Tristan Johnson vs. Will Romero (Featherweight)
Nova Scotia featherweight Tristan Johnson edged out Will Romero again in a very good fight in which neither fighter was interested at all in going to the ground. They traded hands early and often and Johnson was able to knock Romero down early in the fight, giving him the first round.
Romero came back strong in the second, landing some good shots and using some strong kicks to start to score more and even the fight after two rounds. It was all up for grabs in the third, and both men were content to trade hands and both did so with equal success, until Johnson wisely shot for a late takedown. He barely got it, but it was enough to secure the round and the fight over Romero.
Johnson ended the feud by taking the rematch via unanimous decision.
Alex Ricci vs. Kevin Morin (Lightweight)
Alex Ricci showed an evolved game in his unanimous decision win over Kevin Morin. Ricci used excellent takedown and ground defence to keep Morin on his feet for most of the night.
Morin was extremely tough and willing the entire fight, and it made for a great fight. But Ricci was the more busy and technical fighter from the opening round. This continued to the very end as he showed determination to earn the win.
Jason Saggo vs. Iraj Hadin (Lightweight)
It took him a few tries to do it, but Jason Saggo was able to secure a rear-naked choke submission victory over a very tough Iraj Hadin. Saggo got Hadin‘s back early in the first round but was unable to close the deal, as Hadin showed good determination in his submission defence. It is always a smart move for Saggo to take it to the ground, a tactic he commented on after the show.
Yeah, we knew that he was aggressive in his stand-up, and it was just a riskier fight with his power hooks. And I’m more of a technician on the ground, so that was the game plan.
After tasting some leather from Hadin to start the second, Saggo went to the well again, taking him down and quickly getting his back. This time, he was able to outlast Hadin and get the choke at 3:41 of the second round. Saggo is set for a nice step up in his next fight as he continues to work on his all around game.
There’s room to improve in every area and I’m actually going to Thailand in three weeks. I’m going to be spending two months in Thailand just working my Muay Thai.
Fans on Twitter are calling for Saggo-Ricci next, and I would love to see it.
Ryan Dickson vs. Brandt Dewsbery (Welterweight)
Ryan Dickson needed every ounce of his brawn and technical ability to outlast a very tough Brandt Dewsbery to get a rear-naked choke submission at 4:39 of the second round. Dickson mauled Dewsbery early to dominate the first round before Dewsbery was able to briefly turn the tide early in the second.
In the end, Dickson’s strength was just too much for Dewsbery, and he was able to grapple and maneuver for the choke. Dickson stays undefeated at 5-0, with all his wins coming via submission. It’s time for another step up for the Joslin’s MMA prodigy.
Prelim Results
Elias Theodorou vs Ali Mokdad (Middleweight)
Elias Theodorou kept his undefeated record intact, using his patented all-around game to initiate and control Windsor’s Ali Mokdad all night. Theodorou was first off all night and Mokdad seemed hesitant to initiate anything at all on his way to his third loss in his last four fights.
Adam Assenza vs. Tommy Cote (Lightweight)
Adam Assenza dominated a game Tommy Cote for three rounds to take home a unanimous decision win. Assenza was clearly the stronger fighter, but Cote hung in there and it made for a very good fight.
Rory McDonell vs. Desmond Green (Lightweight)
Veteran Rory McDonell pulled off a beautiful submission from the guard at 4:41 of the first round to defeat Desmond Green. It was part omoplata, part gogoplata and part arm bar, and Score commentator Robin Black described it best as a “club sandwich” submission, because it had a bit of everything in it.
Paul Jalbert vs. Oliver Vadnais (Lightweight)
In one of the uglier fights of the night, Burlington fighter Paul Jalbert made a successful debut by taking a unanimous decision win.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca UFC.
Catch him on Facebook and Twitter @wakafightermma.
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