Triton Fights 9 Results Recap & Photos: Dylan Mantello Captures ISKA Lightweight Title in Comeback Victory
Photos by MyMMANews photographer Tim Stype
Triton Fights 9 delivered an action-packed evening Friday night at The Space at Westbury in Westbury, New York. Thirteen bouts filled the fight card, which included three title fights. In the main event, Paul Thimote (4-2) of Ultimate MMA Academy, entered the cage defending the title against the toughest challenge in his amateur career standing across the cage. Dylan Mantello (4-0) of LAW MMA (Long and Weidman MMA) fought through adversity to capture the ISKA (International Sport Kickboxing Association) lightweight title. In the co-main event, Robert Brothers spoiled the return of “The Savage” Chris Bretton with a second-round stoppage. The doors swung open at 6 PM to the public and the fights kicked off at 6:30 PM. Three fights took place before the event streamed live on CBS Sports App at 8 PM, airing the remaining ten bouts.
In the main event, Thimote and Mantello battled nearly three full rounds of non-stop high-paced back-and-forth action. In the first two rounds of the fight, Thimote controlled the fight landing a higher number of significant strikes, while not allowing Mantello to use his long reach. Entering the third round, clearly down on the judges’ scorecards, Mantello picked up the pace knowing he was down two rounds. The LAW MMA fighter found his reach against the champion, applied the pressure and pinned Thimote’s back against the cage midway through round three. After several highly effective combinations, Thimote wilted to the strikes of Mantello. Mantello improved to 4-0 on his career, handing Thimote his second loss, and capturing the ISKA lightweight title in an impressive comeback fashion via TKO in Round 3, at 1:53.
Mantello and Thimote earned Fight of the Night with their exciting three round title performance.
The c0-main event was a heavyweight featured fight between “The Savage” Chris Bretton (1-2) and Robert Brothers (4-5). “The Savage” was making his highly anticipated return to the cage. The crowd favorite came across the cage swinging at Brothers looking for the early finish. These two heavyweights delivered an action-packed first round that brought the geography of the fight in all different directions and fans out of their seats. After having his back pinned against the fence for much of the first round, Brothers battled back to finish strong.
Round two opened up with Brothers picking apart a very fatigued Bretton. As Brothers should off his overlooked strength and size, he pummeled “The Savage” to the point the doctor had to take a look at a bloody gash over the left eye of Bretton. Brothers earned the victory against the crowd favorite in round two via TKO (Doctor Stoppage), at 0:50.
Ashiek Ajim improved to 7-1 in his amateur career and remained the Triton Fights bantamweight champion. Ajim defeated Christian Acerbo (2-3) in a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). The Long Island MMA fighter displayed a skill level that was far above his Commack MMA opponent. Acerbo though showed tremendous toughness inside the cage where Ajim dictated the action. While talking to Commentator Dave Della Rocca inside the ring during his post-fight interview, Ajim captured the hearts of the fans as he asked for tougher fighters, with the same skill level as his. “Give me someone that can fight,”
Mike Fitzroy, Ajim’s teammate at Long Island MMA battled a tough Vilson Ndregioni of AMA Fight Club for the Triton Fights featherweight title. Ndregioni displayed a strong level of grappling and a solid takedown skill set. The AMA Fight Club 1-1 fighter controlled the entire fight against the undefeated Mike Fitzroy (3-1). One judge saw the contest so lopsided that he gave Ndregioni a 10-8 round. Ndregioni improved to 2-1 in his career while also capturing the Triton Fights featherweight title in a unanimous decision victory (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).
Islip’s Tom Picciano (3-1) displayed Islip’s strong tradition in wrestling as he out grappled Alex Brown (2-1) of American Killer Bees in a welterweight matchup. Picciano fights out of Long Island MMA, home to fellow Islip high school graduate and PFL lightweight, Chris Wade. Picciano defeated Brown via TKO (Ground-n-Pound) in the second round at 2:35. Picciano lines himself up for a title contender fight.
Kelvin Sterling (3-1) of LAW MMA fought a hard against a tough Matt Santos of (1-2) out of American Killer Bees. Sterling, who has only been training for about a year, fought a technical fight against Santos on his way to earn a Unanimous Decision victory against Santos in a featherweight matchup.
Bobby Casale (2-2) of Long Island MMA popped the top to Al Pringle (1-5) in the first round and didn’t let the fun stop there as he posed for photos after Casale’s most impressive career victory. The first round TKO took place at 2:49. The Long Island MMA lightweight improved to 2-2 in his young amateur career.
Kareem Scott (3-2) didn’t hold back the showboating after he scored a first round submission against Jerry Butler (0-1). The No Limit Kickboxing fighter nearly broke the arm of the Bancho MMA fighter, as Referee Chris Molina wisely didn’t give Butler an option to tap. Scott delivered a dramatic post-Fight speech into Dave Della Rocca’s mic, which was answered by Butler screaming from the crowd for a rematch.
J’aime Butcher (1-0) bounced back after losing round one to Lateesha Mohl (1-6). Butcher, of Commack MMA made her debut Friday night as a mixed martial artist and is a highly skilled kickboxer that eat a nasty Head kick by Mohl. Mohl, a seasoned MMA fighter won round one, but struggled to get her offense going in rounds two and three, after Butcher found her range. Butcher looked like a seasoned veteran in the grappling game as much as she did while standing. Butcher claimed her first career MMA victory in a Unanimous Decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Triton Fights 9 Aires Live on CBS Sports App. Before the Main and co-Main event, the promotion premiered their reality tv show called “Fight Lyfe“. A reality show based on the champions and promoters of Triton Fights and their sponsor, Tiger Lyfe.
Triton Fights 10 returns to Long Island in November. Interested in more information about the promotions champions, visit their website www.tritonfights.com.
Triton Fights 9 Official Results:
170- Rene Pereyra (1-1) Def. Roman Chyzhyk (1-1) via Arm Bar submission in Round 2, at 1:36.
155- Isa Dalipaj (1-1) def. Gurhan Celik (1-1) via Knockout in Round One, at 1:22.
150CW- Estevinson Carmona (1-0) def. Nick Walker (0-1) via Submission (Arm Bar) in Round One, at 2:18.
Intermission – Live on CBS Sports app at 8PM
125- John Ladisa (0-1) def. Sergio Rivera (0-1) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
115- J’aime Butcher (1-0) def. Lateesha Mohl (1-6) via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
235- Kareem Scott (3-2) def. Jerry Butler (0-1) via Submission (Arm Bar) in Round One, at 2:24.
155- Bobby Casale (1-2) def. Al Pringle (1-4) via TKO (Ground-n-Pound) in Round One at 2:49.
145- Kelvin Sterling (2-1) def. Matt Santos (1-1) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
170- Tom Picciano (2-1) def. Alex Brown (2-0) via TKO in Round two at 2:35.
145*- Vilson Ndregioni (1-1) def. Mike Fitzroy (3-0) via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27).
135*- Ashiek Ajim (6-1) def. Christian Acerbo (2-2) via Unanimous Decision And Still Champion. (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
265- Robert Brothers (3-5) def. Chris Bretton (1-1) via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in Round 2, at 0:50.
155**- Dylan Mantello (3-0) def. Paul Thimote (4-1) via TKO in Round 3, at 1:53.
*Triton Title Fight
**ISKA Title Fight
Photo gallery below. Click to enlarge each photo.
