In a rematch of the XFC 21 headline bout, New Zealand fighter Shane Young put no doubt in the result this time with a spectacular stoppage of Adrian Rodriguez in the main event of XFC 22. Also Jacob Mahony became the first fighter in XFC history to twice defend his title, stopping Melbourne based Irish fighter Richie Ivory.
The event took place at the Mansfield Tavern in Queensland, Australia on Saturday night.
Rodriguez edged out the first bout between the fighters via split-decision earlier this year when it was contested over three-rounds.
In the rematch on Saturday night, both started strong and agile on their feet, standing on the outside where they landed crisp shots. Rodriguez really peppered Young’s thighs with some heavy leg-kicks early before securing a takedown. From there though, Young immediately went to work with elbows from his back. Rodriguez stood up which allowed Young to work back to his feet. There he attempted a takedown which was defended by Rodriguez. Young then started to utilise his jab that setup a successful takedown attempt. The New Zealand fighter landed punches from the top position before the two again got back to their feet. Young did secure a takedown as the round came to an end while a visible cut had opened up over Rodriguez’s right eye in the round.
The intensity from both went up a level as they again exchanged hard punches but proved hard to hit with Rodriguez’s guard being held high and Young being very light and active on his feet. Midway through the round, Young started to land some leg-kicks of his own, while Rodriguez was trying to counter with the overhand right. Rodriguez defended a single-leg takedown and came forward landing a big shot before Young again ended the round with a nicely timed takedown.
Young landed a series of punches early in the third-round as Rodriguez unsuccessfully looked to land that big knock-out punch. Young’s leg-kicks had started to take their toll on Rodriguez who looked to avoid any more and flat footed on his front leg. The kicks continued as Young mixed it up with some short elbows. With Rodriguez backed against the cage, Young landed a big left head-kick that dropped Rodriguez. Some follow up punches halted the contest at 3:32 of the third round.
Young brings the XFC featherweight title back across the Tasman for the first time since New Zealand fighter Matt Te Paa claimed the title back in 2006.
Rodriguez’s Advance Martial Arts team-mate Jacob Mahony reclaimed his belt with an impressive first round stoppage over Melbourne based Irish fighter Richie Ivory. Ivory looked to pounce from the get-go throwing a flurry of punches that found their mark in the opening minute which forced Mahony to look for a takedown. Ivory countered with a tight guillotine attempt, which after a quick struggle, Mahony was able to free himself from only for Ivory to lock up a tight armbar from the bottom. Mahony again escaped and from there started to turn the tide landing elbows and punches as Ivory covered up. Ivory again looked to lock up the arm, however Mahony shrugged it off and passed to mount. There he postured up and landed some big punches that eventually forced the referee to halt the contest.
The stoppage came at a time of 4:07 into the opening round. An impressive performance from Mahony who secured his third straight victory and his seventh from his last eight bouts.
In only his second professional fight, Black Belt Judoka Aaron Blackie scored another first-round submission, this time submitting Jai Marshall in the opening round. Blackie made his intentions clear, shooting in and securing the takedown. Marshall worked back to his feet only for Blackie to again take the fight to the ground. A scramble had Blackie in an unorthodox reverse triangle position however Marshall escaped. At just over three minutes gone, Blackie did secure the kimura to get the tap.
Another fighter who continues to impress with every fight is Ben Quarmby from Orange, New South Wales who secured a stoppage over Damien Fraser. Quarmby started the fight with some crisp inside leg-kicks and some early combinations as both were active off their feet. Quarmby looked for a takedown against the cage and eventually got his opponent to the ground. Quarmby passed the guard but it gave Fraser the opportunity to escape back to his feet. Quarmby quickly swarmed him and secured another takedown, this time controlling the grappling to the end of the round.
In the second-round, Quarmby again mixed up inside and outside leg-kicks staying out of reach from Fraser who was lining up the counter shots. Shortly after Quarmby landed a powerful body-kick that dropped Fraser. The win came 2:40 into the second-round.
In other professional bouts card, Riley Mallett stepped a fighter closer to a possible title shot with a first-round submission over Mirwias Kakar, while earlier on the card in a women’s bout Terissa Wall stopped Helen Malone with strikes in the first-round.
Also on the card was a handful of amateur bouts. Ty Duncan reclaimed his amateur welterweight title with a submission win over Daniel White. Duncan submitted his opponent with a choke. Following the bout, White remained on the canvas complaining about neck pain. White was stretchered out of the cage for precautionary measures and was released from hospital the following day.
In front of a parochial home-crowd, BJJ Black Belt Marcus Collings was unable to bring home the amateur light-heavyweight title, losing via split-points decision to Martin Kerr while Gavin Hain won a unanimous points decision against Eben Cox to win the XFC amateur lightweight title.
Next XFC event is scheduled to occur on March 7 with Julian “Julz The Jackal” Rabaud expected to headline the card.
Professional Bouts:
- Shane Young def Adrian Rodriguez (c) via KO (Head-Kick), Rd 3, 3:32 – XFC featherweight title
- Jacob Mahony (c) def Richie Ivory via TKO (Strikes), Rd 1, 4:38 – XFC bantamweight title
- Aaron Blackie def Jai Marshall via Submission (Kimura), Rd 1, 3:09
- Ben Quarmby def Damien Fraser via TKO (Body-Kick), Rd 2, 2:40
- Riley Mallett def Mirwias Kakar via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 4:22
- Terissa Wall def Helen Malone via TKO (Strikes), Rd 2, 3:32
Amateur Bouts:
- Ty Duncan (c) def Dan White via Submission (Choke), Rd 1, 2:01 – XFC amateur welterweight title
- Martin Kerr def Marcus Collings via Decision (Split) – XFC amateur light-heavyweight title
- Gavin Hain def Eben Cox via Decision (Unanimous) – XFC amateur lightweight title
- Matthew Moore def Blake Lynch via Decision (Unanimous)
- Carlin Bull def Jon Willox via Submission (Leg-lock), Rd 2, 1:11
- Matthew Thompson def Andy Stanway via Decision (Split)
- Harley Osgood def Puru Kavana via Decision (Unanimous)
- Joel Fahey def via Kris Mulhall Submission (Head-Arm Choke), Rd 1, 0:49
- Luther Kruger def Jordan Rolender via Submission (Triangle Choke), Rd 2, 2:14
