Crawley, Brown & MacSwain new Rize champions

by Chris Postupalski

After a few set-backs coming into the event, Rize promotions returned with three title fights on the 27th of February, 2010 at the Fortitude Valley PCYC. In the main event New Zealand fighter Pat Crawley from the Strikeforce Gym in Auckland won a majority decision over Ross Dallow from Melbourne to take the Middleweight Rize Title.

Crawley came close to finishing the fight in the first round after dropping Dallow with a combination of punches, however Dallow stayed strong and was able to recover, although already very bloodied and battered. In the second round, Dallow used nice dirty boxing against the cage to win the round convincingly, however his takedown attempts were stuffed by Crawley who was getting the better of the strikes throughout the fight. Third round was very competitive with Crawley landing the bigger power shots, however Dallow’s dirty boxing was starting to take its toll on Crawley.

Sonny Brown who was a late replacement for his team mate Rob Hill who failed to make weight, took the lightweight title from Daniel Hooker winning by a rear-naked choke submission at 2:02 into round two. Early in the fight Brown showed an aggressive submission game going for submission after submission from his back before the tide turned. It was then Hooker’s turn, as he came close with a triangle and an armbar. Hooker started off where he left off in the second round, this time attempting a rear-naked choke unsuccessfully. Brown sprung back to his feet and quickly attempted a guillotine before eventually transitioning to a rear-naked choke for the win.

In a battle of two New Zealand fighters Rod MacSwain took on Daniel Digby for the Welterweight Title. It was clear from the outset that Digby’s aim was to get the fight to the canvas, however it would be MacSwain who would get it there, picking up Digby and slamming him onto the canvas. Both fighters stood up before Digby got the takedown where he went for a knee-bar. MacSwain was able to escape and both fighters ended up standing, where the fight was paused due to the lightning accidentally turning off. When it restarted it would be MacSwain who landed the decisive punch that dropped Digby. MacSwain followed up with punches before the referee stopped the fight, giving MacSwain the welterweight title 3:46 into the first round.

In a number one contender bout for the welterweight bout, Manuel Rodriguez from the TP Fight Gym started off very impressively hip-tossing his opponent Ian Bone to the canvas. Unable to keep him there, Bone got up before being taken down. Showing an improved ground game, Bone reversed the fight and ended up in side control before Rodriguez got his full guard back. Rodrgiuez attempted an armbar, but Bone stayed tight and managed to escape to his feet. Bone landed a knee followed by an overhand left that dropped his opponent. Rodriguez looked rocked and gave up his back where Bone was able to lock in the rear-naked choke for the win, 3:14 into round one.

Ryan Dunstan showed a tight ground game in his one-sided victory over Damien Brown. Dunstan took the fight down, where he was able to move to mount before transitioning to an armbar for the tap, 1:45 into the fight.

In under-card fights Zein Saliba defeated Ricardo Zamora by gaining mount and unloading with punches, forcing the referee to halt the fight, 2:22 into the fight. Quickly becoming the king of come-backs, exciting Toowoomba youngster Tyson Kroehn came back from a point deduction and close submission attempts to win via referee stoppage Jarrett Owen. Kroehn had a point deducted in the first for an illegal foot stomp, however Kroehn would not leave it in the hands of the judges as he unloaded with punches after getting into mount in round two. Justin Prowse showed great calmness for a fighter taking the fight on 48 hours notice, as he unloaded with punches from mount against Fabian Nemcek to force the referee to stop the fight, 1:18 into round two. New Zealand fighter John Olesen showed he will be one to look out for as he submitted Josh Chamberlain with an armbar 1:19 into the fight. To Chamberlain’s credit he was taking the fight on very late notice. In the opening fight of the night, Brad Nixon came back from a fall out of the cage door to defeat Jared Tomlinson via an armbar, 1:08 into the third round.

Rize MMA returns on Saturday, 29 May with the event being confirmed to being held at the impressive Chandler Arena.