Friday April 24, 2009 Mixed Martial Arts in South Florida became STREETWISE. Raging Wolf Fights, the International Sports Karate Association and Streetwise Fight League held the first ever ISKA MMA title fights. This premier martial arts event was held in Fort Lauderdale at the War Memorial Auditorium. The affair featured Marcos “Parrumpinha” Da Matta of American Top Team vs. Ralph Decosta of Jungle MMA, for the Bantam weight ISKA title belt. Also Mike “Gringo Diablo” Bernhard of Freestyle Fight Academy vs. Ailton Barbosa of ATT for the ISKA Welterweight belt.
The night was packed with action. There were 10 undercard fights, as well as the 2 main events. The under card was brimming with talent and featured expertise from the 135lb weight class up to the 205lb division. All altercations were scheduled for three (3), 5 minute rounds and all gloves used were 4 ounces. Bout one featured a battle between Bryon McKenzie of Team High Performance vs American Top Team’s Sam McCoy. McCoy won by submission 3 minutes and 35 seconds into the first round.
Brawl two was a clash between Chris DeCaro and Julian Rodman. DeCaro got the TKO in round one at the 32 second mark.
The third round of combat was in the 205lb weight class. Freestyle Fighting Academy’s Robert Rodriguez was in his debut fight against Joe Stutzman out of ATT. The second round did not happen. The fight doctor refused to let Joe Stutzman answer the bell and Robert Rodriquez won by TKO.
The 4th confrontation was a 170lb bout. Lindon Mitchell out of Orlando and fighting for Team Crisis was up against debut fighter Yuri Villefort, who fights for American Top Team.
The fifth contest was a 150lb fight between Eric Kovarik out of Team Crisis vs Victor Delgado from ATT. This was Delgado’s debut fight.
Duel six a 135lbs bout was FFA fighter Giovanni Moljo against Eric Luke. This fight went the distance and Giovanni won by a split decision.
Engagement seven featured Roy McDonald vs Hayder Hassan. The match was stopped by the referee due to the inactivity of McDonald and Hassan won with a TKO.
Fray 8’s crowd puller was Marcos Avellan of Freestyle Fighting Academy facing off with Travis Bartlet for Team Revolution.
Melee nine was Jason Jimenez vs Christian Rios. Rios, member of the ATT “Wolf Pack” won in the second round with a submission (rear naked choke).
New ISKA MMA Champ Mike Bernhard
Quarrel ten of the evening was Steve Tamburo vs. David Zitnik of ATT “Wolf Pack”. The fight went the distance and the judges gave the win to Steven “Turbo” Tamburo. David Zitnik fought almost the entire fight with a broken hand. Now that’s a warrior!
The 11th rumble was the first of a two fight main event and was the ISKA 170lb championship bout. Michael Bernhard, fighting out of the Freestyle Fighting Academy, versus Ailton Barbosa of the American Top Team camp. This was a highly anticipated rumble that lasted all of eleven seconds. Both fighters met in the center of the ring. Michael Bernard connected first with a kick to the outside of Barbosa’s Left leg. Ailton then fired off a right hook that was blocked by Bernhard. Michael then fired off a straight right and turned off Ailton Barbosa. Barbosa fell face first onto the mat and did not move. Michael Bernhard won the International Sports Karate Association 170lbs belt. During the post fight interview, Michael Bernhard credited his time spent in Thailand for the win.
The co-main event was an ISKA championship bout for the 135lb belt. Ralph Acosta from Jungle MMA vs Marcos Da Matta, an ATT fighter. This was a great match of equally strong fighters. Now, every MMA event has its questionable occurrences and this one is the episode for the Streetwise Fight League. Both skirmishers were skilled ground fighters but Ralph Acosta ruled at stand up. During round one, Acosta jabbed at Da Matta’s face at will and by the third round Ralph was hitting Marcos with four and six punch combinations, all of which were unanswered. During take downs, neither fighter could get the upper hand. This struggle went the distance and the judges got to choose the winner. It was a split decision that went to Marcos Da Matta.
The Streetwise Fight League and International Sports Karate Association’s first mixed martial arts event was a fun thrilled evening. The fight match maker did a wonderful job and Roger Krahl of Streetwise and American Top Team “Wolf Pack” put on one hell of an affair. I look forward to the next Streetwise promotion that will hopefully be held sometime next September.
