· Elite Championship Cage Fighting 16 Recap, Results, & Photos

· Article author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Posted on 05/08 at 10:11 PM

Saturday evening's Elite Championship Cage Fighting event from Charlotte, NC showcased a wealth of young mixed martial arts talent. Twenty-six fighters from all over the southeast put themselves to the test in some intriguing match ups. The main event of the evening saw blue-chip 19-year-old prospect J.J. Brantley survive a stern test from Carlos Vivas to win by second round submission, retaining his ECCF featherweight title. In the co-main event Kevin Forant stopped Ryne Ford in the first round to claim the vacant ECCF lightweight championship.

Ryan Houston vs. Scott Barr – Light Heavyweight
Round 1 – After a couple of wild exchanges, the fight hits the ground with Houston on top. Houston works the back, before Barr rolls to get away and almost gets choked. As Barr spins Houston takes mount and delivers some punishment. Barr scrambles back to his feet shortly before the end of the round. Houston takes the round pretty easily.
Round 2 – Barr working some good leg kicks, but is being beat to the punch by Houston. Houston gets the takedown, and looks for a way to pass Barr’s open guard. Houston eventual moves to half-guard, but Barr is able to scramble to his feet. As the round nears the end Barr catches a guillotine as he’s being taken down, but cannot finish the submission. Ryan Houston takes another round.
Round 3 – Barr working the leg kicks again to open the third, Houston pumping his jab. Houston gets in close after a Superman punch. Houston lands a couple knees against the cage. As both men tire Houston’s hands are dropping lower and lower, Barr is tearing Houston’s knee apart with the leg kicks. Both men go for broke to close the fight swinging wildly all the way to the bell. Scott Barr should have taken the third.
Ryan Houston wins by unanimous decision

James Tate vs. Joel Smith – Lightweight
Round 1 – Tate gets an immediate takedown, and pushes Smith into the cage. Tate working furiously from the guard. As he postures up Smith stands, but is driven right back to the mat. Tate continue to press and works some good short punches. Smith scrambles well, but is unable to escape. A dominating round for James Tate.
Round 2 – Round 2 starts just like the first. Tate gets a quick takedown. Smith is working better this round, at least threatening some submissions from the bottom. However, Tate is still in solid control of his opponent. Smith scrambles again and almost locks up a triangle, but Tate rolls away from it stays on top until the round closes. Another big round for Tate.
Round 3 – Smith is able to get a good leg kick off before being taken down. Smith manages to get Tate in a triangle momentarily, but Tate powers out of it. Both fighters stand, and Tate takes him back to the ground. Tate still controlling, but doing less damage this round. The round closes the way the majority of the fight went, with Tate on top.
James Tate wins by unanimous decision

Jason Moore vs. Chris Thompson - Lightweight
Round 1 – The fight starts off with a good low kick to the groin. Moore lands a good right and a left, then buckles Thompson with a right. Thompson recovers quickly, to press Moore into the cage. Both men circle. Thompson lands a good counter right as Moore charges in. The round closes with a good right hand by Thompson. Close round, but should go to Moore as his striking was crisper early on.
Round 2 – Moore lands a pair of right hands in a good exchange to open the round. Moore has certainly pressed the action this round, landing a good amount of glancing blows. Both men land good strikes at the bell. Moore takes the round convincingly.
Round 3 – Moore continues to confuse his opponent with superior footwork and quick hands. Although he hasn’t done much damage in the fight, Thompson has been unable to figure out the range. Moore lands a good straight right, followed by a right hook that stumbles Thompson just before the bell. Jason takes the round and likely the fight.
Jason Moore wins by unanimous decision

Oliver Charles vs. Jake Adee - Welterweight
Round 1 – Adee shoots early but is stuffed. Charles takes a good right and answers with one of his own. Adde rushes in, but is pushed into the cage. Charles ducks a hook, and is caught in an arm-in guillotine for a moment. As he pulls free, he delivers a knee to the groin of Adee. After the break, Adee pushes the fight into the cage, where Charles turns him around. Charles gets a single leg, and elevates Adee, slamming him hard to the mat. With the slam, Charles likely takes the round.
Round 2 – Both men land simultaneous overhand rights to open the round. The fight quickly moves into the cage. Charles again gets a good slam. Adee ties him up, trying to force a stand up. Adee pushes free, and the two stand. Charles gets another takedown, this time landing in mount. Adee uses the cage to push himself over and end the round on top in Charles’ guard. Oliver Charles takes another close round.
Round 3 – Charles lands a sharp left jab to start the round. Adee shoots, but is stuffed. Charles pushes Adee to his back and looks for position. Adee holds on long enough to force a stand up. Charles lands a crushing leg kick. Adee again shoots, but Charles sprawls, ending the round in side control. Oliver Charles takes the third round as well.
Oliver Charles wins by unanimous decision

Josh Cepeda vs. Charles Bartles - Welterweight
Round 1 – Bartles forces the action early, but Cepeda gets him spun down. Bartles gives up his back and Cepeda lets him stand, slamming him back down with a huge German suplex. Cepeda keeps control og the back and lands a pair of good hammer fists. Bartles is able to avoid an armbar attempt and roll to his back with Cepeda in his guard. The round closes, with Cepeda clearly winning the opening stanza.
Round 2 – Bartles misses a hip toss and Cepeda takes him down. Cepeda postures up and lands a good hammer fist. Bartles rolls, and Cepeda gets on top. Bartles looks for a toe hold, and forces the Cepeda to move. Bartles switches to a kneebar, but cannot secure it. The round closes with Bartles attempting a guillotine. Charles Bartles takes a close second round.
Round 3 – Cepeda gets the fight back to the ground quickly, but it’s Bartles’ consistent submission attempts that keep him from pressuring the way he did in the first. Cepeda pulls free and lands a good right before getting wrapped back up. Bartles with rubber guard, keeps Cepeda from posturing up and doing too much damage. The round ends with Cepeda in control.
Josh Cepeda wins by unanimous decision

Kenneth Crowder vs. Bruce Gunter - Lightweight
Round 1 – Gunter comes out quickly with a barrage of knees. Once Crowder separates he slams Gunter down hard. They stand and circle until Crowder rushes in getting another strong takedown. Gunter tries to to spin away and Crowder locks in a rear-naked choke for the submission.
Kenneth Crowder wins by submission (rear-naked choke) in Round 1

Shane Crenshaw vs. Joshua Stanley - Lightweight
Round 1 – Crrenshaw rushes in quickly, and gets taken down. Stanley can’t hold him there long. The two stand back up, with Stanley securing a tight guillotine. Crenshaw survives to break free and secures a Brabo choke, and forces the tap out.
Shane Crenshaw wins by submission (Brabo choke) in Round 1

John Morales vs. Ralph Greenamyer - Welterweight
Round 1 – Both men trade good punches through the first minutes, until Greenamyer lands a good combination. Morales fires back with ahook cross. Greenamyer finish a combo with a solid body kick.Morales lands a good jab, Greenamyer a body kick to close the round. Greenamyer likely takes a fairly even opening round.
Round 2 – Morales starts off with a nice double jab that lands. Then lands a crisp counter left. Greenamyer lands a jab, and has a head kick blocked. Greenamyer explodes at the end of the round to land a good front kick and a left, but it likely wasn’t enough to steal the round from Morales.
Round 3 – Morales continues to pump the double jab. Greenamyer answers with a body kick and a pair of leg kicks. Morales connect to the body and an uppercut. Greenamyer still attacking the legs. Morales shoots and gets a takedown. Both men work furiously with punches on the ground until the final bell. The late takedown may have stolen the round and the fight for Morales.
Ralph Greenamyer wins by split decision

Tony Rogers vs. Caleb Savage - Welterweight
Round 1 – Rogers scores on the first strike of the fight, dropping Savage with a jab. Savage, bounces right back up, just to be taken down. Savage sweeps and ends up on top with his head trapped . Rogers slowly works towards securing a guillotine. Savage frees himself and stands. On the feet both men trade jabs, until Savage forcesthe fight into the cage. The fight stays there with Rogers landing a good uppercut to the body. Rogers’ early knockdown and submission attempt should earn him the round.
Round 2 – Savage lands a good jab, and Rogers answers with a few low kicks. Savage takes the fight to the ground. Both men battle for position until Rogers gets the takedown. Savage’s nose is broken and spewing blood, but its Rogers that looks tired. Rogers works for a takedown and gets it, possibly stealing the round.
Round 3 – Savage presses in and lands a good hook to the body. As they tie up along the cage, Savage gets a good hip toss and takes Rogers off his feet. Both men trade brutal front kicks to the body, Savage showing he’s clearly hurt. Savage gets the takedown on the fading Rogers. Savage in control on top gets mount and is quickly swept. Savage locks in a triangle with ten seconds to go, and the fight goes to the judges. Should be a tough call in this one.
Tony Rogers wins by split decision

Cliff Thompson vs. Kris Kennedy - Light Heavyweight
Round 1 – Thompson clinches quickly and works against the cage. Kennedy lands a few short punches to the body. Thompson gets a good trip takedown, and begins to work from side control. Kennedy works back to full guard, and the round ends with little action. Thompson takes the first on top control and takedowns.
Round 2 – Kennedy misses with a leg kick and a serious spinning back fist, but it all leads to a takedown for Thompson. Thompson spins to back control and pounds away on Kennedy. The referee is close to stepping in as Thompson continues to pound away. Kennedy is able to roll over and gain half guard. Thompson frees his hand pounds away until the referee steps in to save Kennedy.
Cliff Thompson wins by TKO (strikes) in Round 2

Salah Hemidach vs. Kevin Hulin - Featherweight
Round 1 – Hemidach lands a good knee in the clinch, but is taken down by Hulin. Hulin lands a few good rights from the guard. Hulin lands a good hammer fist, but Hemidach throws the legs up. As he works for a submission Hulin pounds away. But in his agression Hemidach secures a triangle choke forcing Hulin to tap out quickly.
Salah Hemidach wins by submission (triangle choke) in Round 1

Kevin Forant vs. Ryne Ford
ECCF Lightweight Championship
Round 1 – Forant lands big right early. Ford forces the fight into the cage. Forant spins him and lands a series of knees to the legs. Forant gets a takedown, moving effortlessly to mount. Forant, with the crowd firmly behind him, pounds away. Ford staying active, but not defending well enoughto keep the referee from stopping the bout.
Kevin Forant wins by TKO (strikes) in Round 1

Prior to the main event Tony Rogers was presented with the Beast MMA "Beast Of The Night" award for his split decision victory over Caleb Savage.

J.J. Brantley vs. Carlos Vivas
ECCF Featherweight Title
Round 1 – Vivas comes right after the champion with a series of kicks. Brantley fires right back with a good combination. Vivas stumbles the Brantley, and just misses finishing the fight with a flying knee as he tries to to get back to his feet. Brantley recovers and takes control of the top position, working from Vivas’ guard. Brantley working body and head with strikes. Brantley, in half guard works for a crucifix, but Vivas smartly stays calm and avoids it. The bell sounds with Brantley in control and up one round on the scorecards.
Round 2 – Both men open the round with good combinations. Brantley shrugs off the clinch and quickly dives in for the takedown. Vivas works for a kimura from the bottom, but Brantley stays tight. As Brantley postures up Vivas looks for an armbar. Brantley escapes that, rolling to back control. From there Brantley locks in the rear-naked choke and takes the victory.
J.J. Brantley wins by submission (rear-naked choke) in Round 2