Review of Jackson’s MMA Series Proteges II
This past Saturday (Dec. 12) at the Crowne Plaza Jackson’s MMA Series II took Place. For the 1st time I thought I would take a look back at the nights action and write a little more on how I felt the fighters performed and what they showed.. Who improved, who impressed?
Despite a tendency to get himself in a brawl Josh Mroales showed a solid overall game landing on the feet enough to bust open the nose of Phillip Perez, scored good take-downs and showed top control. Phillip Perez like all the members of Team Perez showed a ton of toughness with his nose pouring blood he did survive two late armbar attempts.
Green an wide eyed in his first cage fight, it was definitely a learning experience for Andrew Herrera, who withstood the fast balls that Jesus Escobedo throw, to get a unanimous decision win. Herrera early showed his inexperience throwing single kicks and leaving himself pressed against the cage an venerable to big counters. Landing a few nice kicks and then winning the grappling it was a nice debut for Andrew Herrera.
Ray Vaisa followed up his intense stair down from the weigh-ins, by coming out like a ball of fire throwing and slipping on high kicks. From there the bout became a grappling match right up Daniel Nieto’s alley. In the first round the grappling exchanges where fluid and competitive. Varisa from from the back threw a knee while Nieto was trying to get up that landed to the spine and was not thrown, I believe maliciously but should have Been called a foul. Varisa who at the weigh-in came in heavy showe the effects in the 2nd breathing heavily. Showing a great growth in fight IQ, Nieto jumped right to putting the pressure on and getting this fight back to the ground. Varisa did burst with a scramble but that was his last gasp as the submission came quick once he got to the top and had to tap.
Impressive– Salim Nance is a chizzled athlete, who came out the gates showed speed power, fast switch reflexes and power; decimating a very sound tough Hunter Tucker in one round, with big punches and heavy pressure.
Impressive– Talking about getting better every-time out Henry Barahona showed a huge growth in his kicking game and event timed a beautiful knee in the first that broke Nate Armstrong’s nose as he was attempting a take-down. The broken nose would hamper his breathing throughout the bout. Also got to commend Barahona on his transition using the punches to stun, then wrestle to the take-down, back to the striking to set up the submission.
Impressive-For her first time in the cage I was blown away by the skills of Jesonna Ollis snapping the jab, keeping string range, varying her attack with kicks, ending with her combinations with kicks; and controlling the clinch. This performance looked to one of a much more seasson fight, then one making her amateur debut.
Impressive– In the co-main event we had good and bad from both fighters. Jace Redoblado showed a fast first punch and even scored a nice sweep, but the more experienced Elias Proce showed heart and chin after eating a huge punch to start the fight off. Proce also demonstrated composure after getting swept not taking damage and reversing the position. Proche after being rocked in the 1st, took the bout to the ground in the 2nd and again prove to be duel lethal threat once one top .
In the main event after a scramble full 1st round Adam Vigli was able to out wrestle wear down and hold top control against Micheal Asmar.
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