Two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia’s comeback successfully continued tonight with a one-punch knockout of Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello for the Powerhouse World Promotions Heavyweight Championbship.
The “War on the Mainland” pay-per-view event, presented by Powerhouse World Promotions (PWP) Heavyweight Championship, was held at Bren Events Center in Irvine California.
Sylvia (27-6-0), who won his third straight fight, wore down Buentello (28-13-0) with knees, kicks and punches, finally putting Buentello out with only three seconds remaining in the second round. It was announced after the fight that Sylvia would defend his PWP title against Pedro Rizzo.
“The plan was to wear him down with knees and leg kicks for the first two rounds,” Sylvia commented. “Paul has fast hand. I blasted him with elbows and knees, wore him down. When I took his legs, I hit him high.”
In the co-main event for the PWP Light Heavyweight title, late replacement Tony “Kryptonite” Lopez (19-4-0) stopped former WEC champion Jason “The Punisher” Lambert (25-12-0) with a left knee, double right uppercut combination in round two. Lopez, the former King of the Cage heavyweight and light heavyweight titlist, took the fight on one week’s notice and had to lose 26 pounds to make the 205-pound limited.
“I lost the 26 pounds to come and win the world championship and tonight I did it,” a delighted Lopez explained after the fight. “I knew Jason had a lot of experience and a strong submission game. But I came in with the big knee.”
Former IFL champion Matt “The Fighting Hippy” Horwich (24-14-1) captured the PWP Middleweight Championship by beating Thales Leites (25-12-0) at his own game, locking-in a rear naked choke for submission in the fourth round. “This was the biggest win of my life,” Horwich said. “I’m champion again. We’re back! I heard what my corner was saying and I’m blessed to have them. I want to thank Thales Leites for the fight.”
San Diego lightweight Diego “El Nino” Garijo (5-1) registered the most significant victory of his young career, forcing former UFC champion Jens “Little Evil” Pulver, who lost his sixth straight match, to tap-out by way of a guillotine choke at 1:09 of the opening round.
Brazilian middleweight Gustavo “Ximu” Machado (18-9-1) won a 3-round split decision against Rick Reeves. Veteran Terry Martin (20-8) won a 3-round split decision against Mexican welterweight Jorge “The Naked Man” Ortiz (16-6-1).
MMA fighters Fabricio Werdum, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Kimo Leopoldo and Pedro Rizzo, as well as 12-year NBA player Troy Hudson, were among the sports celebrities in attendance.
Former NFL place kicker Benny Ricardo was the blow-by-blow announcer, joined by living MMA legend, color commentator Bas Rutten, for the pay-per-view event distributed by Integrated Sports Media. “Classy” Jimmy Lennon, Jr. was the ring announcer. The National Anthem singer was Paris Bennett, who was a finalist in American Idol, Season 3.
Tim Sylvia def Paul Bunetello via KO (uppercut) in R2 (4:57)
Terry Martin def Jorge Ortiz via split decision (29-28,30-28, 29-28)
Tony Lopez def Jason Lambert via flying knee KO in R2
Matt Horwich def Thales Leites via rear naked choke in R4 (0:44)
Erin Beach def Joao Silva via unanimous decision (30-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Diego Garijo def Jens Pulver via guillotine choke in R1 (1:08)
Gustavo Machado def Rick Reeves via split decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Cleber Luciano def Todd Willingham via rear naked choke in R2
AJ Mathews def Sean Choice via TKO in R2
