Star studded event rocks Crystal Gardens in Southgate

Warrior Xtreme Cagefighting held its annual Night of Champions show at Crystal Gardens in Southgate on January 29th presented by Born Fighter Magazine and Mancino’s of Taylor. It was the second event of its kind for Promoter Jeff Pitock. The crowd of 1,562 was treated to a star studded 23 bout fight card that featured four Title bouts. Said Pitock, “It was definitely the most exciting card I have ever been a part of. I think we proved tonight that we are thee #1 Amateur MMA league in the State of Michigan today. We put the best fights with the best fighters around.” Pitock also noted that The Boxing Examiner magazine also recently rated the WXC #1 in Michigan as well.

The Main Event saw Lansing’s DeQuan “The Tarantula” Townsend defending his 170 lb. Title against Ohio’s Nick Sondergeld. Townsend, a Team Murcielago product who has produced the likes of the UFC’s Rashand Evans, was able control the whole fight with his speed and accurate striking ability. As Sondergeld went for the takedown, Townsend calmy fell to his back and in one swift motion wrapped up the fight ending armbar submission. The tapout came at 2:15 of Round 1. Townsend is expected to defend his Welterweight title in February.

Dundee’s Adam Trombley and Monroe’s Gary Conradson put on a thrilling five round affair that earn both the Fight of the Night award. The Co-Main Event was for the WXC 185 lb. Title. It took Trombley everything he had to seal the deal. Conradson controlled the fight for the first three rounds with excellent ground & pound. His wrestling slams and takedowns were gaining him the points he needed to get ahead on the judge’s cards. Once the fourth round started, you could tell the fight was shifting in Trombley’s favor. His boxing started to take over and he dropped Conradson with a perfectly executed Superman punch. Adam flying came out of the gate to start the fifth and final round. As their fists were flying, he scored another knockdown and followed up with a vicious attack of punches on the ground prompting Referee Jacob Short to call an end to the contest. The victory runs Trombley’s record to an impressive 25-7 overall.

Dearborn Heights' Derrick Mandell grinded out a hard fought victory over Garden City’s Matt Christopher to retain his 135 lb. Title. Mandell resorted to his wrestling roots and controlled the bout mostly on the mat. He also went for a lot of submission attempts as his course of action was to keep the fight on the ground. Christopher tried his best to mix in his striking with Mandells grappling and was able to reverse Derrick a few times but it just wasn’t enough in the end. Mandell earned the unanimous decision win after three rounds.

Meech Graham and Mario Aguilar rounded out the Title fights with their 145 lb. bout. Graham won the fight in a strange bout that saw both combatants struck with low blows multiple times. Aguilar was able to take the first round with good ground control and crisp striking. Graham answered back on in the second round with his own stand up game. It was as close round and could have gone either way. Graham was struck by two low blows in the third round causing Aguilar to lose a point from each judge after the second foul. Graham took the round and the fight on points was he won the majority decision.

Wyandotte’s Michael Jordan absolutely ran through Taylor’s Luke Sheer in their 145 lb. contest. Jordan immediately took the fight to the ground and started going for multiple submissions. After a little stand up activity, Jordan took Sheer down again and concluded the fight with a sweet ankle lock submission causing Sheer to tapout at the 2:28 mark. Michael is expected to face off against Detroit's Jesse Bazzi for the WXC Flyweight Title (125 lbs.) in February.

The Knockout of the Night honors went to Carleton’s Tyler Pitock. Monroe’s Josh Pouget gave him a good run for his money but Pitock had more gas in his tank once the third came around. Tyler came out swinging to start the round, working his way inside and getting a takedown. After some ground and pound, he moved to the mount position and started raining down the punches. The crowd gave both Fighters a standing ovation after Master of Ceremonies Pete Trevino Jr. announced the official decision.

Carleton’s Deven Brown and South Rockwood’s Dominick Sindone both earned #1 Contender slots in their respective weight classes after winning their bouts. Brown defeated Bellville’s Mike Flores via TKO and Sindone defeated Detroit Jesse Bazzi via guillotine choke. Monroe's Wes Squire also earned a Title shot at the WXC Welterweight Title after defeating Bobby Tucker of Farmington Hills in an absolute barn burn of a fight.

Team Tubbs teammates Eric Burress and Lamar Foster of Detroit shined brightly on this night as they both finished their opponent in grand fashion. Burress defeated Brad Weyher via TKO at 1:47 of Round 1 in their Middleweight bout. Foster came back from the brink of defeat and scored an awesome TKO victory over Brad Hinderer in the third round of their Heavyweight match up.

The lone Womens MMA bout on the card introduced Lindsey, Ohio’s Amber Iganatowski to the fans. If they hadn’t heard of her before, they sure knew who she was after she obliterated Monroe’s Kathleen Albany. “Iggy” scored a swift takedown to start the fight and never let up. Referee Danny McIntyre halted the bout at 0:50 in the first round, earning Iganatowski the TKO victory.

Next up for the WXC will be T-Town Beatdown 5 in Taylor at the Gibraltar Trade Center on February 26th. Another show is being planned for March 19th in Westland.

WXC 26: Night of Champions II

Date: January 29, 2011

Location: Southgate, MI.

Venue: Crystal Gardens

Mike Manner def. Nathan Long via TKO (strikes, referee stoppage) – Round 1, 0:21

Derrick Williams def. Brock Varga via TKO (strikes, referee stoppage) – Round 2, 1:21

Anthony Spears def. Joshua Palmer via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Justin Hall def. Russell Campbell via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:45

Mike Gonzales def. Gregg Schafer via submission (armbar/triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:41

Eric Burress def. Brad Weyher via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:47

Aaron Blachuta def. Sean Sweedy via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:54

Michael Jordan def. Luke Sheer via submission (ankle lock, tapout) –Round 1, 2:28

Josh Wilkinson def. Miguel Garcia via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:52

Gene Romanowski def. George Snedden via TKO (punches, referee stoppage) – Round 1, 1:00

Amber Iganatowski def. Kathleen Albany via. TKO (punches, referee stoppage) – Round 1, 0:50

Lamar Foster def. Brad Hinderer via TKO (punches, referee stoppage) – Round 3, 2:35

Wes Squire def. Bobby Tucker via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, and 30-27)

Trey Suthers vs. Calvin Porter ruled a No Contest (Porter unable to continue after late punch)

Sean Dunn def. Donald Gallavan via submission (standing guillotine) – Round 1, 1:08

Deven Brown def. Mike Flores via TKO (punches, referee stoppage) – Round 1, 1:44

Josh Johnson def. Steve Johnson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:00

Tyler Pitock def. Josh Pouget via KO (punches) – Round 3, 1:42

Dominick Sindone def. Jesse Bazzi via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 0:25

Champ Derrick Mandell def. Matt Christopher via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 and 29-28) retains WXC Bantamweight Title

Meech Graham def. Mario Agiular via technical decision (29-27, Draw, 29-28) – wins WXC Featherweight Title

Adam Trombley def. Gary Conradson via TKO (punches, referee stoppage) – Round 5, 0:47 (wins WXC Middleweight Title)

Champ DeQuan Townsend def. Nick Sondergeld via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:15 (retains WXC Welterweight Title)

Fight Night Awards

Submission of the Night: DeQuan Townsend

Knockout of the Night: Tyler Pitock

Fight of the Night: Adam Trombley vs. Gary Conradson

Deven Brown vs. Mike Flores

WXC Light-Heavyweight Champion Lee Trombley and Promoter Jeff Pitock.

Welterweight Champion DeQuan Townsend addresses the crowd after his victory.

Pitock and Bantamweight Champion Derrick Mandell

Joey Russo speaks with Middleweight Champion Adam Trombley.



Deven Brown with his mother Debbie and WXC Offical Norbert Pastor.



Dominick Sindone faces off with Champ Derrick Mandell.

Brad Weyher vs. Eric Burress

Wyandotte's Michael Jordan after his submission victory.

The Pitock Brothers

WXC Match Maker Michael Pendenelli and Master of Ceremonies Pete Trevino Jr.

Crystal Gardens, Southgate, Michigan.

David Doig can be reached at ddoig@heritage.com

Pictures also by David Doig