After a very successful 2012, V3fights will be kicking off 2013 with a heavyweight title fight at Minglewood Hall on January 19. Also, a new crop of fighters will be displayed to the V3 “Legion.”
The main event will feature undefeated Heavyweight Champion, Chase Sherman, taking on the undefeated interim heavyweight champion, Jason Ostrowski. These are the top two heavyweights in the region and this fight Read more »
In recent years the bully epidemic amongst school kids and beyond has grown exponentially. As this problem continues to escalate on an international level, former IBA World Cruiserweight Champion and current BKB World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Gunn has stepped forward to address the issue.
“Bullying has become a disease that is slowly killing innocent kids,” said Gunn. “Parents, teachers and authoritative figures need to be proactive in spreading awareness on how bullying can be dealt with the right way to ensure it does not progress to a deadly level. Although bullying is a disease, it can be cured.”
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Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn makes his way to James “Lights Out” Toney During a heated moment in their press conference on Wednesday February 22 at the Landers Center in Southaven, MS. Photo By JD Meredith
Things heated up Wednesday during a press conference for James Toney and Bobby Gunn’s upcoming April 7, 2012, IBA Heavyweight Title Fight at the Landers Center in Southaven, MS.
The tension began shortly after the first mention of Bobby Gunn as the Bare Knuckle Champion–at which Toney laughed loudly. (Gunn has been inactive from the squared circle since his title fight against Tomasz Adamek in September of 2009, a fight he lost due to a premature stoppage. Since, Gunn has stepped away from the gloved sport and has focused on the reemergence of bare knuckle boxing.) Read more »
Report By Michael Sheffield, Post Fight Interviews by Tracy Morin, Memphisboxing.com
The 10-Round NABO Jr. Welterweight Championship between Karim Mayfield and Patrick Lopez was everything the crowd at The Fitz has come to expect over the event’s history. After a slow start, Mayfield (14-0-1 10 KOs) and Lopez (20-4 12 KOs) would open the third round wrestling into the ropes. Lopez would leave the exchange with a cut over his left eye that bled and threatened to derail the fight. However, his corner would do an outstanding job stopping the bleeding throughout the fight.
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MEMPHIS, TN – Prize Fight makes a triumphant return on October 1st as it presents the latest installment of “Fights at the Fitz” from the Grand Ballroom at Fitzgerald’s Hotel & Casino in Tunica, MS. There have been many first class line ups featuring many world class boxers during the impressive seven year run of the “Fights at the Fitz” series, but the October 1st show may showcase the best match-up ever during this record breaking series. Boxing fans are in for an amazing fight as undefeated rising prospect Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield 14-0-1 (9 KO’s) meets former two-time Venezuelan Olympian Patrick Lopez 20-4 (12 KO’s) for the vacant NABO Jr. Welterweight Championship. Read more »
Andre Berto | Photo by Scott Foster
By Tracy Morin @ ringside, Memphisboxing.com
Despite a tropical depression swelling on the Gulf Coast, a lively and vocal crowd gathered at the Beau Rivage Theatre at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, for the card billed “Battle in Biloxi,” with seven fights designed to test several prospects, including four undefeated fighters, and showcase a few cagey veterans.
Slovenian-born Jan Zaveck (31-1, 18 KOs), who fights out of Germany, brought a substantial supporting crowd for his U.S. debut, where his IBF welterweight belt was on the line vs. Andre “the Beast” Berto (27-1, 21 KOs), who was coming off his first loss, against Victor Ortiz in April. However, Zaveck couldn’t turn the significant audience support into a win over Berto, who lived up to his nickname by coming out aggressively and showing off his speed and power. Berto has faced some criticism–namely, that he doesn’t sell tickets because he isn’t exciting to watch, or that he can’t fight on the inside–and apparently wanted to use this fight to prove otherwise by letting his hands go, engaging in vigorous exchanges and staying busy throughout. Luckily for fans, Zaveck also came to engage, making for an exciting contest.
BILOXI, Miss. (August 5, 2011) – There will be no rest this Labor Day weekend for two of the best welterweights in the world. On September 3, reigning IBF welterweight champion Jan Zaveck comes to America to put his IBF welterweight title on the line against former WBC champion Andre Berto from the Beau Rivage Theatre at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Read more »
On the second 100-degree day of 2011, V3 fights brought its own kind of heat during its June event at Minglewood Hall. Fans escaped the heat of a late Memphis spring outside to experience 10 battles on a card that included three championship bouts.
Three of V3’s champions would put their titles on the line Saturday night, and two of them would leave the cage without their titles.
V3 fan favorite Chantain Wasion (5-1) would put his lightweight championship on the line against the undefeated up and comer, Sammy Lua (10-0) in a scheduled 5-round bout. Read more »
By: JD Meredith, MemphisMMA.com
Above: Referee Dave Ferguson Holds Up The Hand Of Chantein Wasion After Wasion Captures The V3 Lightweight Championship From Tripp Carter. Photo By JD Meredith, MemphisMMA.Com
V3 Fights rocked an electrified capacity crowd in the FedExForum Lobby, Saturday, August 14th. Prior to the kickoff of the event, fans were giving access to fighters for snapshots and autographs.
The main event of the evening showcased V3 Lightweight Champion Tripp Carter (21st Century) and number one contender Chantein Wasion (CTO) in a fight labeled as the most anticipated rematch in V3 Fights’ history. In their initial fight, Wasion suffered a fight stopping cut which deferred victory to Carter, who secured the V3 Lightweight Belt.
In round one of the main event both fighters began circling one another in the center of the cage. Wasion threw first but didn’t land. Carter struck first with a front kick and both then landed near synchronous left hands. After tangling up, Carter then took Waison to the canvas where the fight remained throughout the round.
Above: Wasion (l) and Carter exchange left hands as the brawl in a Title rematch Saturday night at the FedExForum. Photo by JD Meredith, MemphisMMA.com
In the second stanza Wasion quickly took Carter to the canvas, where the fighters worked, again, throughout the round. Wasion, in dominant position, was able to get some shots off as his corner implored him to posture up and strike.
Above: V3 Lightweight Champion lands a kick in his rematch with Chantein Wasion. Photo by JD Meredith, MemphisMMA.com
In round three the champion appeared to be the stronger and fresher fighter. Carter dominated with effective stand-up striking and connected with big right hands sending Wasion reeling against the cage. Wasion appeared to be in trouble from the start of the round but did manage to bring Carter to the canvas and halt his assault. With seconds left in the fight and both fighters gassed, Wasion dug deep. Chan’DA’man, slipped around behind the Champion and locked in a rear naked choke. Carter tapped out seconds later just before the final round expired.
Above Referee Dave Ferguson Officiate the Carter/Wasion Rematch at V3 Fights August 14 at the FedexForum in Downtown memphis, TN. Photo by JD Meredith, MemphisMMA.com
Wasion rose to his knees, celebrated briefly, then fell back to the canvas in sheer exhaustion. Carter graciously stood and helped lift the new V3 Lightweight Champion to his feet.
Above: Chantein Wasion defeats Tripp Carter to Capture v3 Light Crown.
Photo by JD Meredith, MemphisMMA.com
Wasion brought to his knees
While the main event was engaging, nothing could prepare fight fans for the engagement that came next. As Chan’DA’man celebrated the V3 Lightweight belt now securely affixed around his waste, his girl friend entered the ring. Wasion, before all in attendance, submitted to one knee and proposed to a clearly moved young lady.
Hatley Defeats Hengst by Split Decision
In a heated lightweight bout that carried with it a grudge-match atmosphere, Tyler Hatley (Fight Clinic) fended off Derek Hengst’s (Hostile) stand up striking, with ground-and-pound style to grind out a split decision victory.
Above: Hatley strikes Hengst. Photo by JD Meredith, MemphisMMA.com
Holmes Hands Parker first Loss
Fighting at a catch-weight of 140 lbs., Jesse Parker’s (Premier) ground-and-pound style was outmatched by a Matt Holmes’ (Independent) height and reach advantage. Parker stuck with the same plan for the entire fight but for all the opportunities to impose his style, Holmes managed to slip away. Their bout was stopped for several minutes in the third round after Parker received a finger to the eye with Holmes receiving a warning for accidental poking. Holmes was never in trouble, and won the fight via decision.
Lee Dominates
Zach Lee (DTF) delivered a massive take down just seconds into his fight was Law Purifoy (Mongoose). Purifoy managed to thwart off a constant ground assault from Lee and somehow survive Lee’s rear naked choke that lasted nearly the final minute of the first round. (After the fight Lee would say that he had a good grip duing the rear naked choke but the thickness of the gloves may have prevented him from enforcing the submission.)
Purifoy was on the defensive throughout the fight but did connect with a sharp leg kick in the third which Lee quickly answered with one of his own. Lee then took Purifoy to the canvas, where the fight remained through the end of round third. Lee won by decision.
Above: Lee Postures and pounds. Photo by JD Meredith, MemphisMMA.com
Debuting Welters Moses Bushnell (Memphis JJ) and Brandon Smith (Independent) locked up for nearly two minutes before Smith tapped out after finding himself in a rear-naked-choke.
Above: Kevin Global (BANG) lands against Jimmy Osbourne (21st Century). wins via split decision.
Above: In the opener Johnathan Vargas (21st Century) submitted Zach Williams (DTF) by arm bar at 1:06 of round one.
V3 Fights will return September 4, at the Delta Fair.
By: Michael Sheffield @ Ringside
A sweltering June night in Memphis was made even hotter by the action in the cage on Saturday night during V3 Fight’s FedExForum debut that featured three championship bouts and an 11-fight card featuring the top local professional MMA fighters.
V3 would crown its first-ever champions in the light heavyweight, lightweight and bantamweight divisions, with two of the bouts not getting out of the 1st round.
Lightweight Tripp Carter would score the most devastating (and
scariest) knockout of the night with a one punch decimation of Steven
Cornelius.
The undefeated Carter would finish the fight in 8 seconds with a right hand that Cornelius and most of the crowd didn’t see coming. Cornelius would hit the ground face first and Carter would land a second right to his prone opponent before referee Dave Ferguson could stop the fight.
Cornelius would be out cold for at least 3 minutes before paramedics would remove him from the ring in a neck brace as a precaution.
Light heavyweight Carlton Little would produce the most action packed first round of the night, starting with his entrance, which featured Memphis rapper Playa Fly, who would then vocally support the fighter to a victory against the undefeated Jaden Booth in a 5-round light
heavyweight bout.
Little, who came into the fight with a record of 6-3, would go on the offensive immediately, power-slamming Booth and nearly locking in a rear naked choke. however, Booth would reverse it and nearly knock in one of his own. However, two takedowns and a powerful ground and pound later, Little would score a technical knockout over his dazed opponent at 2:38 of the first round.
After being crowned the first V3 light heavyweight champion, Little let the crowd know what type of champion he would be. “ I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me,” he said in the cage
after the fight.
The theme of a fighting champion would continue in the main event, a 5- round bantamweight title fight between Cody Lane and Brian Hall. Hall would dominate the fight early and often, scoring multiple takedowns over the course of 3 of the scheduled 5 rounds. Lane would
begin the 3rd round as the aggressor, attempting to lock in his own guillotine choke, but failing to lock his opponent up for good. The fighters would trade holds and grapple to a near stalemate throughout the round. However, at the end of the round, a visibly spent and
frustrated Lane would throw his mouthpiece into the crowd, either as a mistaken sign of elation for finishing the fight, or as a gesture of concession.
During the between round intermission, neither Lane’s corner nor the referee could convince him to continue, resulting in Hall being named the winner by TKO.
After the fight, the soft-spoken Hall was adamant who he wanted his next opponent to be, rising local MMA star Thomas Vasquez, who would make his way to the cage to accept the challenge.
The end of the main event wasn’t a shock, as two preliminary bouts had controversial endings of their own.
Lightweights Ronnie Sharp and Adam Denton would end an entertaining fight with a no-decision, after Round 1 when Sharp would absorb a series of kicks and knees to the midsection and face. It would be a knee to the nose that resulted in the initial stoppage. Despite Sharp
being unable to continue because of a legal blow, the fight would be called a no-decision, much to the chagrin of the sellout crowd. With both fighters entering the fight at 1-0, neither would lose their 0 on this night.
Phillip Price (2-1) and Jimmy White (2-0) would meet at a catchweight of 160, with White playing up the intimidation factor from the moment he stepped into the cage. White would counter everything Price would do for the first round and his aggression would result in another
strange stoppage, after Price complained of being poked in the eye. The fight would be stopped at 40 seconds of the second round, with White winning by TKO.
Muay Thai fighters Derek Jackson and. Marcus Jones would make their pro debuts at a catchweight 140. The fight would go the distance, and both fighters, after a first round filled with nervous energy, would settle in for a rousing start to the night. Jones would win by
unanimous decision.
Light heavyweight Jamie Houston (2-1) would TKO Matt Hill (0-2) in 1:32 of the first round.
Middleweight Patrick Burkett would make an impressive debut against Lenny Edgar at a catchweight of 145 pounds, winning by unanimous decision.
Welterweight Travis Robertson (6-3) would reverse a first round where he was dominated by Jess Brown and score a victory. Robertson, who was immediately taken down by Brown in the first round, would begin the second round with a right hand that would drop his opponent. Robertson would move in for the kill and TKO Brown 40 seconds into the second round.
Robertson gave credit to his opponent after the fight, calling him “a bad a– fighter.” However, he would also promise great things from here on out.
Bantamweights Jessie Parker and Miles Brown would put on an entertaining fight for the 2 minutes it would last, however, their display of sportsmanship and fun after Parker won by arm-bar tap-out would outlast and be more entertaining than the fight itself.
Brown would hoist Parker on his shoulders and parade him around the ring after the fight. Both fighters would leave the crowd excited for the next fight.
Crowd favorite Chantein Wasion (2-1) would bounce back from a loss in his previous fight by dominating Daniel Deossio (2-2) in a lightweight fight.
Wasion would look to end the fight with a rear naked choke early, almost lock in a guillotine choke and finally finish Deossio with a locked in rear naked choke.
