Lion Fight 19 Results: Muay Thai Play-by-Play & Updates

Matt Doherty vs. Julio Pena

Round 1

The opening fight on the main card features two fighters making their professional debuts, Thomas Sconzo will oversee the action. Matt Doherty and Julio Pena touch gloves and we are underway. Both men open the festivities with wild right and left hooks, likely punching out their aggression in their first competition. The pair make their way to the neutral corner, where they enter the clinch and begin trying to get their knees up. Pena throws an elbow the waist of Doherty, that Doherty retaliates with a stiff jab. Sconzo splits them up, they trade leg kicks, then Doherty quickly closes the distance and initiates the clinch. Pena is doing better work when the two are engaged, but Sconzo again breaks it up. Pena lands a big leg kick on the restart that chops Doherty down like a tree.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Pena
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pena

Round 2

The two sprint to the center of the ring, Doherty catches Pena on a kick attempt and immediately dumps him down onto the mat hard, Pena slamming his head hard on the mat. There is a brief pause as Sconzo asks if Pena can continue, but they begin the action again. Doherty comes inside again and sends Pena to the mat with a trip. The action restarts along the ropes with both men trading knees from inside the clinch. Knees still being traded to the outside of the knees, now to the sciatic nerve. Sconzo letting this clinch segment go a bit longer this time around. Doherty briefly holding onto the top rope to maintain his position, Doherty doing all he can to keep the clinch in his favor as the round ends.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Doherty
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Doherty

Round 3

Pena throws a shot to open the third frame that Doherty counters nicely and sends his opponent to the mat. Doherty seems to be in a bit of a mixed martial arts mindset here, spending most of his energy trying to control Pena as opposed to throwing strikes. Pena pushes Doherty away and follows up with a big uppercut that rocks Doherty, this invokes a reaction from the fighter that you would expect, another clinch attempt. They lock up and Doherty dumps Pena to the mat as has been the norm thus far in the fight. Pena doing all he can to punch his way out of this tight situation, but Sconzo helps his cause by separating them. On the restart they trade wild leg kicks that send a loud crack through the arena. Close round.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Doherty
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pena

Round 4

Doherty throws an overhand right to start the round. Pena comes back with a kick attempt that Doherty easily catches hold of. Doherty presses his opponent into the corner, Pena bounces off the ropes and uses his momentum to land three big elbows in succession. Doherty has his arms wrapped around the midriff of Pena, who pushes on the face of Doherty to create some distance. There is a ton of close range fighting going on here, culminating in a stiff heel kick from Doherty. Sconzo was much quicker to separate the two earlier, but is now allowing Doherty to impose his gameplan.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Doherty
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pena

Round 5

Fifth and final round opens with Doherty sending Pena to the mat. On the restart the two go right back to the clinch work, throwing knees and kicks to one another’s lower extremities. Out of nowhere, Pena throws another big uppercut that scores big. The calves of both men are showing some wear and tear from the amount of heel kicks that have been thrown. Elbow to the side of the head from Pena, which he then follows with a solid knee. Pena doesn’t seem to have any energy to get off the ropes but anytime he creates any distance he is using it well. The fight comes to a close with a bit of a striking sequence, with Doherty landing a big right hook to end the fight.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Pena (48-47 Doherty)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Pena (49-46 Pena)

The Official Result

Julio Pena def. Matt Doherty via Decision (Unanimous) [49-46, 48-47, 48-47] 3:00 R5

Chris Mauceri vs. Coke Chunhawat

Round 1

Coke Chunhawat and Chris Mauceri in the second fight of the main card, overseen by referee Dan Miragliotta. These two throw their jab from the outside, Mauceri doubles up on a jab and then follows with an overhand right. Chunhawat checking the kicks of Mauceri very well here early, complete opposite of the first bout as these two men are standing and banging. Push kick from Mauceri, followed by a kick that catches a bit of Mauceri’s cup. Two strong body shots from Mauceri on the restart, followed by an overhand elbow from Chunhawat. Left-right punching combination lands from Mauceri, who then tries to follow with shots but Chunhawat avoids.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Mauceri
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Chunhawat

Round 2

Upon replay, Chunhawat could have easily been given a ten-count from Miragliotta in the opening round. Mauceri throws an overhand right, then follows with a shot to the body of Chunhawat. Knees to the gut of Mauceri from Chunhawat, the two come together and Mauceri dumps his opponent to the mat. Big body shots from Chunhawat coming through, nice footwork from Mauceri that winds up sending Chunhawat to the mat. Head kick attempt from Mauceri just misses, he then comes back with a beautiful combination, that scores cleanly. Left hand from Mauceri scores and sends Chunhawat to the mat on a slip.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Mauceri
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Mauceri

Round 3

Two push kicks from Mauceri to open the third. They enter the clinch and Chunhawat scores with two elbows. Nice round kick from Chunhawat, Mauceri blitzes out of his corner, scoring with body shots. Now a front kick from Mauceri. Chunhawat showing redness to his liver area from the kicks winding around his back. Inside leg kick from Mauceri now, who seems to be gaining more confidence as the fight goes on. Mauceri triples up with elbows from inside the clinch, landing right to the temple of Chunhawat. They enter the clinch, trading knees to the body. They try to dump one another in unison, but Mauceri wins out. Flying front kick to the chest in the final five seconds sends Chunhawat to the mat, but Miragliotta doesn’t begin a ten count.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Mauceri
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Mauceri

Round 4

Mauceri goes buckwild to open the fourth round, opening the festivities with a right hook that rocks Chunhawat, he then goes low to the body landing four or five shots. Chunhawat smiles, feigning that he is alright but he is wobbly on his feet. Chunhawat initiates the clinch in an attempt to slow down the action, but Miragliotta splits them up right away. Chunhawat scores with a nice low kick that catches Mauceri clean. Mauceri goes with two left hooks, then follows up with a head kick attempt that misses. The pair trade elbows to the head, then press against the ropes in the clinch. They trade shows to end the round.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Mauceri
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Mauceri

Round 5

The final round is underway here, two push kicks from Chunhawat, who then follows with a nasty uppercut elbow that scores. Mauceri dumps Chunhawat to the floor to break the momentum of the veteran. Chunhawat picking up the pace in the final round, cracking a round kick that is partially checked by Mauceri. The boxing of Mauceri is proving to be the difference here, but Chunhawat is marching forward, Mauceri scores to the body with a kick, Chunhawat lands punch. Spinning back elbow from Mauceri, to which Chunhawat comes right back with. Both men gassed, but it’s all Mauceri in this one.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Mauceri (50-45 Mauceri)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Mauceri (49-46 Mauceri)

The Official Result

Chris Mauceri Def. Coke Chunhawat via Decision (Unanimous) [No Scores Announced] 3:00 R5

Pedro Gonzalez vs. Rungrat Sasiprapa

Round 1

Pedro Gonzalez comes out in a crazy flurry, throwing right and left bombs to open the fight. Rungrat Sasiprapa comes back with a kick that hurts Gonzalez on the arm, now Sasiprapa coming back with shots that has Gonzalez rocked. Sasiprapa follows up with a flying knee, to which Gonzalez throws a big elbow. Inside the clinch, Sasiprapa hits Gonzalez low with a shot that sends Gonzalez to the mat. Thomas Sconzo doesn’t step in quickly to break up the action and Gonzalez eats an unnecessary punch when he turns his back. They restart for the final couple seconds and immediately enter the clinch, Gonzalez lands two right hands that send Sasiprapa backwards to end the round. Crazy, crazy muay Thai round.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Gonzalez
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sasiprapa

Round 2

Jumping knee from Gonzalez to open the second round, he then comes inside and successfully dumps Sasiprapa to the mat. They are in the corner, Gonzalez pressing the action, throwing elbows, uppercuts while Sasiprapa throwing kicks to the lower extremities. Gonzalez turns his back after an accidental clash of heads, with Gonzalez getting the worst of the encounter. The doctor takes a look at a cut, and seems to be leaning towards stopping the bout, Gonzalez’s corner says they will put some Vaseline on it and the fight continues. Sconzo takes a point away from Sasiprapa for the headbutt, which seems a bit rash. The fight restarts and Gonzalez seems to be fighting with rage, going with huge punches in order to stop the bout. Sasiprapa locks in a secure Thai clinch, scoring heavy knees to the liver of Gonzalez. Sasiprapa won the round, but the point evens things up.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 9-9
Mike Fridley scores the round 9-9

Round 3

Gonzalez jumps right into the clinch to open the round. The fight makes its way to the corner, which leads to Sasiprapa dumping Gonzalez to the mat. Gonzalez pops right back up and cannot wait to get the action back underway. Sasiprapa slaps on his clinch and begins pounding Gonzalez with knees to the body. This continues for a bit, with just vicious shots being absorbed by Gonzalez. Body lock attempt from Gonzalez, which is unsuccessful, Sasiprapa comes back with a huge head kick that wobbles Gonzalez. Sasiprapa follows with a body shot that drops Gonzalez, the former MMA fighter stands back up at eight.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-8 Sasiprapa
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-8 Sasiprapa

Round 4

Sasiprapa comes out like Gonzalez has for the first three rounds; guns blazing. The fight moves to the corner and Sasiprapa slaps on the clinch and goes back to the well with knees to the gut. Gonzalez lands with a big right hand that sends Sasiprapa’s head flying back. Gonzalez plays possum, but on the restart catches Sasiprapa flush with a head kick that sends the crowd into a tizzy. Sasiprapa dumps Gonzalez, who is using his time on the mat to grab a couple extra breaths. Sasiprapa catches Gonzalez with multiple shots to the body, as Gonzalez falls down, he eats another knee. Sconzo begins the count, but then waves it off.

The Official Result

Rungrat Sasiprapa def. Pedro Gonzalez via TKO (Kicks and knees to Body) 2:42 R4

Ognjen Topic vs. Rungravee Sasiprapa

Round 1

Dan Miragliotta will oversee this pairing of Rungravee Sasiprapa and Ognjen Topic. Both men coming out tentatively. Topic goes up high with a head kick to really get this bout underway. Sasiprapa scores with a stiff right hook, Topic retaliates with a push kick. Sasiprapa with a push kick of his own. Topic lands a stiff roundhouse kick, then follows with a legitimately dangerous head kick. Topic fakes the clinch attempt but lands a knee instead. Mini left uppercut from Sasiprapa, they reset in the center of the ring. 10-9 Topic.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Topic
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sasiprapa

Round 2

Topic comes out pushing the pace, powering up and landing a big kick to the body of Sasiprapa. Both men showing off their technical prowess, making sure to keep their hands high to soften the blow. Topic dumps Sasiprapa following a brief clinch encounter. Topic putting together a nice combination to close the round, it may have been the difference on the judges’ scorecards.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Topic
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Topic

Round 3

Right hand from Topic lands, he then comes back with a nice 3-2 combination that Sasiprapa eats. The two enter the clinch, but Miragliotta immediately splits them up. They come right back together, Topic really using the kick often now, putting forth a much higher output. Left hand from Topic is met with a right hand from Sasiprapa. Topic gets dumped, he comes back with a push kick when he stands back upright. Sasiprapa catches Topic with a head kick that makes it through the guard. Beautiful dump from Sasiprapa, looked like something you would see in a judo match.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Sasiprapa
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sasiprapa

Round 4

After a lengthy clinch battle, Sasiprapa dumps Topic to the mat. Sasiprapa looking to close the distance at any opportunity, even holding onto the ropes at one point to maintain his positioning. The inside left thigh of Topic is absolutely ravaged by the leg kicks that Sasiprapa has been throwing at high frequency. The two grapple a bit and Sasiprapa throws his opponent to the mat. Roundhouse from Sasiprapa glances off the arms of Topic, final ten seconds see Topic throw a nice push kick. Tight round, which I saw in favor of Sasiprapa.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Sasiprapa
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sasiprapa

Round 5

A head kick attempt from Topic narrowly misses to open the final round. Uppercut elbow from Sasiprapa makes it through, Topic now scores with a roundhouse kick. Sasiprapa with a right hook that glances off the temple of Topic. Sasiprapa walking his opponent down, landing a knee to the cup of Topic. Push kick from Sasiprapa that hits the gut of Topic. The New Jersey native dumps Sasiprapa to the floor, but he pops right back to his feet. The pair trade punches and wind up against the ropes. Miragliotta breaks them up, Topic opens up with a head kick attempt, Sasiprapa attempts to initiate a clinch. They throw shots to end the fight, really close bout.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Topic (48-47 Topic)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Topic (48-47 Sasiprapa)

The Official Result

Ognjen Topic def. Rungravee Sasiprapa via Decision (Unanimous) [No Scores Announced] 3:00 R5

Jeri Sitzes vs. Chajmaa Bellekhal

Round 1

The co-main event of the evening features Jeri Sitzes against Chajmaa Bellekhal, with referee Thomas Sconzo overseeing. Bellekhal with a flurry to open the fight, going high and low with punches to keep her opponent off balance. Sitzes utilizing head movement to avoid the shots from Bellekhal, Sitzes comes back with a stiff jab of her own. Sitzes just bobbing and weaving to avoid the shots from Bellekhal. Front kick from Sitzes scores. Bellekhal with an outside leg kick that she follows up with a punch up high. Nasty front kick from Sitzes to end the round.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Bellekhal
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Bellekhal

Round 2

Bellekhal makes loud sounds after every strike that she throws. Sitzes throws a spinning back-fist that knocks the mouthpiece of Bellekhal to the floor. Sitzes peppering the front leg of Bellekhal with her lead leg, breaking down the foundation that Bellekhal has. Overhand right from Bellekhal hits its mark, but Sitzes keeps pressing forward. Fancy offense from Sitzes, but it doesn’t land, Bellekhal throwing the overhand right frequently. A slip from Sitzes, but Bellekhal is not able to capitalize. Front kick from Sitzes lands flush, fast paced round there.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Sitzes
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Sitzes

Round 3

Bellekhal opens the third with a high kick that is blocked. Sitzes walking forward, punching her way to a victory. Sweeping leg kick from Sitzes, but Bellekhal looking like the aggressor here, really turning it on and upping her output. Right-left combination from Bellekhal that is completed by a leg kick. Body kick from Bellekhal, then Sitzes comes back with a solid right hand that lands flush. Another nice counter punch from Sitzes hits its mark. High right roundhouse kick from Sitzes rocks the world of Bellekhal -- it also ends the round.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Sitzes
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Bellekhal

Round 4

The ladies trade inside leg kicks to open the fourth. Sitzes then goes up top to use her boxing, she scores with an overhand right. Bellekhal lands two good knees, Sitzes a couple jabs of her own. Sitzes looking to counter, Bellekhal is dictating the pace of the encounter. Sitzes trying to circle out, get some space, but Bellekhal narrowing the angles down. This round likely to be decided purely on the output of Bellekhal, who is just much more active with her shots, even though they aren’t all landing. Bellekhal throwing the kicks, Sitzes the punches, but this one is becoming sloppy in a hurry.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round Bellekhal
Mike Fridley scores the round Sitzes

Round 5

Bellakhal outside leg kicking her way to victory and the story is no different here in the fifth and final round. Sitzes does land a couple jabs, but then it’s Bellakhal who scores points with some punches of her own. Sitzes pushes Bellakhal against the ropes, but Sconzo steps in and breaks it up. Sitzes goes high and scores with a glancing head kick. They enter the clinch, but no strikes are exchanged as it’s more of a resting period than anything. The pair of woman throw as the round and fight comes to an end.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round Bellekhal (48-47 Bellekhal)
Mike Fridley scores the round Sitzes (48-47 Sitzes)

The Official Result

Chajmaa Bellakhal def. Jeri Sitzes via Decision (Split) [48-47, 50-45, 46-49] 3:00 R5

Jo Nattawut vs. Sean Kearney

Round 1

Jo Nattawut takes this main event bout against Sean Kearney on less than 12 hours notice as Fabio Pinca was forced to withdraw to the flu. Kearney opens the proceedings with a low roundhouse kick. Nattawut goes up high with a kick of his own that narrowly misses. Both men checking each other's kicks with vicious aggression. Push kick to the knee of Nattawut from Kearney. They clinch up but referee Dan Miragliotta breaks it up. Nattawut catches a body kick from Kearney and winds up taking his opponent to the mat. Body kick from Nattawut that makes Kearney grimace a bit. Spinning back elbow attempt from Kearney narrowly misses its mark.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round Nattawut
Mike Fridley scores the round Nattawut

Round 2

Push kick from Kearney, Nattawut gets backed up and retaliates with a double forearm to the head. Kearney gets dumped by Nattawut. High right roundhouse kick from Nattawut, who is tying up Kearney well to nullify the reach. Left leg kick from Nattawut is checked by Kearney, they tussle inside the clinch, throwing knees to one another’s gut region, Miragliotta finally breaks it up. They go back to the clinch position and continue the flurry of knees, then Nattawut dumps Kearney.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round Nattawut
Mike Fridley scores the round Nattawut

Round 3

Kearney presses the pace early, culminating in a flying knee attempt that misses. They enter the clinch after the maneuver and begin jostling for position, Nattawut gets the better of the exchange and dumps Kearney. Knee to the gut of Kearney by Nattawut, they go right back to where they have been and enter the clinch. Head kick attempt from Nattawut, they enter the clinch then Nattawut throws a vicious elbow that causes some blood to trickle down from the nose of Kearney.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round Nattawut
Mike Fridley scores the round Nattawut

Round 4

Cut under the left eye of Kearney is showing now too. Nattawut wastes no time clinching up with Kearney when he is backed into a corner. Kearney lands two overhand lefts, but eats a stiff body kick for his efforts. Nattawut throwing punches but also keeping his hands down at his sides a bit to goad his opponent into opening himself up. Kearney steps in and gets dumped again, they restart and Nattawut lands a stiff jab. 90 seconds to go in the round, a dump attempt from Nattawut fails, they are reset in the center by Miragliotta. Kearney lands a head kick, but Nattawut brushes it off. Kearney seems to be the fresher fighter here in the fourth, likely the result of having a training camp for the bout.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round Kearney
Mike Fridley scores the round Nattawut

Round 5

Final round of the evening folks -- Nattawut and Kearney embrace to get it started. The camera just showed two huge hematomas on the leg of Kearney, courtesy of some world class leg checking from Nattawut. They wrap one another up, I’m only speculating here, but Nattawut seems fully content with just wrapping Kearney up and winning on the scorecards. Left leg kick from Nattawut is checked, Kearney attempts an elbow, fails, then dumps Nattawut out of frustration. Final 20 seconds is spent from inside the clinch, Miragliotta broke it up but both men went right back to it to end the fight.

C.J. Tuttle scores the round 10-9 Nattawut (49-46 Nattawut)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Nattawut (50-45 Nattawut)

The Official Result

Jo Nattawut def. Sean Kearney via Decision (Unanimous) [No Scores Announced] 3:00 R5