Kickboxing News: Strikeforce Veteran Malaipet Outlasts Greskiewicz at Lion Fight 17
Malaipet
Sasiprapa won’t be hanging up his gloves any time soon.
Threatening retirement should he drop his third in a row at Lion Fight 17, Malaipet offered up everything he could muster in a dominant unanimous decision win against Ring of Combat veteran Justin Greskiewicz at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Ledyard, Conn.
Malaipet got started early. Greskiewicz opened the match extremely
aggressive and paid dearly for it as the Thai slipped a
lazily-thrown punching combination and uncorked a flawless counter
right hook that had one-punch knockout written all over it. With
the celebrating former champion stretching out his arms in the
victory pose, the fallen fighter surprised most -- if not all -- in
attendance by peeling himself quickly off of the canvas.
Greskiewicz rose and was awarded with body abuse from the shins of his opponent that turned both sides of his ribs as purple as a Minnesota Vikings jersey. It did not get much better through the next nine-plus minutes as Malaipet buried his powerful legs into his competitor’s frame. Greskiewicz did have his moments later on in the contest as his man tired, but was never able to capitalize with any real seizure of momentum.
In the co-main event, Jo Nattawat upset Bellator MMA veteran Cosmo Alexandre in a closely-contested matchup.
Alexandre, a late injury replacement, showed to be the superior boxer but was kept off rhythm by Nattawat’s well-timed aggression. The clash appeared to be even headed into the final period, which turned out to be the closest stanza of the duel.
Nattawat did just enough to take the win thanks to judges Minor (48-47) and Terelli (48-47), while Eric Lone cast a 47-48 in favor of the Brazilian.
In a matchup of Long Islanders, Brooklyn, N.Y.,’s Brett Hlavacek picked on Queens, N.Y.,-native Cyrus Washington for the better part of three rounds. Washington seemed to wake in the fourth, as he rallied to make the subway showdown a close one to call.
After cruising early, Hlavacek’s gas tank was reduced to fumes and Washington exploited the weakness with a crushing elbow and constant pressure.
In the end, judges: Ginsberg (48-45) and Torelli (48-46) scored it for Hlavacek. Minor saw it even at 47-47, giving the Brooklynite a majority decision nod.
Palestinian-born Rami Ibrahim and Carlos Lopez put on an entertaining slugfest for five rounds. Though each round was close, Lopez, of Sterling, Va., walked away with a lopsided unanimous decision.
The official judges saw it a mismatch with scores of 50-44, 49-45 and 49-46. Unofficially, Sherdog.com’s C.J. Tuttle and Mike Fridley each saw the contest 48-47 in Lopez’s favor.
Victor Saravia dispatched Andy Singh in spectacular fashion. The Hollywood, Calif., resident pummeled the New Yorker with a steady diet of kicks and punches before a head kick brought about the conclusion of what was turning into a competitive matchup.
Saravia connected his right foot with Singh’s jaw midway through the fourth frame, resulting in a knockdown. Surviving the scare, Singh stood only to be leveled by a torrent of leather. Referee Dan Miragliotta swarmed in shortly after at 1:42 of round four.
In the evening’s opening televised bout, Pedro Gonzalez took Tim Amorim behind the woodshed for three rounds before finishing in the fourth. Gonzales, of Gloucester, Mass., stayed on the inside to frustrate his rangy opponent with wild, yet accurate blows from close quarters.
The end came when referee Thomas Sconzo stepped in to save the Philadelphia native from additional punishment at 1:43 of the fourth round.
Lion Fight President and CEO Scott Kent was joined by Vice President and Matchmaker Christine Toledo in being honed with The Crystal Award at the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame 15th Annual Awards Ceremony Friday in Long Beach, Calif.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this Award and would like to thank Dan Hect and the Ambassadors for recognizing everything that Christine and I have done to build Lion Fight into the most respected promotion in Muay Thai,” stated Kent. “I also would like to thank Tommy Bogansky for nominating us, and all the incredible athletes, past and present, who have upheld the tradition and culture of this sport. Thank you, Masters Hall of Fame, for this Award. We hope to continue to make you proud.”
Threatening retirement should he drop his third in a row at Lion Fight 17, Malaipet offered up everything he could muster in a dominant unanimous decision win against Ring of Combat veteran Justin Greskiewicz at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Ledyard, Conn.
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Greskiewicz rose and was awarded with body abuse from the shins of his opponent that turned both sides of his ribs as purple as a Minnesota Vikings jersey. It did not get much better through the next nine-plus minutes as Malaipet buried his powerful legs into his competitor’s frame. Greskiewicz did have his moments later on in the contest as his man tired, but was never able to capitalize with any real seizure of momentum.
Judges David Ginsberg and Brian Minor turned in 49-45 scorecards,
while David Torelli filed a 50-44 shutout for the Strikeforce
Challengers Series veteran.
Nattawat Slips by MMA Product, Kickboxing Champion
In the co-main event, Jo Nattawat upset Bellator MMA veteran Cosmo Alexandre in a closely-contested matchup.
Alexandre, a late injury replacement, showed to be the superior boxer but was kept off rhythm by Nattawat’s well-timed aggression. The clash appeared to be even headed into the final period, which turned out to be the closest stanza of the duel.
Nattawat did just enough to take the win thanks to judges Minor (48-47) and Terelli (48-47), while Eric Lone cast a 47-48 in favor of the Brazilian.
Hlavacek Edges Washington in Crosstown Rivalry
In a matchup of Long Islanders, Brooklyn, N.Y.,’s Brett Hlavacek picked on Queens, N.Y.,-native Cyrus Washington for the better part of three rounds. Washington seemed to wake in the fourth, as he rallied to make the subway showdown a close one to call.
After cruising early, Hlavacek’s gas tank was reduced to fumes and Washington exploited the weakness with a crushing elbow and constant pressure.
In the end, judges: Ginsberg (48-45) and Torelli (48-46) scored it for Hlavacek. Minor saw it even at 47-47, giving the Brooklynite a majority decision nod.
Lopez Walks Away with Unanimous Decision
Palestinian-born Rami Ibrahim and Carlos Lopez put on an entertaining slugfest for five rounds. Though each round was close, Lopez, of Sterling, Va., walked away with a lopsided unanimous decision.
The official judges saw it a mismatch with scores of 50-44, 49-45 and 49-46. Unofficially, Sherdog.com’s C.J. Tuttle and Mike Fridley each saw the contest 48-47 in Lopez’s favor.
Saravia Outguns Singh in a Firefight
Victor Saravia dispatched Andy Singh in spectacular fashion. The Hollywood, Calif., resident pummeled the New Yorker with a steady diet of kicks and punches before a head kick brought about the conclusion of what was turning into a competitive matchup.
Saravia connected his right foot with Singh’s jaw midway through the fourth frame, resulting in a knockdown. Surviving the scare, Singh stood only to be leveled by a torrent of leather. Referee Dan Miragliotta swarmed in shortly after at 1:42 of round four.
Gonzalez Upsets Amorim
In the evening’s opening televised bout, Pedro Gonzalez took Tim Amorim behind the woodshed for three rounds before finishing in the fourth. Gonzales, of Gloucester, Mass., stayed on the inside to frustrate his rangy opponent with wild, yet accurate blows from close quarters.
The end came when referee Thomas Sconzo stepped in to save the Philadelphia native from additional punishment at 1:43 of the fourth round.
Misc. Debris
Lion Fight President and CEO Scott Kent was joined by Vice President and Matchmaker Christine Toledo in being honed with The Crystal Award at the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame 15th Annual Awards Ceremony Friday in Long Beach, Calif.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this Award and would like to thank Dan Hect and the Ambassadors for recognizing everything that Christine and I have done to build Lion Fight into the most respected promotion in Muay Thai,” stated Kent. “I also would like to thank Tommy Bogansky for nominating us, and all the incredible athletes, past and present, who have upheld the tradition and culture of this sport. Thank you, Masters Hall of Fame, for this Award. We hope to continue to make you proud.”
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