Midnight Sun Madness

Midnight Sun Mayhem turned in it's second annual event last Sunday. The free, outdoor, hybrid-Pride rules card was steller, with seasoned veterans turning in unforgettable matches all night long. The alternate rules played a much larger roll than last year's event, with several fighters attempting and landing moves such as stomps, soccer kicks, and knees to the head of their grounded opponent. Much, much more is coming, but for right now, enjoy these fight recaps.

:::MAIN EVENT:::
WELTERWEIGHT
Collin Reuter def. Sam Carney
Rd 1, Submission (guillotine)

Round 1
Warrior Camp's Carney goes flying across the ring as soon as the bell sounds, shooting for a double-leg. Reuter sees him coming a mile away and immediately grabs Carney's neck. He pulls guard and cranks a deep guillotine choke, earning the tap out in a mere 22 seconds.

WELTERWEIGHT
'J.E.F.F.' Jeff Degenhardt def. Schon 'The Wolverine' Ellis
Rd. 3, Decision (split)

Round 1
Degenhardt, fighting out of Warrior Camp in Spokane, WA, flicks out a few jabs before shooting in for a takedown. The Alaska Cage Fighting champ sprawls and goes for a guillotine. He pulls guard but looses the choke is forced to scramble back to this feet. The two throw straight punches but nothing of significance lands. Ellis, representing Frostbite Vale Tudo, connects with a body kick and a right hook and sprawls another double-leg. He clinches with Degenhardt against the ropes and lands an accidental knee to the groin. The ref pauses the action, and when it resumes both fighters come out swinging. Both connect with some powerful blows, with Ellis lands a right hand that drops Degenhardt, who pops back up but gives up his neck. As Ellis attempts another guillotine 'J.E.F.F.' high-crotches him high into the air and drives in a huge slam to side control, then lands a knee to the head. Ellis is able to get back to this feet, but Degenhardt keeps the pressure on and takes his back. However, Ellis is leaning far through the ropes and the ref resets them in the middle of the ring. Degenhardt shoots in with another double-leg and runs Ellis across the ring, getting the takedown to half guard. 'The Wolverine' eats some ground'n'pound while he works for a heel hook. Degenhardt punches Ellis' thighs and tries to kick at his hands and face and to escape the hold as the round ends. In an ordinary MMA bout this round would be hard to call, but with the alternate judging rules the individual round does not matter, only the fight as a whole.

Round 2
Degenhardt times a jab and clinches, but Ellis escapes before he can be dragged to the ground. The former Alaska Fighting Championship champ starts swinging wildly, but Degenhardt won't be dragged into a brawl. He shoots in and gets another takedown. Unfortunately Ellis falls through the ropes, so the ref restarts them in the center, Degenhardt in Ellis' guard. Degenhardt advances to half guard while isolating an arm and striking with short elbows. Nice multi-tasking by the out-of-town fighter. He starts working for a janky arm triangle that isn't there, then returns to his ground'n'pound assault, alternating strikes with attempts to isolate an arm. Ellis finally gets back to guard and scores with some elbows from the bottom. They squirm through the ropes again an are reset in guard in the center. Degenhardt stands up and hurls a fist as he passes his opponent's legs. In the scramble Ellis gets to all fours, but Degenhardt squats behind him, holds him in place, and rains down devastating punishment on the hometown fighter. Ellis is doing little to defend against the strikes, but somehow hangs on until the end of the round.

Round 3
Degenhardt looks for the takedown right away. He gets Ellis down against the ropes, but in the course of the takedown they get tangled in the ropes, and the referee restarts them standing in the center. This repeats four times, with Ellis landing an overhand right somewhere in there. Each time Degenhardt gets Ellis to the mat, but they get tangled in the ropes on the way down and get restarted in a standing position. The referee later revealed that they were falling through the ropes before they hit the mat, so a restart on the ground was out of the question, despite Degenhardt's corner loudly protesting. Finally Degenhardt manages to get Ellis to the mat just before they tumble into the ropes, and the ref starts them on the ground in the center of the ring, Ellis on all fours and Degenhardt behind him, holding his waist. Degenhardt quickly moves to put his hooks in, but Ellis swivels and squirms and establishes guard. Degenhardt works ground'n'pound and looks to pass until the bell sounds.

The judges turn in a split decision in favor of 'J.E.F.F.' Jeff Degenhardt.

FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeff 'Boo-Boo' Bailey def. Zack 'Snack Pack' Shelley
Rd. 1, TKO (injury)

Round 1
Frostbite's Bailey moves in a weird circle, then darts in and connects with a thudding left hook. Bailey clinches and gets the takedown, but it takes a lot of work. He's got Greatland Martial Arts' Shelley in a bad spot, but the former state wrestling champ keeps his hips, stays active and doesn't let Bailey get comfortable. Shelley battles to his feet, where Bailey tries to take him down again, this time hanging onto a choke. 'Snack Pack' clutches him close and lands a few knees, then pushes him off. As they separate Shelley clutches his elbow and clearly waves to the referee. Before the referee can get between them Bailey runs forward and throws a head kick that, thankfully, misses. The crowd cheers the bad sportsmanship from their local boy (Bailey later said that he did not see Shelley surrendering). It is revealed that Shelley dislocated his elbow in the clinch and cannot continue. Bailey is awarded to victory.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Tommy 'T-Gunz' McMichael def. Tommie 'The Tornado' Matthews
Rd. 1, Submission (arm triangle choke)

Round 1
GMA's 'T-Gunz' comes out southpaw. They feel each other out with jabs and testing kicks, then McMichael lands a nice one-two combo. Matthews, who trains with Hard Knocks University in Wasilla, pushes the action and McMichael clinches, peppering the consummate vet with some knees to the leg. They separate. McMichael plants an outside leg kick on 'The Tornado's hamstring that throws him off balance. The two clash, and McMichael connects with a blistering left hand that plops Matthews on his butt. McMichael lands in side control and isolates an arm immediately. He has a kimura, but abandons it to land knees to the body and thundering hammerfists to the side of the head. Matthews bleeds from his left ear. McMichael bounces his opponent's head with typewriter punches and moves to the crucifix position. He pins Matthews' far-side arm and leaps over his body, gracefully transitioning to an arm-triangle choke. 'T-Gunz' tightens it, forcing Mattews to turn purple and tap out.

McMichael later announced that this was his retirement fight.

FEATHERWEIGHT
Billy 'The Hebrew Hammer' Zimmerman def. Cody 'The Interceptor' Woods
Rd. 1, Submission (triangle choke)

Round 1
Zimmerman throws a body kick to start things off, but Woods catches it. Zimmerman leaps to Woods' back and attempts a rear naked choke. Woods fights it off, and Zimmerman lets it go. Woods is still on his feet, while Zimmerman has fallen to his back. No sooner had his back touched the mat than Zimmerman starts bicycling his legs in a churning wheel of up-kicks! Woods tries to pass his legs, but gets caught in triangle. Zimmerman blocks his escape by grabbing a leg, and Woods is forced to submit.

CATCHWEIGHT 200 LBS
Thomas 'The Pot Bellied Assassin' Ide def. Daniel Flores
Rd. 2, Submission (americana)

Round 1
Ide shows some kicks from far away, and so does Flores. Both are just feeling each other out. Flores lands a kick to the body, but Ide catches it and runs him down for the take down. Flores sweeps him and lands on top in half guard. Ide tries to escape and eats a knee to the head and a soccer kick in the process, but manages his way to his feet. Ide has double-underhooks and clutches Flores against the ropes. Ide lands a few knees to the legs and pulls him off the ropes, winning a trip takedown, landing in side control. Ide patiently softens with a knee while he isolates an arm. He thinks mount, but goes back to side control. Ide's corner yells for the kimura, but 'The Pot-Bellied Assassin' elects to soften his opponent from the crucifix. Flores strains and tries to escape, but he's stuck. Ide lands a few short elbows. Flores' left arm is trapped under Ide's legs. Ide continues to attack with short elbows and knees. Although Ide is dominant, Flores isn't actually taking very much damage. Flores bridges and almost escapes, but Ide manages to keep his orb-like body on top. With ten seconds left Ide locks in an americana. He pushes it deep, but Flores hangs on until the bell!

Round 2
Ide sets up a takedown with an whiffing overhand right, dipping in and getting his opponent to the mat. He's in Flores' guard. Flores attacks with an armbar, but quickly abandons it. He tries again, but Ide feeds him a series of hammerfists and Flores lets it go. Flores closes his guard while Ide tries to dish out some ground'n'pound. Flores throws his foot over Ide's shoulder and nails Ide's face with a crazy Gracie heel, then returns to closed guard. Ide looks exhausted, despite the fact he's in the better position. The ref stands them up for lack of action. Ide has a large, bloody patch of hair on his head, not sure where it came from. Flores lands a beauty of a push kick to the face, but Ide catches it and gets another takedown. Flores lands a few up-kicks while Ide falls to side control. He sinks an americana and extends the arm, twisting it to a sick angle before Flores finally taps.

LIGHTWEIGHT
Andrew 'Above Average' Adlesperger def. Jay 'Boogie Man' Burgess
Rd. 1, Submission (rear naked choke)

Round 1
Frostbite's Adlesperger tries to jam his longer opponent right off the bat, but Burgess smacks him with some quick hooks. Adelsperger clinches and gets a quick takedown against the ropes, instantly taking the back and securing the rear naked choke.

WELTERWEIGHT
Anthony Rodgers def. Drew 'Spider Monkey' Lipton
Rd. 1, Submission (armbar)

Round 1
Lipton starts off with his trademark move, a jump-spinning hook kick from way out of range. It misses, naturally, as do his next few, more orthodox kicks. Rodgers throws out a feeler kick, but Lipton catches it and gets the takedown. Rodgers quickly shrimps and reverses, initiating a scramble. In the scuffle Lipton lands the nights' only head stomp, but it's glancing and they both return to standing. Lipton clinches and takes Rodgers' back standing, but Rodgers immediately starts working for a straight armbar from the bad position. Lipton stands and lifts for a slam, but Rodgers deftly spins out and takes the top position. They continue the scramble match, attempting very few strikes as they battle for position. Lipton eventually finds himself standing above Rodgers, who is on his back. Lipton channels the spirit of every kung fu movie ever made and attempts what I THINK was a jumping spin stomp, which flies well above his grounded opponent, then attempts a wacky, awesome front-flip body slam! Somehow this brilliant combo is unsuccessful, and Rodgers quickly snatches Lipton's arm and sets a deep armbar, eliciting the tap.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Jeremy 'Punisher' Sliger def. Rohan 'Guinness Car Bomb' Johnston
Rd. 1, Submission (strikes)

Round 1
A match pitting Eielson AFB against Fort Wainwright, the Army's Sliger has a body kick blocked, but immediately swarms with psychotic punches and knees. Airman Johnston circles and blocks and tries to stay alive as Sliger does his best berserk gorilla impression. Johnston somehow survives the terrifying swarm and resets. Sliger clinches and pushes Johnston face-down into the canvas. He is able to sneak in a tiny knee to the head before they are too meshed in the ropes and the ref moves them to the center. Once restarted Sliger lands two more Pride knees and Johnston tries to roll out of the terrible position. Sliger has wrist control, though, and is able to keep control of 'Guiness Car Bomb'. He tries to isolate an arm while softening with hammerfists. Johnston is having trouble getting out, partially because he has to keep an arm glued to his temple to block knees to his noggin. Sliger lands another Pride knee and takes his opponent's back, flattening him out. Johnston has an arm trapped, but Sliger pulls it out and lands punches from the top until Johnston decides he's had enough and taps out. Just like in football, Army beats Air Force.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
David Weiss def. Alton 'Dreadz' Prince
Rd. 1, TKO (strikes)

Round 1
Weiss walks through a punch from Prince and secures the clinch and quick takedown straight to mount. He pummels from the top as Prince turtles up. Prince squirms, but doesn't mount any meaningful escape attempts. Ref calls a stop to it before the fight is a minute old.

FEATHERWEIGHT
Jarel 'View' Askew def. Ethan 'Honey Badger' Schneider
Rd. 2, TKO (cut)

Round 1
Both fighters start tentative. Gracie Barra's Schneider lands a solid counter left, but Frostbite's Askew amps up his aggression and swarms against the ropes. The fighters, content to trade fists, each connect with short combos. Askew tries a few kicks, then the ACF amateur champ tires to clinch and misses with a long knee. Askew throws more kicks now, connecting with feet and more hands strikes. Schneider sneaks in some nice leg kicks and knuckles to the face. The two plant and slug it out against the ropes. Askew lands a couple of thudding bombs and Schneider is dazed. They slide around the ring, launching flurries of strikes. Askew lands a great straight right. 'The Honey Badger' is still in this fight, but struggling to get past Askew's superior reach and long legs. Askew picks at his opponent from range, and lands a big uppercut to the body. Askew finds a home for single right bullet after right bullet. Finally Schneider shoots a desperation double-leg. Ja sprawls, but eschews Pride-style knees. He stands, but Schneider still has a leg and dumps him. Unfortunately Schneider has fallen in a triangle, but he gets out quickly and pounds from guard until the round ends.

Round 2
Askew sticks a quick jab and knocks in a head kick, but Schneider refuses to fall. Schneider is very bloody. Askew continues landing hard, single shots, but doesn't string together any combinations. Thee ref stops the action to check Schneider's face, and determines he can go on. Askew goes right back to picking away with long straight blows. Schneider is not going for takedown, strangely, he seems either content or resigned to getting picked apart by his much taller opponent. The ref again pauses to check Schneider's eye, which has gotten a cut above it. Schneider insists he can see fine, and the action continues. 'The Honey Badger' finally tries to clinch take Askews's hips, but Askew defends and keeps up the punishment. Schneider shoots in again, but Askew's defense is stout. Schneider separates, but his left eyebrow is just bleeding too much. The ref finally calls it, Schneider's eye looking like something from the butcher shop.

WELTERWEIGHT
Nick 'Greek Warrior' Abernathy def. Ben 'Water Boy' Bennett
Rd. 1, Disqualification (throwing opponent out of ring)

Round 1
Both fighters come out furious with frenzies hooks, starting the night's MMA fights on a great tone. Thirty seconds in and Bennett's blows send Abernathy to the canvas. He looks to stomp, but Abernathy stays clear and gets up. Bennett connects with a few straight rights, and Abernathy looks to clinch. Bennett shrugs him off and connects with several right hand bombs. Abernathy is bleeding bad from the nose and lip. He and looks to clinch and takedown, but Bennett reverses on the way down. He spends some time on top softening, then lets Abernathy back up. Bennett connects with a push kick to the body. Abernathy, who trains at Hard Knocks University, is looking desperate as he lunges forward with punches, and eats a kick to the face. He's off balance and Bennett chucks him through the ropes. He lands halfway out of the ring, and is clearly out of the fight. The move is a clear violation of the rules, which state you cannot attempt to purposefully throw your opponent out of the ring. The crowd boos as the referee awards the victory to Abernathy.