MECS dazzles Taylor with an exciting Marital Arts Event

Michigan Extreme Combat Sports held the first show of its kind at the Taylor Town Trade Center on Saturday night putting on an exciting array of various martial arts disciplines all in one cage in front of an outstanding crowd of 600 people. Promoter Kevin Whittenberg showcased Kickboxing matches; No-Gi Grappling contest’s and edge of your seat Mixed Marital Arts bout’s that left everyone in the building wondering when the next show is going to be once the event was over.

The Main Event saw Carleton’s Devon Brown defending his MECS Lightweight Title against Harbor View, Ohio’s Nick Sondergeld. It was power and speed versus a technical tactician. Power and speed dominated. Brown immediately took the center of the cage and went for the takedown. Sondergeld locked up a nasty headlock and dragged Brown to the floor. In no time flat, Brown reversed his position getting a body lock along with his opponent’s back. What followed was an all out ground and pound attack as Brown rained down punches onto Sondergeld’s face. He could only defend the shots for so long until Referee Danny McIntire decided it was enough and ended Sondergeld’s night. Brown was declared the winner by technical knockout as he retained his Lightweight Title.

Carleton’s John Slayton fought Hazel Park’s Ryan King for the MECS Light Heavyweight Title in the Co-Main Event of the evening. King was able to withstand an enormous amount punishment dished out by Slayton and was able to find a way to win after the course of five rounds. King used a great jab to keep Slayton at bay, avoided Slayton’s wrestling skills and came forward for most of the match. In the end, King won via split decision and took home the victory.

Whittenberg had a few things to say about his two top bouts of the night. “I think Devon Brown came in with a purpose. I thought he was great pressing the pace. I (really) thought it would have been a war. Devon “Bad News” Brown is on a mission and MECS is where he belongs.” Regarding King vs. Slayton, “It was close but Slayton should have kept moving in to close the deal. He kept his distance and (so he) was looked at as the non aggressor”.

Taking home Fight of the Night was Romulus’s Dom Walker and Adam Gibson of the Soo Doo Tie Dojo in Hazel Park. Both fighters put on a great show from the start of the fight until the end. During the first minute, the two traded shots back and forth. Walker had a few high impact slam takedowns and also went for submission attempts on the ground to earn the round. In the second, after a brief feeling out process, Walker scored another takedown. He started landing some hard knees to the body while mixing in a few strikes. Gibson was able to make it up again and get a few punches in but got put back on the mat in short order. Gibson snuck in a quick triangle choke but Walker persevered and made it through the round.

Just as the third round was about to start, Gibson’s corner declared their fighter was unable to continue due to a knee injury. Walked earned the Middleweight Title via verbal submission.

Justin Walls of Dearborn Heights showed exactly why he is the reigning and defending MECS Bantamweight Champion. It wasn’t easy as Donnie Gorman gave it his best. Gorman scored a takedown and went straight for a triangle choke after a fast paced flurry by both kicked off the match. The triangle was tight but just wasn’t meant to be as Walls worked his way out of trouble. When the two rose to their feet, Walls connected with a hard right hand that dropped Gorman face first to the floor. Walls followed it up with a few shots and it was all over.

Two more Title fights on the night pitted Rob “The Hooligan” Taylor vs. Josh “The Tank” Franklin and Theresa Sass vs. Hayley Green. Taylor defeated Franklin in the second round via technical knockout winning the Heavyweight Title. Sass won the Women’s Welterweight Title after a three round war.

Knockout of the Night went to Belleville’s Brian Davis after he knocked out Bob Schell in under a minute. Just as Schell was looking to be getting the better of Davis on the feet, Davis unleashed a killer right hand at the same time Schell tagged him with a shot of his own. Davis went down but not out while Schell fell unconscious. Davis tried to pounce but Referee Josh Robinson saved Schell from receiving any more damage.

Ann Arbor’s Alex Kustrzewa took home the Submission of the Night award when he submitted Monroe’s Don Trout with an excellent armbar in the first round of their Featherweight contest. Detroit's Cliff "Special K" Ruffin had double duty for the night, winning both of his fights by way of submission.

Overall it was a great night of Martial Arts action that saw quite a few noted civilian’s in attendance; Brandon Pettigrew of the Detroit Lions, State ranked LHW Lee “The Juggernaut” Trombley, Father/Daughter dual Master of Ceremonies tandem of Pete “Mr. Throwdown” and Amanda “Ms. Showdown” Trevino and Fight Michigan’s TJ Corwin and Shannon Hale.

Mr. Whittenberg donated all of the 50/50 raffle proceeds as well as several locks of hair to the Locks of Love Foundation. Adding, “I honestly set my own MECS fighter’s to go in there as the underdogs. We will not go into a fight knowing or thinking we will come out with the win. That way we know we did our jobs in the gym. We are planning the next MECS event for mid to late September.”

Michigan Extreme Combat Sports Quick Results

Devon Brown def. Nick Sondergeld via TKO (referee stoppage) Round 1, 2:47 (retains MECS Lightweight Title)

Ryan King def. John Slayton via split decision (46-49, 48-47, 48-47) wins MECS Light Heavyweight Title

Justin Walls def. Donnie Gorman via TKO (punches) Round 1, 2:45 (retains MECS Bantamweight Title)

Dom Walker def. Adam Gibson via verbal submission (unable to continue after Round 2) wins MECS Middleweight Title

Rob Taylor def. Josh Franklin via TKO (referee stoppage) Round 2, 2:40 (wins MECS Heavyweight Title)

Theresa Sass def. Hayley Green via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) wins MECS Women’s Welterweight Title

Rob Wofkowski def. Tonka Augsburger via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 2:24

No-Gi Grappling Match: Jon Rennert def. Mickey Marsack via points

Brian Davis def. Bob Schell via knockout (punch) Round 1, 0:42

Cliff Ruffin def. Justin Hall via submission (guillotine choke) Round 2, 1:40

Tommy Stubbe def. Ali Collins via submission (armbar) Round 1, 2:22

Ali Amine def. Antonio James via submission (rear-naked choke) Round 1, 2:40

Kickboxing Match: Brent Payne def. Mike Turner via unanimous decision

Alex Kustrzewa def. Don Trout via submission (armbar) Round 1, 1:24

Cliff Ruffin def. Russell Campbell via submission (choke) Round 2, 1:23

Teven Hines def. Craig Rushing via TKO (referee stoppage) Round 1, 1:46

No-Gi Grappling Match: Matt Baron def. Angelo Fratarrangeli via points


Fight Night Awards

Fight of the Night: Dom Walker vs. Adam Gibson

Knockout of the Night: Brian Davis

Submission of the Night: Alex Kustrzewa