LOCAL mixed martial arts star Joash Walkins won the main event at Caribbean Ultimate Fist Fighting (CUFF) 18, which punched off at the Eastern Regional Sporting Complex, Tacarigua on Saturday.
The 11-bout card was highlighted by the professional fight between Walkins and Venezuelan Guillermo Salazar. Walkins delighted local fans with victory via submission in the first round.
[caption id="attachment_1047342" align="alignnone" width="1024"] GROUND AND POUND: TT’s Joash Walkins punches Venezuelan Guillermo Salazar during the CUFF 18 main event, at the Eastern Regional Sporting Complex, Saturday. - DANIEL PRENTICE[/caption]
It was an enthralling evening of MMA action, including a stunning suplex by Jamaican Shiaeine Blake over Petrono Poeketi of Suriname in a fight that went the distance.
Six fights in total were held for championship titles and five exhibition bouts took place.
[caption id="attachment_1047343" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Guyanese Corwin D’Anjou celebrates his win during CUFF 18 on Saturday night. - Daniel Prentice[/caption]
Among the other TT fighters who came out on top were Jeremy Rodolfo, who defeated Jamaican Maleek Pommells by a split decision in an amateur fight.
Two TT fighters got the better off Venezuelan opponents in exhibtion bouts as Kadaine Hope (technical knockout) and Alex Khan (knockout) defeated Michael Gibori and Harvey Gimenez respectively.
[caption id="attachment_1047344" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Nolan Bandoo, top, throws a punch at Jo Williams during the CUFF Championships at Eastern Regional Indoor Sporting Arena on Saturday in Tacarigua. Bandoo won the match. - DANIEL PRENTICE[/caption]
In all-TT showdowns, Nolan Bandoo beat Jo Williams by submission and Rockyne Cornwall was a winner over Mark Sargent also by submission.
In the last exhibtion bout, Jamaican Tyrece Thompson was too strong for TT’s Stephan Gardner winning by technical knockout (TKO)
In the other professional match-ups, American Steven Herbert defeated Venezuelan Hermes Alfonzo by TKO; Canadian Hadi Abdul outlasted TT’s Jevon Jobe by submission; Jamaican Shiaeine Blake was victorious over Petrono Poeketi of Suriname by an unanimous decision and Guyanese Corwin D’Anjou emerged with the win over Canadian Nicholas Araujo by knockout.
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