The organization, promoted by former boxing referee Richard Steele, headlined the bout with former UFC contender Sean Salmon and Ultimate Fighter 4 veteran Rich Clementi with Salmon competing for the light heavyweight title against IFL veteran and perennial journeyman Travis Wiuff in the nights main event.
The main event started off with a bang with both Salmon and Wiuff landing one haymaker punch against their opponent. Wiuff, who had a height advantage over Salmon, kept his opponent at bay as the two sized each other up.
Salmon managed to stay outside of Wiuff’s range ducking in, landing a blow, then quickly ducking out. Salmon followed it up with a devastating blow and rushed in for a small flurry of punches. Salmon continued his domination and attempted to take down his opponent, hooking his legs, raising him up, and dropping him to the mat.
As soon as Salmon raised Wiuff into the air, Wiuff, almost instantaneously hooked his arm under Salmon’s throat and as he was being dropped to the mat, secured a strong guillotine choke.
“He’s a good wrestler and right as he’s taking me down, I got the guillotine locked in tight,” Wiuff said.
Seconds later Salmon, who had dominated the entire fight, tapped out 3:37 into the first round of the contest. Wiuff had claimed the organization’s light heavyweight championship.
The loss for Salmon perpetuates what has been a disappointing year for the veteran of four organizations in five fights, dropping three of those contests including one in January to UFC light heavyweight contender Rashad Evans.
The win for Wiuff puts an end to what has been a tumultuous year, which began with a loss in January at Pride 33: The Second Coming, witnessing the veteran going three for five. Wiuff conceded that this victory does not catapult him any further than where he was before the contest. “I still need to improve,” Wiuff said. “I probably need a better camp.” Wiuff currently trains with Eliter Performance in Rochester, Minnesota.
In the nights co-main event, Zach George made quick work of Chris Mickle by delivering a devastating knockout 2:28 into the first round. Mickle, who had attempted to wrestle with George for a majority of the contests short duration, was caught off guard when the match went to the feet. George then quickly rushed in, and landed a perfectly executed left hook across Mickle’s chin that sent him instantly to the mat in an upright sitting position. George recognized the victory instantaneously but, as referee Steve Mazzagatti did not quickly rush in, he delivered two more punches to his downed opponent punctuating his victory. George took home the organization’s lightweight championship with the victory.
In the preliminary bout, Rich Clementi, faced Kyle Gibbons in what proved to be a remarkably one-sided bout with Clementi securing a quick victory over the inexperienced Gibbons whose professional record dates back to March of this year.
Clementi began the match by taking Gibbons to the mat, passing his guard and attempting to ground-and-pound his mounted opponent. When Gibbons was unable to buck Clementi off or wall-walk out of his precarious situation, he attempted to give Clementi his back in an attempt to stop the ground-and-pound assault, which Clementi instantly seized as an opportunity to secure a rear-naked choke. Gibbons submitted instantly 2:08 into the first round.
After this second go-around, the IFO is gearing up for a perpetual fight schedule, preparing to come on Sept. 21 back to Las Vegas.
Tickets to the events start at $30s but can be purchased at a discounted student rate through the Steele Cage website.
