Join us tonight as we bring you live play-by-play of the Combat8 event scheduled to go down from the Big Top in Luna Park, Sydney where Richie Vaculik will take on American Charlie Alaniz in the main event for the Combat8 Bantamweight Title.
Also on the card, despite weighing-in over 8 kgs over Donnie Lester is still matched up against Ben Edwards, while Jai Bradney will meet Wes Capper for the Combat8 Lightweight Title.
Unfortunately the Ben Wall and Bernardo ‘Trekko’ Magalhaes fight has been scrapped due to ‘registration issues’. Update: The battle between Wall & “Trekko” has been put back on.
Combat8 bouts are contested under modified rules, with includes only 30-seconds ground work per round. The action is scheduled to kick-off at 7:30pm AEST tonight and is available to be purchased from epicentre.tv.
Felise Leniu vs Brandon Sosoli
Round 1:
Sosoli with early jab and goes straight for a take-down. Fighters clinch against the cube. Leniu turns and lands big shots, as Sosoli comes back with a takedown. Gets the fight to the ground and is on top in half-guard. Traps the arm but 30-seconds is up as the two fighters stand. Spinning back fist by Sosoli misses as the fighters clinch again against the cube. Nice shoulder strike from Sosoli as referee separates the fighters. Big hook misses from Leniu from the outside. Sosoli immediately closes the distance as the two clinch against the cube again. 10-9 Sosoli.
Round 2:
Spinning back fist again misses from Sosoli as Leniu comes forward and again controls against the cage. Leniu separates and big uppercut from Leniu lands. Sosoli doesn’t like the strikes as he drops to his back. Leniu with ground and pound from the top. Landing big shots for the stoppage.
Official Verdict: Felise Leniu def Brandon Sosoli via TKO (Punches), Rd 2, 1:51
Kian Pham vs Ben Nguyen
Round 1:
Nice body rip early by Pham. Nguyen comes back with strikes himself but misses. Doubles up the jab and rocks Pham. Comes forward and unloads with punches as Pham clinches against the cage. Referee separates. Pham lands a big shot but misses shortly after with a big hook. Nguyen being very technical with his strikes, coming in and out as the two clinch against the cube again. The fight goes to theg round and Pham immediately looking for a submission, rolling for a leg but Nguyen stays out of it and escapes back to his feet. 10-9 Nguyen
Round 2:
Fighters touch gloves as the round starts. They close the distance and again clinch against the cube. Referee separates and Pham goes for the single-leg. Can’t finish it as the two fighters scramble and Nguyen gets the top position. 30-seconds is up and the two are forced to stand. Nguyen landing big shots and drops Pham. Fight is restart and Nguyen unloads with big shots to get the stoppage.
Official Verdict: Ben Nguyen def Kian Pham via TKO (Punches), Rd 2, 2:48
Eilleen Forrest vs Jessy Rose
Round 1:
Rose straight away looking for the takedown as the two clinch against the cage. Referee separates and Forrest lands a nice straight. Forrect connects with a jab and pushes Rose against the cube. Rose again going for the takedown and gets it down. Forrest holds on and Rose could not do anything with her time on the ground. Rose clinches as Forrest utilises the clinch to land some body punches. Rose 10-9.
Round 2:
Forrest landing good straight early in the round before Rose does a nice takedown to land straight into side-control. Moves into north-south and unloads with some big shots to the body. 30-seconds is over. Rose lands some nice shots on their feet but Forrest returns with big punches of her own. Rose starting to look marked up as Forrest comes forward with strikes. Landing nice combinations before Rose clinches against the cube just as the round ends. 10-9 Forrest.
Round 3:
Rose comes forward straight away looking for the takedown. Gets the trip but chooses not to follow Forrest down. On her feet lands a big right. Really countering nicely with the right now as Rose again looks for the takedown. Clinches against the cube before Forrest separates. Forrest coming forward but Rose again pushes her against the cube. Attempts a takedown but could not finish it as Forrest returns with combinations. Rose gets the single leg and trying to get the takedown. Ends up pulling guard and getting the sweep just as the round ends. 10-9 Rose.
Official Verdict: Jessy Rose def Eileen Forrest via Decision (Unanimous)
Robert Lisita vs Hugh Cameron
Round 1:
Fighters exchange early as Lisita backs Cameron into the corner. Cameron returns with big punches as they separate. Nice front left hook from Lisita lands as they clinch against the cube again. Cameron goes for takedown but was stuffed by Lisita. Big right from Lisita connects as Lisita wrestles Cameron to the fight. Unloading with big ground and pound in half-guard. Really posturing up and unloading before referee stands them up. Cameron comes forward and Lisita staggers him with an uppercut. Cameron keeps on coming forward though but that would be Lisita’s round as it ends. 10-9 Lisita.
Round 2:
Fighters clinch early as Lisita lands a nice right as they separate. Big shot from Cameron as Lisita came forward. Fighters exchange shots as his looks for a takedown. Chooses to clinch instead. Fighters separate and Cameron unloading with big punches but struggling to find their mark. Cameron is busted open as Lisita’s nose also starts to bleed. Battle against the cube as the round ends. 10-9 Lisita
Round 3:
Big shots miss from both early before Cameron lands a right. Lisita though pushes forward and lands shots of his own as they clinch against the cube. Big cut opens up over Lisita’s of left eye. Lisita acknowledging he is fine and the fight continues. Cameron comes forward, but allows Lisita to get clinch against thec age. Fighters separate and Cameron lands nice combination off the clinch. Cameron finishing strong, but Lisita counters right a big right. Fighters really unloading on their feet. Lisita finishes the final 10 seconds with big punches. 10-9 Lisita.
Official Verdict: Robert Lisita def Hugh Cameron via Decision (Unanimous)
Ben Wall vs Bernardo Magalhaes
Round 1:
Fighters exchange early shots. Both feeling it out with jabs. Nice left by Wall as Magalhaes countering well. Spinning back fist from Wall misses as Wall forces the clinch against the cube. Pace of the fight slows and referee separates them. Magalhaes lands a nice right as Wall lifts his hands up encouraging Magalhaes to come in. 10-9 Wall.
Round 2:
Fighters from punches in the middle of the cage. Wall missing, while Magalhaes’ punches are being blocked. As Wall comes forward he was connected with a left from Magalhaes. Fighters exchanging in the middle. A short left connects from Wall as Magalhaes loses his footing. Neither fighter looking for a takedown in this bout and happy to exchange on their feet. Big shots from Wall as they close the distance. Wall pushes Magalhaes against the cage. 10-9 Wall
Round 3:
Wall definitely being the more aggressive coming forward. Worrying sign as Wall shakes off his hand following a punch. Immediately clinches against the cage and after a small scramble the referee separates the both fighters. Magalhaes lands some punches from the outside as Wall hesitant with to throw the right. He deflects a right from Magalhaes as he closes in the distance. Fight ends with the two clinched against the cage. Close round with Wall being aggressor but going to edge it 10-9 Magalhaes. Wall should get the decision.
Official Verdict: Ben Wall def Bernardo Magalhaes via Decision (Split)
Jon Leven vs Junior Talipeau
Round 1:
Talipeau is a legit professional boxer, coming up against veteran MMA journeyman Jon Leven. Talipeau pops out the jab early. Leven taking centre of the cage but as he comes forward Talipeau shows good movement to move away while unloading with body shots. Talipeau really dropping his hands as Leven struggling to find his distance. Leven missing with his punches. Nice body right from Talipeau hurts Leven as he immediately goes for the takedown. Fighters clinched against the cage as the round ends. 10-9 Talipeau
Round 2:
Both fighters feeling it out early before Talipeau lands a nice lead left hook. Leven looks for the takedown but Talipeau stuffs it. Leven lands a right but it’s Talipeau in control landing nice jabs before unloading with big punches. He is also controlling the centre of the cage. Talipeau unloads with some big shots. Really punishing the body and drops Leven. Gets up after the standing count and Talipeau has 10 seconds left in the round. Unloading with lefts and rights to the body, as the buzzer went for the round. 10-8 Talipeau
Round 3:
Talipeau will be looking to connect to the body early as they were hurting Leven in the previous round. Talipeau takes centre of cage where he doubles up his jab. Big right from Talipeau lands as Leven holds his eye. Accidental eye poke as the fight restarts. Talipeau dominating but hesitatant at time to throw that big punch. COmes forward, unloading against the cage with body rips again. Drops Leven who again beats the standing count. Drops Leven with a left and referee stops the action this time.
Official Verdict: Junior Talipeau def Jon Leven TKO (Punches), Rd 3, 3:23
Peter Graham vs Tai Tuivasa
Round 1:
Fighters touch gloves and take centre of the cage. Feeling out period early but you know it’s only time before something erupts here. Fighters clinch but neither fighter dominating and they separate. Tuivasa lands a big right but Graham recovers. Graham pushes Tuivasa against the cage. Tuivasa works his way out but the two clinch as they come in to throw the heavy strikes. Big left from Tuivgasa and a right knocks down Graham. Really unloading on the ground as Graham looks for the leg off his knees. Tuivasa moves back and allows Graham to stand. On really wobbly legs as Tuivasa comes forward. Big shot from Tuivasa misses. Tuivasa has never been into the second round so big question on his fitness from here on. 10-9 Tuivasa
Round 2:
Graham misses with a lead left hook which he doubles up. Graham comes forward and they wrestle against the cage. Graham ducks under a big right. Tuivasa comes forward with big hooks again as he drops for a takedown. Referee immediately separates. Body shot from Graham and goes low before landing a big left. Tuivasa smiles as blood comes from his mouth. Graham comes forward with three big lefts that push Tuivasa back into the corner. Tuivasa again smirks as he takes big breathes. Graham coming forward, drops Tuivasa to get the KO win.
Official Verdict: Peter Graham def Tai Tuivasa via TKO (Punches), Rd 2, 2:48
Jai Bradney vs Wes Capper – C8 Lightweight Title
Round 1:
Early straight left to the body from Capper. Feeling out period as Bradney rushes in landing punches. Clinched against the cage. Capper separates and connects with big punch to knock out Bradney cold. FOllows up with more shots but Bradney out cold already.
Official Verdict: Wes Capper def Jai Bradney via KO (Punches), Rd 1, 2:58
Ben Edwards vs Donnie Lester – C8 Heavyweight Title
Round 1:
Lester missed weight for this fight and comes out strong landing big shots. Edwards covering up against the cage. Lester landing uppercuts but how long can he keep this pace up. Edwards doesn’t look in trouble. Edwards counters off the cage and moves off the cage. Now coming forward, and both landing big shots before they take a rest against the cage. Edwards pushes off and unloads with punches. Lester drops mouth-guard and referee restarts in the middle. Edwards a former Oceania K-1 Champion comes forward with big punches as Lester drops his mouth-guard again. Edwards comes forward but again the mouth-guard drops out of Lester’s mouth. Referee takes a point off. Edwards comes forward and knocks Lester down. Pounds away to get the stoppage. Both guys bloodied in that war.
Official Verdict: Ben Edwards def Donnie Lester via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 2:48
Richie Vaculik vs Charlie Alaniz – C8 Bantamaweight Title
Round 1:
Feeling out period early as they exchange shots. Big left glances Alaniz who returns with a combination of shots himself. Vaculik pressing the action, but Alaniz comes forward with punches. Vaculik does well to move out of the way and lands some body shots. Nice left from Alaniz. Vaculik lands with a combination of punches. Alaniz likes to back away before coming back with big hooks. 10-9 Vaculik.
Round 2:
Vaculik starts off the second looking for a takedown but Alaniz was having none of it. Alaniz feints with a shot, which Vaculik sprawls to. Back up on his feet straight away. Vaculik coming forward but Alaniz lands a nice one-two off the back foot. Aagain feints the takedown which no doubt is keeping Vaculik on edge. Vaculik goes for a late takedown, looking for the single-leg. Alaniz gets his way out as the round ends. Close round 10-10.
Round 3:
Nice combination of strikes from Alaniz, as Vaculik nearly lands a big right hook. Alaniz jabbing away as Vaculik comes back with a big straight right. Vaculik lands with an uppercut but Alaniz staying very active. He comes forward bobbing and weaving, while throwing punches. A takedown attempt momentarily got Alaniz on the ground but he gets back to his feet straight away. Late takedown attempt by Alaniz before the buzzer went. 10-9 Vaculik.
Round 4:
Both fighters looking like they coming out for the first round with no cardio issues in this one. Both very active on their feet. The jab is definitely the choice of weapon for both. Alaniz in the centre of the cage with Vaculik working around him. Vaculik comes forward and lands a big left. Alaniz returns fire as Vaculik momentarily gets the takedown only for Alaniz to immediately work his way back to his feet. Alaniz goes for a takedown but Vaculik sprawls Alaniz lifted leg to kick but pulled it back in time as kicks are prohibited under Combat8 rules. 10-9 Alaniz.
Round 5:
Vaculik lands a nice hook as the two closed the distance. Both fighters finding their targets with hooks and jabs. Really a quick pace in the fight. Vaculik landing some shots midway through the round. Alaniz drops for a foot, only to be countered by a big takedown from Vaculik. Alaniz works his way back to his feet, only for Vaculik to get another takedown. Alaniz comes forward with seconds remaining to the fight. 10-9 Vaculik
Official Verdict: Richie Vaculik def Charlie Alaniz via Decision (Split)
