· WEF 45 Results; Fioravanti Wins Again

For the first World Extreme Fighting event of the new year Jamie Levine once again put together an action packed card. For the fans in Jacksonville, Fla. at the University of North Florida Arena, the WEF delivered top notch, entertaining fights, that featured knockouts, submissions and razor-thin decisions. Unfortunately those in attendance did not get to see the up-and-coming heavyweight powerhouse Walt Harris make his professional MMA debut as his opponent Chris Barnett pulled out on the day of the weigh-ins due to an injury he obtained on a treadmill preparing for the fight. Here is a break down of the fights that did happen.


Nathan Allen vs. Josh Tolley

In the first round, Allen secured a takedown and started some ground-and-pound while Tolley went for a choke. Allen was able to slip out. Tolley then went for a kimura from bottom. Allen continued striking from the top position and Tolley tried to get back up but was pulled back down to the mat. Tolley almost escaped again but was tripped back down to the canvas as Allen landed in his half guard. The referee stood the fight up after a short time on the ground for stalling. Allen landed a solid left and right followed by a Tolley knee. Allen landed another takedown to end the round.

Tolley started the second stanza with a knee but Allen avoided it. Tolley then scored a takedown and ended up in Allen's half guard. Allen eventually rolled to his back, but Tolley was able to get back mount and rain down punches before attempting an arm bar. Allen was able to escape and get on top in full guard. Tolley used a kimura to sweep and get top position but the ref stood them up shortly after for stalling, though, given the crowd's response, most in attendance did not feel it was a valid stand up. After a brief exchange Tolley secured a takedown against the cage. Tolley landed some ground-and-pound on the clearly exhausted Allen and the ref stepped in to end the fight due to a submission from strikes.


Robert Goodridge vs. Aaron Conway

Conway started the fight by trying the Anderson Silva upper cut elbow but missed his mark. Conway later attempted a guillotine, unsucessfully, and followed that up with a kimura attempt but did not get that either. Conway then stood and pressed Goodridge up against the cage. Conway tries for another guillotine but did not secure it and Goodridge popped out and went for an apparent Americana that appeared tight but Conway was able to get out. Goodridge was able to get mount and started to land some strikes which forced Conway to give up his back leading to the fight ending rear-naked choke from Goodridge.


Tristan Payne vs. Michael Byrnes

The match began with a feeling out period which was broken up when Byrnes landed a solid outside leg kick followed by an over hand right that just missed. Payne this missed with his own hard right hand that Byrnes ducked under. The fight turned into a chess match with neither fighter wanting to give a strategic inch. Each fighter used feints and constant movement. Burns landed a solid right that knocked Payne down but Payne seemed unaffected as he regained his footing. Byrnes pressed but was unable to land anything of significance for the rest of the round.

In round two, Byrnes pushed forward as Payne tried to circle but Byrnes caught Payne with another solid right that sent Payne down to the mat for a second time. Again, Byrnes was unable to capitalize. Once back on his feet Payne attempted a takedown but it was stuffed by Byrnes. Byrnes continued to press as Payne circled. Byrnes was getting the better of the stand up as he landed a nice kick to the body followed by a solid left hook that staggered Payne, but Payne continued to circle away. Payne tried to pull guard for a guillotine but was unable to complete it as the round ended.

Byrnes landed a solid take down early in the third round that was met with a loud cheer from the crowd. Byrnes pushed Payne up against the cage but Payne trapped his right arm to prevent the ground-and-pound. Byrnes eventually was able to free his arm and land some punches. Payne attempted to push off the cage but was unable to get up. Byrnes failed to do much damage and eventually the ref stopped the fighters and returned then to their feet. Payne attempted to end the contest with a last second flurry but it was too little too late as Byrnes won 30-27 on all judge score cards.


Josh Montoro vs. Gamile Major

Montoro came out swinging, trying to end the fight as quickly as his thirty second pro debut, but was unable to connect with his initial flurry. Shortly after Montoro secured a trip takedown, but Major quickly rose to his feet. Montoro shortly after was able to slam Major down to the mat which was met with loud crowd approval. Montoro landed hard punches and elbows from on top as Major tried to get up against the cage. Major was able to get up and attempted a flying knee that missed its mark. Both fighters continued to swing with bad intentions. Major landed a solid knee and went for a hip toss but missed it, and Montoro landed on top and was able to transition to full mount and land a series of strikes until Major rolled to his back. Montoro quickly transitioned to a rear-naked choke and Major was forced to tap.


Kevin Pearson vs. John Chavez

Chavez completed a takedown to start the round and quickly transitioned to side control. Pearsons corner called for him to use the cage to stand up but it was not working. Chaves then went for a guillotine and it looked really tight but Pearson fought it off and was able to slip his head out. Both fighters got back to their feet and exchanged punches. Chaves was able to get Pearson up against the cage which lead to Pearson's corner calling for him to spin out. Pearson, however, did not listen and instead ended the fight with two powerful upper cuts that sent Chavez to the floor, out stiff. The ref reacted quickly and spared Chavez of any more damage.


Terry Blackburn vs. Alister Wilson

As the match began, both fighters exchanged punches and Blackburn caught Wilson which caused him to fall to one knee. Blackburn grabbed a hold of Wilson but Wilson was able to stand up and secure a clinch. Both fighters landed strikes from inside the clinch but Wilson was on the better end of it landing the harder knees and sharper elbows. The slashing elbows from Wilson led to a large cut opening up on the outside of Blackburn's right eye. The ref called time but the doc cleared Blackburn fit to continue. After a few more cutting elbows from Wilson, the doc was forced to stop the fight as Blackburn was bleeding profusely due to his cut being opened up to Marvin Eastman-esque proportions.


Marissa Caldwell vs. Ediane Gomes

Both fighters traded punches to start the fight but Gomes subsequently landed a trip takedown. Caldwell went for an arm bar from the bottom but Gomes stepped over and fell down for an ankle lock and heel hook. Following suit, Caldwell went for a leg as well. Caldwell escaped and moved inside Gomes' guard to try and land some ground-and-pound, but that turned out to be a bad idea as Gomes transitioned quickly to an arm bar. Gomes had the submission nearly completed, at one point even thrusting her hips down in an attempt to get Caldwell to tap, but Caldwell was game and survived for a long time and almost escaped. Gomes' perseverance won out though, as she flipped Caldwell on her back, finally securing the fight-winning arm bar.


Eliton Saramento vs. Sabah Homasi

Both fighters exchanged kicks and punches, with Saramento getting the better of the exchanges for the round. Homasi landed some nice kicks but not enough to win the round.

Round two provided very much of the same, but this time Homasi was able to land a takedown to secure the round in his favor. Saramento almost hit a fight-ending arm bar but the bell sounded before he was able to fully lock in the submission. With two very close rounds it appeared as though the last and final round would decide the fight, but Saramento failed to answer the bell which led to a technical knockout win for Homasi.


Charles Bennett vs. Fabio Mello

Both fighters exchanged punches and kicks to begin the fight with both landing well, but Mello got the advantage with his takedowns. Bennett did a great job getting back to his feet by sweeping Mello off of him. Mello then hit Bennett with a hard shot that appeared to daze Bennett but it was Bennett characteristically playing possum as he fired right back. Bennett attempted a guillotine but was slammed to the mat by Mello.

Bennett was able to defend better in the second round even channeling his inner Anderson Silva with his head movement. Moving his head back a split second before a powerful Mello shot landed. Both fighters exchanged hard shots and effective grappling in a round that could have gone either way.

Mello picked up the pace in round three, as he was aggressive with his both his striking and takedowns. He again appeared to rock Bennett with a hard strike, causing him to stumble. Mello landed some additional hard slams that left little doubt who won the round that would determine the winner of the fight. When the final tallies were in Mello came away with the split decision win (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).


Danny Babcock vs. Derrick Brunson

Both fighters took the center of the cage and landed some solid shots. Brunson was able to get a takedown against the cage and implemented some ground-and-pound, but Babcock was able to get up. Brunson shot in again for a takedown, but Babcock stuffed it. He should have let the takedown happen because Brunson fired three hard shots, and while the first two missed, the third one was on the mark and put Babcock out.


Gereth Joseph vs. Derrick Mehman

In what was possibly the closest fight of the night Ghereth Joseph out pointed Derrick Mehman in a three round battle. After trading shots for five minutes, the first round ended with neither fighter having gained a clear advantage. In the second round after landing a couple of good strikes Mehman was able to land a big slam and a submission attempt but was unable to secure it. Joseph was able to stuff the larger Mehman's take downs for the rest of the fight and land effective punches to take a narrow split decision, in what many believed was a major upset (29-28, 29-28, 28-29). Mehman was clearly upset with the judges decision, shaking his head in disbelief.


Mitch Whitesel vs. Luigi Fioravanti

Fioravanti started out the fight applying constant pressure on Whitesel, not allowing Whitesel to use his defensive game plan, which he previously used effectively against Mark Serkez in his last fight for the WEF. Fioravanti utilized effective grappling and striking, and closed the round by taking Whitesel down.

Both fighters exchanged punches to start the second round. Fioravanti again got Whitesel down to the mat with a takedown and landed some solid punches from the top that caused Whitesel to roll to his back. Fioravanti looked to be on his way to finishing the fight, but Whitesel was able to escape. As they reengaged, Whitesel got the takedown and landed some effective ground-and-pound but it did not last long as Fioravanti was able to return to his feet. Fioravanti then backed Whitesel up against the cage and secured his own takedown. This time Fioravanti went for the finish. As he slammed punches and elbows down on Whitesel, Fioravanti eventually moved to knee on belly for even more leverage, which led to Whitesel being forced to tap out due to strikes.

The first WEF event of 2011 once again produced exciting, competitive, and memorable fights for the fans. The next installment of WEF will take place in Sarasota, Fla. where the Walt Harris vs. Chris Barnett fight will finally take place.

photographer: Daniel Jones