The MMA Weekend Roundup – Volume 3
There was a ton of action outside of the UFC this weekend. TPF (Tachi Palace Fights) and South Korea’s Road FC, and Brazil’s Bitetti Combat led the way.
Former Bellator champion Joe Soto claimed the vacant Tachi Palace Fights Bantamweight title. Soto has now won his last 3 fights, all via finish. It looks as if his eye is fully healed, and he could be looking a future run in the UFC.
Also, on the Tachi Palace Fights card, Heavyweight prospect Jack May knocked out Strikeforce veteran Carl Seumanutafa. Lightweight prospect Cain Carrizosa (6-0) finished his opponent via strikes in the 1st round. Lastly, Flyweight prospect Hector Sandoval won his fight via decision.
In Brazil’s Bitetti Combat promotion, Paulo Filho’s free fall continued as he lost to journeyman Andre Muniz via decision. On a brighter note, UFC veteran Ronys Torres won his 3rd straight fight, and is now 13-2 since being released by the UFC in 2010.
South Korea’s leading promotion, Road FC, promoted their 14th event. In a bit of a shocker, Flyweight prospect Mikihito Yamagami lost to South Korean Nam Jin Jo via decision. Nam’s record may look pedestrian, but he now holds wins over Yamagami and B.J. Kojima. Also, on the event, Lightweight prospect Takasuke Kume got back in the winning column. Meanwhile, Soo Chul Kim defeated UFC veteran Motonobu Tezuka.
Former UFC veteran Brian Foster picked up a 1st round submission win this weekend. Unfortunately, Foster’s attempts to get back to a major promotion are likely blocked due to his issues getting sanctioned. He was been signed by Bellator and WSOF in recent years, but never ended up fighting for either promotion because of his ability to get sanctioned.
Undefeated Lightweight prospect Jake “The Librarian” Lindsey extended his winning streak to 9. He’s ranked #21 in our Lightweight Prospect Rankings.
In a surprising move, Heavyweight prospect Chris “Beast Boy” Barnett (7-1), returned to the cage this weekend. Barnett’s has dropped out of a number of fights over the last couple of years, and has likely burned enough bridges to garner a reputation amongst the top promoters. Barnett’s fight was at Super Heavyweight, where he weighed in at 317 pounds.
UFC and Bellator veteran Marcus Davis lost to journeyman Ryan Sanders via doctor stoppage. It sounds as if the fight was stopped due to a cut in between rounds 1 and 2. Davis is now just 2-3 in his last 5 fights.
TUF Brazil 1’s Leonardo Mafra won his 4th straight fight via knockout since being released by the UFC in 2012. Mafra is still just 24 years old, and likely deserves another shot in the UFC before his career is said and done.
Luis “Japa” Rafael upped his record to 25-0. Rafael has fought less than stellar competition, but that is due to his management team, Renovacao, who has employed the same strategy with recent Bellator signee Julio Cesar Neves (28-0).
Photo Credit: www.sherdog.com/Dave Mandel
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