Sphinx shows heart to become lightweight champion
Wild Bob's Bar hosted GKNY9: MC Vs Sphinx on Saturday June 13. If you thought The Underground was a fighters club, Wild Bob’s is here it’s at. 750 wild New Yorkers came to see the GAMMA feeder’s rookies in action, and to throw some elbows and do some damage.
Before even getting inside the venue there was what can only be called the most technical street fight those in line had ever witnessed. As soon as pushing turned to punches, the smaller of the two pulled guard, on the concrete, and guillotined his way into the back of a police car. Props for the choke, maybe we’ll see him competing inside a GKNY cage.
When the action legally kicked off those that came early for the undercard fights were treated to a submissions heaven. Too bad Mr. Guillotine didn’t make it inside, as 4 of the first 5 fights were decided by submission.
The main fights on the event kept Wild Bob’s in constant chaos, with all not needing the judge’s help in deciding the winners. All of the action led toward the main event where fight pundits would’ve been impressed in an epic come from behind win for GKNY’s first lightweight champion.
It was a night of raw entertainment. Let’s get straight to the biggest and most exciting fight then see how the card stacked up.
[Main Event] Sphinx def MC by Submission (Armbar) at 04:35 of Round 5 to win the GKNY Lightweight Title
Jimmy Sphinx (7-2) became GKNY’s first ever lightweight champion when he secured a late armbar victory to win his 7th straight and pull a win out of the hat after going into the last round well behind on the judge’s scorecards.
It was, without a doubt, the best fight on the night and both competitors received a Fight of the night award for their battle. Sphinx snared the Sub of the night award for his late victory making that 3 award winning fights in a row for the new 155 lbs champ.
Hesa MC (2-1) dominated with his superb clinchwork, landing an insane 184 strikes (80%) in the clinch in which his Muay Thai elbows and knees all but won him the fight. Going into the last round, MC also stuffed 32 of 35 takedown attempts (91%) from Sphinx, but it was the final one that led to the massive come-from-nowhere victory.
With just over 3 minutes left in the fight, Sphinx pulled guard from yet another MC Thai clinch. The BJJ brown belt of Sphinx was on show, as he worked off his back to deny MC’s ground and pound and attempt to lock in the triangle. With a slick show of transitioning, the new champ was finally able to roll into an armbar and get the impossible victory with just 30 seconds to go.
It was a massive show of heart and determination from Sphinx to nab the win and finally break into the GKNY top 10 P4P list, taking the #8 spot. As he talked to the crowd after his fight, he put the win down to simply being the better fighter and let everyone know he wanted to make his Jiu-Jitsu legendary.
MC put the loss down to being unprepared, yet till the last round he had the fight all but won. This is what he had to say: “I wasn't prepared for the match. I have had wild parties and my mind wasn't in the match.”
In a headliner that lived up to the main event quality, Sphinx would be happy yet maybe a little lucky to walk away with the belt. His Jiu-Jitsu has definitely made a name for itself with the late submission.
Up next for the champ will most likely be a match against the current #1 contender in Robert Sito. The newcomer does have a GKNY debut against Jose Cuervo at GKNY 12, but if he wins like he’s poised to he could face the new champ for a shot at lightweight gold.
[Co-Main Event] Williams def Boy via KO (Knee) at 00:28 of Round 1
Lenny Williams (4-0) continued to roll through competition as he scored another first round TKO, this time in 28 seconds, his second fastest victory so far. That’s 4 wins by first round stoppage to “Otto” and another KO of the night victory to his name.
Cannon Boy (5-2) only managed to land 1 punch before the combo that send him back to grade school. It was a nice knee off the back of a picture perfect jab that gave Boy his second loss, who now has 2-2 since joining GKNY.
Williams had his third straight KO and finishes his middleweight campaign undefeated. He’s since signed back on with GKNY as a light-heavyweight at 205 lbs, his current natural weight being 201. “I'm actually going to add some muscle and some weight and work my way to 205. So 205 better beware because I'm coming.”
With the win and the changing of weight classes, Williams finds himself as the #3 contender for the 205 lbs title. Alexy Innokenti has already issued him a warning and being the Russian is the #4 contender, the two might battle it out in the coming weeks.
Cannon Boy seems quite undeterred in his loss, putting it down to cheating. He still stands behind his boxing skills and will continue to develop his hands and push ahead. With the loss, Boy drops a couple of slots to #10 in the middleweight division.
Jordon def Giancana by KO (Punch) at 02:31 of Round 1
Edwin Jordan (5-0) has also been dominant and added another first round KO/TKO to his impressive fighting resume. Williams and Jordan are both managed by Jack McCrary and train together at The Performance Center, and it shows.
“Drake” has won 5 of 5 including his last 3 with GKNY and is considered to be the #1 contender to the GKNY middleweight title. It’s no wonder Williams changed divisions, as the pair could be looking at holding a title each if things keep rolling this way.
Sam Giancana (2-2) managed to land an early takedown but lacked the ground game to really do anything with it. Once the referee stood the fighters up, it was only a matter of time before Jordon’s right hand met his chin. A big right knocked him down then a straight right ended things and gave Giancana his GKNY debut loss.
The Italian expressed his gratitude for fighting one of the GAMMA rookie org’s best: “I was glad to fight someone like him. He was 4-0 before our fight and that’s the kind of competition I want - the best guys in the org.”
Giancana also showed interest in stepping up against Williams, but due to the change of division that might not eventuate anytime soon.
Jordon had only one thing on his mind post-fight: “The champ. I'm coming. I will be at the title fight on the 27th and more of my thoughts will be made known then.”
The American only has the champ ahead of him, and is currently the best 185 pounder and many think the title is already his, and from here it’s just a matter of formalities. John Matrix faces Ed Landry to defend his gold at Underworld 3. We’ll see what transpires as things heat up atop the middleweight division.
Pillman def Clark by TKO (Strikes) at 01:41 of Round 1
Brian Pillman (2-0) sent his opponent an early MMA retirement gift with a TKO ground strikes barrage. It’s Pillman’s second straight ground and pound win, this time sending Clark to an ice bath early into Round 1.
Pillman ducked in and shot right through for a text book takedown as soon as the bell rang, and from that point it was pretty much over. A few transitions later and he was in full mount, then came the ground-and-pound and there was nothing Still could do.
Clark Still (3-1) ended his MMA career probably on a somber, but accurate note. His reasons for moving to kickboxing were due to his lack of ground skill and this fight really showed it. He was finished early and when things went south, he looked lost and out of depth.
“One Love” is yet to sign with his preferred KT organization yet given his stand up talent there’s no reason he can’t do well. As for Pillman, he’s now the #3 featherweight contender based on Fighter Elite MMA’s rankings.
Strong def Alvarez by KO (Punch) at 01:47 of Round 1
With so many submission wins in the undercard, the main card opener set the tone for a change of pace with the first of many KO/TKO finishes.
Kale Strong (2-1) had a flawless GKNY debut with a round 1 KO, showing the New York fans and the super-heavyweight division his striking aint no joke. Strong’s hands are just that, strong, and Alvarez got a brutal first-hand experience.
Avila Alvarez (3-3) had a 2 fight win streak stopped with the KO loss, his boxing just wasn’t on the same level as Strong’s. A big right hand had him knocked down to begin with, then when he returned to his feet a nice counter uppercut clean ended his state of consciousness.
Avila showed his mature character after the fight with some respectful words to his opponent, after coming to his feet: “I would thank Kale for the opportunity and if we ever get to meet again, I would be honored.”
Strong returned the comments with some of his own, then addressed the division: “Props to him. It's a tough fight for him. The belt will be mine in short order. Every day I'm improving and looking to be the best. May as well vacate the belt or be willing to have an L on your record soon. I'm only 18 and I have a bright future. I'd take any fight in the division. I'm almost where I need to be skill wise, now it's time to execute.”
The Canadian’s first win with GKNY immediately moves him into a very nice position to have a run at the title. Strong’s currently the #3 265+ lbs contender for the title and has just Ivan Ziadouh and Marcin Kowalczyk ahead of him.
Both Ziadouh and Kowalczyk have bouts in the next couple of weeks, so by months end Strong may be in an even more prominent position.
Undercard
If the main card was entertaining, and it definitely was, then the undercard was the perfect lead in. The headliner on the undercard was the only decision victory of the night. Mick Dundee (2-1) walked away with a judge’s decision to round out the prelims.
Before that, the opening 4 fights all ended with first round submissions. Marcin held (6-3) won his GKNY debut fight with a triangle and Denis Stevenson (4-5) corrected a 3 fight losing streak with a triangle submission of his own before being dropped into the land of free agency by his manager.
Gary Tonon (2-2) squared things up at 1-1 in the GKNY cage with his 28 second rear naked choke and Nick Rude (1-0) submitted Gareth Mark with an armbar in their no contest rematch to open the night.
Undercard short results:
Dundee def Grant by Unanimous Decision (30-27)
Held def Fernandez by Submission (Triangle) at 03:56 of Round 1
Stevenson def Eckstroem by Submission (Triangle) at 03:18 of Round 1
Tonon def Hastings by Submission (RNC) at 00:28 of Round 1
Rude def Mark by Submission (Armbar) at 03:50 of Round 1
Awards:
Fight of the night: Jimmy Sphinx vs Hesa MC
KO of the night: Lenny Williams
Sub of the night: Jimmy Sphinx
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Coming Up:
GKNY 10 - Shin Vs Skywalker at The Underground - New York on June 20
Next Underworld Event:
Underworld 3: Zangiev V Nabokov at The Underground - New York on June 27
