Ultimate Warrior Challenge: Invasion - Event Report

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Ultimate Warrior Challenge: Invasion - Event Report

Event Title: Ultimate Warrior Challenge: Invasion
Event Date: 26 April 2008
Event Venue: George Mason University's Patriot Center
Event Location: Fairfax

Date submitted: 29 April 2008

Submitted by: Keith Mills

Ultimate Warrior Challenge (UWC) delivered on their promise of a card packed with UFC vets, up-and-comers from teams trained by UFC vets, and standout regional fighters. This was especially impressive considering this was UWC’s third show ever and the highest profile show in the DC area.

In the main event UFC/TUF vets Pete Spratt and Jason von Flue had a fast-paced in rather one-sided slugfest that didn’t disappoint. In the archives are updates with both fighters talking about their preparations. Driven against the cage by Spratt’s initial onslaught of punches Von Flue started shooting in on Spratt’s legs for takedowns but never quite finished any, instead either having Spratt sprawl away or unleashing punches and simply standing up. The fifth time Von Flue dove in Spratt used a knee that KO’d Von Flue, ending the fight and going a long way towards earning a shot at a larger show.

In the co-main event UFC vet/TUF coach Zach Light of Team Quinton "Rampage" Jackson tried to out-strike Thomas Schulte of Fit NHB while Schulte stood briefly with Light before taking him to the ground. Schulte after escaping a guillotine choke attempt by Light went for an armbar, transitioned to a triangle choke attempt, and back to armbar for the win in one of the fastest fights of the night.

UFC vet Aaron Riley earned a hard-fought decision victory in his first fight since leaving American Top Team to settle down in Virginia and train with One Spirit. His opponent Thiago Minu did a great job of using up-kicks every time Riley backed out of guard and had Riley rocked with a kick and knee combination in the first but especially in the second and third rounds Riley never seemed in great danger as he scored from short punches from guard and more powerful strikes as he stood over Minu. For fans of positioning and constant but small advantages this was possibly the fight of the night but for the fans of quick and decisive knockouts it was one of the most drawn out.

If there was a disappointing fight it would have to be perennial gatekeeper Carlo Prater's truly drawn out decision over Marcelo Brito. Prater seemed content to stay in guard to punch but Brito was too skilled at jiu-jitsu to take much damage, the result was fifteen minutes of mostly guard work. By the third round Prater twice stopped and looked over at his corner as if unsure how to solve the riddle of Brito’s defense while Brito couldn’t switch to offense long enough to seriously threaten Prater. Prater is a well-respected fighter and he didn’t ride the clock for a points victory but this wasn’t a fight to launch him back into the scouting circles.

Mike Easton of Team Lloyd Irvin impressed many with his arguably upset win over Fit NHB’s Gerald Lovato. Lovato started the fight scoring more and even as Easton started to counter punch and the fight became more even Lovato seemed to have the edge however it took just one punch from the powerful Easton to KO Lovato and earn the roar of approval from the local fans.

The first time Fit NHB’s Marcus Foran took Ground Control’s Tenyah Dixon to the ground he seemed to have trouble with the much taller Baltimore fighter. In the archives is an update with John Rollo talking about Tenyeh and Thomas Schulte talking about Foran and both were right on the money. Although briefly on his back the first time they went to the ground Marcus had little trouble standing back up and taking Tenyeh down again in the first and quickly in the second round where the Marcus, also from Maryland but now living in New Mexico, controlled the positions and worked for submissions and strikes. Tenyeh was out-muscled basically as Foran secured and armbar in the second for the win.

Mike Corey of Team Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski outright dominated Richmond, Virginia’s Dwayne Shelton in impressive fashion. Shelton took Corey down in the first round but couldn’t stop Corey from scoring repeatedly with strikes from inside Shelton’s guard. IN the second round Corey clinched and used an outside leg trip to take Shelton down, finishing the fight mounted and raining down punches until the referee stopped the fight just 0:33 into the second round.

Besides Riley as mentioned earlier One Spirit also fielded Reshad Woods who took on Lloyd Irvin’s Ron Stallings. After taking an elbow to the forehead that opened a cut Stallings went for a threatening-looking armbar but Reshad picked him up and slammed his way out, stunning the Maryland fighter. With the referee not yet halting the action Woods leapt in for a strong punch to the temple that finished Stallings in breath-taking fashion.

Also involving One Spirit in is pro debut Josh Felman turned around a striking war against One Spirit’s Johnny Curtis to win by yet another KO this night.

Overall the show was impressive considering the short history of UWC, a clear step above their previous Florida shows and roughly on par with the shows HDNet are airing. From a team perspective Fit NHB and One Spirit both went 2-1 while Hybrid Academy and Lloyd Irvin team both earned closer scrutiny in the season to come. As of this writing there are no concrete plans on when the show will air on local cable but definitely keep an eye out for their next show in September.

Source: adcombat.com