Photo by Angelo Carchesio for Ring of Combat
Ring of Combat 73 – Gonzalez vs Lentz live results
Ring of Combat is back in Atlantic City, NJ for their 73rd show and has 10 professional bouts scheduled highlighted by the main event between Serra-Longo standout James “Speedy” Gonzalez and Bellator and TUF veteran Jeff Lentz. The event will stream live on FITE TV and can be purchased below for $19.99.
Order and watch Ring of Combat 73 below:
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Live results and recaps for the entire fight card below:
UFC bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling is in the house and cornering several fighters. Merab Dvalishvili is also on hand. Al Iaquinta and Matt Culley are handling commentary duties on FITE
185 lbs Christian Alcala (LAW MMA) vs Kareem Kline (Long Island MMA/No Limits KB)
Round 1
This is a rematch. Kline bested Alcala as amateurs in 2019. Sterling and Ray Longo are in the corner of Alcala as the bell sounds and the nights action has started. Kline lands a right as Alcala attempts a kick. Kline scores a nice takedown with a double leg, but is immediately reversed and Alcala is on top and looking to score. Side control now for Alcala. \Alcala lands nice knee to body but Kline slithers out and back to feet. Still in clinch with Alcala pushing Kline against the cage. Dirty boxing is scoring for Alcala. Now Kline spins and is off the cage. Knee to the thigh from Kline and back to the center of the cage they go. Alcala again clinched and has Kline defensive against the fence. Solid round for Alcala.
Round 2
Kline looking for a homerun as Alcala evades. Nice cross elbow from Alcala. Alcala with a nice right and an uppercut and into the clinch with Kline having to defend. Grueling fight as the clinch continues. Kline lands a nice left and spins off the cage. Knee from Kline but Alcala spins off and and then Kline does the same. Back and forth now. They break and return to center and Kline rocks Alcala with an overhand right and he goes down but back to his feet quickly. Kline with a big double leg and takedown and into the guard as we go to the 3rd round
Round 3
They exchange several kicks to the body and clench ensues. Kline has Alcala in the defensive and is looking for the single leg as Alcala looks for an arm. Back to the feet. Nice knee to the belly from Kline. Nice underhook from Alcala to stop a takedown as Kline seems to be taking control and dictating position. Referee Keith Peterson separates the fighters and Alcala lands a nice elbow and a left hand. Big takedown from Alcala in the final 10 seconds. Very close fight as we go to the judges scorecards.
Official decision… 29-28 28-29 29-28 Kareem Kline wins via split decision
135 lbs Ricardo Jiminez (Animals MMA) vs Michael Fitzroy (Long Island MMA)
Round 1
Both guys active tom start. Jiminez stuns Fitzroy with a right and Fitzroy goes right in and gets the takedown. Fitzroy looking for the arm as Jiminez escapes and they are on their feet. Fitzroy throwing some wild punches and Jiminez scrambles. Couple leg kicks from Fitzroy and a nice jab from Jiminez. Fitzroy with a takedown but Jiminez back up and lands a right to the face. Fitzroy back to the wrestling and another takedown as the round ends
Round 2
Fitzroy the aggressor but Jiminez with effective counterpunching. Jiminez continues to be the better striker but Fitzroy with another takedown and Jiminez slides out immediately. Jiminez now looking form the single leg and secures the takedown. Jiminez lands some vicious punches as Fitzroy looked for the arm. Jiminez still on top as Fitzroy doesn’t want to release the arm. Back to the feet and the clinch. Great battle as they both score before Fitzroy once again shoots and secures the takedown. Fitzroy landing some ground and pound as the round ends
Round 3
Fitzroy comes out throwing and looks for the takedown. Jiminez defends and is on the bottom looking for a triangle, Fitzroy transitions out to side control. Fitzroy now looking for the crucifix position and is landing. Dominant round so far for Fitzroy, Jiminez has been on the defensive the whole round thus far. Nice reveersal from Jiminez whose corner is urging him to look for the finish. Jiminez now has the back but that is the end of the fight.
Official decision…30-27 29-28 29-28 Michael Fitzroy wins via unanimous decision
145 lbs Damion Nelson (LAW MMA) vs Rakim Thorpe (Jackson Wink MMA)
Round 1
First minute not much action. Thorpe now clinches with Nelson up against cage. And they break. Thorpe lands a combination and into the double leg but nice sprawl from Nelson. Now they are clenched again. Thorpe is the aggressor. Thorpe scoops up Nelson and slams him to the canvas and right back up they go. Good knee from Nelson but the round ends.
Round 2
Thorpe continues to move forward and Nelson looks to counter. Some blood on the forehead of Nelson. Thorpe lands a heavy leg kick. Nelson defending the takedown nicely as Thorpe is very bullish. Back to the center of the cage and Thorpe again shoots forcing Nelson to defend. Nelson lands a couple elbows to the body. Nelson reverses and lands 2 knees to the body. Thorpe also has some blood on his face as the round concludes
Round 3
Nelson needs to show some urgency as Thorpe throws a big overhand right that misses. Nice kicks and combo from Nelson. Nelson still looking for an opening as Thorpe continues forward and a very nice front kick to the face from Nelson but Thorpe is a bull. Thorpe continues pushing forward as they clinch against cage. Nelson escapes and lands a leaping kick butb that’s the end of the fight
Official score…29-28 28-29 29-28 Damion Nelson wins by split decision
170 lbs Mike Ahearn (Animals MMA) vs Alex Brown (American Killerbees/5 Boro Fight Haus)
Round 1
Ahearn shoots in but in for a takedown but has to defend a darce choke. He is now out and on top with Brown pinned up against the cage. Nice right hand lands twice from Ahearn as he is posturing up and now looks for the back. Ahearn staying busy with his right hand landing and is in control and in Brown’s guard. Several lefts score from the top. Dominant round thus far for Ahearn.
Round 2
Ahearn comes out throwing heavy and Brown looks for a takedown but Ahearn defends and secures his own takedown and is dominant position once again. Now in full mount and Brown is in trouble. Huge rights from Ahearn raining down, This is close to being called. Brown is a tough dude and is still defending and now has Ahearn in his guard. Brown tries some punches from the bottom but Ahearn punishes him as the round ends
Round 3
Ahearn right away in dominant position with the takedown. Brown defending as Ahearn looks to pass. Brown needs a miracle. Pace has slowed but Ahearn still in dominant position. Ahearn looking to posture up but Brown won’t let go as the round and fight ends
Official score…30-26 30-26 30-27 Mike Ahearn wins vis unanimous decision
180 lbs Victor Valenzuela (Brutal Striker MMA) vs Thomas Powell (Jackson Wink MMA)
Round 1
Powell the southpaw looks crisp with his hands and is showing nice head movement but Valenzuela gets a takedown and is in half guard. Valenzuela is looking to pass but Powell refuses. Now to side control and Powell sneaks out but just briefly. Not much damage being done but Valenzuela still controlling position. And now he passes and Powell pushes him off and then Valenzuela lands an illegal head kick as Powell was on his back and the ref has delayed the fight. Looks like the toe went into the eye and this fight is iffy at best of continuing as Powell is in obvious discomfort.
Official score…Thomas Powell wins by disqualification
155 lbs Cristian Lopez (Loyalty BJJ) vs Nick Rodriguez (Gym-O)
Round 1
Huge left from Lopez but Rodrigues shakes it off. Now Rodrigues scores the double leg and Lopez back to his feet. Another scoop and takedown from Rodrigues. Lopez again back to his feet. Nice knee from Rodrigues and a takedown but Lopez is resilient and back up.
Round 2
Rodrigues wastes no time getting a takedown and takes the back and is looking for the rear naked but Lopez gets out. Rodrigues is a bulldozer and is pushing Lopez around, now. Lopez with very little offense and all defense right now. Rodrigues dominant right now and looks to be too strong
Round 3
Rodrigues continues the wrestling onslaught but Lopez is a gamer. Rodrigues just continues to wrestle and control as they break and get back to the feet. Lopez is a tough dude, but Rodrigues too strong for him.
Official score…30-27 29-28 29-28 Nick Rodrigues wins via unanimous decision
155 lbs Armando Gjetja (Renzo Gracie/Arena Training Center) vs Yanal Admuz (K Dojo Warrior Tribe)
Round 1
Big left kick from Gjetja and Admuz looks for a takedown. The Albanians in the crowd are raucous for their guy Gjetja. Gjetja has Admuz clinched up against the cage and lands a big left on the exit. Gjetja is very slick and continues to land his hands and has bloodied his opponent. The and is controlling the position of the fight. Thesouthpaw now has Admuz against the cage again. Both guys land vicious combinations and the slugfest stops as the bell sounds
Round 2
Admuz throws a kick and right hand that is blocked and Gjetja continues marching forward. Admuz is a brawler and scores on a left and right and now has Gjetja against the cage. Nice spin from Gjetja and gets some space. Big left kick to the body from Gjetja but Admuz is tough, Admuz is definitely the wild thrower as Gjetja is more technical. Admuz lands and hurts Gjetja but he recovers and pins Admuz against cage. This is an unbelievable fight. What a brawl!!
Round 3
Admuz ducks a left jab from Gjetja and throws a bomb of a left hand himself that connects flush and sends Gjetja down and ends the fight on the opening sequence.
Official score…Yanal Admuz wins via KO .34 of round 3
Co-Main event Title elimination fight 155 lbs
Dylan Mantello (Serra Longo/LAW MMA) vs Felipe Diaz (Brutal Strikers MMA)
Round 1
Nice jab from Mantello who has a reach advantage. Holy hell!! a huge right hand and we have a highlight reel knockout for the ages. Diaz was out before he hit the ground. Mantello is a monster
Official score…Dylan Mantello wins via KO at .35 of round 1
Main Event 145lb ROC Championship
James Gonzalez (Serra Longo) vs Jeff Lentz (Lentz MMA/Team Rhino)
Round 1
Gonzalez the southpaw looks to throw kicks early, Lentz smiling and is now defending the takedown which Gonzalez secures. Full guard for Lentz right now. Gonzalez not able to do much damage as Lentz keeping him close. Now Gonzalez still trying to posture up as Lentz defends well. Lentz does not have much room as he is pinned up against fence. Now he has Lentz’s back but the round is ending and we move to round 2
Round 2
Gonzalez again with the takedown off of a right hand attempt from Lentz. Side control for Gonzalez. Knees to the body score and some more. Gonzalez has turned this into a grappling match and is having success. Gonzalez continues with the knees and is controlling the fight convincingly. Gonzalez looking for an arm but round 2 concludes.
Round 3
Gonzalez once again in control with the takedown and is looking to do some damage. Another round of grappling dominance from Gonzalez and Lentz has been on the defensive once again. Lentz finally to the feet but not enough time as the fight ends
Official score…30-27 30-27 30-27 James Gonzalez wins via unanimous decision
