Update on local MMA, boxing action

A short post today from the blog, after returning from vacation. One June 23, Mountain Force MMA had its Pat Reeves Fight Night MMA card in Logan. In a pro bout, Ogden's Dominic Gero scored a win. Another Ogden fighter, Joe Flores, won an amateur title fight and Ogden's Eric Munoz lost via decision in another amateur title bout. Full results are here.

In a SteelFist MMA card in Salt Lake City on June 29, Ben Moa, of One Hit MMA, successfully defended his SteelFist heavyweight professional title, In the co-main pro bout, returning LJ Schulz, of One Hit MMA, scored a win over veteran James Russell Francis, who announced his retirement after the bout. Amateur winners included Hayden Brown and Jordan Marshall. Full results are here.

At a Tuff N Uff card in Las Vegas on June 30, Destiny McCubbin came up short in a strawweight title bout, losing via third-round stoppage to undefeated Mandiau. This was an exciting that can be viewed on TuffNUff's Facebook page. After being rocked in the first round, McCubbin rallied in round 2. The third round was being fought on even term until McCubbin was floored by a shot from Mandiau. The fight was stopped shortly afterward, a decision many fans disagreed with.

Also, Steven Siler's next bout in the Professional Fighters League tournament is set. The pro MMA featherweight will meet Alexandre de Almeida July 19 in Long Island, NY. Card is here.

AMATEUR BOXING:

There was a 28-bout amateur card at Clearfield Aquatic Center on June 30. It was organized by Lights Out Gym's Julian Stevens. Channel 13 did a great story on it that is available here. Winners included Jon Bryant of Lights Out, Shakeem Barnwell and Jay Wright, Foley's gym, and Mateo Holt, of Louie's gym. Speaking of Louie's, the gym is having a fundraiser/car show this Saturday. Details are here.

Gomez wins ABO title but fails to stop resilient Aguirre

(All photos by Joseph Gibson) ABOVE, Larry Gomez (in front) and Christian Aguirre embrace after their boxing match in Layton, Utah on May 26, 2018. Gomez captured the regional American Boxing Organization middleweight title via unanimous decision.

Recap by Doug Gibson

Larry Gomez, 7-0, used strong body- and counter-punching skills to take a unanimous six-round decision over Christian Aguirre, 7-1, to earn the American Boxing Organization's regional Middleweight Championship Saturday, May 26, 2018, at the Davis County Conference Center in Layton, Utah.

However, the resilient Aguirre denied Gomez a knockout win, becoming the first opponent to last the distance against the former amateur star and current Utah junior-middleweight champion. Aguirre, who has three KOs, is the state super-middleweight champion. Both fighters are based in Salt Lake City.

The fight between two of the state's top prospects almost ended early. In round one Gomez hurt the aggressive Aguirre with a body shot and then dropped him late in the round with a counter punch.

(Late in round one, Gomez dropped Aguirre to the canvas.)

Aguirre survived more pressure from Gomez in round two and then rallied in rounds three and four, occasionally driving Gomez backwards with his aggression. However, Gomez seized back control of the fight in round five, hurting Aguirre twice during the round and moving the usually-forward-moving fighter backwards.

The less-experienced Aguirre, who only had one amateur fight, showed tremendous heart in the bout, never going down after the first round knockdown despite taking heavy punishment from Gomez. In the sixth round Aguirre survived a final assault from Gomez, who clearly wanted a knockout.

There has been squabbling between both camps as the bout neared but the fighters embraced after the final bell. Although they are unlikely to ever become friends, Gomez did acknowledge Aguirre's heart in the post-fight interview. The judges scorecards were 59-54 twice and 60-53. The blog scored the bout 59-55 for Gomez.

The future looks bright for both these boxers. Gomez appears ready to seek opportunities on the West or East coasts, or Las Vegas or other major fight venues. This blog hopes he gets the chance. Aguirre fought aggressively and rallied several times during the fight. As his career matures, he'll certainly receive other opportunities.

Here are a few more photos from the bout, Aguirre in white trunks:

JUSTIN MORALES SCORES QUICK KO

In the co-main bout, Imperial-managed 147-pound pro prospect Justin Morales scored a quick KO over badly outclassed Anthony Ayala. The fight lasted less than 90 seconds and ended with Ayala, of Pocatello, Idaho, who was making his pro debut, prone on the canvas, where he stayed for a few minutes before rising. At one point Morales went over to check on his opponent.

(Above Top) The ring doctor works over Anthony Ayala after he was stopped in the first round by undefeated Justin Morales. ... Morales, (right) lands a right hand punch against Ayala.)

Morales, who lives in Las Vegas by way of Clinton, Utah, is now 2-0, both KOs. It was announced on Saturday night that he will meet MMA professional-turned boxer James Francis in an Imperial card scheduled for July. Both Morales and Francis met in the ring after Morales' bout.

MARTINEZ DECISIONS NAVA

In a pro preliminary bout over four rounds, 122-pounder Julio Martinez, of Salt Lake City, won via unanimous decision his pro debut over Ogden's Jair Nava, 0-2. Martinez appeared tight the first round, allowing Nava to dictate the pace. But Martinez swept the final three rounds, using his hand speed and well-placed hooks to stun Nava a few times. The judges scored the bout 40-36 twice and 39-37. The blog had it for Martinez 39-37. In the post-fight interview, Martinez said that "next time will be a knockout."

AMATEUR RESULTS:

In amateur bouts, Mateo Holt, 117 pounds, from Louie's Gym in Salt Lake City, used ring generalship to take a decision over Utah's Sergio Ramirez. Tre McCoy, 138 pounds, of Midvale decisioned Utah's Elbert Paul; Elvis Castello, 190 pounds, outboxed Carter Christensen, Louie's Gym, to get the decision; and in a heavyweight, 220 pounds, match, Bishop Lee, West Valley, scored a third-round knockdown en route to winning a decision over West Jordan's Jared Manning.

MORE FROM FIGHT NIGHT:

In a no-decision exhibition amateur boxing bout of three two-minute rounds, Jon Bryant, of Lights Out Gym in Clearfield, met Nate Owens of Ogden. Bryant recently won the Rocky Mountain open Golden Gloves titles. Owens is a regional amateur MMA champion, although he has boxing experience. The pair's three rounds were entertaining with both acquitting themselves well. Bryant, who controlled the majority of the action with boxing skills and a longer reach, received a "win" after fans' opinions were solicited by ring announcer Brad Davidson.

... West Jordan's Jose Haro, the United States Boxing Association professional featherweight champion, told fans that there's a good chance he'll defend his title in New Orleans on an ESPN card. We certainly hope that occurs. No one merits a big fight more than Jose. Haro also told the fans he hopes to eventually fight on another Imperial card.

... Boxer Francisco Alcantara was scheduled to fight on Saturday. But his opponent fell through. It was announced on Saturday that Alcantara will box on the Imperial card in July against Top of Utah's Sean Powers. It will be Powers first boxing match. Both he and Alcantara are well known as MMA pros.

Several hundred fans filled a ballroom at the conference center. More details on the planned July Imperial card will likely be revealed in June.

Talking with MMA pro Eric Iman

This Saturday night is the latest SteelFist MMA pro/am card. Fight card number 54 is at the Rail Event Center in Salt Lake City (235 N. 500 West, SLC 84116. The main event matches Eric Iman, of Team Link Utah, (seen above) as well as a Ben Lomond High School graduate, against One Hit MMA fighter Ben Moa, former collegiate (Utah) and NFL football player. They are fighting for the promotion's professional heavyweight title. The entire card is here.

We've followed Iman's career through the second decade of the 21st century and are pleased to publish this pre-fight interview:

Utah Fight Game: Tell readers a little about yourself. What got you interested in MMA, who are some MMA athletes you admire? 

Iman: "I was always interested in martial arts; who growing up didn’t want to be a samurai or a super hero? I started training with Rich Layton in Brazilian jiu-jitsu back in 2006 or so I trained with him for almost a year. Then I started training Muay Thai with Chris Fisher and learned from him for 6 months or so then I moved to train with Mickee Janjira and Danny Sanchez in Clearfield, I also was going to the Muay Thai Institute once a week or so to train with Sakasem. I trained at the Mori academy for a bit then moved to California where I trained under Gonyao, Jongsonan, and Enn at Fairtex in San Francisco for several years. I fought amateur Muay Thai in the Bay Area. When I moved back from California I met Fabio Serao and we have been training together ever since. I help coach him and some students at Team Link Utah in Layton."

Utah Fight Game: Who are some MMA athletes you admire?

Iman: "I really look up to Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone. He is a no-nonsense hard-nosed fighter I respect a lot.  I have been really impressed with Anthony Joshua and the fight he had with (Wladimir) Klitschko, I admire a fighter that can weather some damage and show some grit and bite down on his mouth piece and fight on.  Robbie Lawler is always entertaining and tough."

Utah Fight Game: What are your strengths, what are your opponent’s strengths and what’s your strategy to come out on top? 

Iman: "My striking is definitely my strength, I have worked relentlessly on my takedown defense my whole career so I can keep the fight standing. I have knockout power in my hands and can finish a fight kicking with either leg. I think Ben has a lot of athleticism and I believe he will try to get me to the ground. I will use my defensive wrestling to keep the fight standing and I will always return with my shield or on it. I went the distance with (Maurice) Jackson and felt I won but I know if it's left to the judges it may be a crap shoot."

Utah Fight Game: Where do you hope to be in your career a year from now?

Iman: "As far as my fight career and where it will be in the next year? All I can say is 'You never know how far you can go, until you have gone too far.'  -- T.S. Eliot. I am 39 and I am in as good shape as I have ever been. I am definitely towards the end but I have a few left in the tank. A win here will definitely determine what’s next!

We wish the best of luck Saturday night for Iman, and Moa, as well as for all the fighters on the card. In the co-main, Josh Wixom and Cole Shafer fight for the SteelFist amateur middleweight belt. We are intrigued by pro bouts matching Trever Bradshaw with William Dunkle and Jared Toothaker versus Tyson Cowan. One of the amateur bouts matches a returning Carissa Merrill against debuting Brittany Guillemin.


MMA RESULTS LAST WEEKEND OF AREA NOTE

In Mesquite, Nevada, Kaecy Raddon lost a close bout to Rocky Cantu for the TuffNUff amateur lightweight title. This was a closely contested bout that could have gone to both fighters. Raddon finished the fight very strongly. A couple of local amateurs from KOA gym fought on the card. Kelsey Skillman lost a decision and Hector Lopez scored a TKO win.

Brenda Enriquez, a former SteelFist amateur champ who fights pro MMA with Combate Americas is now 1-1 as a pro after losing a decision to Vanessa Rico Fernandez last weekend at Combate 19 in San Antonio, Texas.

And amateur Aubree Thompson, who also won a SteelFist title when she lived in the Top of Utah, stopped Irene White in round one last weekend in Portland, Ore.

AMATEUR BOXING IN SLC

The U.S. Boxing nationals amateur boxing championships and junior open is this week in Salt Lake City. Some local amateurs have competed, including Mateo Holt of Louie's gym, and James Cox and Dylan Bahena, of LightsOut gym..