Gomez taps out to Bedford
Jackson's MMA Series continues at Hard Rock

Cageside report by Gerardo Martinez
Photos by Jose Leon Castillo III

You win some, you lose some.

Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in the third edition of Jacksons MMA Series, all of the Jackson fighters won - except one. That "one" being Albuquerque's Frank Gomez who was unable to get the win in front of the close to 2,000 hometown fans. All the rest of his teammates came out victorious.

When fighting in someone's hometown you don't want to leave it up to the judges; Fort Worth's Johnny Bedford (17-9) was determined to go home early, with a win.

He came out with his stand-up game, connected with overhand rights and proceeded to take down Albuquerque's Frank Gomez (8-3).

Once on the ground, Bedford and Gomez tussled for control. As Gomez attempted to roll his opponent over Bedford managed to lock in a rear naked choke hold.

Gomez tapped out at 1:34 of the first round to end the 135lb contest. "I came here and got it" said Bedford after the announcer asked him about the win. And the judges, well they had to trash their scorecards because Bedford left them nothing to add up.

Kedzie wins decision

Predicting that it would be a three round battle in the pre-fight interview displayed on the screens inside the Hard Rock showroom was Julie Kedzie (15-8). And her prediction was correct. Kedzie and her opponent, Washington's Sarah D'Alelio, battled for three rounds in the 135-pound division.

D'Alelio was the aggressor in the first round and even seemed to stun the Jacksons MMA fighter with a straight right. Kedzie held on and tried to take down D'Alelio towards the end of the round.

Kedzie took control in the second after an attempted take down by D'Alelio backfired on her. Kedzie got in a couple of shots from up top, but D'Alelio had a good defense and avoided any more. D'Alelio attempted an arm bar at the end of the second, but time ran out before she could lock it in.

It might of been the altitude or it might of been the relentless attack of Kedzie that caused D'Alelio to look winded in the third and final round. Fans inside the showroom would probably agree with the latter. Kedzie brought it on with her stand up game and D'Alelio intelligently tried to take it to the ground, but Kedzie got right back up. She connected with shots to the head of her opponent as the horn sounded for the end of the contest.

After three the judges saw it 29-28 and 30-27 twice for Kedzie. "It was all my corner" said Kedzie in the cage after the fight. She also mentioned she was considering a move to the 125 lb. division.

Brandoa submits Villa

Looking a bit shy in the cage was Jacksons MMA import Diego Brandao (12-7) as his opponent Richard Villa (6-4) of Roswell came at him with everything he had.

Brandao took down Villa, but Villa got up and out. Brandao went for another take down, this time successful. Villa lost his mouthpiece on the ground and the referee untangled both fighters to allow Villa's corner to put his mouthpiece back in. Brandao and some fans in the building were furious at the referee. The ref repositioned the fighters, but Brandao was unable to do anything before the horn blew.

Brandao was the opposite of shy in the second landing hard rights to the head of Villa, picking him up and trying to take him down. Villa blocked the takedown. But Brandao was eventually successful in his pursuit. He landed some hammerfists from up top, but Villa stood up again. Brandao would take down Villa once more before locking in a rear naked choke hold causing Villa to tap out at 3:31 of the second round and end the 155-pound contest. Brandao took his time in releasing the hold showing his frustration with Villa and the referee.

After the fight, Villa refused to shake hands with his opponent, but later relented. "The win calmed me down" said the Brazilian in a post fight interview.

Lester dismantles Lanier

Frank Lester (6-4), the Ultimate Fighter season 9 participant, took his time in dismantling the lanky Josh Lanier (2-4). His Jacksons MMA teammates, Diego Sanchez and Donald Cerrone, who were urging him on from cageside all throughout the first round wasted their voices because Lester allowed his opponent to land some shots. The first round was like a boxing match with neither man attempting to take it to the ground. Lester was done playing around in the second. He upped his aggressiveness and drove his opponent towards the cage where he landed some hard punches to the face of Lanier. Seeing his opponent a bit dazed, Lester went right at him with more bombs and took him to the ground. It was there that Lester unleashed the beast and swung away at Lanier before the referee stopped the contest at 2:32 of the second round giving Lester the TKO win on punches.

Roberts chokes out Madrid

Making his professional debut a successful one in the 170lb division was Albuquerque's Clint Roberts (1-0) who took care of his more experienced opponent, Matt Madrid (2-3) of Silver City, with a triangle choke at 3:08 of the first round. Madrid was not an easy opponent as he took down Roberts twice in the round. Roberts used his opponents aggressiveness attempting to lock in an arm bar from his bottom position and eventually settling for the triangle choke.

Amateur card results:

In a 205-pound contest Lionel Lanham (3-0) took out Silver City’s Robert Rivera (6-3) with a flurry of hammerfists and won by TKO at 0:33 seconds of the first round.

Going three action packed rounds at 145 pounds were Bregan Wood (2-0) and Freddie Crosby (3-2) with Wood taking the majority decision win.

In a 155-pound contest Tim Dennison (2-1) won by tap out against Pueblo’s Adam Soto (3-4) at 2:40 of the first round.

At 185, Adam Gonzales (1-0) took a unanimous decision win with scores of 30-27 times three against Pueblos’s Jose Caro (3-4).

In a 135-pound contest Johann Perez (Jacksons MMA) (3-0) won by tap out at 2:30 of the first round against Ray Orozco (1-4) of Pueblo, CO.

Bonus pics