Galaxy MMA: Gable and Sarmiento Advance to LW GP Finals

Gable Choking Out Kyle

Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
August 6, 2010

By Chris Onzuka   Hawaii’s newest MMA promotion made its second appearance in the Blaisdell arena and continued with the semi-finals of Galaxy’s 155lbs tournament. The card featured just about half amateur bouts and finished up with the professionals. This was a busy weekend of events with two events scheduled for tonight and another event scheduled for the next day. The last few events held at the Blaisdell Arena have had lackluster attendance and have struggled. Tonight would be no different,  however, families and friends definitely came out to back their fighters.

A couple of 125lbers, Jacob Kauwe and Alika Kumukoa put on a show with Kauwe landing well timed right hooks and moving to keep Kumukoa guessing. Kumukoa was getting picked apart until he stepped in and landed a couple of big punches that kept Kauwe honest. Kumukoa showed that he could take a punch, but Kauwe’s accuracy won him the fight. 

After a great initial start by Brayden Kalahiki, Fatu Tuitasi turned the fight around by landing a couple of hard punches that sent Kalahiki down at the end of the first round. After hurting Kalahiki at the end of the second round, Tuitasi pressed the fight, sat down on his punches and dropped Kalahiki with a solid punch. Tuitasi jumped on a knocked out Kalahiki causing the referee to step in and stop the fight.

Vickers Looking for an Armbar vs. Ostovich

In the women’s bout, it featured a second generation fighter, when Bob-O Ostovich’s daughter Rachael stepped in to the cage against a game Vee Vickers. Ostovich used punches to set up the clinch where she showcased some great wrestling and dominated position. Vickers landed some exchanges, but Ostovich again capitalized with some phenomenal throws and ground domination. Very impressive win for Ostovich and she immediately put herself as one to watch in the Hawaii’s women’s MMA division. 

Clay Lewis Jr. woke the crowd up after getting taken down and dominated in the first round only to come back and viciously knock out Jenzen Espanto. Then, what looked to be a great match up turned out to be short night when Evan Lowther followed his previous performance and landed a hook right on the chin of Walter Hao sending down and out for an impressive victory in his first professional bout.

The grudge match between Brennan Kamaka and Dirty Curty was shorter than their entrances when Kamaka took Curty down and pounded him until the referee stepped in to stop it. Kamaka was satisfied with the victory, but Curty shook his head and didn’t accept the defeat and was exchanging words to Kamaka walking out of the cage. 

Ron Verdadero rocked the Greg Jackson fighter and went to the ground to follow up, but Rocky Ramirez hung in there and reversed the position, but Verdadero locked up an arm bar for the submission.

Pieper (R) Leaping at Wong

For the Galaxy MMA 155lbs Tournament semi-finals, Steve Gable took on 808 Top Team’s Kris Kyle.  After some cautious circling, Gable rushed in for the clinch, took Kyle’s back and pulled him right into the back mount.  Gable stayed tight and methodically secured the back mount while locking in a rear naked choke for the submission. 

The other semi-final bout pit local boy and veteran, Harris Sarmiento and Big Country Roy Nelson training partner, Jose Salgado. Salgado went in for the clinch and take down early and controlled the ground.  Sarmiento had some nice reversals and hammered Salgado, but Salgado pressed his wrestling and got Sarmiento back down to the ground.  Salgado got Sarmiento’s back, but Sarmiento was able to escape and get back to his feet to end the first round.  Salgado got Sarmiento down, but took a knee to the head. Sarmiento fought his way back up to his feet and started pounding the body and thigh. Salgado took the strikes and pressed the fight continuing to work the take down. For round two, Sarmiento reversed the first round, ending up on Salgado’s back and trying to work in the rear naked choke. 

The third round would be the deciding round. Sarmiento was cautiously pressing and landing hard body shots and leg kicks, while Salgado looked for his opportunity for the take down. Salgado finally got Sarmiento down halfway through the round, but Sarmiento did a great job of working his way back up and continuing to pound on a tiring Salgado. Both fighters ended the fight throwing whatever they have left in their gas tanks to the cheering crowd. Sarmiento’s aggression and effective striking won him the deciding third round and his spot in the tournament finals. 

Gable (left-center), Sarmiento, and the Ring Girls with the LW Belt

 Amateur MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes: 170lbs:

Chad Puha (Family Affair) def. Jake Yiu Lin (Edwards MMA)
TKO via Referee stoppage due to strikes at 2:52 in Round 1.

Amateur MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes: 205lbs:

Keala Cristobal (Freelance) def. Cade Phillips (Freelance)
Unanimous decision [(29-28), (29-28), (29-28)] after over time.

Amateur MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes: 145lbs:

Edward Thommes (808 Top Team) def. Shaison Laupola
TKO due to injury (hip) at 2:29 in Round 1.

Amateur MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes: 125lbs:

Jacob Kauwe (Hakuilua) def. Alika Kumukoa (Team Extreme)
Unanimous decision [(20-18), (20-18), (20-18)] after 2 Rounds.

Amateur MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes: 170lbs:

Dwain Pasion (Team CAT) def. Micah Ige (Team Extreme)
Submission via triangle at 2:10 in over time.

Amateur MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes: 155lbs:
Fatu Tuitasi (808 Top Team) def. Brayden Kalahiki (Team Extreme)
TKO via Referee stoppage due to strikes at 0:19 in Round 2.

Amateur MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes: 230lbs:

Jake Heffernan (Freelance, Ha’ula) def. Dustin Caulustro (Team Stand Alone, Waialua)

Unanimous decision [(29-28), (29-28), (29-28)] after over time.

Amateur MMA: 2 Rounds – 2 Minutes: 130 Women's Pankration Bout:

Rachael Ostovich (Jesus is Lord) def. Vee Vickers (Freelance)
Unanimous decision [(20-18), (20-18), (20-18)] after 2 Rounds.

Professional MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes: 145lbs:
George Perry (Freelance) def. Colin Mackenzie (God's Army)
Unanimous decision [(20-18), (20-18), (20-18)] after 2 Rounds.

Professional MMA: 3 Rounds – 5 Minutes: 145lbs:
Justin Wong (HMC) def. Brandon Pieper (808 Top Team)
Unanimous decision [(30-27), (28-29), (29-28)] after 3 Rounds.

Professional MMA: 3 Rounds – 5 Minutes: 155lbs:
Clay Lewis Jr. (4WRD Fitness) def. Jenzen Espanto (Combat 50)
KO at 0:16 in Round 2.

Professional MMA: 3 Rounds – 5 Minutes: 170lbs:
Evan Lowther (M-1, Gracie Kailua) def. Walter Hao (808 Top Team)

KO at 0:53 in Round 1.

Grudge Match
Professional MMA: 3 Rounds – 5 Minutes: 185lbs:
Brennan Kamaka (808 Top Team) def. Dirty Curty (Team Submit)
TKO via Referee stoppage due to strikes at 0:49 in Round 1.

Submission Grappling Match: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Ian McCall (Team Oyama MMA) drew Russell Doane (808 Top Team)

Professional MMA: 3 Rounds – 5 Minutes: 190lbs:
Ron Verdadero (Jesus Is Lord) def. Rocky Ramirez (Greg Jackson's MMA)
Submission via arm bar at 2:33 in Round 1.

Lightweight Grand Prix Championship Semi-Final Matches

Professional MMA: 3 Rounds – 5 Minutes:
Steve Gable (Gracie Barra) def. Kris Kyle (808 Top Team)
Submission via rear naked choke at 1:37 in Round 1.

Lightweight Grand Prix Championship Semi-Final Matches

Professional MMA: 3 Rounds – 5 Minutes:
Harris Sarmiento (808 Top Team) def. Jose Salgado (Roy Nelson's Gym; The Country Club)

Unanimous decision [(29-28), (29-28), (29-28)] after 3 Rounds.