United Combat League put on their sophomore event at Bobak’s Signature Room in Woodridge, Illinois. The night of action was kicked off with two amateur kickboxing matches that got the crowd into the fights. The rest of the night showcased twenty amateur mixed martial arts fighters headlined by James Waller and Andrew Potapenko.

Waller rushed in at the start of the main event, but Potapenko was ready and landed a counter. He then threw a kick, but it was Waller’s turn to counter punch. Potapenko pulled guard as he had a good grip on the arm of Waller, but Waller started to throw bomb after bomb to get free. Potapenko tried to threaten a submission with his legs, but Waller opted to stand up and trade. Potapenko immediately clinched and Waller tripped the legs out from under Potapenko. Unfortunately for Waller he was reversed and Potapenko spent the last seconds of the round trying to pass to mount.

The second round Waller swarmed again, this time landing a knee. Potapenko wanted a takedown, but Waller countered with a guillotine. Potapenko popped free and landed an uppercut. Waller stepped back but a left hook landed flush and dropped him. Potapenko rushed and looked for the quick finish but Waller was able to recover. Potapenko adjusted his positioning, passed to mount and landed a big right hand. The right was enough to have Waller stop defending and the ref jumped in and stopped it.

The co-main event featured Kalee Howell taking on Deandra Brenn. Brenn took the fight to Howell immediately taking her down. She got the mount and started to throw punch after punch, but was holding the cage and was stood up with a warning. After the restart, Brenn again got the takedown and battled Howell. Brenn had a choke of some sort, but couldn’t secure a finish. The second round Brenn again scored the takedown. She immediately passed to mount but started to ride up to high. As she was attempting to sit back down, Howell muscled her way to a reversal. Brenn’s head was pushed against the cage and Howell unloaded with every bit of strength she had left. Brenn wasn’t defending enough and the ref stopped the fight.

David Mitchell rushed Hassan Umer at the start of the bell for a takedown, but Umer defended it well. He then dropped for a single leg takedown of his own, but Mitchell wanted a guillotine. Umer popped free from the submission and then scored another takedown. Mitchell gave up his back and Umer sunk in a rear naked choke. After a small grip adjustment, Mitchell was forced to tap.

There were back-to-back knockouts, both ending quickly. First up James Camisa took a big punch from Skylar Lindsey, but then countered and dropped Lindsey. He followed up with two short punches as the ref pulled him off, but they were unneeded. Just after Xavier Guzman took on Matt Colt. Colt came out with kicks, while Guzman wanted to counter. Another counter by Guzman that lands and Colt is unconscious.

Shane Camp and Mike Murphy should both be awarded a tough-to-finish award. In the first round Murphy defended a takedown attempt and worked for a D’Rce choke. He couldn’t get it, and switched to a guillotine choke. Again he couldn’t finish, so he let it go and took Camp’s back. He rode the back of Camp to mount and back all the while throwing punches. Camp tried to roll out, and Murphy used the opportunity to try for an arm triangle choke. He had it in deep, but couldn’t get the angle as he was against the cage as time ran out. The second round Murphy landed a right and Camp returned the favor. This time Camp defended the takedown attempt and wound up with a top mounted guillotine. He tried to adjust several times, but eventually he was too high and had to let go of the choke. Murphy rolled him over, and Camp threatened with a kimura, but time expired. All tied up after two rounds both fighters wanted to leave it all in the cage. Murphy scored the quick takedown and both fighters worked short punches. Murphy was able to pass to side control and against wanted the arm triangle. Camp was able to escape, but Murphy was able to control the position for the rest of the round . The judges were split, but Murphy won the fight.

Heavyweight Robert Little opened the fight with a flying kick against Pete Juska. Juska was able to avoid it, but the two fighters clinched against the cage. Juska landed body punches while Little worked knees to the body. Little attempted a standing guillotine, but Juska was able to escape. Once free of the submission attempt he unloaded a barrage of punches. Little looked hurt and he immediately clinched to recover. The two fighters separate and Little slipped while back-peddling. Juska tried to rush Little, but Little was able to shoot for a takedown and got it. Little started to work hammer fists, but Juska threw his legs up and secured an armbar. He adjusted his grip and Little was forced to tap.

Mike Demakes and John Marino put on an exciting back and forth battle. Demakes scored a takedown early but Marino tried to counter with a guillotine. Marino held onto the guillotine attempt for a long time before Demakes was able to slip free. Once out he started to work punches to the ribs. He postured up and threw short jabs before settling back into the guard. Marino was looking for an arm to trap, but Demakes kept punching his way out. Marino was able to push away and stood up, but not without eating several knees on his way up. Marino returned the favor by landing a knee to the body of Demakes who crumbled to the ground. Marino swarmed, but Demakes was playing possum as he secured a triangle. He couldn’t get the leverage and let it go as time expired in the round. The second the two fighters immediately went toe-to-toe before Marino scored a takedown. Demakes was able to trap an arm and had a deep armbar. Somehow Marino escaped and he started to throw punch after punch. He took the back and continued his punching assault until the ref stopped the fight.

Jason Croses had a reach advantage over Vaughn Camacho and tried to utilize it at the start with a kick. Camacho landed a straight right hand and then clinched. The two fighters went down, then stood back up and Croses landed a big knee. The two separate and Camacho lands a great one-two combo and Croses stumbled. Camacho jumped on Croses, took his back and sunk in a rear naked choke.

Both Martin Jones and Jorge Ignacio threw feint after feint to start the fight. Neither looked like they wanted to commit to a punch, so Ignacio threw a big leg kick to start the damage. Martin looked for a jab, but Ignacio countered with an overhand right. Martin rushed in, clinched and threw knees, but Ignacio took him down for his troubles. Ignacio was able to get Martin’s back, but Martin was trying to hold the held. Once he let go, Ignacio was able to get his hooks in as well as his arm under the chin of Martin and secure the fight ending rear naked choke.

Amateur MMA Quick Results
Jorge Ignacio defeated Martin Jones by rear naked choke at 1:26 of round 1
Vaughn Camacho defeated Jason Croses by rear naked choke at 1:10 of round 1
John Marino defeated Mike Demakes by TKO at 1:34 of round 2
Pete Juska defeated Robert Little by armbar at 2:17 of round 1
Mike Murphy defeated Shane Camp by split decision
James Camisa defeated Skyler Lindsey by knockout at 0:13 of round 1
Xavier Guzman defeated Matt Colt by knockout at 0:26 of round 1
Hassan Umer defeated David Mitchell by rear naked choke at 1:44 of round 1
Kalee Howell defeated Deandra Brenn by technical knockout at 1:46 of round 2
Andrew Potapenko defeated James Waller by technical knockout at 1:06 of round 2

Muay Thai Quick Results
Nick Savino defeated Asef Aksar by unanimous decision
Jeremy Miller defeated Askar Askar by split decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28

Cage provided by Kage Concepts. Visit them online at www.kageconcepts.net