411's CFFC 5: Two Worlds, One Cage Report 06.23.07

Posted by Damian Sarcuni on 06.23.2007

Full report of all fights including Kimbo VS Mercer!

Al Buck VS Brian Demuro
Lightweight (160)

Round 1

Brian with a big left, misses. Low kick by Brian, BIG head kick landed by Al. Brian shoots but Al sprawls into a clinch. Brian with knees and combos, they seperate. They circle. Al lands a nice combo and pushes against the cage, hip tosses Brian to the ground. Brian working for the triangle but Al is too big, reigns down gnp and slams Brian into the corner. Holding in the corner, ref stands it. Al with a big left hook, connects into the clinch. Brian working some good knees against the cage, Al catches a guillotine and drops down. Brian pops his head out. Brian landing elbows now, end of round 1.

Round 2

Al catches Brian with a low click, Brian pushes to the cage. Groin shot and they restart. Al with a hard left hook. Brian counters and Al answers with another hook. They circle. Brian fakes a hook, BIG hook by Al lands and Brian stumbles, Al hits him in the back again and into the clinch against the cage. Al looks for the judo throw, knee and hook does nothing. Inside leg sweep and Al is on top, Brian sinks the triangle, its deep but Al counters with a slam. Al gets out, Brian counters into the arm bar but Al lands big shots. Al knees the kidneys as round 2 ends.

Round 3

They circle again, Al throws a few shots to the chest. He's pushing that left straight, pushes into a body lock against the cage. Brian has his leg hooked and Al works footstomps to try and get him down. Ref breaks it after a minute. Al pushing forward, stalking Brian with combos to the body. Left hook by Al lands, big high kick hits and he slips. Brian is all over Al, reigning down punches until Buck can tie him up into guard. Brian reigns down rights in the corner as the final bell sounds.

Decison:
29-28
29-28
30-27

Unanimous Decision - Al Buck


Doug Gordon VS Lyman Good
Welterweight (175)

Round 1

They circle into a thai clinch, Lyman pushing Gordon against the cage. They trade knees. Clinched up against the cage until Doug brings it to the ground and lays in big shots. Doug goes for the guillotine and brings Lyman up but he counters with some shots and they are level, still clinched. Lyman scoops up Gordon again but can't get him down. Lyman with a quick knee at the end.

Round 2

They touch gloves, low kicks by Doug, sweep by Lyman into Doug's guard. After a few minutes Lyman works up to a vertical bage and lands down blows but eventually Dough catches his hands and brings him back into his guard. Lyman back up to a vertical base and lands down a shot but the bell sounds. Not much action this round.

Round 3

They touch and trade lightly until Lymon charges it into the cage and puts Doug on his back. Doug has Lymon in guard. Lymon works for side, he has it up against the cage but not fully. Doug tries to sit up, Lymon pushes him down. Lymon has side and posts up, Doug sits up and Lymon grabs the head immediately. Standing guillotine but Doug lands knees into a body clinch. Round ends in the center.

Decision:
30-27
29-27
29-28

Unanimous decision - Lyman Good


Nick Cantone VS John Howard
Middleweight (185)

Nick enters in to "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones. John Howard enters in with raggae playing. Go figure.

Round 1

They touch high. Nick with a right cross, John with a body counter. Nick shoots against the cage, they trade light knees and blows. They pummel a bit, both go down but Nick is solidly on top raining down blows, then switches to side control. They struggle but Nick winds up postured on his knees, striking occassionally and blocking kicks. They stand and grabble, Howard tries a guillotine but its blocked, clinched against the cage now. Cantone switches and takes Howard down. Trying to strike in the cage center but he just postures again. Crowd boos round 1.

Round 2

Leg kick by John but Nick catches it and takes him down. Nick postured on his knees again, hammer fist lands. Cantone moving around for side control, trying to push Howard's legs aside. Howard locks his legs around Cantone but Nick twists out. They seem to be at a stand still. Nick back up, but he's reluctant to strike. He moves to side but postures up to strike and howard lands an up kick to the face sending him away. Nick gets right back into guard John's guard though. John attempts the armbard but Nick his out and into guard again. He tries to throw hammerfists but John keeps him close until the bell.

Round 3

Hooks by Howard pressing Nick into the cage. Nick with underhooks takes John down into knee-on-the-belly position. Nick lands a few strikes but John holds his hands. John is resting his foot on Nick's throat for a bit, crowd audibly boos. A few missed strikes by Cantone and Howard gets back up, they move into a clinch. Knee lands close to the groin and they seperate. Nick shoots and John catches it, they are on their knees into a guillotine by John. He's out, back up into clinch, Nick pushes up against the cage. They are down again and Nick tries to land some hard strikes sensing the end. He finally pushes John's legs aside, gets side control and near mount, sending down hard blows as the round ends.

Decision:
30-27
29-28
29-28

Unanimous decision - Nick Cantone


We are live on PPV. Video package for Kimbo/Mercer, the crowd is wincing with each of the punches in Mercer's old fights. Tank Abbott is here and the crowd gives him an ovation, looks like he's making his way- OH MY GOD a fight just broke out in the stands, the crowd is going wild as security rushes in. It's impossible to hear the commentators. Hilarious.

Jim Miller VS Anthony Morrison
Lightweight (155)

Morrison enters with a very Quinton Rampage Jackson style chain around his neck. Miller enters to "Bad Moon Rising" with Renzo Gracie in his corner. Both men look extremely pumped.

Round 1

They touch and feel out. Left by Jim misses and Anthony takes him down, PICKS HIM UP, carries him to the end of the cage and slams Miller down. Miller works guard and kicks Anthony away but Morrison is back in fast. Morrison spins and Miller catches a heel hook. Morrison is out and Miller is on the feet but Morrison brings it down again, Miller gets a crucifix position. Both men rolling through the armbar, Morrison stands. Miller busy from the bottom working a triangle and upkicks but Morrison is nowhere close. Morrison back into guard now, works for the omaplata but loses it. Miller now in Morrison's guard, working to pass. Morrison hugs him close, going for Miller's right arm. He doesn't get it and the referee stands it. Morrison in with a fast jab, pushes Miller against the cage and looks for the the throw. He gets his back but Miller kicks at the legs and plays with Morrison's balance. Morrison finds side control briefly but winds up back into Miller's guard. Miller catches a triangle choke, sinks it deep. Morrison taps. Jim Miller wins by triangle choke submission in Round 1.

That was fast paced to say the least. I had trouble keeping up with the speed of these two lightweights. Very impressive transitions from both men. Crowd is chanting for another fight in the crowd. Their throwing gang symbols out here in Jersey...bunch of savages in this town. We can't hear post-fight interview at all. It's like the microphones are turned off completely. There's yet another fight in the crowd. Event staff has their hands full. Does this happen at all live MMA events?


Mike Varner (c) VS Nick Serra
CFFC Welterweight Championship (170)

Nick Serra is of course known for being the brother of UFC Welterweight champion Matt Serra. He comes out wearing a monkey mask and throwing bana peels which gets a mixed reaction from the crowd. He has Luke Cummo in his corner. Varner poses on the stage, but Nick looks like he's all business in the cage. Mixed reaction for Serra and Varner as well, but Varner seems to get the louder boos.

Round 1

Nick comes out fast but they are feeling out. Nick shoots, they clinch and grapple into the cage. Varner with light strikes and knees. Nick taking control, Mike goes for a slam but Nick reverses into mount. He's passing to side control. He's got it, but Varner holds him close and Nick moves to half guard. He posts up and Mike stands, pushing Serra against the cage. Light strikes from both, this has been a battle of position so far. Referee breaks it into the middle. Mike with a quick combo pushes into the cage but Nick reverses it again. Serra looks for a throw but gets nothing, more light strikes from both. They seperate. Nick ducks a hard left from Mike and shoots but they are locked up again, Nick pushes Mike back into the cage. Knees from Varner now, foot stomps by Nick and the crowd boos until the ref breaks it up. Nick telegraphing a straight, Mike counters with a HUGE combo but Nick clinches into the cage again. The crowd hates it. Varner goes for a choke and misses with a knee. Bell rings, Varner is loving the boos.

Round 2

Varner with a jab to start, Nick with a combo but he doesn't have much power. Mike charges into a hook from Serra but it only hits his chest, pushes into the cage again and Nick reverses. Nick with a single leg brings Varner down into half guard. Nick is tied up and fights for positioning but he can't get much. They are tied up and the crowd is furious. Nick breaks free and looks to secure an arm. Nick posts up, Varner tries to kick him away, Nick lands solid side control and passes to mount. He transitions to an armbar, its extended and Mike taps. Nick Serra wins via armbar submission in round 2.

Serra didn't seem to have much striking, but eventually he found his positioning. His armbar was textbook perfect. Beautiful match. Nick gives a post fight interview with the monkey mask on and no one can hear him. Crowd boos, Nick says something along the lines of "Monkeys love cages". This whole Monkey schtick isn't going over at all. Varner says Nick's BJJ is world class and he's going to improve on the ground. He says he respects Nick but the crowd boos extra loud, Mike swears to God and that gets applause.


Dante Rivera VS Alexis Aquino
Middleweight (185)

In all fairness, I should mention that I took some BJJ classes taught by Carmine Zocchi, a member of Alexis Aquino's Rhino Fight Team. He isn't here tonight though.

Round 1

They come out swinging, Aquino takes control against the cage and works foot stomps, Dante reverses and lands BIG knees to the midsection when Aquino drops for a takedown. They seperate but but Dante is all over the stand up. Alexis holds Dante's head, they seperate. Alexis swings wild, high kick by Dante hits. Alexis charges with lefts into the cage, looking for the takedown. Rivera with more foot stomps. He shoves Aquino into the cage but Alex clinches up. Both looking for a takedown as Alexis charges across the cage. They seperate, Dante pushing the action and swinging big. Uppercut lands, Dante pressing forward but a few hits by Alexis tag. Alexis in control, more strikes by both, Dante eats a big right but keeps coming. They push into the cage with Alexis in control. Body shot hits, knee by Dante hits. They seperate, Dante with a leg kick and they exchange. Light exchanges now. Hooks and big uppercuts by Dante all hit, they trade big in the cage corner. Alexis hits a combo as the bell sounds.

Round 2

High kick by Aquino barely misses. They exchange heavy as Dante pushes into the cage. Dante ground and pounding now. He stands and goes for the big stomp, Alexis catches the leg and locks it up. They are in a heel hook exchange now, both struggling. Alexis seems to have his secured while Dante is slipping. He resecures and Alexis taps. RIOT IN THE CAGE!! Renzo Gracie came in and it looks like he touched someone lightly and then everyone just erupted. It's total chaos, but Dante Rivera wins by heel hook submission in round 2.

Things have calmed down, quick interview with Dante talks about respect and both teams are rushed from the cage. Event staff is covering them like police on a pop star. Video with Mercer, crowd pops huge when he says he won't get KO'd but will KO Kimbo.


Gregor Gracie VS Josh Lydell
Welterweight Fight (170)

Gregor is Renzo Gracie's cousin I believe, and this is his MMA debut. Josh's entrance is standard but Gregor has some weird techno music. The crowd cheers for Gregor mostly because they recognize his outfit. Gi = Gracie. Wow, Gregor looks stoned...or like he got his butt kicked in the back.

Round 1

Josh with a straight, big right by Gracie hits but Josh counters with a combo. He takes Gregor to the ground, Gregor attempts a heel hook but Josh slips out. They wrestle into the cage and Gregor gets top position, ground and pounding. Gregor dives in and gets side control, looking for mount. He gets it, BIG elbows land and Gregor turns, Gregor has Josh's back. Lots of ground and pound and Gracie has the hooks in, he sinks the choke when Josh tries to get up. Josh taps. Gregor Gracie wins by rear naked choke submission in round 1.

Renzo lifts up Gregor into the air to celebrate, he KISSES Josh and hugs his team. Renzo says he's proud of Gregor and he feels this was the best fight of the night so far, he congratulates both men.


Deividas Taurosevicius (c) VS Kevin Roddy
NABC Lightweight Title Bout (155)

This is another Team Renzo VS Team Rhino match...uh oh. Meanwhile, some big dude with dyed up blonde hair is taking pics and the crowd is roaring. Nobody in the press section knows who the hell he is. This is the weirdest card ever. Deividas is a big favorite to win here.

Round 1

They touch high, Kevin moving fast trying lots of kicks and spinning fits. DT in straight, punches miss but he gets a big takedown in the cage corner. DT with side control while Kevin works the cage for positioning. Kevin is holding DT close and seriously blocking mount with damn near his whole body. He transitions an armbar. DT gets out but two big upkicks by Kevin land. DT back into mount, fights for positioning and postures up. DT gets side control but he seems a bit rocked. Kevin gets a weird position on DT's head, transitions and DT takes Kevin's back. Kevin scoots out of the rear naked choke and DT is back up kicking his legs. Upkick by Kevin hits. He tries to stand but DT tackles and gets half guard. Kevin moves to full guard. Big punch by DT lands but Kevin is looking for an armbar. DT gets a guillotine choke and sinks down. Kevin fighting for position, he slips his arm in and pops out. DT IMMEDIATELY transitions into an armbar so fast most of the crowd didn't see it but Kevin tapped. Deividas Taurosevicius wins by armbar submission in round 1.


Josh Rhodes (c) VS Noah Inhoffer
CFFC Light Heavyweight Title Bout (205)

Fans of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter will remember Noah as the guy who quit because his girlfriend called him and he thought there might be trouble at home. Noah enters and gets the crowd clapping/singing along with Johnny Cash. Crowd applaudes Josh who we've learned is the hometown fan favorite.

Round 1

Noah pushes Josh forward and works light hooks and knees. Crowd boos almost immediately, Josh shrugs to the ref. He pushes to get Noah off, lands a big uppercut but Noah shoots and gets top. Noah take's Josh's back, looks like he had a choke but let it go. Two big knees from Noah find their mark. Josh pushes off and lands a big shot to the chin, Josh fights him back to the cage and lands another knee. Josh hits a good right and follows up with a big combo. Noah returns it and they slug back and forth until a clinch in the middle. Josh pushes Noah off, both men swing for the fences until Noah goes for the takedown. Josh kicks Noah off and gets up but Noah is right back in looking for the throw. More strikes from Josh land, Noah shoots quick when they seperate but Josh sprawls. Both back up and swinging big in the clinch. BIG knee by Noah and he follows up with another combo and more knees until Josh clinches. They sperate and continue to swing against the cage. Noah takes a beating and Josh sprawls. They are back up and clinched together. Josh pushes Noah as they seperate. AMAZING round.

Round 2

They feel out. Noah comes in big but Josh catches him and gets side control, then mount. Big ground and pount from Josh, Noah slips out and runs but Josh is all over him and gets his back. Noah stands up but Josh is still on him, slams him back down. A few quick blows, the ref has seen enough. Josh Rhodes wins by TKO stoppage in round 2.

This was amazing and incredibly competitive. It could have gone either way but in the end Josh's toughness was what won out. Very impressive fight, several in the crowd are on their feet applauding.


Kimbo Slice VS Ray Mercer
Heavyweight Exhibition

Crowd chants for Kimbo. Mercer comes out to "Momma Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J. Mixed cheers and boos for Mercer but most people want to see Kimbo. Kimbo comes out to "This Is Why I'm Hot", clearly showing Melvin Guillard's cultural influence. Everyone is on their feet. Cheers drown out boos when Mercer is announced, but the crowd is erupting for Kimbo. They only announce him as "Kimbo" without the Slice. What happened? They jaw a bit during the standoff, crowd is on fire.

Round 1

Kimbo charges in, goes right for a takedown. Mercer grabs the cage but he goes down. Mercer up, they fight in the clinch. Big knees by Kimbo land. Mercer strikes but Kimbo answers with a combo and gets a double leg. Kimbo fighting, gets Mercer in to a choke. Mercer taps. Kimbo Slice wins by guillotine choke submission in round 1.

Crowd chants for Kimbo, it really looks like Mercer didn't train properly for this at all. Kimbo seems to need work himself but the important thing is he got rid of his pride and went with what worked. Hardly a technical showcase, but hell, it was only an exhibition. Kimbo sits on the cage, raising his arms in victory. Tank Abbott is up now, approaching the ring. He congratulates Kimbo. Tank looks like he's calling Kimbo out, points at him but they're being respectful. That's surprising. Kimbo calls out to the crowd, says he was training for MMA. He calls Tank out, says they have to talk and make the fight happen. They are starting to get aggressive, the crowd loves it and calls for Tank to jump the cage. Tank looks like he's going to do it. CFFC suits say the fight will happen.

That's it for us folks. We'll have pictures of all the action tomorrow and more updates on any post fight information. Thanks for reading, we hope you enjoyed our coverage.