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Sunday, July 31, 2011

Operation Octagon 15 Results and Review



Northern Virginia retains 5 out of 6 MMA Titles at Operation Octagon.


Operation Octagon served up a satisfying helping of local mixed martial arts last night with another sold out show and 16 exciting fights. Thousands of fans packed into Dulles SportsPlex in Sterling Virginia. Whether sitting at VIP tables served by the Hooters girls of Chantilly, in the general seats around the cage, or on the balcony overhead, everyone had a good view of the cage and the big screens above it.


In the late afternoon, camps of fighters coming from all over the DC area and beyond quietly prepared for combat, grappling, warming up on pads and wrapping their hands for a few rounds that would be anything but quiet. Soon the venue echoed with audible action, like the loud slap of a leg kick to a thigh, the screams of instruction from a fighter’s corner, the cheers of the crowd or the occasional crack of a low blow to a fighter’s cup. Local fans know nothing is quite like a live mixed martial arts event.


Northern Virginia fighters had a pretty good night, with only one title belt leaving the area. Camps from Woodbridge and Manassas had stake in five of the six title bouts, and fighters in many of the other 10 matches. Each bout consists of three rounds of three minutes each, except title bouts where the rounds are 5 minutes just like professional matches in the UFC or Strikeforce. The matches are sanctioned, refereed, and judged by the Global Combat Alliance out of Richmond, Virginia with similar rules to state athletic commission sanctioned professional fights.


Gold Medal Grappling of Woodbridge had a stellar night with three wins out of three fights and two for title belts. In the events first match, Gold Medal Grappling’s Steven Adams delivered a bloody beating to his tough but outclassed opponent forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight in the second round. In a great showing of class and sportsmanship, the defeated David Weller embraced his opponent after the fight and raised Adams hand in victory.


In the third fight of the night, relatively new competitor Samir Farid defeated Brandon Wheeler in a clear unanimous decision after dominating his opponent for three solid rounds. Samir showed excellent wrestling against his opponent and also did a good job listening to the Gold Medal Grappling coaches in his corner as they gave him advice to remain in control of the fight.


Vanguard gym of Manassas started the night with success in their first title match when Reed Miller showed he’d been working on his wrestling and submissions. Reed quickly took Cody Carter’s back and sank in a rear naked choke, forcing a tap in the first round.



Willie Floyd proved his resilience and ability to remain calm under fire. The Gold Medal Grappling welterweight first had to deal with a surprise change in opponents. Floyd quickly found himself defending off his back. Perrin Carter coming off a victory over Floyd’s originally scheduled opponent, came on strong and looked to be in control, but Floyd kept his wits, and when Carter tried for a takedown he left his neck exposed. Floyd slipped in the guillotine choke and cinched it very tight, forcing a tap out without even jumping to guard.


Vanguard’s Mike Pope defended his belt for a second time, showing the same wrestling and top control dominance he used in his last fight. Spencer Strube seemed to have a slight advantage in the striking when the fight was standing, but Pope kept the match on the ground where he was the most comfortable and won a unanimous decision, keeping his belt in Manassas.


Vanguard’s next trip to the cage was not as successful, but was an exciting fight for the fans. Local favorite Duy Le faced Michael Ledman of Southern Maryland Jui- Jitsu for the featherweight title, and the match was back and forth. Le was in control on the ground for most of the first round, but Ledman defended well. In the last 30 seconds Ledman got a sweep and poured on the leather until the bell rung. Round two showed Le’s heart as he came out blasting, and took control of the second round as he had the first, but Ledman persevered, and revesed Le again, this time hammering his opponent bloody. The referee clearly considered stopping the fight, but gave Le the benefit of the doubt holding off until the bell. Round three saw Le again come out swinging, and taking down his opponent. Le rained down strikes as if he knew he needed a finish to win the match, but again Ledman rallied, this time getting Le’s back and sinking in a rear naked choke submission. Le tapped at 2:04 in the third round making Michael Ledman the new 145 pound Operation Octagon Champ.


In the next to last fight of the event, John Attia of Team Rockhand squeaked out a split decision over Ryan Lall of Warpath Inc. in an ugly match punctuated with low blows, eye pokes, and Attia showing very little offense, preferring only to counter his opponent even thought the crowd booed disfavor at his tactic.


Luckily the evening didn’t end on a sour note as the Operation Octagon Heavyweight Title was on the line between current champ Josh “Cobra” Brown from nearby Chantilly’s Complete Fitness Concepts, and the challenger, Rich Moore from Contract Combatives. The two big men started the bout quickly exchanging strikes. Brown got the better of the standup and found himself delivering damage to his downed opponent, earning the referee stoppage one minute and 37 seconds into the first round.


In addition to the fights, a couple of local celebrities were in attendance. Ultimate Fighter finalist Kris McCray supported his teammates, and even entered the cage to announce another local martial artist would be on an upcoming season of the Ultimate Fighter on Spike. Also in attendance, Corporal Kelly De Santis who won a bloody battle last March in Operation Octagon, has recently made the news when she invited Justin Timberlake to Marine Corps Ball in Washington DC and he accepted according to the LA Times. After seeing her last fight, Justin had better be a perfect gentleman.


Fans left with their thirst for action sated, and will surely line-up to buy tickets for Operation Octagon’s next event, scheduled for October 22nd, also at Dulles SportsPlex in Sterling. Be sure to keep your eyes on the Patch for information about it and other upcoming MMA events in Northern Virginia.


More photos and discussion up at BloodKnux.com Click here!


Quick Results

1) Steven Adams defeats David Weller by tko at 2:59 of round 2

2) Paul Cavanaugh defeats Tyson Kellerman by split decision

3) Samir Farid defeats Brandon Wheeler by unanimous decision for the 125 pound title

4) Lashawn Alcocks defeats Tommy McDonnell by tko at 21 seconds of round 3

5) Reed Miller defeats Cody Carter by rear naked choke at 3:20 of round 1 for the 135 pound title

6) Cameron Smith defeats Alex Coates bu armbar at 1:04 of round 1

7) Jordan Needham defeats Jonathan Vinyard by tko at 1:14 of round 2

8) Willie Floyd defeats Perrin Carter by guillotine choke at 2:45 or Round 1 for the 170 pound title

9) Mike Pope defeats Spencer Strube by unanimous decision for the 155 pound title

10) EJ Mecklenburg defeats Shaun Kama by rear naked choke at 41 seconds of round 1

11) Michael Ledman defeats Duy Le by rear naked choke at 2:04 of round 3 for the 145 pound title

12) Orlando Torres defeats Cary Caprio by tko at 2:43 of round 3

13) Justin Theodore Cooper defeats Greg Lyman by unanimous decision

14) Nathan Jaime defeats Jarred Ferguson by split decision

15) John Attia defeats Ryan Lall by split decision

16) Josh Brown defeats Rich Moore by tko at 1:37 of round 1 for the 265 pound title.


- Jim " DC Books" Kirkland

OO 15 Quick Results

Quick results of tonight’s event. Event coverage and pictures coming soon!

1) Steven Adams defeats David Weller by tko at 2:59 of round 2

2) Paul Cavanaugh defeats Tyson Kellerman by split decision

3) Samir Farid defeats Brandon Wheeler by unanimous decision for the 125 pound title

4) Lashawn Alcocks defeats Tommy McDonnell by tko at 21 seconds of round 3

5) Reed Miller defeats Cody Carter by rear naked choke at 3:20 of round 1 for the 135 pound title

6) Cameron Smith defeats Alex Coates bu armbar at 1:04 of round 1

7) Jordan Needham defeats Jonathan Vinyard by tko at 1:14 of round 2

8) Willie Floyd defeats Perrin Carter by guillotine choke at 2:45 or Round 1 for the 170 pound title

9) Mike Pope defeats Spencer Strube by unanimous decision for the 155 pound title

10) EJ Mecklenburg defeats Shaun Kama by rear naked choke at 41 seconds of round 1

11) Michael Ledman defeats Duy Le by rear naked choke at 2:04 of round 3 for the 145 pound title

12) Orlando Torres defeats Cary Caprio by tko at 2:43 of round 3

13) Justin Theodore Cooper defeats Greg Lyman by unanimous decision

14) Nathan Jaime defeats Jarred Ferguson by split decision

15) John Attia defeats Ryan Lall by split decision

16) Josh Brown defeats Rich Moore by tko at 1:37 of round 1 for the 265 pound title.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

BK Preview- Operation Octagon 7/30 Sterling Virginia



Northern Virginia’s largest and longest running mixed martial arts event returns to Dulles Sportsplex this Saturday, July 30th, for Operation Octagon’s 15th card. Since January 2008, Operation Octagon promoter Art Sylmar has promoted mixed martial arts events in Northern Virginia. Competitors from Operation Octagon shows have gone on to compete professionally in the M-1 Challenge, Ultimate Warrior Challenge, and the sport’s biggest promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In a night packed with title bouts, fighters from all over the DC area and beyond will face off in the cage in Sterling, Virginia to prove they’re the next warriors ready to be a star.


In the main event, 5-0 amateur fighter Duy Le will face Michael Ledman from Southern Maryland Jiu Jitsu for the vacant 145lb featherweight title. The former champ Casey Watson of Fredericksburg is going professional and has vacated his belt. Local fans are sure to be familiar with Duy who has won four times in Operation Octagon, and fights out of Vanguard gym in Manassas. Duy won his last fight by triangle choke in the first round, but has gone to close decisions several times in the past. “I’d stick to low risk stuff because I was fighting not to lose, but my coach (Doug Esposito) wants me to take chances to finish. I don’t want to leave it to the judges,” says Duy. When asked how he feels fighting for the featherweight championship, Duy replies, “Fighting for the title gives me the opportunity to prepare for five minute rounds, like in a professional fight. Until now I’ve only fought the usual 3 minute amateur rounds.” He isn’t the only Vanguard fighter with a title on the line Saturday night. In the co-main event, current 155lb lightweight champ Mike Pope will be defending his belt against Spencer Strube from Clinch Academy in Frederick, Maryland.

Gold Medal Grappling, out of Woodbridge, will also have a busy night Saturday with multiple fighters on the card. Super flyweight Samir Farid will face Brandon Wheeler for the 130lb belt. Gold Medal Grappling has a history with Operation Octagon, as it is the home of Ultimate Fighter finalist, Kris McCray, who was the Operation Octagon Middleweight Champ before he went pro and all the way to finalist on The Ultimate Fighter reality show and several UFC cards. Willie "No Love" Floyd (4-1 amateur MMA record) from Gold Medal Grappling will face Perrin Carter in a 170lb match. Floyd’s coming off an impressive TKO victory in the second round at the last event in March.

With 18 fights on the card, fans are guaranteed a night of excitement. Dulles Sportsplex is located at 21610 Atlantic Blvd. in Sterling Virginia. The fights will start at 7:30pm on Saturday July 30th. Tickets are going fast at www.operationoctagon.com. Tune back in to the BloodyDCMMA.com for event coverage, photos, and results.


- Jim Kirkland



Sunday, July 17, 2011

2 Time VA state Champ brings it to the MMA Cage!



State Champion Cougar continues to compete, but now in the MMA Cage.



As visitors drive down route 28 and enter Manassas Park it’s hard to miss the welcome sign that announces to the world your entering a wrestling mecca. The Manassas Park Cougars have 11 state championships and the list of Cougar champs is longer than your arm. There should be little surprise that athletes as competitive as the Cougars are finding their way to the world of mixed martial arts, and looking to extend their honors in the ring or cage. Two time state wrestling champ from Manassas Park High, Brett Jenkins, will do just that this coming Saturday at Lights Out Combat in Marshall Virginia.


Brett wrestled for Bull Run from age of 6 and Manassas Park HS 1997-2000 where he won state championships in 1999 and 2000. He now trains with Johnny Curtis, an All American Wrestler out of George Mason. Johnny’s taken his wrestling base to MMA, and has competed in the UWC and M-1 Global as a professional Mixed Martial Artist. Johnny is on a six fight win streak and defeated Bob Gurley with a vicious body shot last March in M-1 in Norfolk, Virginia. “I train wrestling, stand-up, kick-boxing and ground and pound with Johnny and I feel like I’m in the best condition of my life. It’s time to take my training seriously and see if I can succeed in MMA.” says Brett, “The end goal is to go professional.” Brett has competed in the Copa Nova Grappling championships where he’s gone 4-0 and had his first fight last May.


This Saturday in his second amateur MMA match, he faces David Oversteet, who he knows little about. “I’m told he’s a stand-up guy. Sometimes it’s good to know nothing about your opponent, so you can prepare for everything. I’m ready for an early blitz.” Brett faced an early blitz in his first match at Xtreme Cage Rage, but he quickly returned fire, got his opponent’s back and ended the fight by rear naked choke at 1:24 in the first round.


Not everything has been that easy for Brett as he transitions to fighting. He’s already had to cancel a fight for next month. “I had to cancel a fight I had planned in August because of a conflict with my daughter's birthday. The fight with my wife would have been worse than anything I might of faced in the cage.”


Lights Out Combat happens this Saturday, June 23rd, at Marshall Community Center in Marshall, VA. Doors open at 6:00pm. Pre-sale tickets are available now, call Jamie Clegg at 540.229.8918 or Ronnie Rodriguez at 703.906.0985 to purchase your tickets in advance. The card features Bryan Robey of Gold Medal Grappling in a 135 lb title fight as well as 16 other amateur men’s and women’s bouts.


- Jim Kirkland

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

UFC Legend camps come to Manassas

http://manassas.patch.com/articles/ufc-legend-leads-wrestling-self-defense-and-mma-camps-in-manassas