For once, Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett had nothing to say. Bennett darted out of the Vicksburg Convention Center cage after submitting to bitter rival Victor Valenzuela 2 minutes, 23 seconds into the first round in Saturday night's mixed martial arts main event that was televised live by Showtime.
Valenzuela, from Covina, Calif., was ecstatic while Bennett was left to sulk.
“This was awesome. The biggest fight of my life,” Valenzuela said of his submission of Bennett that took two years in the making. The pair had fought to a controversial draw in 2005 in California.
“He (Bennett) hit me with some hard shots early, but I kept my composure. He basically gassed himself out,” Valenzuela said.
When Valenzuela withstood Bennett's initial flurry in the first minute, he was able to back up his bitter rival. He then dropped him near the three-minute mark with a two-punch combination that sent Bennett to his knees.
“I hit him with a hard right and then followed with a left hook. When he dropped to his knees, I knew I had him, because I wasn't going to let him up,” Valenzuela said.
Valenzuela's win highlighted a 10-card fight which saw five Mississippi-based amateur bouts followed by five of Showtime's Elite XC Challenger Series bouts.
Heavyweight Jon Murphy had the most impressive outing of the night, knocking out Dave Huckaba 19 seconds into the second round. He was named the fighter of the card by Showtime and Elite XC officials.
“This was a huge win for me,” Murphy said in raising his pro record to 4-2. “I hit him with a straight overhead right.”
Huckaba laid unconscious for about 45 seconds before coming to. He left the cage on his own power.
Delta State University graduate Dr. Seth Kleinbeck knocked out seasoned pro Jaime Jara with one second left in the second round.
The bout was fairly tentative for the first round and then again into the second. The sold-out VCC crowd began booing the lack of action.
Things changed when Kleinbeck, who earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas, dropped Lara with a two-punch combination ate in the round.
“I've gotten into trouble by not being patient enough,” said Kleinbeck, who worked construction for five years in Cleveland to help pay to get his bachelors degree at DSU. “The left hook startled him and then I caught him with a right. I guess you could say I'm a real Fighting Okra.”
