XFC 9: Evolution Fight Results
 

The XFC made its much anticipated return to Tampa, FL at the St Pete Times Forum for XFC 9: Evolution on September 5^th. The event was broadcast live on HDnet and featured a great fight card for those at the arena, and those at home watching. Owner, John Prisco, promised this was a can’t miss event. He came through on that promise. The organization also announced they will be heading overseas this fall and bringing their talent to Germany, as well as show Germany’s up and coming fighters. Below are the results from Saturdays fight.

Before the event went live, 3 prelims took place. The first bout was between Jesse Benton in the blue corner and Sean Bartlett in the red corner. The first round was primarily dominated by Sean Bartlett, although Jesse did manage to land several good knees to Sean’s stomach. At one point Jesse kicked Sean in the head, which he returned with a right hook which made Jesse’s nose begin to bleed. The round ended with both fighters exchanging blows. The second round was also dominated by Sean, at one point the ref decided to stand the fighters up, and you could tell Jesse was tired after taking longer then normal to stand up. At 4:01 in the second round Sean puts in rear naked choke hold to make Jesse tap giving the win to Sean.

The next fight of the night was between XFC’s own Shah Bobonis against Rey Trujillo. Shah hasn’t been wining many fights of late, and is looking to turn his luck around. The first round was very even, with both fighters exchanging blows and take downs. Near the end of the round Shah goes for a rear naked choke on Rey but it’s too late, round is over. The second round goes the same way, with Shah trying to keep the fight on the ground, which Rey does not like and keeps backing away forcing the ref to stand Shah up several times. Towards the end of the round Rey comes with an assault of punches on Shah, end of round 2. The third round was much the same way as the previous two, and you could tell the crowd was sick of it. The round ends and goes to the judges with Rey winning by split decision.

The last prelim on the card is between Hayder Hassan and Gerado “Julio” Gallegos. This fight was very quick and efficient. Gerado lands a heavy left which sends Hayder to the ground. Gerado pounces at the opportunity and is able to lock Hayder in a guillotine. The referee asked Hayder on three different times if he was ok, with no reply and has no option but to end the fight at :57 in the first round. Hayder argues that he was ok, but how can one say that when he didn’t reply to a thing on 3 separate occasions.

At this point we we’re ready to go live on HDnet with the main card. The jumbo-tron in the middle of the arena went live, and fans were able to see what viewers at home were watching. First fight on the main card was Tampa, Florida’s own Chris Barnett going against Daniel Perez in the heavyweight division.

The first round starts off with both fighters testing the waters. Chris displays is agility and throws a head kick to Daniel and goes for another one which Daniel counters and drops Chris to the ground. The two men both get up quick with Chris trying for another leg kick but meets the same results. Chris goes for a takedown which Daniel sprawls out of and brings the fight to the cage. With these two boys fighting right in front of me, I thought the cage could come down at any minute, luckily it did not. The round ends with both fighters throwing massive blows at one another. The second round has Chris coming out with a leg kick again, followed by an overhand right which knocks Daniel to the ground. Chris goes in for the kill and assaults is opponent with blows until the ref calls the fight at :47 in the second round due to blows. Chris celebrates with a front flip, which the crowd goes crazy for, not to mention his post interview.

Next up is Nate Jolly vs. Frank Santore. The first round is very mellow, with the most exciting point being when Nate picks up Frank, carries him around, then slams him to the ground, which didn’t seem to do much damage to Frank. Nate gets Frank on his back and ends the round with elbows coming down. The second round is a little more paced with Frank coming out with a leg kick, and the two throwing blow for blow, Frank tries to take down Nate which he was easily able to sprawl out of. When both fighters stand up Frank goes for the takedown and brings Nate into his corner of the cage. The third round is much like the others, with Nate dominating Frank, at one point Frank tries to get into rubber guard which he is unable to achieve. This one goes to the judges with Nate wining by unanimous decision.

Third from last fight we have Jeremy Thurlow vs Julien Williams. Both fighters come out right away throwing kicks at the other. Jullien lands a nice overhand right which puts Jeremy into the cage, and Jullien lets the assault of hits begin. The two end up in a clinch with Jullien landing many punches and elbows to his opponent. The two split and Jeremy misses with an overhand right, but comes back with a left that connects which Jullien replies to with a right and left of his own followed by a knee to the chin of Jeremy. Jeremy takes Jullien down which he is able to recover quickly from and land an uppercut just before the bell rings. The second round was much of the same, with Jullien controlling Jeremy in the cage. Third round starts almost immediately in the cage again where Jeremy takes Jullien down, but he is able to counter and put Jeremy into a guillotine. Jeremy taps at :57 into the third round.

Unfortunately at this point I thought I had time to get to the bathroom. Unluckily for me the next fight started and ended before I was able to get back to my seat to watch Bruce Connors take on Tim Snyder. Bruce won by TKO in the first round.

Next up was Pablo Alfonso taking on Jason Goodall in a five round bout for the bantamweight title that Jason currently holds. The beginning of the fight was very slow with Pablo going in for a takedown and taking Jason down, but both men standing quickly. The first round was both fighters exchanging punches and takedowns. At one point Pablo connected a kick to Jason’s stomach which immediately turned bright red. The next two rounds go the same way, with Jason loosing energy every second. At the end of the third round Pablo comes to our side of the cage, shows his muscle, and says I will end it now. Both fighters start the round off fighting, with Pablo scoring a takedown quickly. Jason tries to put Alfonso into a leg choke which Pablo roles out of, and puts Jason into his own leg choke. Jason taps at 2:40 in the 4^th round making Alfonso the new XFC bantamweight champion.

The main fight is now up, with ex-UFC and TUF fighter War Machine going up against Mikey Gomez. Both fighters come out with a surprise in War Machine’s corner, one of the most famous TUF fighter in his corner, Junie Browning. Both fighters come swinging with War Machine landing a right and Mikey returning one of his own. Mikey controls much of the first round taking War Machine to the cage and mat. Round 1 ends with Mikey on War Machines back. Second round starts and War Machine takes control, landing several hits to Mikey, and running him to the cage. Mikey ends up on the ground and waits, at this point you can tell Mikey wants to keep it on the ground. War Machine walks away forcing the ref to stand Mikey up, you can tell he wants to keep it standing. After being stood up War Machine lands a hard kick to the stomach followed by 2 punches. After the second punch Mikey immediately grabs his right eye and walks away. War Machine stops the attack and looks at the ref for a call, which does not come. At this point War Machine runs in to continue his assault. After two hits you can see the ref call time, but after another two hits he calls the fight over which the crowd didn’t like at all.

War Machine celebrates as Mikey is asking the ref why did he just call time but then call the fight. A Florida commissioner runs into the ring almost immediately and is asking the ref what the hell he had just done. Since he did call the fight, there was no option due to legalities to continue the fight. In a very controversial call, War Machine wins the bout in the second round.

During his post-fight interview, War Machine said he realized he had poked Mikey and looked at the ref for clarification, when the ref did not say anything he had no option but to continue to fight and do his job. He also mentioned if his opponent was not someone he respected, maybe he would not of looked at the ref for the call and continued to fight.

For their return to Tampa, the XFC did a great job, and did not let anyone down with their fight card. They will soon announce their next card for Tampa. Hopefully in the near future they bring the Gomez vs. War Machine fight back, for round two.

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