Ax Fighting Championships 7: For The Glory

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Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005

Ax Fighting Championships 7: For The Glory

AX Fighting Championships 7: For the Glory
Held September 24th, 2005
At the Everett Armory
Everett, Washington
By Mike Neva

Ouch! Gans eats a punch from Wagner

The AX Fighting Championships once again proved that the formula to their success is not big names, big budgets, or pyrotechnics. No, it’s quite simply well matched bouts between amateur athletes who put it all on the line each and every time they compete. Much of the credit has to go to matchmaker, Charles Pearson, who seems to have an innate ability to evenly match unknown fighters who time after time put on entertaining performances. Of the twenty two fighters who competed in the show, thirteen had never before stepped foot in the ring. In talking with Pearson about the lack of experienced fighters on the card he told FCF, "yeah, there are a lot of young guys on the card, but there are some really close match ups, most of the fights could go either way".

Although only two of the eleven bouts went the distance, as Pearson had prophesied, all but perhaps one match could have gone either way. With the card predominantly filled with pankration bouts, it was two lightweight kickboxers who may have put on the fight of the night. With a record of 1- 0, Sam Sitchaisai actually had the experience advantage over newcomer Rich Parker, but Parker showed no lack of determination as he spent much of the six minute bout on the attack with Sitchaisai in the roll of counter fighter. All three rounds were filled with Parker attacking with power punches and Sitchaisai countering with jabs and leg kicks. After three rounds of slugging it out, the judges rendered a split decision in favor of Parker.

Other standout performances included Josh Hosteteler stuffing every takedown attempt from Marc Forsyth, and countering with a barrage of strikes from within the clinch. Hostetler would eventually finish off Forsyth with punches early in the second stanza.

Hostetler finishes Forsyth with punches

Brett Wagner also impressed with a ground and pound assault against adversary, Cody Gans. Wagner used his wrestling supremacy to put Gans on his back in each round and used his fists to keep him there. In the end Wagner won with a unanimous decision.

In the main event, the vacant 155 lb title was on the line between undefeated fighters Jason Chuckelnaskit and Wyatt Bassham. Both combatants started the match cautiously, circling and looking for an advantage. As Bassham tried to rush in for a Thai clinch, Chuckelnaskit would have none of it and dumped Bassham on his back. From the side mount Chuckelnaskit adeptly moved to full mount, and began to throw a series of strikes. In an effort to avoid the punishment, Bassham tried to roll to his stomach and escape, but the well trained Chuckelnaskit slipped in the rear choke and took home the belt.