangle.  Velasco trying desperately to get out, rolls and Ryan has a top mounted triangle choke.  Ryan unloading some punches but gets sloppy as Velasco escapes.  Both fighters stand up and Ryan looks visibly tired.  Velasco lands a huge right hand that looks like it knocks Ryan out.  Velasco didn’t go after Ryan, and Ryan got right back up.  Both fighters scramble and Ryan gets Velasco’s back again.  Ryan asks Velasco “are you as gassed as I am” to which Velasco responded with “Yes”.  Unfortunately for Velasco, that was all Ryan needed to hear and he locked in a deep rear naked choke earning him the victory.

•    Steve Kozola defeats Armando Llanes by standing guillotine choke at 2:14 round 1
•    Chris Volpe defeats Max Humseld by rear naked choke at 1:40 round 1
•    Aderlin Lopez defeats Chris Hayden by rear naked choke at 1:09 round 1
•    Bernie Vasquez defeats Luke Foster by technical knockout at 1:50 round 1
•    Carlos Encinas defeats Brent Lutger by technical knockout at 1:08 round 2
•    Camron Monyelle defeats Cory Forshaw by arm bar submission at 2:45 round 1
•    Matt Tierney defeats Steve Vignicchi by technical knockout at :23 round 2
•    Bobby Pa defeats PJ Cajigas by guillotine choke at 2:24 round 1
•    Mike Ryan defeats Pedro Velasco by rear naked choke at 2:20