In an impressive pro debut on Saturday night at the Norths Leagues Club in Cammeray, NSW, Billy McAlees took less than 3 minutes to stop the Sinosic / Perosh trained Gerhard Voigt in the main event at Brace 21.
Voigt opens the middleweight headliner with a swinging right hand, missing McAlees, who ties him up against the cage. As the two men clinch, McAlees, who’s stuck to his opponents ribs, lands foot stomps before tagging Voigt with a solid elbow, followed by a couple of short rights. The fighters break before Voigt lands one of his own in the form of a solid jab. McAlees re-engages with a flying knee before tying Voigt up once more against the cage. As they jostle for position, McAlees creates enough distance and unleashes a right hand that sends the Auckland born fighter crashing to the canvas. The referee jumps in and calls a stop to the bout at 2:40 of the first round.
In an entertaining back and forth battle, Mark Baskin followed up his win over Adam Corbett at Brace 19 with a hard earned unanimous points decision win over Giancarlo Embradora.
After the initial feeling out period, the fighters clinch before Baskin takes Embradora to the ground — landing straight into half guard. It’s not long before he gains mount, soon after however, Embradora scrambles and regains his feet before landing a thudding body shot as they re-engage. Embradora opens up again and lands with what would be the first of many punishing leg kicks from the Boxing Works product. The two men hit the canvas once more as Baskin scores his second takedown of the fight, before again moving to half guard. Embradora uses his strength to keep his opponent from posturing and soon they’re back standing. A swing and a miss from Baskin restarts the action as Embradora returns fire with another stinging leg kick. Baskin lands with a right hand before Embradora goes back to the body. Another leg kick from Embradora followed by a right hand from Baskin closes out the opening stanza.
The second round sees Embradora commence with a trademark leg kick before the two bantamweights clinch. A left hook leg kick combination from Embradora spurs Baskin to drive him backwards into the cage and secure the takedown. After a long period of Embradora again holding on to avoid damage, he scrambles and gets back to his feet. A low blow from Baskin and the contest is stopped as Embradora attempts to regain his stomach. The referee restarts the action and Baskin continues on the front foot and connects with a big right hand. Embradora scores a takedown of his own but it’s short lived however, as Baskin does well to find his feet. Not giving in that easy, Embradora again searches for the double leg but doesn’t find it. Embradora blocks a head kick that forces him backward as Baskin follows up with a front kick that backs him up even further. The round ends with Baskin on the hunt.
Baskin begins the third much like he ended the second as he fires off a head kick that is again blocked. Continuing forward, Baskin drives Embradora into the cage and secures double underhooks before dropping down for a leg. Eventually finding his prize, Baskin dumps Embradora to the canvas, where soon after he gains full mount. Embradora rolls after eating a few shots, at which point Baskin takes his back. With both hooks in, Baskin rolls and locks up a tight looking rear-naked choke. But in another impressive show of strength, the stocky Boxing Works fighter scrambles and winds up in Baskin’s guard. After regaining his feet, Baskin eats a left hook from Embradora, who then scores a takedown of his own. Embradora now takes Baskin’s back before transitioning into an armbar, which looks like a fight ending submission. It wasn’t to be however, as Baskin is able to roll and impressively, wind up in full mount again. Embradora eventually finds half guard but not before eating a few bombs. A solid elbow from Baskin ends the round, and the VT1 fighter picks up a deserved judges decision.
Although Embradora – Baskin was a crowd pleaser, it would be hard to go past the featherweight match between Martin Nguyen and Jamie Mullarkey for fight of the night honors. In the end, Nguyen walked away with a majority points decision but realistically the fight could have gone either way.
It’s Nguyen who takes the initiative early with a left hook that Mullarkey counters with a right hand. Nguyen shoots for a takedown but is unsuccessful. Mullarkey comes forward swinging as he drives Nguyen into the cage before tying him up and finding his back. Nguyen does well to control the hands of the Pankration world champion, who eventually drops down for a leg before both fighters find themselves centre cage once more. Nguyen lands a right hand followed by an uppercut. At the 10 second warning, Mullarkey shoots in for a takedown, however the round draws to a close with Nguyen in top position.
After a cautious start from both fighters to begin the second round, the two men engage with Nguyen landing a body shot first followed by a right hand from Mullarkey in response. Mullarkey again does well to nullify Nguyen’s wrestling prowess as he drives him back into the cage. Nguyen breaks free and finally scores a takedown of his own before moving into half guard. Opening up with some big shots, Nguyen forces Mullarkey to roll and quickly takes his back. Unable to capitalise on the position however, Nguyen is forced back to his feet as Mullarkey scrambles. The two fighters re-engage with Mullarkey landing a nice leg kick. Unsuccessful with a takedown attempt shortly after, Mullarkey eats a firm right hand. With just seconds left on the clock, Mullarkey shoots in again and this time dumps Nguyen to the canvas before gaining back control then sinking in a nasty looking Rear-Naked Choke. Nguyen holds on desperately as the round comes to an end.
Without a doubt the final round belonged to Nguyen, who lands a body shot early before dropping Mullarkey with a right hook. Doing well to regain his footing, Mullarkey was then driven back to the canvas with a double leg. A big shot from Nguyen forces Mullarkey to search for an escape, as he looks to push himself up against the cage. Nguyen though again drives in and dumps the youngster. More big shots from Nguyen forces Mullarkey to roll. Mullarkey is able to persevere as the round comes to a close as Nguyen lands shots from rear mount.
In what was the sole submission victory of the night, Lange’s MMA product Will Swan defeated Temple Dogz striker Darwin Sagurit via a Guillotine Choke early in the second round.
Sagurit starts the clash strong with a leg kick which he follows up with a superman punch. Forced back against the cage, Swann clinches and drags Sagurit to the ground, where he lands knees from half guard. After a short period of decreasing activity, unfortunately the referee steps in and stands the two men up. As they re-engage, Swann lands a leg kick before shooting in and scoring a takedown. Spotting a submission opportunity, Sagurit grabs Swann’s neck, but can’t hold on. Swann breaks free of the guillotine and the round comes to an end.
Round 2 starts with both men swinging wildly before Sagurit drives in and clinches. Swann grabs a tight guillotine choke, which Sagurit attempts to break with a big slam. Unsuccessful however, as Swann holds on and forces the tap from full guard at 0:46 seconds into the round.
Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia founder Adam Washbourne was no match on the night for Craig Bath, who was making his pro debut. Washbourne went down from a right hand just 25 seconds into the fight.
The show opener was a light-heavyweight clash between former Waratahs winger, and Wimp 2 Warrior winner, Francis Cullimore and Judoka, Harry Grech. It didn’t take long to realise that Grech was no match for Cullimore in the stand up department. Hurt early, Grech looks to take the fight to the floor, which he accomplishes, through a single leg takedown. Eventually gaining mount, Cullimore lands with heavy shots until the referee jumps in and waves the bout off at 2:07 of the first round.
The next show from Brace will take place at The Townsville Entertainment Centre on October 26. In the main event, recently crowned lightweight champion Oriol Gaset will face Damien Brown, in what will be his first title defense.
Brace 21 Results:
- Billy McAlees def Gerhard Voigt via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 2:40
- Mark Baskin def Giancarlo Embradora via Decision (Unanimous)
- Martin Nguyen def Jamie Mullarkey via Decision (Majority)
- Will Swann def Darwin Sagurit via Submission (Guillotine), R2, 0:46
- Craig Bath def Adam Washbourne via KO, Rd 1, 0:25
- Francis Cullimore def Harry Grech via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 2:07
(Photos courtesy of Brace)
