Strange putting the finishing touches on Clere

The Kentucky Fighting Championships 5 stormed into Lexington, KY with 19 action packed fights. With three titles up for grabs fighters traveled from Canada, Virginia, Massachusetts, Indiana, Las Vegas, and all throughout the state of Kentucky to have the opportunity to display their talents at the show and the packed crowd in attendance roared as the fights began for the night.

Phil Bowen vs. Josh Shaffer

Phil Bowen took on Josh Shaffer out of advanced BKL in the 1 st fight of the night. The first round was pretty even with Shaffer getting the initial takedown but got reversed in the process. Bowen was able to ground and pound a little but Shaffer eventually got back up to his feet and both fighters traded blows in the squared circle. Shaffer tired heading into round 2 and Bowen took advantage and began landing some heavy leather. The strikes were too much for Shaffer and the referee was forced to stop the fight in the second round due to strikes and awarded the victory to Bowen.

Cory Howard vs. Dominic Ratcliff

Cory Howard took on Dominick Ratcliff out of Cincinnati Mixed Martial Arts in the 2 nd fight of the evening. Howard who looked to be a Karate expert was looking to strike against Ratcliff who in turn was looking for the takedown from the outset. Ratcliff tried valiantly to take Howard down but found it much more difficult then expected, and at one point ate a nice reverse roundhouse kick to the stomach for his efforts. Eventually Ratcliff was able to obtain the full mount and after eating a few solid punches Howard gave up his back where Ratcliff found the submission he was looking for. Ratcliff wins via rear naked choke.
James Hogan vs. Joe Dechaves

James Hagan of Johnson City, In took on Joe Dechaves. Hagen obtained the early takedown and irritated Dechaves with some short shoulder strikes. Unfazed, Dechaves attempted a reversal but round 1 came to a close with Hagen on top. Dechaves opened the second round with the takedown but Hagen was able to get back to his feet, and as he stood up from he blasted away with numerous punches until the referee stopped the fight early into round 2.

Other action at the Kentucky Fighting Challenge was as follows.

4 th Fight – Loren Bradley blasted Casey Johnson out of the ring with huge blows and wins by KO early in Round 1.

5 th Fight – James Foster was able to negate an early takedwon by Daniel Boston and was able to land some big punches early into round 2. After landing some solid shots Foster was able to get mound and forced Boston to tap from strikes in Round 2.

6 th Fight – Andrew Gear, all the way from Ontario Canada submits a very game Dan Doerner by Triangle Choke in Round 2 in a very even and competitive match.

7 th Fight – Randy Hensley lands a huge right hand knocking down Paul Azarovitz early in round 1. Azarovitz recovered quickly to takedown Hensley but fell victim to a Hensley armbar and tapped out in round 1.

8 th Fight – Benji Clere worked the early clinch against Shaun Strange and executed a huge throw taking Strange down. From there, Clere rained down punches until Strage tapped from strikes in round 1.

9 th Fight – Virginia Fighter Adam Mays got the early takedown against Jasper Aldridge in Round 1. Mays slowly worked his way past Aldridge’s guard and eventually worked the rear naked choke in and forced Aldridge to tap.

10 th Fight – Shaun Krysa out of Georgetown Ontario Canada almost got caught in Charles Suttons Guillotine choke after attempting a huge slam. Once Krysa escaped the hold he grounded and pounded and worked his way to side control. From there it took two huge knees to the head to end the nigh of Charles Sutton.

11 th Fight – Two KY fighters battled it out as David Howard took on Ryan Farhat. Both fighters came out throwing but Farhat was able to execute a big throw, taking Howard down to the mat. From there Farhat worked to take Howard’s back and forced Howard to submit to a rear naked choke in round 1.

12 th Fight – This fight featured a very entertaining Erick Jordan facing off against Brandon Rogers. Jordan attempted an early throw and Rogers unluckily landing in the guard of Jordan. Trying to work the ground and pound, Rogers left his arm exposed and Jordan capitalized and locked in a perfect armbar and forced Rogers to tap early in Round 1.

13 th Fight – Big Heavyweight Chris Larkin took on Ian Angel out of Northern KY Mixed Martial Arts in the 13 th fight. Larkin took the early takedown and ground and pounded his way to victory via ref stoppage round 1.

14 th Fight – Bruce Workman survived an early onslaught from Mike Hallenwager to take the fight into round 2. Hallenwager who was visibly tired in the second stanza could not withstand the punches and knees from the fresher Workman and after dropping Hallenwager to the canvas, Workman dropped a few finishing knees to close out the fight. The referee stopped the fight midway into round 2.

15 th Fight – Kenny Jerrell defended the early takedown attempts of Carl Click and eventually unloaded punch after punch with Click in the corner and forced the referee to stop the action in round 1.

16 th Fight – Probably the most energetic fight of the night pitted Ira “Hurricane” Boyd against Dan Swift. Boyd came out swinging looking for the early KO, eventually catching him and dropping him to his back. From there, Boyd repeatedly threw numerous leg strikes to Swift who remained on the ground and on two occasions Boynd even leaped into the air and dropped punches to the downed Swift a la Sakuraba. Boyd eventually decided to fall into the guard of Swift, which proved to be his downfall as his opponent locked in a triangle choke and forced the disgusted Boyd to tap late in round 1 .

Championship Fights

Tim Stout vs. Mitch Witesel

Mitch Whitesel was unab le to make the fight, thus Tim Stout wins by default and is crowned the new Kentucky Fighting Challenge 183 pound champion.

James Escaloni vs. Billy Ayash

Billy Ayash fighting out of St. Albans, WV and Advanced MKJ took on James Escaloni for the 200 pound Kentucky Fighting Challenge belt. Both fighters looked to take the other down early. Escaloni landed a big right from the clinch that stunned Ayash and while moving in on the stunned Ayash, he made the mistake of dropping his head and Ayash was able to sink a guillotine choke and forced Escaloni to tap out in round 1.

Braden Workman vs. Justin Villella
In the final fight of the night, Braden Workman out of Columbus OH representing Jorge Gurgel took on Las Vegas native Justin Villella for the KFC Heavyweight title. Workman looked to keep the fight standing and Villella looked to take Workman to the ground but it was Villella who was eventually able to take the fight to the mat. It would prove to be a mistake however as Workman, who is trained by Jorge Gurgel, attempted an armbar and smoothly transition into a triangle choke and forced the surprised Villella to tap in round 1.