Imes highlights PFC 5
Nov 12, 2007
NEW TOWN, ND - Brad Imes
(Pictures) helped the Palace Fighting
Championship live up to the theme for PFC 5 at 4 Bears Casino.
The Sacramento mixed martial artist finished Chris Blair (9-1) of Kearney, NE by technical knockout in 4:13 in the first round of the 8-bout card that was dubbed "Beatdown at 4 Bears".
"He was a tough guy," Imes (10-3) said of Blair. "I didn't think
that he would have been that tough."
Imes worked for several submissions in the first round, but Blair was able to stay out of trouble.
"I was kind of surprised I didn't catch him with the subs early, but you could tell he was well-versed in submission defense," said Imes, who worked for at least half a dozen submissions early in the round.
"He's a tough kid. I knew that if he wanted to win, that he would have to try and finish it early. And for the first three minutes or so he was hell on wheels."
Imes pleased the crowd with a wide variety of skills from a strong standup game to a furious ground assault.
As was the case for Lemoore, CA lightweight Poppies Martinez (Pictures) (13-3).
The PFC Interim Lightweight World Champion won over the pro Native American crowd by stopping Aaron Maldonado (Pictures) (4-2) of Minneapolis, MN by guillotine choke in 1:22 of the first round.
"I knew that he was out cold from the choke," Martinez said. "But the ref wouldn't stop it and said that he might be faking. I know he was out, his body was limp, so I let him go."
And that's where the fight finished with Maldonado slumped over completely put to sleep by the choke.
Martinez, a Native American representing the Tachi Yokut Tribe in Lemoore received a large ovation from the 1,100 fans in attendance and in a post fight speech asked 4 Bears Casino to bring him back.
"I loved fighting here. It kind of felt like home," Martinez said. "The tribe here really took us in and made us feel at home."
Martinez took little time to take Maldonado down and he did so right in front of his corner where he unleashed some rights and lefts before working his way to the guillotine. "The plan was to stand with him, but it was just a natural reaction to take him down," Martinez said. "But I want my team back home, especially Jacob Jeff, to know that I was punching. I had a great corner here with me tonight, too. I really want to thank Urijah Faber (Pictures), Mickey Martinez and The Project (Jeremy Luchau (Pictures)) for being there."
This was the first PFC card to venture away from its home base in Lemoore where Entertainment Director Christian Printup and his staff have soldout 28 consecutive MMA events.
"I was very happy with the turn out here," Printup said. "It was a pretty big venue and we filled it about a little over half full. I thought the fans here in North Dakota really got to see a lot of action."
In other bouts:
- Courdelane, ID featherweight Vance North (1-1) evened his record with a submission victory over featherweight Michael Craddock (2-1) of Exeter, CA in 1:24 of the first round.
North scored a take down, worked to side control and then locked in a kimura to opening bout of the night.
- Fargo, ND super heavyweight Zack Thumb (1-0) made quick work of Chris Galliher (0-1) of Indianapolis, IN with a technical knockout due to strikes in 18 seconds of the first round.
Galliher and Thumb clinched with Thumb scoring a takedown and then pounding Galliher out. During the takedown Galliher dislocated both knees and had to be sent to the hospital.
- Fargo, ND welterweight Christopher Hugh (3-1) won a 3-round decision over Russell Dietiene (1-0) of Bozeman, MT
Hugh took the first round with a near guillotine and finished the round on top, pounding Dietiene. The second round was fought pretty evenly, but Hugh regained control in the third round and delivered some brutal knees to the body in the process.
- Grand Forks, ND light heavyweight Eric Pribble (4-1) beat Jimmy Dexter (Pictures) (2-4) of Fresno, CA by guillotine choke in 46 seconds of the second round.
After Dexter dominated the first round, Pribble was able to get his offense going. Dexter pushed him into the cage and took him down, but Pribble sunk a guillotine choke to pullout a victory in front of a hometown crowd.
- Hamilton, MT. middleweight Mike Gates (4-1-1) defeated Lucas Sinclair (3-1) of Fargo, ND in 57 seconds of round one with an armbar.
- Minot, ND heavyweight Author Cook (2-0) knocked out Aaron Alvord (1-1) of Menominee, WI in 23 seconds of round one.
PFC 6 is set for January 17th at the Tachi Palace and will feature a PFC Bantamweight World title fight between Sean Klarcyk (6-1) of Porterville, CA and No. 1 contender Rolando Velasco (Pictures) (4-0) of Oakdale, CA.
Klarcyk defeated David Espinosa (Pictures) (3-1) of Sacramento, CA at PFC 3 in July by split decision. It will be Klarcyk's first title defense.
For more breaking PFC news log on to www.palacefightingchampionship.com.
The Sacramento mixed martial artist finished Chris Blair (9-1) of Kearney, NE by technical knockout in 4:13 in the first round of the 8-bout card that was dubbed "Beatdown at 4 Bears".
Advertisement
Imes worked for several submissions in the first round, but Blair was able to stay out of trouble.
Eventually after Imes knocked Blair to the canvas, he was able to
work his way to a mount and pound Blair out.
"I was kind of surprised I didn't catch him with the subs early, but you could tell he was well-versed in submission defense," said Imes, who worked for at least half a dozen submissions early in the round.
"He's a tough kid. I knew that if he wanted to win, that he would have to try and finish it early. And for the first three minutes or so he was hell on wheels."
Imes pleased the crowd with a wide variety of skills from a strong standup game to a furious ground assault.
As was the case for Lemoore, CA lightweight Poppies Martinez (Pictures) (13-3).
The PFC Interim Lightweight World Champion won over the pro Native American crowd by stopping Aaron Maldonado (Pictures) (4-2) of Minneapolis, MN by guillotine choke in 1:22 of the first round.
"I knew that he was out cold from the choke," Martinez said. "But the ref wouldn't stop it and said that he might be faking. I know he was out, his body was limp, so I let him go."
And that's where the fight finished with Maldonado slumped over completely put to sleep by the choke.
Martinez, a Native American representing the Tachi Yokut Tribe in Lemoore received a large ovation from the 1,100 fans in attendance and in a post fight speech asked 4 Bears Casino to bring him back.
"I loved fighting here. It kind of felt like home," Martinez said. "The tribe here really took us in and made us feel at home."
Martinez took little time to take Maldonado down and he did so right in front of his corner where he unleashed some rights and lefts before working his way to the guillotine. "The plan was to stand with him, but it was just a natural reaction to take him down," Martinez said. "But I want my team back home, especially Jacob Jeff, to know that I was punching. I had a great corner here with me tonight, too. I really want to thank Urijah Faber (Pictures), Mickey Martinez and The Project (Jeremy Luchau (Pictures)) for being there."
This was the first PFC card to venture away from its home base in Lemoore where Entertainment Director Christian Printup and his staff have soldout 28 consecutive MMA events.
"I was very happy with the turn out here," Printup said. "It was a pretty big venue and we filled it about a little over half full. I thought the fans here in North Dakota really got to see a lot of action."
In other bouts:
- Courdelane, ID featherweight Vance North (1-1) evened his record with a submission victory over featherweight Michael Craddock (2-1) of Exeter, CA in 1:24 of the first round.
North scored a take down, worked to side control and then locked in a kimura to opening bout of the night.
- Fargo, ND super heavyweight Zack Thumb (1-0) made quick work of Chris Galliher (0-1) of Indianapolis, IN with a technical knockout due to strikes in 18 seconds of the first round.
Galliher and Thumb clinched with Thumb scoring a takedown and then pounding Galliher out. During the takedown Galliher dislocated both knees and had to be sent to the hospital.
- Fargo, ND welterweight Christopher Hugh (3-1) won a 3-round decision over Russell Dietiene (1-0) of Bozeman, MT
Hugh took the first round with a near guillotine and finished the round on top, pounding Dietiene. The second round was fought pretty evenly, but Hugh regained control in the third round and delivered some brutal knees to the body in the process.
- Grand Forks, ND light heavyweight Eric Pribble (4-1) beat Jimmy Dexter (Pictures) (2-4) of Fresno, CA by guillotine choke in 46 seconds of the second round.
After Dexter dominated the first round, Pribble was able to get his offense going. Dexter pushed him into the cage and took him down, but Pribble sunk a guillotine choke to pullout a victory in front of a hometown crowd.
- Hamilton, MT. middleweight Mike Gates (4-1-1) defeated Lucas Sinclair (3-1) of Fargo, ND in 57 seconds of round one with an armbar.
- Minot, ND heavyweight Author Cook (2-0) knocked out Aaron Alvord (1-1) of Menominee, WI in 23 seconds of round one.
PFC 6 is set for January 17th at the Tachi Palace and will feature a PFC Bantamweight World title fight between Sean Klarcyk (6-1) of Porterville, CA and No. 1 contender Rolando Velasco (Pictures) (4-0) of Oakdale, CA.
Klarcyk defeated David Espinosa (Pictures) (3-1) of Sacramento, CA at PFC 3 in July by split decision. It will be Klarcyk's first title defense.
For more breaking PFC news log on to www.palacefightingchampionship.com.
