(Photos courtesy of Mike Adams)

 

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – After losing his last two fights in the UFC, Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio wanted to prove his naysayers wrong.  With one overhand right at World Cagefighting Alliance’s inaugural event, he did just that.  It was Pure Combat as Aurelio and Chris “The Story” Liguori faced off in Friday night’s main event.

 

After winning the first round, Aurelio made the second round end quick with a devastating right hook that knocked out the hometown fighter.  In the co-main event, Ultimate Fighter alum Paul “the Gentleman” Bradley continued his undefeated streak as he out-pointed Team Quest’s Nathan Coy.

 

Here is the breakdown of the night’s action:

 

 

Marcus "Maximus" Aurelio vs. Chris "The Story" Liguori – Main Event

 

Liguori was able to start fast with strikes, but once Aurelio took him down, he was able to keep him there.  After Liguroi got guard, Aurelio was able to transition to side control near the end of the first round.  The second was over fast as Aurelio ends a flurry with an overhand right knocking Liguori out.

 

-Marcus Aurelio def. Chris Liguori by KO – 0:23, R2

 

 

Nathan Coy vs. Paul "The Gentleman" Bradley – Co-Main Event

 

Both fighters were impressive in the first round.  Coy found a home for his jab while Bradley constantly landed counter strikes.  Although Coy was visibly rocked, Bradley was cut.  After thwarting multiple takedowns in the first, Bradley secures his own in the second.  Coy is able to bring the fight back up and gets his first takedown of the night.  Bradley is able to get back up and the stand up exchange continues.  Neither fighter gets a significant edge as round two comes to a close.  The pace slowed down in the fighter seemed a little bit cautious.  A body kick from Bradley sends Coy reeling and could be the difference in the fight.

 

-Paul Bradley def. Nathan Coy by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

 

 

Tom Gallicchio vs. Rich Ashkar

 

Gallicchio found himself in an unusual position early in the first round – on the receiving end of a huge slam.  Unfortunately for Ashkar, he couldn’t keep it on the ground and moments later he found himself on the mat from a right high kick to the cheek.  Ashkar crumbled, but stayed alive and eventually reversed position finding himself in side control.  Gallicchio was able to pull guard, but took some damage throughout the end of the round.  The dominance of Ashkar continues in the second round.  Gallicchio is taken down early and is pounded for most of the round.  He comes out swinging in the third, but is met with counter strikes from Ashkar.  After putting the fight to the ground and mounting Gallicchio, Ashkar drops bombs and the referee ends the contest.     

 

-Rich Ashkar def. Tom Gallicchio by TKO – 1:57, R3

 

 

Matt Lee vs. Dave Jansen

 

You can tell Jansen is trained by Team Quest.  Excellent wrestling complimented with overhand rights that would make Dan Henderson proud.  After getting the full mount, Jansen transitioned to the Anaconda choke and Lee went to sleep.

 

-Dave Jansen def. Matt Lee by anaconda choke – 3:00, R1

 

 

Al Buck vs. George Sullivan

 

After a slow start and an inadvertent low blow, Sullivan is able to manhandle Buck on the ground.  Sullivan gains full mount and blasts away until the referee saves Buck from further damage.

 

-George Sullivan def. Al Buck by TKO - 3:58, R1

 

 

Douglas Gordon vs. Mike Medrano

 

Gordon controls the first round by not letting Medrano utilize his wrestling.  Gordon lands repeated strikes but top his credit, Medrano fires back.  Gordon finishes round one with a big slam.  During an exchange early in the second round, the fighters clash heads and have the same exact cut above their left eyes.  The fight continues without a doctor check-up and Medrano is now getting the best of the stand-up exchange.  Medrano is able to steal round two leaving the fight up for grabs in round three.  A close third round, but Gordon should win as he had Medrano reeling at the end. 

 

-Douglas Gordon def. Mike Medrano by unanimous decision (30-27 all three) 

 

 

Steve D'Angelis vs. Felipe Arantes

 

D’Angelis appears to have learned more tricks besides his pedigree wrestling.  D’Angelis wins the stand-up game and the fight only goes to the mat once when Arentas pulls guard.  In round two, D’Angelis goes back to his wrestling roots and takes down Arantes twice followed by strikes from the top.  The round is highlighted by a beautiful flying knee from Arantes.  D’Angelis continues his wrestling dominance in the third as he secures multiple takedowns.  Arantes is unable to mount any offense or answer D’Angelis’ aggression.

 

-Steve D'Angelis def. Felipe Arantes by unanimous decision (30-27 all three)

 

 

Kevin Roddy vs. Anthony Morrison

 

The first round was a carbon copy of each fighter’s resume.  Morrison gets the early slam and initiates ground-and-pound and Roddy stays active going for numerous submissions from the bottom.  More of the same in round two and, besides two armbar scares, Morrison punishes Roddy.  Morrison sticks to the game plan and keeps the fight on the ground for the final round.  After a brief stalemate, Morrison wins the standup exchange and takes the fight to the ground again.  The round ends with Morrison landing some ground-and-pound.

 

-Anthony Morrison def. Kevin Roddy by unanimous decision (30-27 all three)

 

 

Brian DeMuro vs. Eric Henry

 

The first round was more of a kickboxing bout with DeMuro and Henry trading leg kicks.  The trend continues in the second and there appears to be more circling than action.  Henry appears to have won this round as he landed more strikes including high kick to DeMuro’s face, which could be heard from the concession stands.  The third finally sees the fight go to the ground, but only for a few seconds.  The fighters continue to kickbox without much damage and the leave a lot to be desired as the fight goes to the judges.

 

-Eric Henry def. Brian DeMuro by unanimous decision (30-27 all three)

 

 

Lester Caslow vs. Joey Camacho

 

It’s all Caslow in round one.  After Camacho gets the initial takedown, Caslow reverses and punishes Camacho from top position for the better part of the round.  The second stanza is more of the same and the referee halts that action, as Camacho is flat on his stomach unable to defend himself intelligently from Caslow’s onslaught of strikes. 

 

-Lester Caslow def. Joey Camacho by TKO - 0:51 rd. 2

 

 

Anthony Leone vs. Patrick White

 

Leone drops White early and is relentless with his ground attack.  Leone attempts a rear naked choke, an amrbar, and passes guard several times.  White defends valiantly but eventually succumbs to the rear naked choke the second time around.

 

-Anthony Leone def. Patrick White by rear naked choke - 4:36 rd. 1

 

 

Ryan Smith vs. Phillip "The Wicked" Wyman

 

Wyman connects with two hellacious body kicks that hurt Smith early on.  From his back, Smith avoids any damage by using up kicks to create distance.  Smith then grabs a leg and goes for a hell hook bringing Wyman to the mat.  Wyman scrambles and is able to secure a triangle choke forcing Smith to tap.

 

-Phillip Wyman def. Ryan Smith by triangle choke - 2:17 rd. 1

 

 

Mark Getto vs. Kenny Foster

 

These two had a boxing match until Foster was able to get the takedown at the end of round one.  The same formula ensues in round two, but Foster is winning the stand-up exchange.  Near the end of the round, Foster goes for the takedown, but ends up slapping on a tight guillotine choke.  Getto gets the slam, but is still caught.  He forces his head out and starts to unleash some ground and pound until the round ends.  After both fighters circle each other for several minutes in the third round, referee Kevin Mullhal brings the fighters to the center of the ring to encourage action.  The fighters listen and Foster secures a takedown but is unable to do much damage as the bell rings.

 

-Kenny Foster def. Mark Getto by unanimous decision (30-27 all three) 

 

 

Daniel Tavares vs. Bryan Danner

 

Danner with a good combination of crisp strikes and solid takedown defense is able to win this one early

 

-Bryan Danner def. Daniel Tavares by KO – 1:48 rd. 1

 

 

World Cagefighting Alliance "Pure Combat" Full Results

 

Main Event:

-Marcus Aurelio def. Chris Liguori by KO – 0:23, R2 

 

Co-Main Event:

-Paul Bradley def. Nathan Coy by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

 

-Rich Ashkar def. Tom Gallicchio by TKO – 1:57, R3

-Dave Jansen def. Matt Lee by anaconda choke – 3:00, R1

-George Sullivan def. Al Buck by TKO - 3:58, R1

-Douglas Gordon def. Mike Medrano by unanimous decision (30-27 all three)

-Steve D'Angelis def. Felipe Arantes by unanimous decision (30-27 all three)

-Anthony Morrison def. Kevin Roddy by unanimous decision (30-27 all three)

-Eric Henry def. Brian DeMuro by unanimous decision (30-27 all three)

-Lester Caslow def. Joey Camacho by TKO - 0:51, R2

-Anthony Leone def. Patrick White by rear naked choke - 4:36, R1

-Phillip "The Wicked" Wyman def. Ryan Smith by triangle choke - 2:17, R1

-Bryan Danner def. Daniel Tavares by KO – 1:48, R1