In the mixed martial arts main event of a three-sport card, Chris Cariaso looked like a rising star as he knocked out Rolando Velasco to claim the IKF Bantamweight Championship at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium in Richmond, California on Saturday night.
Cariaso (9-1, 2 KOs, 2 Submissions) of San Francisco, California started the bout out tactfully, as he kept Velasco (5-2-1, 2 KOs, 1 Submission) of Oakdale, California out of range with his kicks. Though he was smaller in stature, Cariaso, 133 ½, looked to be the stronger of two when they grappled or wrestled. Early in the second round, Velasco, 133 ½, winced in pain from a Cariaso left kick which found a home on his right knee.
The key moment in the fight came moments later, as Cariaso missed with a high left kick. Sensing an opportunity, Velasco rushed in for a strike, but got caught by a strong, short right hand. Velasco was dazed and had trouble staying on his feet. Cariaso began to unload everything from all different angles. Velasco gamely tried to fire back, but eventually turned completely defensive. With nothing coming back from Velasco, referee Dan Stell stopped the bout at 3:17 of the second round.
MMA
David Barrios (3-4, 3 Submissions) of San Jose, California pleased his vocal supporters with a second-round submission win over Andrew Valladerez (3-4, 1 KO, 1 Submission) of Milpitas, California in the semi-main event. After a competitive first round, the fight was delayed about 20 minutes while the onsite paramedic dealt with Justin Smitley, who has been suffering ill effects from his fight earlier in the evening. Minutes after the fight resumed, Barrios, 133, locked up Valladerez, 137 ¾, for the submission victory. Time of the submission was 3:03 of the second round. Barrios was awarded the ISCF California State Bantamweight title at yesterday’s weigh in when Valladerez came in 2 ¾ pounds over.
Veteran Alvin Cacdac (7-6, 3 KOs, Submissions) of Sunnyvale, California won the ISCF West Coast Bantamweight title with a dominant first-round knockout of Bryant Munoz (3-2, 3 Submissions) of Riverbank, California. Cacdac, 135, forced the stoppage via the ground and pound, as he pounded away at Munoz, 133 ¾, on the ground until the referee had to stop the bout at 2:34 of the first round.
The mixed martial arts action got started with a bloody battle, as Evan Esguerra (3-2, 2 KOs) of San Jose claimed the ISCF California State Featherweight title with a third-round stoppage of Justin Smitley (6-6, 4 Submissions) of Oakdale. Smitley, 144, had his moments early in the first, as he had Esguerra, 143, in some precarious positions on the mat and locked a couple different submission holds in before the San Jose native turned the tide. Late in the first, Esguerra gained a controlling position over Smitley on the mat and came down with a shot that busted his face wide open.
With crimson soon engulfing Smitley’s entire face, Esguerra controlled the rest of the contest. For much of rounds two and three, it was Smitley attempting to defend himself with his back on the mat while Esguerra came down with hard blows to his face. At 1:00 of round three, it was apparent that Smitley could not see nor defend himself adequately and referee Dan Stell stopped the bout. As mentioned before, Smitley would eventually be taken away by the paramedics to receive medical attention.
Boxing
Making his professional debut, former amateur star Aldwayne Simpson (1-0, 1 KO) of Richmond knocked out veteran Muay Thai competitor-turned boxer Victor Cortez (0-2) of Atwater, California in the opening round. Simpson, 138 ½, got started fast and immediately hurt Cortez, 137 ½, with a couple of right hooks. With his opponent rocked, Simpson landed a stiff jab that sent Cortez to the seat of his pants. Cortez returned to his feet quickly, but was soon backed up by a short left hook which set up a chopping right that sent his mouthpiece across the ring and his body to the mat. The referee immediately stopped the bout without a count at 1:56 of the first.
Amateur Muay Thai
In a highly anticipated match-up, Dan Ash of San Jose took a five-round split decision over Kenneth Giang of San Francisco to claim the IKF Super Lightweight title. The crowd was really up for the fight between the two respectful adversaries, Ash, 135, and Giang, 134 ½. After five hard to score rounds, Ash got the nod on two of the cards, 48-47. One judge had the fight for Giang, 48-47, who took the loss in stride and congratulated the winner.
In a close fight that could have gone either way, Bryon Petro of Dublin, California recovered from a knockdown in the first round to pull out a majority four-round decision over Quincy Schammon of Oakdale to take home the IKF North American Welterweight title. Petro, 146 ¼, was put down by a straight right early in the first round. Schammon, 142 ½, looked to be the stronger and more physical fighter throughout the opening stanza. Petro was able to make the adjustment by the second round, but all of the final three rounds could have been scored for either fighter. In the end, two judges sided with Petro, 39-37. In lone dissenting judge scored the bout for Schammon, 39-37.
Daniel Kim of San Francisco, California took a four-round unanimous decision over Dion Pamintao of Sacramento, California to claim the IKF Middleweight title in an action-packed four-round bout. While Pamintao, 162 ¼, was far more competitive than the scores would end up indicating, the taller Kim, 165, earned the decision by utilizing his physical advantages to the utmost. Scores read 39-37 and 40-36 twice all for Kim.
Amber Pope of Santa Clara, California scored a second-round knockout over Julie Jackal of San Francisco to win the IKF Light Welterweight title. Pope, 138 ½, began to overpower Jackal, 140 ½, as the fight went on before landing a clean one-two combination that sent Jackal to the mat. Jackal gamely rose to her feet, but the referee opted to stop the bout at the 1:36 mark.
In a back-and-forth struggle between two southpaws, Rick Erlec of Concord, California and Jeremy Murphy of San Jose fought to a four-round draw. Murphy, 135 ½, landed a brutal spin kick in the first that seemed to catch Erlec, 138 ½, on the ribs. Erlec went down in pain, but the referee warned Murphy for low kicks. The rest of the bout was fought on fairly even ground. Scores read 40-36 for Murphy, 39-37 for Erlec and 38-38 even. With the draw, the IKF West Coast Super Lightweight title remains vacant.
J.R. Aviles of Hollister, California scored a second-round knockout over Christopher Williams of Vacaville, California in the opening bout of the night. Aviles, 175 ¼, dropped Williams, 177, in the first and prompted a standing eight-count in the second. Williams returned to his feet, but turned away from further punishment before the referee called a halt to the action at 1:12 of the second.
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com