Steveson Starches Hein in 24 Seconds as APFC Crowns 2 New Champions
The hype around Gable Steveson has been huge — and maybe still not big enough.
It took just 24 seconds for Steveson to assess Kevin Hein and flatten him with an overhand left. A scary-quick, one-punch knockout. Steveson is so freakishly athletic he landed the overhand and immediately changed levels for a takedown, adding even more impact to Hein’s fall.
In just three months as a professional fighter, Gable Steveson has stacked three first-round knockouts in a combined 2:17 of fight time — two in MMA and one in Dirty Boxing.
The transition to fighting has gone even better than anyone could’ve planned. The question now: How many more fights does Steveson take outside the octagon?
The night’s two title fights brought their own excitement, with neither making it past the third round.
Two striking exchanges in and Mark Kolker was already shooting on Jailn Fuller. Fuller clipped him with a right hand coming in, slipped his left arm under the neck, and locked in a ninja choke to secure the belt. “The Gentleman” from Nobody’s Villain is your new undisputed APFC Welterweight champion.
It was a brave, bold move to answer the call — but sometimes bravery can only go so far. Jess Martinez went from featherweight undercard fighter to challenging James Pleasant for the vacant APFC lightweight title. Martinez started strong, taking Pleasant down and taking the back. But in round two, the natural lightweight’s power began wearing him down. By round three, Pleasant stuffed a tired takedown attempt, fed a few elbows, took the back, and locked in the rear-naked choke to become the new undisputed APFC lightweight champion.
Both Fuller and Pleasant are eyeing the UFC after their championship wins.
A rough year for Reese Watkins ended on a high note as he snapped his two-fight skid in viral fashion — collecting the fifth knockout of his career with a second-round right high kick that put Dhalen Wilson out cold.
Logan Paxton was calling for a title shot or the UFC after his win at APFC 18. After waxing RJ Hoyt in 33 seconds with the very first right hand he threw, it’s UFC or bust following his ninth straight win.
Three takedowns in round one set the tone as Mark Hussey overcame a cut in the second to grind on Derek Funier and earn a unanimous decision in a very Anthony Hernandez–style performance.
Kenia Martinez survived an early barrage of right hands from Karla East, landed a hip toss, and pounded her way to a finish.
Kylie O’Hearn made it four straight wins — and back-to-back rear-naked choke finishes — by submitting Melissa Zeman in the first round.
Andrew Alvara brought the crowd to their feet in his pro debut. After a mostly strategic feeling-out round with both men chopping at the legs, Alvara uncorked a huge overhand left that dropped Cruz, and hammerfists sealed the TKO.
Internet personality Wing-C, after a dramatically long entrance, stunned Austin Haverkamp with an overhand right. But as Malcom Schuyler chased more highlight-reel offense, he dipped into a head kick. Haverkamp jumped on the neck and forced the tap with a guillotine.
A glancing left hand from Klinton Whitmire put O’Ryin Guhrke on his back, and ground-and-pound finished the destruction.
One big overhand right from Gabe Bencomo was all it took. “The Barber” sat Isaiah Zamora down and the ref stepped in.
Eric Arteaga pressured Elijah Lucero early, hunting takedowns. Lucero stayed mobile, counterstriking. In the final minute of round one, Lucero hit a body-lock takedown and, from guard, elbowed Arteaga until he couldn’t stand at the bell.
After three bloody rounds, Frankie Baca and Juan Ytuarte left it all in the cage. Baca’s wrestling controlled early, but Ytuarte surged back, hunting a rear-naked choke late in round two. His damage and submission attempts in round three earned him the deciding frame.
Mike Mikesell found himself on his back early after Vince Vega caught his high kick. As Vega opened up with ground-and-pound, Mikesell snatched an armbar for the under-a-minute finish.
Alex Ortiz quickly took down Mark McDill and took the back, unleashing a tornado of strikes from back mount that forced a first-round stoppage.
Kris Otero-Talent scored a third-round club-and-sub, blasting Robert Mendoza with heavy knees before sinking in a rear-naked choke as they hit the mat.
Ezekiel Romero used a sharp jab-cross, stabbing teep, and even a couple of foot slaps to out-strike Isiah Solaita in a back-and-forth technical battle.
In the first amateur contest of the night, Robert Valenzuela landed big hooks that had Jacob Snoeyink on skates in round one. Snoeyink rallied, finding his wrestling in round two and opening a cut over Valenzuela’s right eye that led to a doctor stoppage.
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