Jhun Victorious at X-1 Events vs. Destiny MMA

Jhun

X-1 Events vs. Destiny MMA
Waipahu High School Gym, Waipahu, Hawaii
August 7, 2010

By Chris Onzuka  Since the MMA laws in Hawaii have taken effect many promotions have been struggling to survive under the new regulations and continue the MMA hot bed that Hawaii is, two events that have kept fighters busy and fans happy have been X-1 and Destiny.  Promoter Jay Bolos, a fighter himself, has fought on X-1 cards before so I am sure that this led to a smooth transition to partnering up to put on a joint promotional venture.  The card would feature championship matches for both promotions and allow fighters that compete within their organization to challenge themselves against different talent.

The event kicked off with a series of quick and brutal amateur fights, the majority ending in TKO, with only a few going to a decision.  The women’s fight featuring Jessie Moniz and Monica Franco proved that the gals put on just as good a fight as the boys.  These two went at it, with Franco taking the striking advantage early stunning Moniz on a few occasions.  Moniz, an accomplished kickboxer, switched gears and went into grappling mode.  Moniz looked to take the second round with her grappling, making the third round pivotal.  Moniz kept the pressure and after a few reversals, controlled Franco against on the fence and landed punches, earning enough points to pull out this grueling fight.  The amateur heavyweight match displayed that these two heavyweight are not just heavy hitters, but have great technical skill. 

Dale Sopi had great head movement and leg kicks along with deceiving set ups for his strikes.  Paongo had good fundamental boxing skills and kept bringing the fight to Sopi tiring out his opponent.  Paongo picked his punches and tried not to let Sopi rest, which earned him the title.  Another title match that had the crowd excited was the Maki Pitolo vs Charles Hazelwood.  Pitolo displayed technical striking and accuracy minimizing Hazelwood’s devastating leg kicks. 

Johnavan Visante showed that the work he has been doing concerning his grappling skills are paying off, by pounding in a passive, L. John Borgess from his back and then he set up and locked in a triangle to finish Borges. 

Duke Saragosa looked impressive, with quick strikes and perfect timing knocking out a game Bruski Lewis.  I would love to see a Duke Saragosa-Johnavan Visante match up, both fighters looks sharp quick and have tons of positive momentum. 

In the co-main event, Ricky Wallace showed how a hungry young lion who can take a punch can perform.  Wallace capitalized on Padilla in the first round by controlling the top position and opening up with punches for almost the entire round.  Padilla finally worked his way back up and unloaded with a flurry of power punches with Wallace up against the fence. Wallace took everything and fired right back ending the round.  The fight continued where Wallace ended up on top and pounded on a tiring Padilla.  There were two instances in the fight where the referee missed some major rules infractions, from kneeing to the head of Padilla and Wallace blatantly using the cage to pull himself into the mount.  Padilla landed some powerful punches, but Wallace took them and continued his controlling the fight and pounding on a game Padilla until in the third round, Padilla had enough.

The main event pitted Michael Winklespecht, an aggressive wrestler against the veteran in Ron Jhun.  As expected, Winklespecht shot in and pressed the take down looking to capitalize on some ground and pound.  The fight consisted of some great scrambles and Ron Jhun pounding on Winklespecht at every opportunity, which mainly between Jhun stopping a take down and Winklespect either reattempting or disengaging to regoup.  Jhun chipped away at Winklespecht slowing him down, and allowing him to land more and more punches.  Eventually Jhun was able to put Winklespecht on his back and as Winklespecht turned to attempt to escape, Jhun slipped in a rear naked choke for the tap.

140lbs: Pankration: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Jai Trouche (No Remorse) def. Gerald Castenano (Hustle N Throw, Maui)
Knock out at 0:22 in Round 2.

205lbs: MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Ridge Blackburn (M-1, Gracie Kailua) def. Anson Amaral

TKO via Referee stoppage at 2:01 in Round 1.

160lbs: MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Evic Lifttee def. Julius Amisone (Team Extreme)

TKO via Referee stoppage at 2:38 in Round 1

125lbs: MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Travis Okano (Hustle N Throw, Maui) def. Manny Charisma

TKO via Referee stoppage due to strikes at 1:49 in Round 2.

170lbs: MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Justin Konia (HMC) def. Frank Muao

TKO via Referee stoppage due to strikes at 2:22 in Round 1.

125lbs (Female match): MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Jessie Moniz (Bulls Pen) def. Monica Franco (HMC)

Decision after 2 rounds and an overtime.

155lbs: MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Nick Pait (freelance) def. Johnny Desroche
TKO via Referee stoppage due to strikes at 0:20 in Round 1.

145lbs: MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Jason Racamara (808 Alliance) def. Bone Pali (Hustle n Throw, Maui)

Decision after 2 rounds.

X-1 Hawaii State Heavyweight Amateur Championship Match:
Heavyweight MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Paea Paongo def. Dale Sopi
Decision after 3 rounds.

Paongo becomes the X-1 Hawaii State Heavyweight Amateur Champion.

135lbs: MMA: 2 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Louis Smolka (808 Top Team) def. Zack Close (Boar’s Nest)

Submission via arm bar at 1:53 in Round 1.

X-1 Hawaii State 185lbs Amateur Championship Match

185lbs: MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Maki Pitolo (Hakuilua) def. Charles Hazelwood (Combat 50)

Decision after 3 rounds.
Pitolo becomes the X-1 Hawaii State 185lbs Amateur Champion.

X-1 Hawaii State 155lbs Amateur Championship Match
155lbs: MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Nate "Da Great" Quiniola def. Alioune Diop

TKO via Referee stoppage due to strikes at 1:06 in Round 2

Quinola becomes the X-1 Hawaii State 155lbs Amateur Champion.

165lbs: XMA Championship Match: MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Michael Brightmon (Gorilla House) def. Chris Kutzen

Decision after 3 rounds.
Brightmon captures the 165lbs XMA Championship title.

170lbs: MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Johnavan Visante Jr. (Team SYD) def. L. John Borgess (808 Top Team)

Submission via triangle choke at 2:55 in Round 1.

155lbs: MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Duke Sarigosa (808 Top Team) def. Bruski Lewis (Bulls Pen)

TKO via Referee stoppage due to strikes at 0:42 in Round 1.

140lbs: MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Eddie P. (I & I, Maui) def. Ian Delacuesta (808 Top Team)

Unanimous decision after 3 rounds.

Destiny Hawaii State 145lbs Championship Match
145lbs: MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Ricky "Real Deal" Wallace (HMC) def. David "Tan Superman" Padilla (Jesus Is Lord)
Verbal submission at 2:24 in Round 3.

Wallace captures the Destiny Hawaii State 145lbs Championship title.

X-1 Hawaii State 185lbs Championship Match
185lbs: MMA: 3 Rounds – 3 Minutes
Ronald "Machine Gun" Jhun (808 Top Team) def. Michael Winklespect
Submission via rear naked choke at 4:06 in Round 2.

Jhun captures the X-1 Hawaii State 185lbs Championship title.