Los Angeles, CA–Ed Holmes’ All Star MMA in association with Kaboom promotions provided LA mma fans with its second foray of live fights under the civil disobedience banner at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown LA. It was a card highlighted by local fighters with the main event crowning the first All Star MMA lightweight champion. That match pitted LA’s own Joe Camacho, the 37 year old cage veteran against Roberto Vargas, former Bellator season one tournament contender. Vargas employed a successful strategy of taking down Camacho and keeping him there. He would rack up damage on his opponent via ground and pound and would eventually open a cut on Camacho’s eye. Down two rounds, Camacho went right after Vargas in the final assault, landing a few haymakers. Vargas displayed a good chin and threw leather of his own but opted to stick to his game plan and took Camacho down with a double leg takedown. It would secure him a victory, as he won all three rounds via unanimous decision victory becoming the first All Star MMA lightweight champion.
Veteran mma journeyman Nam Phan bounced backed from disappointing losses in Korean based promotion Sengoku and to new comer Isaac de Jesus notching a first round submission win over Xtreme Couture based fighter Rodney Rodin. The brawl gave fans at the packed bonaventure the fight of the night with both competitors coming out swinging from the start of the bell till the very end. Rodin would put Phan on the defensive landing a flying knee in the opening minute. Phan answered back with combinations of his own, working the head and finishing with the body. It seemed both fighters could more than handle the punches of each other, repeatedly eating flush strikes for the chance at landing that game changing punch. As fate would have it, Rodin would slip after landing a combination that would see Phan pounce on his opponent. Sensing a gift in the slip, Phan was relentless in taking advantage of having his opponent on his back. He would land strikes from the top before working into the eventual arm bar for the submission win at 3:47 of the 1st round.
KO of the night mention
In perhaps the biggest pop of the night, Samoan new comer Ralph A’au displayed why you never ever want to mess with a Samoan, especially inside a mma cage. There are certain things we learn as teenagers growing up, things like wrap it up, don’t ever trust a used car salesman, all girls practically lie and that Samoans are built like tanks. Freaking impenetrable steal tanks mashed in human flesh. James Johnson would be awoken to the harsh reality that in fact the myth is true. These guys can hit really, really hard and it is going to take nothing short of a man with some really big balls and a hell of alot of skill to hurt them inside the cage. Within 11 seconds Johnson was out cold by a monster A’au overhand right. The sheer impact of the blow sent Johnson’s mouth piece flying 5 feet into the air. Johnson was immediately knocked out and would not regain consciousness until minutes later. Everyone in attendance immediately stood up and cheered for A’au who got the longest ovation from the crowd. Johnson was eventually taken away by medical personnel and gave the thumbs up to symbolize that he was ok. The crowd was delighted to see him not hurt as they gave him an applause for being a game competitor.
Full Card results:
Roberto Vargas def Joe Camacho via unanimous decision
Ralph A’au def James Johnson via KO in R1 (0:11)
Nam Phan def Rodney Rodin via Arm Bar in R1 (3:47)
Josh Boger def Joe Bryant via TKO in R1 (2:45)
Musa Tolliver def Jeff Martin via unanimous decision (30-27,29-28,29-28)
Marcos Gonzalez def Joey Alvarado via TKO in R1
