HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Aug. 18 — A diehard, as defined by Microsoft Word’s handy dictionary, is someone “who clings to a belief, attitude or position in the face of all opposition.”
Today, most green fighters still find themselves starting in relative obscurity.
So it was tonight, in this city that has made and broken countless dreams, that several young combatants — and a few established ones — ventured into the cage holding hope that reality could possibly match fantasy.
In the main event of Pangea Fight’s card at a half-full Hollywood Palladium, Bettendorf, Iowa’s Sherman Pendergarst made quick work of veteran Southern Californian Aaron Brink (Pictures).
Ironically, a bout featuring the card’s two most experienced fighters was arguably the night’s least compelling.
After an exchange of sloppy punches, Pendergarst secured Brink’s back in the standing position and worked towards ending the fight via choke. After a few moments spent sandwiched between the cage fencing and his fellow heavyweight, Pendergarst induced the tap at the 54-second mark by locking an arm around Brink’s neck and clasping his hands together.
While the veterans failed to overwhelm, young lightweights Mike Corey and Brian Cobb (Pictures) brought the crowd to its feet several times during the evening’s first five-minute round bout.
A back-and-forth affair, both Corey and Cobb had their moments.
The first period belonged to Cobb, who pounded on Corey before taking his back. Corey returned the favor in the second, controlling, mounting and pummeling Cobb to even the fight at one round apiece as it headed into the third.
The final period saw Corey, buckled by a Cobb right hand, battle back and take control on the mat. Judges at ringside, as did Sherdog.com, scored it 29-28 in favor of Corey.
Jared Hamman (Pictures) became the evening’s first winner to need more than one round, scoring a stoppage of Brazilian Richardo Arrivabani 2:14 of the second period.
An early slugfest turned into Hamman’s advantage when Arrivabani began to fatigue. At the start of round two Arrivabani again stood toe-to-toe with Hamman, but the undefeated light heavyweight was simply too much.
In his pro debut Chute Boxe USA’s Anthony Johnson slugged his way to a stoppage over Jonathan Romero at 1:09 of round one.
Gene Gisdorf put Justin Jorgensen to sleep with a triangle choke 40 seconds into the first period. Referee Doc Hamilton moved close as Gisdorf locked in the submission, and adroitly pulled the fighters apart when Jorgensen lost consciousness.
Anthony McDavit appeared to have his way with MMA newcomer Skye Rivera. After McDavit beat on Rivera as the fighters worked along the fence, referee Josh Rosenthal separated the bantamweights and most people in the building assumed the fight had been called.
Protests from McDavit’s corner and deliberation among officials in the cage told a different story. Instead of earning a stoppage victory, McDavit soon realized he had suffered a disqualification loss for apparently grabbing the fence, striking and refusing to heed warnings. McDavit denied grabbing the fence or hearing any warnings from the official in the cage.