King of the Cage did, indeed, serve as a forum to announce the Arrival of Bobby Green (13-3) who knocked out Ricky Legere Jr. (10-3) in the first round to capture the promotion's junior welterweight title, upping his belt count to 3 in the process. But he wasn't the only Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu fighter to prevail in the evening. Both Aaron Arana (4-1) and Reuben Duran (5-2-1) finished their respective opponents to give the fight team a perfect 3-0 record on the night.
Bobby Green not only made a statement to the entire 160 pound division in King of the Cage, but his performance showed off an ever sharpening skillset in all areas. After establishing his jab early, some explosive follow-up strikes invited a takedown attempt from Legere which was immediately stuffed. Persistence would pay off though and eventually the “The IE Bad Boy” would put the Green on his back and begin to threaten submissions. They were all either reversed or scrambled out of by Green who later managed a pair of takedowns, himself.
Legere, too, was able to get back on his feet but his own improved striking was no threat to Green who executed his version of a left hook, right cross counter that put Legere's lights out momentarily. The man they call “King” would celebrate too early, though, and Herb Dean did not step in until after he re-engaged and began pounding on his dazed opponent.
Winning the KOTC championship may only be the beginning of a very bright future for a charismatic star in the making. His performances against Legere, Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett, and Sevak Magakian have been nothing short of explosive. Even against a wrestler, he was able to deftly scramble or reverse position and when it got back to the feet, he used the clinch to create distance with push-offs that allowed his hands to do the rest. Style and personality go a long way toward recognition and his repeated wish to become a known commodity in MMA seem a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The co-main event showcased a guy who has been around the block a few times. Arizona Combat Sports' Ryan Diaz (13-12) is known for his impressive submission game but he has recently added competent striking to his repertoire. Unfortunately, he ran into a prospect who is known for both wrestling and lightning fast hands and Diaz would feel the power that they produce when Reuben Duran knocked him out with just 3 seconds remaining in a fight that was dead even going into the third.
It was a back and forth affair with takedowns by each guy at a dead heat. Duran managed the more impacting ground and pound from the top which likely won him the first round. But Diaz answered with submission attempts from both the top and bottom, likely earning him the second. The third was a back and forth affair with much of it comprised of Duran trying to get back to his feet after a Diaz takedown. With final frame winding down, Duran finally scrambled to his feet as the 10 second hammer sounded. Almost as if a man possessed, Duran charged forward and landed a blazing fast combination that rolled Diaz's eyes back and sent him collapsing to the mat. If he is not already there, Duran is very close to earning a shot at Abel Cullum.
Popular local fighter Waachim Spiritwolf had an unfortunate, if perhaps earned outcome to his fight with Ismael Gonzalez. The two exchanged strikes to begin the fight but Gonzalez emerged the victor of that battle as he had Spiritwolf badly wobbled. He suffered a single leg takedown when he went for the kill, however and for the next 3 and a half minutes, it was all Spiritwolf he took his back and attempted a rear naked choke for most of the round. Unable to grab his neck due to perfect defense by his opponent, Spiritwolf began to strike and accidentally elbow the back of Gonzalez's head that earned a warning from referee Herb Dean. He would later inflict another illegal elbow, causing Gonzalez to see double. A doctor stopped the bout and by rule, it was deemed a technical draw.
Muay Thai champion Sasiprapa Malaipet was dominated as his only answer for Musa Tolliver's wrestling was a closed guard. Despite nearly taking Tolliver's leg off with a leg kick early in the first, he mounted little other offense the rest of the 15 minutes and lost a unanimous decision. Millennia MMA product Dave Rivas (10-8-1) got back to his winning ways, taking a unanimous decision from Team Oyama's Martin Bautista.
Full results for King of the Cage “Arrival” from San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland, California on February 25th are listed below:
Aaron Arana def. Chris Wolf via Submission (Armbar) @0:27 of Round 1
David Gomez def. George Sanchez via Unanimous Decision
Ron Keslar def. Jonathan Brandon via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) @0:34 of Round 2
Dave Rivas def. Martin Bautista via Unanimous Decision
Musa Tolliver def. Sasiprapa Malaipet via Unanimous Decision
Waachim Spiritwolf and Ismael Gonzalez Technical Draw (Illegal Elbows Prompt Doctor Stoppage)
Reuben Duran def. Ryan Diaz via KO (Punches) @4:57 of Round 3
Junior Welterweight Championship:
Bobby Green def. Rick Legere via TKO (Punches) @4:27 of Round 1
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