SportFight X a Huge Success as Wilhite Submits Clemmons in the Main Event (VIDEO)
By:Rick Piel
Date:26 March 2012
SportFight X was a huge success in Huntsville, Alabama this past weekend as the Alabama Athletic Commission hosted its first professional mixed martial arts event under the new sanctioning rules of Alabama.
Featuring the state's first ever sanctioned female bout between Molly Richardson and Annaliesha Rochel Smith, an impressive night of amateur action that included a win from Josh Seinkbeil, and an entertaining main event between Stephen Wilhite and Jonathon Clemmons, SportFight X did not disappoint.
The main event between Wilhite (Triad Martial Arts, AL) and Clemmons (SSF, TN) will not be soon forgotten. Wilhite started hot and remained on the offensive for the majority of the fight as Clemmons spent his time backing up and waiting for an opening. Unfortunately for Clemmons, that opening never came.
Clemmons challenged Wilhite several times with strikes but it always resulted in his opponent answering with a more aggressive flurry of combinations that electrified the crowd. Although Clemmons landed a handful of shots, Wilhite's fast hands and power leg kicks were too much for Clemmons.
After attempting to clinch Wilhite against the cage, Clemmons took a shot at wrapping his arm around his opponent's neck, but to no avail. Wilhite was too powerful and would ultimately take Clemmons to the mat where he would eventually transition from the mount to his opponent's back. Wilhite sunk in a rear naked choke in the second frame to earn the victory.
Following the fight Wilhite was visually excited as he thanked his sponsors and teammates for helping him earn the victory. After a quick check by the post fight physician Wilhite joined his teammates and celebrated with them and all his fans.
In the co-main event of the night the crowd was intense as Matt Smart of Sturgis MMA squared off with Will Kuhn from X3 Sports. The battle went back and forth for the duration and included a wonderful display of striking and ground control from Kuhn. The fighter from Atlanta found a way to submit Smart via rear naked choke near the end of the third round.
Other professional matchups included David McAfee (Fear None, AL) dominating Chris Craft in the very first round with a TKO due to strikes. Sasuke Zapada from Cage MMA also found a quick finish as he submitted Paul Gardener via guillotine just three minutes into the bout. X3 Sports' Steve Hall was able to end Matt Vaughn's night via TKO after four minutes into their matchup.
In amateur action, Smith defeated Richardson via submission due to strikes in the third round within Alabama's first-ever regulated female mixed martial arts bout. Keaton Wood, Josh Jarrett, Craig McAlpine, Jason Sanderson, and Josh Senkbeil also reigned victorious.
When all was said and done SportFight X represented Alabama as the state's first regulated amateur and professional MMA card. SFX put together a great fight card and held their first Alabama event in a great venue.. Early rumors are the next SFX event will be in Birmingham, Alabama so stay tuned to USCS for more as we follow Alabama's fight scene unfold during their first year of sanctioning fights under the new commission.
Complete fight results from SFX posted below:
Pro MMA
145 – Stephen Wilhite def Jonathan Clemmons in R2 via Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
170 – William Kuhn def Matt Smartt at 3:25 of R3 via Submisison (Rear Naked Choke)
155 – Steve Hall def Matt Vaughn in R1 via TKO
165 – Sasuke Zapata def Paul Gardner at 3:15 of R1 via Submission (Guillotine)
155 – David McAfee def Chris Craft at :27 of R1 via TKO
Amateur MMA
205 – Josh Senkbeil def Maurice Tunstall in R2 via Submission (Guillotine)
205 – Jason Sanderson def Jake Mears at 1:29 of R2 via TKO
155 – Craig McAlpine def Eder Nieto at 1:37 of R1 via Submission (Guillotine)
265 – Josh Jarrett def Morris Ginyard at 1:23 of R1 via Submission (Kimura)
145 – Keaton Wood def Wes Baugh at :34 of R1 via Submission (Guillotine)
115 – Annaliesha Smith def Molly Richardson at 2:39 of R3 via Submission (Strikes)
SportFight X- Huge Success (USCS)
SportFight X a Huge Success as Wilhite Submits Clemmons in the Main Event (VIDEO)
By:Rick Piel
Date:26 March 2012
SportFight X was a huge success in Huntsville, Alabama this past weekend as the Alabama Athletic Commission hosted its first professional mixed martial arts event under the new sanctioning rules of Alabama.
Featuring the state's first ever sanctioned female bout between Molly Richardson and Annaliesha Rochel Smith, an impressive night of amateur action that included a win from Josh Seinkbeil, and an entertaining main event between Stephen Wilhite and Jonathon Clemmons, SportFight X did not disappoint.
The main event between Wilhite (Triad Martial Arts, AL) and Clemmons (SSF, TN) will not be soon forgotten. Wilhite started hot and remained on the offensive for the majority of the fight as Clemmons spent his time backing up and waiting for an opening. Unfortunately for Clemmons, that opening never came.
Clemmons challenged Wilhite several times with strikes but it always resulted in his opponent answering with a more aggressive flurry of combinations that electrified the crowd. Although Clemmons landed a handful of shots, Wilhite's fast hands and power leg kicks were too much for Clemmons.
After attempting to clinch Wilhite against the cage, Clemmons took a shot at wrapping his arm around his opponent's neck, but to no avail. Wilhite was too powerful and would ultimately take Clemmons to the mat where he would eventually transition from the mount to his opponent's back. Wilhite sunk in a rear naked choke in the second frame to earn the victory.
Following the fight Wilhite was visually excited as he thanked his sponsors and teammates for helping him earn the victory. After a quick check by the post fight physician Wilhite joined his teammates and celebrated with them and all his fans.
In the co-main event of the night the crowd was intense as Matt Smart of Sturgis MMA squared off with Will Kuhn from X3 Sports. The battle went back and forth for the duration and included a wonderful display of striking and ground control from Kuhn. The fighter from Atlanta found a way to submit Smart via rear naked choke near the end of the third round.
Other professional matchups included David McAfee (Fear None, AL) dominating Chris Craft in the very first round with a TKO due to strikes. Sasuke Zapada from Cage MMA also found a quick finish as he submitted Paul Gardener via guillotine just three minutes into the bout. X3 Sports' Steve Hall was able to end Matt Vaughn's night via TKO after four minutes into their matchup.
In amateur action, Smith defeated Richardson via submission due to strikes in the third round within Alabama's first-ever regulated female mixed martial arts bout. Keaton Wood, Josh Jarrett, Craig McAlpine, Jason Sanderson, and Josh Senkbeil also reigned victorious.
When all was said and done SportFight X represented Alabama as the state's first regulated amateur and professional MMA card. SFX put together a great fight card and held their first Alabama event in a great venue.. Early rumors are the next SFX event will be in Birmingham, Alabama so stay tuned to USCS for more as we follow Alabama's fight scene unfold during their first year of sanctioning fights under the new commission.
Complete fight results from SFX posted below:
Pro MMA
145 – Stephen Wilhite def Jonathan Clemmons in R2 via Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
170 – William Kuhn def Matt Smartt at 3:25 of R3 via Submisison (Rear Naked Choke)
155 – Steve Hall def Matt Vaughn in R1 via TKO
165 – Sasuke Zapata def Paul Gardner at 3:15 of R1 via Submission (Guillotine)
155 – David McAfee def Chris Craft at :27 of R1 via TKO
Amateur MMA
205 – Josh Senkbeil def Maurice Tunstall in R2 via Submission (Guillotine)
205 – Jason Sanderson def Jake Mears at 1:29 of R2 via TKO
155 – Craig McAlpine def Eder Nieto at 1:37 of R1 via Submission (Guillotine)
265 – Josh Jarrett def Morris Ginyard at 1:23 of R1 via Submission (Kimura)
145 – Keaton Wood def Wes Baugh at :34 of R1 via Submission (Guillotine)
115 – Annaliesha Smith def Molly Richardson at 2:39 of R3 via Submission (Strikes)