Fightnews New Mexico Boxing.com

SCHULTE WINS KotC TITLE!
Christianson Gives Severn a Fight

cageside report and photos by chris cozzone

King of the Cage returned Saturday night to New Mexico for a card at Tingley Coliseum that brought out the state’s top mixed martial arts fighters.

In a battle for the 155-pound King of the Cage world title, Albuquerque Jackson’s fighter Thomas Schulte (8-1) had formerly-undefeated John Mahlow (16-1) tapping out at 2:41 with an armbar.

Mahlow started out strong, taking Schulte down and landing a solid right, but Schulte was able to reverse the action and maneuver an armbar that halted the action at 2:41 of the 1^st.

Schulte joins Alberto Crane as King of the Cage champions. Earlier this year, Crane beat out Javier Vasquez for the lightweight belt.

In the main event of last night’s card, living legend Dan “the Beast” Severn was challenged by another Jackson fighter, “Big” Dan Christianson (4-3) who’d lost a controversial decision to Severn last year in Juarez.

Once again, the fight was close.

While Christianson made the fight, taking all the risks and coming at Severn, it was the grappling vet who took the fight to the ground, controlling the action on the canvas.

Christianson opened up the action with kicks and strikes but Severn took him down. Still, Big Dan was able to score a reversal that had Severn’s forehead slamming into one of the padded poles along the bottom of the cage. Despite the pads, a bloody gash opened up on Severn’s forehead and after a five-minute rest, the fight resumed.

Christianson finished the round strongly, landing punches before Severn tied up.

Christianson was in bad shape in the 2^nd, noticeably gasping for air. Severn let him off the hook, letting him recuperate and keeping the fight on their feet. Although not especially aggressive, Severn did enough to win the round.

Round Three saw Christianson start strong but the fight, once again, went to the canvas where Severn was strongest.

Scorecards read: 89-88 Severn; 90-86 Christianson; 89-84 Severn, giving the veteran the split decision win.

In one of the four feature fights, Farmington’s Joey Villasenor (10-2) took care of Joe Merritt (12-7) from Atlanta, GA in the 1^st.

Villasenor hammered Merritt with shots from above while on the mat, and when the action brought them to their feet, lifted Merritt up and slammed him down on the canvas where he pummeled and elbowed him until the ref stopped the action at 4:06.

Orlando, FL’s Paul Rodriguez (9-3) won by submission over Phoenix’s Adam Durant (6-3).

Rodriguez attempted takedowns early on but Durant controlled the action with several kicks to his head and chest; then reversed a takedown. Rodriguez, however, was able to turn the tables and straddling atop a facedown Durant, pummeled him with punches before submitting him with a rear naked choke hold at 4:29.

Jackson fighter from Albuquerque Keith Jardine (8-1) took the fight to a less-willing George Allen from Atlanta, winning the unanimous.

Jardine was all knees and punches in the 1^st, nearly taking Allen out with an armbar. Allen was able to squeeze out of it but seemed unwilling to engage in serious exchanges.

In the 2^nd, Allen was too tired to do anything but survive the aggressive Jardine, who tried a multitude of attacks. Near the end of the round, Allen let Jardine take him down. Jardine piggybacked Allen and was on his way to taking him out with blows when the round ended.

Scorecards read 60-55 and 60-54 twice, all for Jardine.

In the opening feature fight, Diego Sanchez from Jackson’s remained undefeated with a powerful win over Denmark’s Rene Kronbold (1-1).

Kronbold gave Sanchez a fight, and landed a right hand that, by the conclusion, nearly closed Sanchez’s right eye. But he was no match for the forceful Sanchez, who controlled the fight, landing blows on the canvas before taking Kronbold out via armbar at 3:39.

Sanchez will fight for the 175-pound world title on August 2^nd when King of the Cage returns, this time to Sky City Casino.

Undercard results:

Fletcher Sievers (1-0) won his pro debut with a triangle choke hold over Albuquerque’s Tyrell McElroy (0-2). Time: 1:58 of the 1^st.

Tempe, AZ’s Mike Mendoza (14-0) remains undefeated with a win by armbar over Alamogordo’s Victor Hernandez (4-3) at :49 of the 1^st.

Las Cruces/Carlsbad fighter Jimmy Westfall won at 1:49 of the 1^st with a rear naked choke hold over Eric McElroy (1-2).

Albuquerque’s Josh Pacheco (0-1) lost his pro debut when Tempe’s Santino De Marco (1-2) won by triangle choke hold at :39 of the 1^st.

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photos by chris cozzone

SEVERN VS. CHRISTIANSON