Travis Lizotte "Full Contact Writer"
Plymouth Memorial Hall it's great to be inside you! We are here for Cage Titans 53, opening bell is due at 6pm, follow along with this article throughout the night for live round by round updates!
I will never get tired of hearing Mr. Harry Jones sing the National Anthem at Cage Titans events.
Main Card
Don Shainis (12-3, Glory MMA) vs Brice Picaud (9-6, Lion Fight Team)
Featherweight Title Main Event
Round 1: They come out firing early and Don shoots across the cage for a take down but Brice stuffs, Brice returns fire with a shot that stumbles Shainis who now shoots desperately for a takedown but cannot land it. Don now knocks Picaud to the mat where he does to work from top control with plenty of time to do some damage. Shinis is landing some nice short shots in close as Picaud looks to survive this onslaught. Don is very heavy on top and Picaud cannot seem to shake him as Don continues to pour it on on the ground. Don gains full mount and its raining hammer fist inside Plymouth Memorial Hall as Picaud tries to survive fists and elbows but he cannot make it until the end of the round before Steve Rita has seen enough.
Decision: Don Shainis defeats Brice Picaud by TKO (Ground and Pound) at 4:20 of the first round to capture the Cage Titans Featherweight title and likely earn him a call up to the big show!
Sean Lally (8-6, Kill Combat) vs Matt Denning (5-13, Independent)
Catchweight (165 lbs.)
Round 1: Lally comes out throwing bombs off the glove touch before taking Denning down against the fence and is looking to mount some offence when Dennings finger comes unglued...Denning holds up a mangled left hand and the referee stops the fight.
Decision: Sean Lally defeats Matt Denning by TKO (injury, Broken Finger) at 1:02 of the first round.
Justin Burrill (3-2, South Shore Sportfighting) vs Trevor Gudde (3-2, Citadel)
Welterweight
Round 1: Justin clinches early to avoid the length of Gudde and they do to the ground where Gudde sinks in a triangle choke, it takes some work but eventually Gudde get's the angle on an armbar and sinks it deep and Burrill is forced to tap.
Decision: Trevor Gudde defeats Justin Burrill by Submission (Armbar) at 1:31 of the first round.
Brendan Battles (1-1, Loco Lobo) vs Fred Grey (Debut, MOC)
Heavyweight
Round 1: Fred comes out striking and Battles takes him down and already has a hook in. Grey goes flat and Battles postures up and smashes Grey's head into oblivion, garnering the referee stoppage.
Decision: Brendan Battles defeats Fred Grey by TKO (Ground and Pound) at 1:00 in the first round...and it was never close!
Arthur Mpofu (5-3, SBG Alabama) vs Marcel Romero (3-0, G&G Wrestling)
Amateur Featherweight Title
Round 1: Arthur starts out throwing kicks before closing the distance and looking to take Romero down against the cage. Romero turns the action briefly before they split to striking range. Arthur is letting the hands go but doing a great job of staying at range and masking his takedown attempts. Arthur picks Marcel up high and slams him to the canvas where he looks to work from top position for the remainder of the first round. 10-9 Mpofu
Round 2: Arthur comes out firing more lengthy strikes and is greeted by two missing wheel kicks from Romero as Romero starts to let his striking go a little. Arthur closes the distance but eats several knees to the body for his troubles and Marcel ends up connecting with the cup of Mpofu how is in clear pain on the canvas. Steve Rita will give Mpofu time to recover. Marcel gets he action started after the break with a high kick that glances off its target and it looks like Romero is starting to like the kicking game here. They scramble to the fence as the round ends. 10-9 Mpofu.
Round 3: Marcel comes out in high guard and absorbs some shots from Mpofu before launching an offensive of his own that has Arthur on his back foot. Romero is starting to lead the dance here as Arthur looks for the jab to keep the distance. Arthur picks Romero up once again and slams him to the canvas where Romero looks for a kimura from bottom before closing his guard with Arthur finishing the round on top. 10-9 Mpofu.
Round 4: The pace slows a little to begin the championship rounds but its not long before they clinch on the cage with Marcel looking for the takedown against the fence. they return to striking range and Marcel is backing Arthur down, once against the fence Romero lands some knees in the clinch but is having trouble finding the takedown as the round ends. 10-9 Romero.
Round 5: Romero comes out and backs Arthur to the fence and they clinch but Arthur lands to the cup of Marcel and there is a stop in the action. Arthur comes out behind the jab on the restart but Romero is still doing a get job cutting off the cage and controlling the pace of this round. Arthur comes forward for a takedown and has Marcel against the fence but Romero looks for the back and Arthur fights him off and lands a takedown of his own in close. Arthur finishes the round on top controlling Marcel down the stretch to the final bell. 10-9 Mpofu. Really close fucking fight here. Last round could go either way.
Decision: Marcel Romero defeats Arthur Mpofu by Decision ( 48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to capture the Cage Titans Amateur Featherweight title!
Jack Congdon (4-0, Lakeville MMA) vs Shane Dillehay (2-1, Triforce MMA)
Amateur Welterweight Title
Round 1: Shane comes out and wastes little time changing levels and looking for the takedown but the champion Congdon stuffs. It's clear Shane wants none of Jack on the feet as he looks to shoot again and Jack ends up on top in half guard. Congdon gains side control and is landing hammer fists and Shane is in all out defense mode now as Jack looks 100% in control here. Dillehay rolls for a leg but Congdon ends up in mount landing heavy ground and pound. The referee lets Shane take some shots but eventually stops this one-sided affair.
Decision: Jack Congdon defeats Shane Dillehay by TKO (Ground and Pound) at 2:55 of the first round. Jack Congdon retains his Cage Titans Amateur Welterweight Title in dominant fashion!
Undercard
Kyle Pufahl (3-0, NOSTOS MMA) vs Miguel Sevasin (2-2-1, Lakeville MMA)
Amateur Lightweight Title
Round 1: They touch gloves and come out throwing haymakers and they are tagging each other early but it looks like Pufahl is getting the best of Miguel as Sevasin tries to retreat but Kyle is on him like stink on shit. This is a fucking fire fight...too many strikes to call here. Action slows briefly as Miguel shoots but Kyle is stuffing Miguel's takedown attempt and eventually gets his own takedown and back take as the round ends. 10-9 Pufahl.
Round 2: Kyle comes out with a combination that drops Miguel and Pufahl's power shots are landing. Sevasin shoots for a takedown and somehow connects with the cup of Pufahl who is given time to recover. The action restarts with Miguel coming forward with bombs as Kyle covers up and looks to return fire...Kyle gets caught again and this time he is hurt. The referee takes a closer look and calls this fight off as Kyle needs the the cage wall to remain standing....FIGHT OF THE NIGHT SO FAR! WOW
Decision: Miguel Sevasin defeats Kyle Pufahl by TKO (Punches) at 1:52 of the second round to capture the Cage Titans Amateur Lightweight Title.
Andrew Valdina (4-2, Lauzon MMA) vs Tyler Stevens (8-4, SBG Alabama)
Amateur Bantamweight
Round 1: The rush out and meet in the center of the cage and Stevens closes the distance and looks to take Valdina down along the fence. Stevens hits a knee on the break and we are back at striking range with both men throwing heat before Stevens lands another takedown and has top control. Stevens works from half guard and eventually to mount where he postures up and looks for ground and pound as the round ends. 10-9 Stevens.
Round 2: Valdina comes out with purpose in the second landing a combination and bulldozing Stevens to the ground where he lands some ground and pound and gains the back of Stevens. Stevens defends and gets back to his feet as Valdina shoots for another takedown and in the scramble Stevens catches him in an armbar that forces Valdina to tap.
Decision: Tyler Stevens defeats Andrew Valdina by Submission (Armbar) at 1:11 of the second round.
Brendon Boates (1-0, South Short Sportfighting) vs Gage Looby (0-8, Gym X)
Amateur Catchweight
Round 1: Looby comes out and closes the distance and gets Boates to the mat briefly but it may have been a slip, Boates uses a guillotine to return to his feet before getting a takedown of his own. Boates gets Looby mounted and pounds him into the canvas before sinking in a kimura to garner the tap.
Decision: Brendon Boates defeats Gage Looby by Submission (Kimura) at 1:37 of the very first round.
Looby came out cocky as fuck and got his ass beat by a 45 year old man...real talk...you don't play MMA HOMIE!
Anthony Rivera (0-3, TnT MMA) vs Phil LoCigno (0-2, Sityodtong)
Amateur Featherweight
Round 1: LoCigno comes out and pushes Rivera to the cage wall where he gets him to the canvas quick and is working from top control. Rivera gives his neck to try to stand and LoCigno grabs the guillotine. LoCigno is going back and forth between gound and pound and Guillotine attempts before sinking the Guillotine in deep for the tap.
Decision: Phil LoCigno defeats Anthony Rivera by Submission (Guillotine) at 1:51 of the first found.
John Payne (0-3, Lauzon MMA) vs Jonif Tucker (0-3, Gym X)
Amateur Catchweight (140 lbs.)
Round 1: Payne takes the glove touch and puts Tucker against the cage where he takes him down quickly hops on the turtleing Tucker and pounds him into the canvas.
Decision: John Payne defeats Jonif Tucker by TKO (Gound and Pound) at :33 seconds of the very first round.
Pedro Baez (0-0, Ironbody MMA) vs Neil Mazumdar (1-1, Sityodtong)
Amateur Flyweight
Round 1: Neil comes out swingin and avoids the glove touch, Baez comes back with a combination of his own and takes Neil to the canvas with a thunderous double leg. Pedro works from the top before allowing Neil back to his feet. It's short lived however as Pedro backs Neil to the cage and gets another takedown and is once again working ground and pound from the top. Pedro is really working the ground and pound while also threatening submissions as the round comes to and end. 10-9 Baez.
Round 2: Neil looks to strike to begin the second but Baez closes distance and looks for another takedown but its Mazumdar that trips his way to the canvas and ends up on top. Pedro gives his back looking to stand and Neil hops on looking to turn the tide in this one. Neil sinks his right forearm under the chin of Baez and he forces the tap. Great back and forth fight to get us going here. Baez did not look like a debuter in the first round but Mazumdar used his experiance in the second to get the job done.
Decision: Neil Mazumdar defeats Pedro Baez by submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:02 of the second round.
