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Renegades Unleashed
Renegades Extreme Fighting Championship

Austin Music Hall - Austin, Texas
Report & Photos by Michael "Mikie" Martinez

Howdy, from the Lone Star state! On February 15, 2003, the Austin Music Hall hosted the Renegades Extreme Fighting Championship. Warriors from around Texas congregated in Austin not only to showcase their talent, but also to prove that they are the toughest competitors in the state. Renegades had everything from slick submissions to knockdown, drag-out wars in the ring. The house was packed, the athletes were ready, and the media was in a frenzy to report what was sure to be a night of action-packed MMA action.

Fight 1: Takahiro Tamikozono (Lion's Den) vs. Rocky Long (Yves Edwards 3rd Column)
Round 1: Both of the fighters quickly clinched against the ropes with neither gaining the upper hand. After the fighters separated, Tamikozono shot in and Long sprawled. Tamikozono worked Long to the ground and took his back. Having both his hooks in, Tamikozono worked frantically for the rear-naked choke, but the tenacious Long would not give in. The round ended with the ref standing up both the fighters and a roaring crowd.
Round 2: Many exchanges took place in round two with Long winning on both the judges' and the crowd's scorecards. Tamikozono again shot in for the takedown with Long sprawling. Tamikozono managed to get both his hooks in while on Long's back, but yet again was unable to sink in the choke. With about 10 seconds left in the round, Long was able to reverse his position on the ground and Tamikozono pulled guard.
Round 3: Tamikozono looked to shoot, however Long kept him at bay with his superb sprawl. A scrambled ensued from the sprawl with Long throwing a knee that connected to Tamikozono's face. Under Texas fight rules, a fighter cannot knee his opponent in the face while his opponent is on the ground. This illegal strike consequently resulted in a point deduction from Long's score.
Result: Tamikozono by unanimous decision.

Fight 2: Chris Bowles (Lion's Den) vs. Randy Hauer (Ricco Rodriguez)
Hauer looked really crisp and clean landing some nice Thai kicks to Bowles' legs. But Bowles wanted this fight on the ground and when he got it there, he took Hauer's back and sunk in the rear-naked choke.
Result: Bowles by rear-naked choke in round one.

Fight 3: Craig Huffman (self-trained) vs. Lee King (Houston Kickboxing Academy)
King initially sought to showcase his stand-up talents by keeping it on the feet and trading. He started off by landing some sweet Thai kicks and knees to Huffman's legs and midsection. After absorbing a few of King's strikes, Huffman decided to go in for the shoot and initiate his ground game. To Huffman's surprise, King not only sprawled like a wrestler, but had a ground game as well. The fighters scrambled after the sprawl and King easily sunk in the rear choke.
Result: King by rear-naked choke in round one.

Fight 4: Chad Cook (Patumwadee Gym) vs. Jose Luis Munoz (Team Pound)
This fight was only thirty seconds long, but for thirty seconds it was anyone's fight. Both of the fighters immediately went to the ground and were on their backs when Munoz slapped on the Achilles lock.
Result: Munoz by Achilles lock in round one.

Fight 5: Brandon McDowell (Phil Cardella/ Relson Gracie Austin) vs. Cory Salter (self trained)
One word can summarize this whole fight: CLINIC. Although the fight went the distance, McDowell controlled the fight from beginning to end. McDowell seemed to get mount on Salter almost at will when they were on the ground. On their feet, Salter did throw some good strikes, but McDowell seemed to get in the better shots. McDowell threw his shots with surgical precision during the numerous occasions that he was mounted on Salter.
Result: McDowell by unanimous decision.

Baker vs. Pendleton
Baker locking up his victory
Fight 6: Ty Baker (Integrated Arts Academy) vs. Aaron Pendleton (Self Trained)
As they clinched up, Baker landed a solid knee to Pendleton's face. Baker furthered his advantage in the clinch by executing a beautiful belly-to-belly suplex on Pendleton. Although Pendleton was able to get Baker into a half guard, Baker was able to apply the keylock to secure the victory and move onto the finals against McDowell.
Result Baker by keylock.

Fight 7: Takuhiro Tamikozono (Lion's Den) vs. Nick Gonzales (Vasquez Boxing)
Round 1: Gonzalez came out of his corner ready to strike. Tamikozono wanted this fight on the ground and both fighters quickly clinched up in the corner. Tamikozono rolled and almost executed a textbook knee bar on Gonzales. After working madly for the knee bar, Tamikozono transitioned into a heel hook. Gonzales remained extremely calm and composed and, after he was able to get his ankle free, attempted a submission of his own with an armbar, but neither combatant was able to finish their submission bids
Round 2: Both fighters worked from the clinch throwing knees and shots to the body. Gonzales threw numerous knees to the Tamikozono's thighs, but Tamikozono was able to land some decent knees to the Gonzales' midsection. Neither fighter was able to back the other down. It was evident that the third and final round would be the deciding factor on who would win the fight.
Round 3: They traded blows in the center of the ring with Gonzales definitely getting in the better shots. Looking gassed, Tamikozono wrapped Gonzales up and tried to hold on to get back his composure. While in the clinch, they fell to the ground with Tamikozono ending up in the side mount. Tamikozono went for the knee ride, but Gonzales was able to push Tamikozono's leg down and get him into half guard. Tamikozono then managed to work to a full mount, but the crafty Gonzales bucked him off and got back to his feet. During the last twenty seconds of the fight, Gonzales threw a barrage of punches and kicks. This was unquestionably the fight of the night.
Result: Gonzales by split decision. Gonzales is now the Renegades Extreme Fighting Lightweight Champion.

Fight 8: Chris Bowles (Lion's Den) v Lee King (Houston Kickboxing Academy)
From the beginning, Bowles quickly shot in for the single-leg. Lee, managed to sprawl and avoid being taken down by the lighting-fast Bowles. As the fighters stood up again, Bowles shot in again, but this time tripped up Lee for the takedown. Once on the ground, Bowles wasted no time in looking for a heel hook. Bowles applied the heel hook and once the pressure was applied, King immediately rolled to his left to counter. King rolled to his left three times, but once he hit the ropes it was over. The heel hook was sunk in and sunk in deeply. This got my nod for the submission of the night.
Result: Bowles by heel hook in round 1. Bowles is now the Renegades Extreme Fighting Middleweight Champion.

Munoz vs. House
Munoz vs. House
Fight 9: Jose Luis Munoz (Team Pound) vs. Jason House (Saeksan Jjanjira Muay Thai)
House was coming off of a string of victories at King Of The Cage. Munoz, the clear underdog, seemed to be unfazed by House's reputation for being a strong striker with a tough chin. At the sound of the bell, House threw some good knees to Munoz's midsection, but Munoz quickly wrapped House up and tripped him for the takedown. On the ground, House immediately pulled guard and started working his legs up high for a submission. Feeling this, the wily Munoz baited House in an effort to obtain a better position on the ground. House then went for an armbar, but Munoz pulled his arm out and gained side control. Once in position, Munoz went to work. Munoz went for an ankle lock and achieved mount position on House. He then attempted a keylock on House's right arm. House turned and Munoz feverishly jumped on House's back, sunk in his hooks, and executed a perfect rear-naked choke to end the fight.
Result: Munoz by rear-naked choke in round 1. Munoz is now the Renegades Extreme fighting Heavyweight Champion.

Fight 10: Ty Baker (Integrated Arts Academy) vs. Brandon McDowell (Phil Cardella/Relson Gracie Austin)
Round 1: The fight went immediately to the ground with Baker being in the half guard of McDowell. While Baker was on top of McDowell, Baker unloaded some good punches to McDowell's midsection. Baker zealously tried to get out of McDowell's half guard but McDowell has proven to be very tough on the ground. The round ended with Baker in McDowell's half guard and the crowd thirsting for more action.
Round 2: McDowell immediately shot in on Baker. Baker sprawled and immediately worked to get McDowell's back. Feeling this, McDowell rolled to try and pull guard, but Baker countered the roll and McDowell got Baker in the half guard. From this position, McDowell attempted a guillotine. McDowell had Baker in a guillotine for a good thirty seconds, but could not put enough power into the choke since he had a half guard on Baker. The patient Baker worked himself out of the choke. Miraculously, McDowell worked his way back to his feet, but subsequently slipped and shot in for a single-leg. Once more, the fighters worked to get to their feet, but this time when the fight went to the ground, McDowell was now on Baker's back.
Round 3: While on their feet, Baker unloaded a nice right hook to McDowell's face. McDowell took the fight back to the ground with Baker in his guard. Baker worked his way out of the guard and achieved a secure mount position, but McDowell was able to turn to his stomach and escape out the back door. Baker immediately shot in on McDowell to control his legs. The fight ended in this position and everyone in the Austin Music Hall was on their feet.
Result: Baker by unanimous decision. Baker is the Renegades Extreme Fighting Super-Heavyweight Champion.

Renegades was conducted under the Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation. The bouts themselves are conducted under the rules of Pankration. Rumors have been circulating in Texas that legislation will soon pass to allow MMA events to go to closed-fist. Although there is some debate over which gloves will be used (4oz vs. 6oz), the real problem seems to be the budget and manpower. The Texas boxing commission has the second largest event schedule in the nation. Therefore, they really may not have the budget or the manpower to cover every MMA event in Texas. Moreover, since the inception of MMA, spectatorship seems to continue to grow. Fans have become more fanatical, and crowds seem to get bigger with every show. I'll be sure to keep you posted.

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