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HIGHLAND GAMES 23 REVIEW
On December 3rd, Hayashi’s Lounge was host to some of the best up and coming contenders that The Island has to offer. In the main event, Rodrigo Rojas put his title on the line against rising star Rice Aroni in a clash that guaranteed fireworks.
Robert Cierzniak (0-4) Vs Rock Sampson (0-5) – Heavyweight
This match was certainly a loser leaves town situation. Both fighters have had terrible starts to their mixed martial arts careers, and this was an opportunity for one of them to keep their name aligned with the greatest promotion on The Island. Sampson came into the fight clearly out of shape. Rock’s 0-5 start to his career has shown that he is capable of going the distance, doing so on 3 of his 5 outings. In this fight, Cierzniak had no plans to let there be a fourth. In just 26 seconds, Robert got his first professional win by knockout after a big straight punch landed. This ensures that Cierzniak will continue to fight on in Highland Games while Rock Sampson has been released from his contract. Sampson was stopped by Mirco Rodic at Highland Games 2 and went the distance with Barol Kedorf at number 7.
Billy The Kid (0-2) Vs Kaiea Keona (0-1) – Heavyweight
Both of these men have tasted defeat in Highland Games previously. Billy was stopped by Jax Dax in his debut in just 2 minutes 11 seconds, while Keona fairled slightly better against Nashik Adwadi, but still didn’t make it out of the first round. A loss for either fighter in this one would set the man on the chopping block, and unfortunately for Keona, he was the one who got defeated. Essentially, Billy as better in every area in this one. He took the fight to the clinch, pulled guard, reversed positions and landed more damage overall. In the second round, Kid rocked Kaiea hard with a left hook before finishing him off with a combination.
Marius Wieneke (2-0) Vs Jamie Sanchez (1-1) – Heavyweight
When these two first collided, Sanchez went for a takedown and was caught instantly in a triangle choke. It was unfortunate and didn’t really tell the full story of the fight. Unfortunately for Jamie, it happened again. This time it was Wieneke who shot first, instantly gaining top position. Sanchez managed to roll through a butterfly guard and get half guard, but he was quickly caught in a guillotine choke and tapped out by Marius Wieneke for the second time in a row. With the win now definitive for Marius, he can move on with a solid 3-0 record to bigger competitors within the division.
Quar Fang (1-2) Vs Michael Kamara (1-2) – Heavyweight
Quar Fang has been plagued by cuts early in his career, suffering from nasty lacerations at the hands of Benny Askren and Andrya Iganatov. After a lot of recover, he made his debut last night against Michael Kamara who is 1-1 since joining Highland Games. The fight was really a one sided beating, with the victor emerging as Quar Fang. The Fijian fighter slips a lot of Kamara’s shots, landing an impressive range of kickboxing techniques, all the while avoiding every takedown attempt his opponent threw at him. Fang will be delighted to even up his record and start turning his career back around now that his cuts have healed up. Droping to 0-2 in his last two fights, Michael Kamara will be desperate for a win to keep himself signed with the promotion in his next fight.
Kip Ruell (1-2) Vs Tukunbo Awimowe (1-1) – Bantamweight
The small guys collided in this affair in which Awimowe wanted to capitalize on his Highland Games 10 win over Yuri Zunnecov. Unfortunately for Yuri, it was not to be. Ruell showcased some highly impressive boxing skills, flooring his opponent twice before eventually landing a hellacious uppercut which earned him $3000 for a post fight bonus.
Evan Banks (1-0) Vs Banger Osbourne (1-1) – Heavyweight
Two heavyweights making their debut here, and we say a great fight all round. Osbourne started the contest with a huge takedown which say him gain side control. The crowd jeered Banger as he was content to control the position, as Banks frantically attempted to get himself to full guard. The round ended and it was clear than Osbourne had done enough to take it. The bell went and once again Osbourne instantly shot in, this time getting half guard. The first round was not replicated however, as Evan Banks managed to slip out the back door, taking Osbourne’s back in the process. The fans cheered as Banks got in the hooks and quickly choked his opponent out with the rear naked. Moving to 2-0, Evan Banks looked impressive in his second fight, picking up submission of the night on his way.
Mateusz Puszke (1-2) Vs Jason Newstead (2-3) – Heavyweight
Jason Newstead is one of the few Highland Games competitors still around who competed on the first ever card. Newstead was 1-1 coming off a knockout victory, but was stopped by fan favourite Eddie Kilpatrick as a result of a cut he received by ground and pound. A cut also halted Newstead in his pro debut. Despite this, Newstead bounced back to knockout Unit Seven in just 9 seconds, allowing him a clash with rising contender Chikere Morce. This was an outstanding fight where both men were rocked very early. Unfortunately for Newstead, if was Morce who capitalized, stopping him in the last seconds of the opener. Puszke looked solid in his Highland Games debut, dominating in the clinch, but was outworked at his own game by Pedro Lazaro when he next fought. Both fighters were looking to get back on winning ways here, but I think if we look on paper, this was always bound to end the way it did. Puszke got the clinch quite early, and Newstead’s never ending susceptibility to cuts say him opened up badly once again. He didn’t quit though, and Newstead landed a huge shot which rocked Mateusz badly. The fight looked to be going in Jason’s favour, but in the last round, despite Newstead dominating the first two and rocking his opponent in the last, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight due to the severity of Jason’s cut. The fans booed as just 90 seconds are all that stood between Newstead and victory, and this defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow for the now 2-4 competitor.
Stefan Struve (3-0) Vs Mase Force (4-1) – Heavyweight
I have been trying to get Mase Force in Highland Games for a while. He holds wins over 4 current or former Highland Games fighters, all on the independent circuit. In October, at UltimateXC’s War Wednesday card, he went the distance with top heavyweight fighter Andrei Alexeyev.
Going somewhat under the radar has been Stefan Struve. Struve has went 3-0 before this fight, including a win over experienced scrapper Elias Page.
Mase likes to take the clinch and work over his opponents until the final bell. He went for this strategy against Struve, but his predictability left him venerable. The clinch fighter was seeking for his favourite position, but left himself opened to a shot and was taken down. From there, it was only a matter of time before Struve, the BJJ brown belt, took another opponent’s scalp on his way to a 4th straight submission victory.
Jonah Sorentino (8-3) Vs Patrick O Riley (3-1) – Middleweight
Sorentino is one of the Island’s most experienced fighters and has fought in UltimateXC and Attack previous to joining Highland Games. His loses have come to both the middleweight champion, Massimo Benvenuti and the number one contender, Massimo Paterno, as well as a flesh knockout loss to fellow veteran Ben Pulse. Outside of these, Jonah went into this fight with 8 wins to his opponents 3, a considerable confidence boost. Jonah also owns a over fellow Middleweight contender Razor MuayThai.
O Riley has mixed it up with some decent opponenets too, with his Highland Games debut being a loss to former UltimateXC Middleweight kingpin Grant Morrison.
The experience was looking good for Sorentino early as he countered his opponent’s combinations with ease. A bit of fear came about when O Riley managed to take the fight to the ground, but Jonah avoided his opponent’s ground and pound and managed to force a referee stand up. From there, O Riley didn’t have much left. He got caught with a left and then an uppercut, leading to O Riley being flat out on his back unconscious.
With 9 victories behind him now, Sorentino will be chasing his opportunity to avenge one of his losses against one of the Massimos, preferably for him whoever is the champion.
Rice Aroni (4-0) Vs Rodrigo Rojas (5-0) – Light Heavyweight
This was a huge fight. The Light Heavyweight Title on the line between two top unbeaten competitors.
First the challenger. Straight off of his amateur career, Rice Aroni joined Highland Games and made his mixed martial arts debut against Vlad Drago at Highlnd Games 4. He won at 1:56 of the first round by TKO. His next three fights were surprisingly finished at 1:44 of the first round, all again by TKO. The keys to success for Rice Aroni thus far have been his ability to keep the fight standing where he can use his boxing and devastating knockout power to tilt the tide in his favour.
Rodrigo Rojas couldn’t be more on the opposite end of the scale. The BJJ Pruple Belt earned 3 submission victories before entering the Highland Games cage at HG 12. In this fight, he entered as the considerable underdog against former UltimateXC top contender Momo La Brute. Utilizing his favourite technique, Rojas secured a clinch and pulled guard. From there, Rojas did what he has always done since making his debut, submitted his opponent with ease. Picking up submission of the night, Rojas again entered as the underdog against knockout expert Eirikur Adalsteinn for the inaugural Highland Games Light Heavyweight Title. It took Rojas just 22 seconds to pull guard and lock in a Triangle Armbar which had Adalsteinn tapping like mad. In fact, coming into this fight, Rojas had only spend roughly 4 minutes in the cage in his 5 fight winning streak. Winning the title was everything for Rojas, and thinking ahead the submission specialist was calling out current middleweight champion Massimo Benvenuti for a champion vs champion superfight.
In the fight, Rojas managed to get the clinch very quickly. It looked like it would be a repeat performance once again, but Aroni managed to break the clinch and get out of danger. From her, Rice Aroni was tuning the champ up with intelligent boxing. Just after the first minute, Rojas was floored by a huge combo and hurt badly. Aroni stood back, signally for Rojas to get back to his feet, and then went straight in for the kill again. It was at 1:27 of the first round when Rice Aroni threw a massive overhand right which knocked Rodrigo Rojas out cold. Rice Aroni has won the Highland Games Light Heavyweight Championship in his 5th professional outing, taking next to no damage in the process.
After this great performance, it’s expected that Rice Aroni will compete on the Highland Games 25 supercard, potentially against the winner of LightHeavy Weight and Wo Fi.
Rodrigo Rojas was highly disappointed about his loss and immediately asked if he could drop to Middleweight from now on. Rojas is likely going to work his way into a title shot as a result of his rivalry with Massimo Benvenuti, but he will have to do some work before he can discuss title shots for now.
The card was great and we got to see some of the rising stars of the Island do their thing. There were some great stoppage wins, some perfect performances mixed in with some tragic defeats. Tune in for Highland Games 24 when Wo Fi and LightHeavy Weight duel it out to make their claim at the 205 title.
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