Legion of Combat VII was held on Saturday, June 11 at the Rage Cage Indoor Arena in Everett, Washington. There were a total of ten exciting amateur bouts on the card with a mix of MMA, boxing, kickboxing and pankration fights. There were also youth boxing and submission grappling events on the card. The promotion announced that the next Legion of Combat event will take place sometime in August.
Lleyton Toon Defeats Daylin Lian by TKO
Daylin Lian scored early in the fight when he landed a hard inside low kick. But Lleyton Toon displayed nice striking technique immediately after when he threw a head kick that was partially blocked. The fight then entered the clinch, with Toon grabbing Lian’s leg and completing the single leg takedown. Toon immediately took mount position and wasted no time getting busy as he rained down more than ten punches, alternating left and right hands. Lian tried to defend by bucking off Toon, but Toon did well to maintain the position as he continued to throw ground strikes, mixing in some hammerfists. With Lian turning in bottom position, Toon briefly transitioned to Lian’s back before then moving into side control. Lian defended by trying to block Toon’s punches with his elbows, but one particularly hard right hand connected as Toon stayed busy throwing punches from top position. Lian then turned belly down as Toon once more took Lian’s back. Toon briefly looked for a rear naked choke but Lian did well to defend the submission attempt. Toon continued his ground and pound attacking with right hands to the head. Toon then ended the fight after he transitioned back to mount and threw in excess of twenty punches, overwhelming his opponent and earning the first round TKO.
Ali Al-Hamdany Wins Pankration Bout Against Ron Covert Via Modified Rear Naked Choke
It’s not every day that you get to see a Pankration bout. Pankration is an ancient combat sport that mixes submission grappling with open-hand striking. The promotion announced the bout as an “old school kickboxing with grappling, Bas Rutten style with slaps.” Ok, sign me up to watch that. Gotta love you some Bas Rutten inspired fighting.
The combatants entered the cage without mma or boxing gloves, wearing only shin guards for protection. Ron Covert got the bout off to a fast start when he shot for an early double leg takedown which he was able to convert. Covert originally had side control before quickly transitioning to north-south position. But Ali Al-Hamady was very active from bottom and wasted little time in bridging and reversing the position. Al-Hamdany looked for a d’arce choke but Covert was able to defend and work his way back to standing. Covert then was able to secure another takedown but Al-Hamdany was able to quickly get into position and produced a quick tap by modified rear naked choke, getting the submission victory early in Round 1.
Twin Caldwell Defeats Josue Partida With Third Round TKO
Twin Caldwell brought a mean demeanor and aggressive style in this 170 lb boxing match against Josue Partida. Caldwell, not associated with a boxing gym and fighting independently, is a young fighter to keep an eye on, especially if he works hard and develops his boxing skills.
Partida got off to a good start attacking with body shots and then hooks upstairs. But Caldwell showed early glimpses of the power in his right hand. Caldwell got a little over-aggressive, as he was clipped by a Partida right hand as Caldwell entered the pocket. Caldwell appeared to be staggered a bit by the blow. Partida then followed with a solid 1-2. Another big right hand for Caldwell started to turn the tide in Round 1. Caldwell landed several more big right hands in the round. Late in the round, Caldwell dropped Partida, drawing a mandatory eight-count from the referee. At the close of the round, Caldwell landed another big shot, this time with the left.
Caldwell started Round 2 very aggressive and landed a couple hooks before positioning Partida up against the cage. Partida had some nice moments in the middle of the round, landing a few hooks and a solid right hand. Caldwell scored his second knockdown of the fight, this time with a left hook. After the re-start, Caldwell continued his aggressive pursuit, landing a sharp jab followed by a right hand that staggered Partida. Partida, while clearly compromised, showed grit at the end of the round as he scored with a nice right hook as Caldwell came forward and followed with a right to the body.
Caldwell found the finish early in Round 3. It started with one more big right hand for Caldwell, who then earned the TKO stoppage with five or six hard hooks with Partida up against the cage.
Dom McCoy Dominant in First Round Stoppage Against Carson Gaudette
Dom McCoy displayed some nice striking skills as the tall and rangy fighter took care of business early in this 165 lb kickboxing match against Carson Gaudette. McCoy started fast with a right head kick, which he followed with an inside leg kick. McCoy followed with a big right hand. Shortly thereafter, a barrage of strikes from McCoy sent Gaudette to the canvas. After the mandatory eight-count, McCoy scored with a nice front kick and then a big right hand for McCoy earned him the second knockdown of the round. On the re-start, a front push kick by McCoy resulting in the third knockdown of the round put an end to the bout. McCoy showed impressive kicking technique in this short bout, as well as good power in his hands. McCoy is another fighter from this card to keep an eye on in the future.
Anthony Miller Taps Jesus Duran with Rear Naked Choke Early in Round 2
Grappling was the path to victory for Anthony Miller in this 155 lb MMA bout against Jesus Duran. After the fighters traded strikes early in the round, Miller shot for the takedown and converted. Miller initially was in half-guard before Duran was able to secure full guard. Miller quickly attacked with five or six hammerfists. Duran looked for a triangle, but Miller had transitioned to side control. While Duran was unable to find the finish, he briefly frustrated Miller with a figure-four leg lock on Miller’s head. After Miller escaped the hold, he controlled from top position, with Duran again attempting a triangle choke but Miller was able to posture up and escape the submission attempt. Miller threw some short punches from side control before passing to mount. Miller then attacked with hammerfists. Duran attempted to shuck off Miller unsuccessfully before he decided to defend by going belly down. Miller looked for a rear naked choke, but Duran defended well and was able to reverse position as he turned into Miller’s guard. Duran finished the round strong as he attacked with a flurry of punches from top position, two or three of which appeared to land hard.
Duran found some success early in Round 2 when he landed a front kick and then two right hands on two separate occasions as Miller pressed forward. Duran and Miller traded kicks before Duran missed a big punch, allowing Miller to press forward and clinch, as he secured a bodylock and converted it into a takedown. Miller was initially in side control before quickly transitioning to Duran’s back. It took Miller little time to finish the fight via rear naked choke approximately 45 seconds into Round 2.
Zander Vance Takes Split Decision Over Kyle Sholar in Kickboxing Bout
Zander Vance opened Round 1 by charging forward and throwing caution to the wind as he must have thrown more than twenty punches in a wild flurry that had Kyle Sholar backed up and against the cage. Throughout the first round, Vance repeatedly charged forward throwing aggressively. Sholar did some of his best work in the round landing leg kicks. Sholar also caught Vance coming in with a strong left hand. Sholar also displayed some nice kicking technique late in the round when he attacked with a head kick and followed with a body kick.
Round 2 opened with Sholar pressing forward, but Vance was able to back him off with a flurry of punches. Vance also attacked early in the round with leg kicks. During Round 2, Sholar started to get the better of the striking exchanges. Midway through the round, Vance was wearing the damage, with a significant amount of blood flowing, as Sholar had cut Vance. Vance landed a hard right hand late in the round. But Round 2 was clearly Sholar’s round.
The fighters traded fairly evenly to start Round 3. Vance then landed a hard right hand that appeared to stagger Sholar briefly. Sholar did appear to recover quickly. Sholar, a southpaw, started having some success landing hard left hands this round, a couple of times catching Vance as he pressed forward. Vance had some success with leg kicks late in the round, and also scored with a big right hand. Round 3 was close, but Seattle Fights scored the final frame, and the bout for Sholar. But Vance, who had strong support from the crowd, got the split nod.
Dylan Reed Takes Decision Victory Over Tucker Copland
Dylan Reed opened Round 1 of this MMA bout against Tucker Copland with a hard body kick and then shot for a takedown, with the fight briefly going to the clinch before Reed switched to and converted a single leg takedown. From side control Reed transitioned to north-south position. After going back to side control, Reed landed a knee strike before Copland worked his way back to the feet. Reed then shot for another takedown but Copland did well to defend by sprawling. Reed landed a big right hand later in the round and followed with a few hooks, one of which appeared to land solidly. Copland landed a high kick that connected on Reed’s chest late in the round. Reed’s activity in the round appeared to take it’s toll as he seemed a bit gassed late in the round.
Reed scored early in Round 2 with a solid 1-2 combination. Reed then sought another takedown, with the fighters clinching briefly before separating. Copland score with a nice knee to the body that caused Reed to engage the clinch. Reed attempted another takedown but was stymied before the fighters broke the clinch. A nicely thrown head kick by Copland ended up landing on Reed’s back as Reed repeatedly would turn his back and spin during striking exchanges. Reed also held his hands low, below his waist for much of the fight. Copland scored late in the round with a nice left hand and then threw a flurry of hooks as he increased his offensive output. Copland landed a good right hook to Reed’s head late in the round.
Round 3 opened with Copland missing some strikes and Reed capitalized by putting a bodylock on Copland to secure a takedown. Copland was able to immediately get back to his feet. Reed then scored with a big right hand as he charged in and threw a series of wild punches. Reed did some good work in this round attacking with leg kicks. Copland closed the round with a solid right hand. At the end of the bout Reed was simply announced as the winner, without and judge’s scores provided by the ring announcer.
Clayton Smith Wins Unanimous Decision Against Jeremiah Coleman in 12b lb Boxing Match
Clayton Smith opened Round 1 against Jeremiah Coleman with two strong straight right hands. Coleman responded by attacking the body before throwing several punches upstairs. The exchanges in the opening frame were fairly even, but Coleman may have taken the round with a bit more output. In Round 2, Smith scored early with a nice uppercut. Smith went on the attack and scored with a couple night right hands but Coleman adjusted as he went low and attacked the body. But Smith answered by landing a big right hand over the top. Smith then increased his activity and scored with consistency to close the round. Round 3 opened with Coleman being a bit overaggressive and Smith took advantage with a strong counter right. Coleman stayed aggressive though and scored with an uppercut to the body as he pushed forward. A hard right hand to the body landed for Smith as he then pressed forward and put Coleman up against the cage where Smith landed four or five body shots. Smith then scored with a nice right hand upstairs but Coleman answered by landing a hard jab as Smith came forward. Coleman then scored with a counter right hand as Smith pushed forward. Coleman finished the round strong as he scored multiple times with his right hand.
Holden “Scarface” Wimberly Impresses In Second Round TKO Stoppage Against Ethan Drake
Round 1 started with a fast pace as Holden Wimberly attacked with hooks in this 165 lb kickboxing match against Ethan Drake. Wimberly then went to work attacking with kicks. Wimberley then pressed Drake up against the cage where he landed a big left hook and followed with a head kick that connected. Wimberly found more success when he scored with a clean right hand and then a hard body kick. Drake answered with a couple of body kicks, one left and one right. Wimberly then attacked with two body kicks of his own and finished with a nice teep kick. Wimberly then pressed froward landing a solid 1-2. He followed with a couple of outside low kicks. But Drake had perhaps his best moment in the fight when he landed a hard right body kick. Wimberly landed a nice four-punch combination late in the round and followed with a couple more punches as he had Drake up against the cage. Wimberly finished the frame by landing a high body kick and then attacking with two outside leg kicks.
Wimberly opened aggressively to start Round 2, landing a nice uppercut, then a 1-2, and finishing with several kicks that landed. Keeping up the pace, Wimberly then landed several hooks followed by a couple of hard body kicks. Early in the round it was clear that Drake was in trouble. A three punch combination for Wimberly staggered Drake, who almost fell from the blows. Wimberly then hammered away with five or six hooks that dropped Drake to the canvas. After the referee eight-count, Wimberly attacked with and landed a superman punch. Wimberly pressed forward, putting Drake up against the cage as he teed off with alternating hooks. A flurry of punches that appeared to tally over 15 shots once more put Drake on the mat and the referee called a stop to the bout after the second knockdown.
Josh Adams Wins Heavyweight Title in Main Event Bout with Amir Nurideen
Amir Nurideen shot for a takedown early in Round 1 against Josh Adams after eating a leg kick. After briefly going into the clinch up against the cage, Nurideen switched to a single leg and converted the takedown. Adams, however, who had a significant size advantage in this bout was able to quickly reverse the position. Adams looked for a guillotine but Nurideen scrambled well to take top position. From side control Nurideen then stepped over into mount and attacked with punches. The reversals continued though with Adams taking top position. From side control Adams attacked with a couple of knees. In the last ten seconds of the opening frame, Adams brought some heavy punches. After the bell rang, Nurideen was wearing the damage as he was a bit shaky getting back to his feet.
Early in Round 2 Adams scored with a couple of punches and then landed an early takedown but Nurideen was able to quickly work his way back to standing. Nurideen was able to land a takedown of his own and controlled Adams for a decent portion of the round. However, once Adams was able to regain top position he utilized some brutal ground and pound to dominate the remainder of the fight and take the TKO victory.
