MMA: COLD WINTER HEATS UP FOR LOCAL MIXED MARTIAL ARTISTS

0 MN MMA NEWS, OUR LATEST FEATURE STORIES,

It’s been a frigid start to winter but Minnesotans both locally and on the road have been torching the competition in MMA action. Sean “Lucky” Strube moved to 4-0 on December 7th with a win in Missouri. Dan “The Hitman” Moret scored a second round knockout in November 29th’s main event in Abu Dhabi. UFC’s Tony Martin (17-5) traveled to Russia to defeat a hometown hero. Amateur Bobby Dulitz of Austin, MN won the 155 pound Brutaal amateur title on December 14th. Driller Promotions presented Mecca XV on November 15th at Jackpot Junction Casino in Morton, MN.

LUCKY MCPADDEN DOMINATES AT SHAMROCK FC 326

Sean “Lucky” McPadden moved to 4-0 as a professional on December 7th fighting for Shamrock FC in Kansas City, Missouri. McPadden had another short nights work winning by triangle choke at 2:02 of the opening round against tough bantamweight (140 lbs.) Mark “Sharky” Slyter (now 5-3).
McPadden landed a few hard punches out of the gate. The fight then went to the ground where he controlled the action before landing the fight ending submission.

“I hit him a couple times solid and I noticed he didn’t want to stand anymore “Lucky” told Minnesota Fight News. “He began to over commit to an area where I am very good at.”
“I play a guard game that works extremely well for MMA because it’s all about controlling posture and hands” McPadden continued. “Once I figured out he was just going to try to hold me down, I inverted and started throwing the triangle up until I locked it in. Desperation is not a place you should ever put yourself in a fight especially with a guy who knows how to finish like me. As soon as he threw his first jab on the feet I knew I owned him there. As soon as the grappling began on the ground I knew I owned him there. He was a good strong wrestler but I train with a lot of great wrestlers at The Academy.”

McPadden trains Jiu Jitsu at McCunes Martial Arts and recently began his MMA training at The Academy. Up next for McPadden is Christmas, family, and girlfriend time before seeking adate with Legacy Fighting Alliance in February of 2020.

Sean McPadden Victorious in Missouri.

MORET DEFEATS KUIVANEN IN DUBAI

33 year-old Dan “The Hitman” Moret (14-6) of Mankato, MN traveled to Abu Dhabi on November 29th and scored a second round knockout over Anton Kuivanen (26-14) in the main event of UAE Warriors 9.
After a close back and forth round one, Moret turned up the heat in round. Moret dropped Kuivanen with a left punch to the head and followed up with an assault of punches to his fallen opponent before the fight was stopped at 4:59 of the second round.

“Got it done last night and thankful for the opportunity. What a show UAE Warriors put on and I’m glad I could close it out in style” Moret said afterwards.

Dan Moret Wins in Abu Dhabi.

TONY MARTIN WINS IN RUSSIAN

Anthony “Rocco” Martin (17-5) traveled to Russian on November 9th to defeat local hero Ramazan Emeev (18-4) in a welterweight bout as part of the UFC on ESPN+ 21 at the CSKA Arena in Moscow, Russia.
It was another strong showing for the UFC vet Martin who won the majority of 3 tough rounds. Martin was the better striker as he pushed the tempo and also came close to finishing the fight by submission on a few occasions. Emeev was outgunned in the end but showed his toughness in making it to the final bell with the former Minnesota resident Martin. Final scores read 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 .

Tony Martin lands one of many strikes during his match in Russia on November 9, 2019.

DULITZ WINS AMATEUR TITLE IN IOWA

29 year-old Minnesotan Bobbe Dulitz (9-8) won the Brutaal Genesis 155 pound amateur title on December 14th with a second round win over local Alex Coover (now 6-1). Dulitz took a couple leg kicks before picking up and smashing Coover to the canvas as the fight got underway. Coover regrouped and had Dulitz on the defensive for most of the round. Dulitz turned the tide in the second. After taking Coover to the mat, Dulitz worked to mount, and plastered the face of Coover with punches. The fighters rolled, and Coover landed in the guard of Dulitz where the Minnesotan locked in a triangle choke that forced a tap in round two.

Bobbe Dulitz celebrates a win in enemy territory on December 14th, 2019.

KO’S, SUBS, AND BLOOD AT MECCA XV

Mecca XV fighters left nothing but blood, sweat, and entertainment in the cage on Friday, November 15th at Jackpot Junction Casino in Morton, MN. Driller Fights featured 10 Mixed Martial Arts bouts at their inaugural Jackpot show.

Start BJJ’s Angel Pacheco (2-0) won the Driller Promotions 145 pound featherweight title by first round stoppage over Fight Squad’s Sam Hernandez (2-2). Although short in time, the fight lived up to all of the pre-fight hype in regards to the anticipated action. Hernandez began strong and aggressively and went on the attack. Lots of punches and kicks were thrown, a few landed, but Pacheco remained calm and weathered the early assault without any serious damage. Pacheco worked his way to the inside of Hernandez and landed a right hook midway through the opening round that put Hernandez down. The same sequence took place moments later but this time Pacheco passed the legs of Hernandez who was belly down, took his back, and rained punches before the fight was stopped.

Fight Squad’s Juan Hernandez (2-0) stopped Nico Jefferson (1-2) of Genesis by first round TKO in the co-featured 145 pound fight. Both men came out swinging but it was the right hand of Hernandez that connected first. After dropping Jefferson, Hernandez landed some heavy punches on the ground where the fight was stopped.

Iowa’s Eric Kemper (4-7) evened the score with The Academy’s Jason Huntley (6-9) with a second round armbar finish in one of the bloodiest fights in recent MN combat sport events. It was the most blood that I’ve seen in 16 years of covering fights in Minnesota.
Huntley controlled the first round by taking the fight to Kemper in a fun round. A knee to the face delivered by Kemper changed the tide in the second round however and that is when the ring was turned into a pool of blood. During a slippery exchange on the ground, Kemper finished the fight with the armbar.

Full Mecca 15 Results from Tapology

Next up, Driller Fights presents a full day of MMA and Muay Thai action at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN on December 21st. Stay tuned for the full preview.

Leave a Reply