Travis Lizotte "Full Contact Writer"
We have made our excursion to the outskirts of Boston and to the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, Massachusetts as Joe Cavallaro and company bring us Combat FC 4. Opening bell is due to sound at 6:30 pm local time and Combat FC 4 goes live on UFC Fight Pass at 8 pm. Follow this article throughout the evening as New England MMA keeps you covered round by round and up to the minute of all the goings on here at Combat FC 4.
One update to the original card to report ahead of opening bell; Kemran Lachinov was forced to withdraw from his bout with Sam Watford, that fight has been scrapped.
Steve Hill (1-0) v. Josh Smith (1-1)
Amateur Welterweight
Round 1: Smith comes out and gets an early takedown. Hill is active from the bottom but Smith is strong from the top. Hill finally gets to his feet against the cage but is dumped as the round ends. 10-9 Smith.
Round 2: Hill comes out throwing and Smith shoots and takes him down. Hill moves to full mount and is landing some ground and pound. Smith scrambles but Hill remains on top. Smith lands some heavy ground and pound and moves to side control. Smith finishes the round on top. 10-9 Smith.
Round 3: Smith shoots and Hill grabs a guillotine but Smith defends...they scramble and Smith ends up on top. Smith ends up in mount and is landing heavy ground and pound. Bryan Miner is taking a closer look. Smith ends this on on top and in control. 10-9 Smith.
Decision: Josh Smith defeats Steve Hill by Unanimous Decision.
Pedro Baez (0-1) v. Sean Nichols (Debut)
Amateur Bantamweight
Round 1: Nichols comes out behind combinations as he backs Pedro to the fence. Pedro grabs a kick attempt and comes forward connecting with the cup of Nichols. On the restart Sean connects with a combination and Baez returns with one of his own. Baez clinches and ends up in the guard of Nichols. Baez scrambles to the back but Nichols escapes out the back door to the top. Sean presses Baez into the corner and lands some ground and pound as the round ends. 10-9 Nichols.
Round 2: Nichols comes out aggressive to the smell of blood and Pedro desperately pulls guard on a guillotine and Nichols works from the top. Pedro gives his back to stand and Nichols locks in a deep Rear Naked Choke for the tap.
Decision: Sean Nichols defeats Pedro Baez by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:15 of the second round.
Jarrod St. Jean (2-1) v. Tristan Wood (1-0)
Amateur Lightweight
Round 1: Jarrod comes out behind kicks and Tristan comes back with a combination of his own and Jarrod clinches. Tristan turns the action and they clinch on the cage. Jarrod changes levels but cannot land the takedown and they return to striking range. Wood is definitely getting the better of the striking game as St. Jean clinches as the round ends. 10-9 Wood.
Round 2: Tristan Wood establishes the center of the cage to begin the second. Wood knocks St. Jean to the canvas where he works ground and pound but Jarrod returns to his feet and gets a takedown albeit briefly. Wood goes to work again with strikes as Jarrod circles into space. St. Jean ends the round with a flurry of strikes. 10-9 St. Jean.
Round 3: Wood gets the hands going to open the third and Jarrod answers with some shots. They scramble to the ground and Tristan ends up on top. They return to the feet and Tristan lands some shots and one hurts the eye of Jarrod. Tristan knocks Jarrod to the canvas and ends the round on top. 10-9 Wood.
Decision: Tristan Wood defeats Jarrod St. Jean by Split Decision.
Yann Oliveira (3-0) v. Stephen Stengel (6-22)
Middleweight
Round 1: Stengel comes out with two Pushkin attempts and Yann lands a thunderous takedown. Yann works from half guard as he starts unleashing hammerfists. Yann transitions to mount and lands more punnishment. Stengel gives his back to stop the onslaught and Oliveira sinks in the RNC for the tap.
Decision: Yann Oliveira defeats Stephen Stengel by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:40 of the first round.
Leo Laderia (2-3) v. Robert Wusstig (7-13)
Lightweight
Round 1: Leo comes out behind leg kicks as Robert looks to establish a jab. Wusstig clinches and Ladeira looks for the back against the cage before they split. Wusstig takes another leg kick and changes his stance. Leo is using his length well here as Wusstig is having trouble closing distance. Leo looks to connect with the hands now and Wusstig launches a leg kick underneath the strikes. Wusstig shoots and takes a shot on the way in but they clinch against the cage. Wusstig works to get the hands together and finishes the double leg. Wusstig ends up on top as Leo throws up submission attempts. Wusstig finishes the round on top. 10-9 Wusstig.
Round 2: Round 2 starts slow with more feeling out of distance as Robert throws a superman punch that's off the mark. Leo slips on a high kick attempt and Wusstig hops on top and again works from the top. Leo looks comfortable here with Wusstig in his guard but it's Wusstig thats scoring with shots hammerfist. Wusstig stands as Leo looks to land upkicks. Wusstig then returns to the top position where he finishes the round. 10-9 Wusstig.
Round 3: Leo comes out and establishes the center of the stage in the third before Wusstig clinches again against the cage. Wusstig works between the high crotch and switiches to the double leg for the takedown. Wusstig works his way to mount and postures up for some ground and pound. Leo looks to shrimp out but Wusstig is landing heavy ground and pound. Leo gives his back to stop the onslaught and Wusstig takes his neck.
Decision: Robert Wusstig defeats Leo Ladeira by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:15 of the third round.
Jorge Vega (0-1) v. Alex Davidson (1-2)
Heavyweight
Round 1: Davidson comes out behind the jab and Vega connects with the cup early. They trade kicks on the restart and Vega gets in on a takedown. Davidson is right back to his feet but gets dumped once again by Vega. This time Vega works to the back of Davidson and is threatening the choke. Davidson spins in and takes over top control now. Davidson works to side control and is looking for the Kimura. Vega defends but is eating heavy ground and pound for his troubles. Davidson attempts several more key locks before finishing the round on top landing ground and pound. 10-9 Davidson.
Round 2: Vega comes forward from the bell but he looks tired. Vega lands a left hook and Davidson lands a power double leg and ends up in side control. Alex reefs on the neck and Jorge taps to a neck crank.
Decision: Alex Davidson defeats Jorge Vega by Submission (Neck Crank) at :48 seconds of the second round.
Gerry Meuse (4-0) v. Paul Teague (1-6)
Welterweight
Round 1: Teague comes out spinning with errant strikes, Meuse rolls for the heel and Teague taps instantly.
Decision: Gerald Meuse defeats Paul Teague by Submission (Heel Hook) at :18 seconds of the first round.
Dylan Lockard (6-2) v. Patrick Benson (5-6)
Lightweight
Round 1: Benson begins the action with a leg kick they exchange combinations and Lockard rocks Patrick with a shot. Benson shakes it off and they continue at striking distance. Both guys seem to be finding a home for the jab as Dylan lands some dirty boxing. Dylan lands a right hand clean that separates Benson from consciousness. Walk off KO Dylan Lockard!
Decision: Dylan Lockard defeats Patrick Benson by KO (Right Hand) at 2:36 of the first round.
Jake Pilla (3-0) v. Daniel Gary (0-2)
Catchweight (140 lbs.)
Round 1: Jake comes out with a high kick attempt that was off the mark, Gary launches a flying knee and Pilla dumps him on the canvas and Jake harvests the arm of Gary, Gorilla Crew rejoices!
Decision: Jake Pilla defeats Daniel Gary by Submission (Straight Armbar) at :17 seconds of the first round.
Aaron Trecell (3-3) v. Sage Philippe (2-4)
Welterweight
Round 1: Sage lands a couple nice jabs to kick this one off and Aaron lands a kick to the body. These guys are throwing heavy early here. Unfortunately the next heavy strike from Sage lands to the cup. On the restart they trade huge combinations and Trecell is rocking Sage. Sage shoots and gets the takedown along the cage wall. Sage works from the guard of Trecell and Aaron is doing a great job of keeping the action close. Aaron throws up high guard looking for a submissin to open up but Sage is wise to it. Aaron uses a heel hook attempt to stand before bing dumped at the bell. 10-9 Philippe.
Round 2: Aaron comes out landing heavy hands backing Sage into the corner, Sage shoots for the takedown and Philippe ends up on top where we spent most of the first round. Aaron is comfortable defending from guard but takes a while before returning to his feet. Both fighters return to their feet looking tired, Aaron catches a lazy kick from Sage and backs him to the cage. They split. Round 2 ends with kicks and a flurry from Trecell. 10-9 Philippe.
Round 3: Round 3 begins with an exchange of strikes as Aaron settles in behind leg kicks. Aaron puts together two right hands that have Sage shooting in desperation and Aaron finally stuffs the takedown. Now Trecell connects with the cup of Philippe. Trecell begins the restart with strikes and they clinch against the cage. This one ends with Trecell looking for a takedown. 10-9 Trecell
Decision: Sage Philippe defeats Aaron Trecell by Unanimous Decision
Bekzod (7-0) v. Derik de Freitas (2-5)
Welterweight
Wifi cut out before this fight...Bekzod puts on a Wrestling clinic and stopsde Freitas with Ground and Pound.
Decision: Bekzod defeats Derik de Freitas by TKO in just over 2 minutes.
Going to have to go with live updates from my phone the rest of the night stick with us!
Randy Costa (6-4) v. Carlos Espinosa (6-8)
Featherweight
Round 1: Randy punishes Carlos with right hands and Knees in the clinch and somehow Espinosa initially survives...more one way traffic is too much for Espinosa to handle and he folds on the fence.
Decision: Randy Costa defeats Carlos Espinosa by TKO (Stirkes) at :58 seconds of the first round.
Nate Ghareeb (8-2) v. Jair Junior (7-4)
Lightweight Championship
Round 1: Nate starts the action with snappy kicks to the legs of Junior before clinching Jair against the fence. Jair turns the action and they briefly go the the canvas but pop right back up. Jair pulls guard to get this fight to the canvas as Ghareeb works from top position. Nate lands some short elbows from the top before standing again. The return to the feet begins with Ghareeb landing some strikes. Jair wants none of the striking as he pulls guard again and Nate presses him in to the fence. Round 1 ends with Nate in complete control. 10-9 Ghareeb.
Round 2: Nate backs Jair to the fence with strikes and again Junior wants to pull guard. Ghareeb continues to beat Jair into the fence. Nate backs away and looks to strike...Jair has nothing to offer Nate on the feet and that is glaring here in the first two rounds. Jair clinches and has Ghareeb on the fence but is turned by Nate. Nate backs off to striking distance again and continues to pick Junior apart further. Junior goes for a late takedown and Ghareeb stuffs as the round ends. 10-9 Ghareeb.
Round 3: Nate comes out with a combination and this time Jair counters with a right hand that gets Nate's attention. But that's short lived as Ghareeb settle back into the pick apart your opponent game. Nate is landing at will and Junior shoots and is stuffed by Ghareeb. Junior is offering zero resistance here as Nate clowns him. Jair is absorbing shots but somehow will not fold. 10-8 Ghareeb.
Round 4: Nate comes out the much fresher fighter in the fourth as the cage side doctor took a look at Junior between rounds. More bag work for Nate here before Jair pulls guard standing once again. And the crowd begins to voice its displeasure with Juniors stalling. More one way striking sends Junior to the mat. When he refuses to return to his feet Bryan Miner stops the fight.
Decision: Nate Ghareeb defeats Jair Junior by TKO (Unanswered Strikes) at 3:00 of the fourth round.
Nate Ghareeb is the first ever Combat FC Lightweight Champion!
